NPR

I've been relatively happy with my cheap Nespresso type machine for a few years and enjoy a nice strong black brew every morning. However both my kids have bought Sage 'Barista Express' bean to cup coffee machines and tell me just how infinitely better their coffee is and are now, despite me supplying them with coffee over the years, pretty disparaging about my ancient capsule machine. I obviously 'cant see green cheese' and am now intending to buy said/similar bean to cup coffee machine, I cant let my kids get the better of me and I feel in need of a new gadget! Any advice on machine to buy etc? I am not in for a big all singing, all dancing expensive machines, it is only for me mostly, but just one that makes excellent strong black coffee, I might stretch to a milk frother thingy for guests but that's about it. All views welcome.

I've had a delonghi one for 5 years. Works really well. When it finally dies I will get a snazzier bean to cup machine.

I have a Bialetti stove top and I bought a milk kettle for £30 during the pandemic. They make a great cup of coffee. These machines are just kitchen clutter imo. Pods are fucking expensive too. If I ever want to start grinding my own beans, I'll get a wee handheld grinder.

Edit to add - fucking hipsters.

Water, coffee, a little sugar and a cezve for me. Often add cardamon pods to give it a more authentic taste.
Drunk with a glass of water.

Biffer wrote: ↑Thu May 23, 2024 12:04 pm I have a Bialetti stove top and I bought a milk kettle for £30 during the pandemic. They make a great cup of coffee. These machines are just kitchen clutter imo. Pods are fucking expensive too. If I ever want to start grinding my own beans, I'll get a wee handheld grinder.

Edit to add - fucking hipsters.

Same here, a friend of mine has a built in Miele, fuck they're expensive to replace (he's on his third)

I'm a pod man, I only buy the pods that are on offer so it works out at around 25p a cup, and you get the prefect coffee with a good thick crema

I aspire to a good bean to cup machine, they're just so expensive for the initial lay out.

dpedin wrote: ↑Thu May 23, 2024 11:36 am I've been relatively happy with my cheap Nespresso type machine for a few years and enjoy a nice strong black brew every morning. However both my kids have bought Sage 'Barista Express' bean to cup coffee machines and tell me just how infinitely better their coffee is and are now, despite me supplying them with coffee over the years, pretty disparaging about my ancient capsule machine. I obviously 'cant see green cheese' and am now intending to buy said/similar bean to cup coffee machine, I cant let my kids get the better of me and I feel in need of a new gadget! Any advice on machine to buy etc? I am not in for a big all singing, all dancing expensive machines, it is only for me mostly, but just one that makes excellent strong black coffee, I might stretch to a milk frother thingy for guests but that's about it. All views welcome.

One of my sons has a Sage and loves it. They are huge amongst the hipster mid twenties. Despite my Italian chip shop, cafe and coffee shop heritage, I don't see what the fuss is about. The right beans or grounds done well in a filter or bialetti give great results without all the faff.

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Thu May 23, 2024 12:28 pm I'm a pod man, I only buy the pods that are on offer so it works out at around 25p a cup, and you get the prefect coffee with a good thick crema

I aspire to a good bean to cup machine, they're just so expensive for the initial lay out.

I get a nice thin layer of foam on my coffee and pay for good coffee from a small independent coffee importer in Edinburgh. Damn sure it's not that much a cup.

I use a cafetiere when the missus wants a mug of coffee as well, otherwise an aeropress if its just for me.

I'll admit a significant part of my enjoyment is the pure simplicity of the Aeropress, and the ease of cleaning - just take off the end cap and plunge the paper and grounds into the food recycling. I'm also a tight sod and they're £25.

Not that I'd be against it, we've got too many gadgets in the kitchen - bread maker, air fryer and all sorts - to add a bean to cup.

I worked with a coffee aficionado who said that most means of making coffee are OK, but he'd roast his coffee daily and grind it immediately before use. A bean to cup grinds just before use, which seems a good step. His daily roasting seems mental, but each to their own.

inactionman wrote: ↑Thu May 23, 2024 12:45 pm I use a cafetiere when the missus wants a mug of coffee as well, otherwise an aeropress if its just for me.

I'll admit a significant part of my enjoyment is the pure simplicity of the Aeropress, and the ease of cleaning - just take off the end cap and plunge the paper and grounds into the food recycling. I'm also a tight sod and they're £25.

Not that I'd be against it, we've got too many gadgets in the kitchen - bread maker, air fryer and all sorts - to add a bean to cup.

I worked with a coffee aficionado who said that most means of making coffee are OK, but he'd roast his coffee daily and grind it immediately before use. A bean to cup grinds just before use, which seems a good step. His daily roasting seems mental, but each to their own.

I've got a toaster, a kettle and a milk kettle. Don't even have a microwave.

Biffer wrote: ↑Thu May 23, 2024 12:32 pm

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Thu May 23, 2024 12:28 pm I'm a pod man, I only buy the pods that are on offer so it works out at around 25p a cup, and you get the prefect coffee with a good thick crema

I aspire to a good bean to cup machine, they're just so expensive for the initial lay out.

I get a nice thin layer of foam on my coffee and pay for good coffee from a small independent coffee importer in Edinburgh. Damn sure it's not that much a cup.

Pods are rip offs
I will get bean to cup when my current machine (delonghi) dies (it's over 10 years old and unlikely to keel over for same amount of time). I use a grinder cause I like to put coffee everywhere

Biffer wrote: ↑Thu May 23, 2024 12:53 pm

inactionman wrote: ↑Thu May 23, 2024 12:45 pm I use a cafetiere when the missus wants a mug of coffee as well, otherwise an aeropress if its just for me.

I'll admit a significant part of my enjoyment is the pure simplicity of the Aeropress, and the ease of cleaning - just take off the end cap and plunge the paper and grounds into the food recycling. I'm also a tight sod and they're £25.

