interesting discussion.. will take out my moka pot.. some friend brought from italy but I used only once.. will try that out.. where do you guys get the coffee.. beans or ground coffee, which is better.

interesting discussion.. will take out my moka pot.. some friend brought from italy but I used only once.. will try that out.. where do you guys get the coffee.. beans or ground coffee, which is better.

 

Always get fresh beans and grind on demand. Many places now have in house roasting. Tell them its for Moka Pot use, and they will give you the best blend for that use. Can try highlander coffee, smitten, 40 hands, loysel's toy, oriole or jimmy monkey for beans and also good coffee

 

beans only get to the best use by date ~5 days after roasting and will be good for use for only about 2 weeks...after that they will deteriorate quite quickly.

 

If its ground into a bag already then forget it, unless you plan to use it all that day. Even 5 mins after grinding will be going down hill....those in the know will always look for this.

 

High turnover cafes will be less of an issue but those with slow turnover will have grounds sitting in the grounds hopper/doser and these will go stale very fast. GOD or Grind on Demand operations are where there is no hopper on the grinder, so the beans are ground direct to the portafilter then tamped down and used (extracted) immediately. It the best way...trust me.

 

When you go to a cafe look at the grinder... if it has a big grounds hopper/doser on the front then start to worry about stale grounds in it...unless there is a queue of people there all day...good cafes wont have hoppers/dosers. Also look at the beans...if they are too shiny or have oil/wet droplets on them avoid as past their best.

 

With grounds hopper/doser

 

without

 

Don't be afraid to ask where they get their beans, when they were roasted, who was the roaster even. Get clued up - lots on the web.

 

And dont put your beans in the fridge...every time you take them out they will get condensation and that will be the end of them...cool dark place (in the bag they came in is fine (best) sealed...use them fast and you will have the basics for great coffee.

 

Grind consistency is also important...different for french press, moka and espresso...get a burr or conical grinder not one of those fying blade jobs that are only good for herbs

 

 

 

 

electric burr grinders are pricey.

 

For more budget purposes, a hand grinder would work. For me its not too much work. Finish grinding just about the time it takes for the water to boil.

 

Other very useful tools are the weigh balance, thermometer and stop watch

 

Weight balance to measure the amount of coffee and water used. Thermometer for temperature of water and stop watch to time brewing time.

 

These will help develop consistent technique

Wiz:

Got some Campos kopi pre-ground for you mate... Can it be used in something other than a machine? Something simpler?

Anyway, I was very tempted to get a nespresso machine... seems cheap in Oz.. capsules are like Aus 65c...

Wiz:

Got some Campos kopi pre-ground for you mate... Can it be used in something other than a machine? Something simpler?

Anyway, I was very tempted to get a nespresso machine... seems cheap in Oz.. capsules are like Aus 65c...

 

Pre ground  ???  Better use it all fast as once ground it will oxidize in minutes then not good. Hope you have access to a French press there...when are you back?

Pre ground  ???  Better use it all fast as once ground it will oxidize in minutes then not good. Hope you have access to a French press there...when are you back?

Not sure about the press, I will be at my new place 15th Feb around 11 am, you can drop by the and get your java...

Ok...sms me when yr headed the and I'll hope I'm free to drop by.

electric burr grinders are pricey.

 

For more budget purposes, a hand grinder would work. For me its not too much work. Finish grinding just about the time it takes for the water to boil.

 

Other very useful tools are the weigh balance, thermometer and stop watch

 

Weight balance to measure the amount of coffee and water used. Thermometer for temperature of water and stop watch to time brewing time.

 

These will help develop consistent technique

 

there's a cheap electric burr grinder by krups.. works decently around $99

Ok...sms me when yr headed the and I'll hope I'm free to drop by.

Will be there about 12 pm on 15th, see you....

 

New coffeeshop http://www.cshhcoffee.com/ at 150 Trywitt rd near Jln Besar Stadium...not been there but it opens tmro (11/8/12)

 

Also Liberty at Rangoon Rd # 131 I think... small place...coffee not bad and roasted onsite

Went to Strangers' Reunion (37 Kampong Bahru Rd) for lunch.

 

Trouble with these places is that they are quite pricey.

 

Had a piccolo latte $4 for about 100ml of drink- was very good (smaller than the famous Oriele one in Somerset, but that one is $8++).

 

The sandwich was a toasted pannini with tandoori chicken and red cabbage salad. Quite small though- just a sandwich on its own $11!

My first coffee in days... was a small can of cold Nescafe... sweet and ample for now... not many choices over here...

New coffeeshop http://www.cshhcoffee.com/ at 150 Trywitt rd near Jln Besar Stadium...not been there but it opens tmro (11/8/12)

 

cshhcoffee plays vinyl...  on some cheapo jpn tt...  which i suspect the speed is off... ;)

Hey Wiz, I still have that Cambodian coffee for you mate..

;D

 

New cafe at holland V de good cafe.... Upstairs near the where all the banks are like citi/hsbc/scb

 

 

Havent tried it but looked very nice when i stuck my head in for a look

 

 

http://www.facebook.com/pages/D-Good-Cafe-in-Holland-Village/293116727469029

Going to try my hand at latte art.

 

For that I need to learn how to get the microfoam milk first.

http://coffeegeek.com/guides/frothingguide/steamguide

 

Is a temperature gauge essential?

 

Anyone know where I can get a good milk frothing jug? What do I need to look out for?

Presumably there is more to it than Ikea's version? http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/50149843/

 

Soo many different styles! http://www.coffeehit.co.uk/milk-frothing-pitchers/c29

 

@jimi, I didn't read the link you provided, but just some views and tips of my own,

 

1. Temperature gauge - don't bother. Mine just collects dust. After you have steamed your fair share of milk, you will automatically know when to stop based on feeling the side of your frothing jug. Stop, when its too hot to touch for more than a second. That usually adds up to 60-70 degrees.

 

2. Don't ever get a frothing jug from a coffee joint / supplier unless you want to pay lots of money. Just get a jug from Sia Huat or Totts.

 

3. One practice tip - use tap water with a drop of dishwashing liquid. Foams up like milk. Get that perfect microfoam

 

4. Milk - not sure about foaming compared to the rest, but Greenfields whole milk tastes the best to me

Tks WD.

 

1. Ok thought it might be like that.

2. So I guess anything with a pointed spout will do?

3. Ah ha, sounds good. Otherwise was just gonna practice warming my toddlers milk up :)

4. Yeah, Greenfields is best tasting. Met someone in the milk industry who told me that other companies buy from Greenfields, plus check expiry dates- Greenfields tends to be the longest for a reason- it's usually fresher!

Jimi, Sia Huat / Totts has both small and large frothing pitchers that are identical to those used in the coffee joints. Made of stainless steel, with chromed finish. Tapers inwards towards the top, and it does have a proper spout. Free pour latte art to your heart's content !

 

Which machine would you be using to foam ?

I look forward to your finished product jimi.

I can pass you some beans to try

 

Nepal makes nice coffee too.

Got myself this:

 

http://www.xtremeplace.com/yabbse/index.php?topic=86721.msg877978#msg877978

 

I look forward to your finished product jimi.

I can pass you some beans to try

 

Nepal makes nice coffee too.

 

This one just takes nespresso caps, but I still have my grinder/filter/ funnel for bean coffee. Thanks!!

It's a bit tricky with my machine.

 

Seems better if I control the amount of steam coming thru as well as the pitch and position of the nozzle in the milk. Is that supposed to be how it's done or is it supposed to be at 100% steam rate?

I missed that cup of Blue Mountain coffee.  Dripping slowly from the glass funnel.

Just been given a packet of Legendee Gold - Sang Tao 8. I am a total convert now buying a box full of the stuff!