Not that I'd be against it, we've got too many gadgets in the kitchen - bread maker, air fryer and all sorts - to add a bean to cup.

I worked with a coffee aficionado who said that most means of making coffee are OK, but he'd roast his coffee daily and grind it immediately before use. A bean to cup grinds just before use, which seems a good step. His daily roasting seems mental, but each to their own.

I've got a toaster, a kettle and a milk kettle. Don't even have a microwave.

The air fryer and microwave are really only used for the kids', nuggets and chips etc. I was given the air fryer and wasn't originally a fan (pardon pun), but it's been a godsend.

THe bread maker gets a fair use, although I've only got time to use pre-packed bread mixes which have gone up a bit in price.

inactionman wrote: ↑Thu May 23, 2024 12:58 pm

Biffer wrote: ↑Thu May 23, 2024 12:53 pm

inactionman wrote: ↑Thu May 23, 2024 12:45 pm I use a cafetiere when the missus wants a mug of coffee as well, otherwise an aeropress if its just for me.

I'll admit a significant part of my enjoyment is the pure simplicity of the Aeropress, and the ease of cleaning - just take off the end cap and plunge the paper and grounds into the food recycling. I'm also a tight sod and they're £25.

Not that I'd be against it, we've got too many gadgets in the kitchen - bread maker, air fryer and all sorts - to add a bean to cup.

I worked with a coffee aficionado who said that most means of making coffee are OK, but he'd roast his coffee daily and grind it immediately before use. A bean to cup grinds just before use, which seems a good step. His daily roasting seems mental, but each to their own.

I've got a toaster, a kettle and a milk kettle. Don't even have a microwave.

The air fryer and microwave are really only used for the kids', nuggets and chips etc. I was given the air fryer and wasn't originally a fan (pardon pun), but it's been a godsend.

THe bread maker gets a fair use, although I've only got time to use pre-packed bread mixes which have gone up a bit in price.

Yeah, to be fair I've considered getting both of those.

I've given up coffee in the last couple of weeks.

I was finding I was waking up drowsy and then getting so tired around 3pm, then again about 7pm. Cut out loads of stuff to try and get to the bottom of it, started taking different supplements etc but nothing was really cutting it. Eventually got around to the coffee and the change has been massive!

Sage Barista Pro which we've had for a few years makes excellent espresso which is what we use it for. Essential to get good quality fresh beans and we have spent ages trying to find a roast that we liked. Ended up stumbling across the Inverness Coffee Roasting Co whilst on holiday and really liking their highland roast and now get a regular supply of beans for both home and office.

inactionman wrote: ↑Thu May 23, 2024 12:45 pm I use a cafetiere when the missus wants a mug of coffee as well, otherwise an aeropress if its just for me.

I'll admit a significant part of my enjoyment is the pure simplicity of the Aeropress, and the ease of cleaning - just take off the end cap and plunge the paper and grounds into the food recycling. I'm also a tight sod and they're £25.

Not that I'd be against it, we've got too many gadgets in the kitchen - bread maker, air fryer and all sorts - to add a bean to cup.

I worked with a coffee aficionado who said that most means of making coffee are OK, but he'd roast his coffee daily and grind it immediately before use. A bean to cup grinds just before use, which seems a good step. His daily roasting seems mental, but each to their own.

I'm also all about the Aeropress. I like decent coffee, but I'm also lazy and don't want to mess about with much maintenance, cleaning or big outlay on a fancy setup.

Suits me fine

Edit - Albeit I do miss out on espresso at home.

laurent wrote: ↑Thu May 23, 2024 12:53 pm

Biffer wrote: ↑Thu May 23, 2024 12:32 pm

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Thu May 23, 2024 12:28 pm I'm a pod man, I only buy the pods that are on offer so it works out at around 25p a cup, and you get the prefect coffee with a good thick crema

I aspire to a good bean to cup machine, they're just so expensive for the initial lay out.

I get a nice thin layer of foam on my coffee and pay for good coffee from a small independent coffee importer in Edinburgh. Damn sure it's not that much a cup.

Pods are rip offs
I will get bean to cup when my current machine (delonghi) dies (it's over 10 years old and unlikely to keel over for same amount of time). I use a grinder cause I like to put coffee everywhere

Also bad for environment.
Delonghi magnificia Evo is what we have in work. Makes a fine cup of coffee once you tune the settings.

Uncle fester wrote: ↑Thu May 23, 2024 1:52 pm

laurent wrote: ↑Thu May 23, 2024 12:53 pm

Biffer wrote: ↑Thu May 23, 2024 12:32 pm

I get a nice thin layer of foam on my coffee and pay for good coffee from a small independent coffee importer in Edinburgh. Damn sure it's not that much a cup.

Pods are rip offs
I will get bean to cup when my current machine (delonghi) dies (it's over 10 years old and unlikely to keel over for same amount of time). I use a grinder cause I like to put coffee everywhere

Also bad for environment.
Delonghi magnificia Evo is what we have in work. Makes a fine cup of coffee once you tune the settings.

meh, aluminium is very recyclable, as far as I'm aware there are no limits to how many times it can be re-used. The majority of greenhouse gases associated with a cup of coffee come in the growing of the beans, the amount of coffee and water wasted in other methods of making a cup of coffee mean that pods can actually be more eco-friendly.

I used to have a Delonghi home barista type machine and I could never get a coffee that resembled the ones I make now. I had my previous pod machine about ten years before it gave up the ghost a couple of years ago, the current one is still going strong so I'm not replacing it and incurring the associated carbon footprint cost with buying new every couple of years. I have a similar argument going for my 21 year old petrol Ford Galaxy, keeping that on the road is far more eco-friendly than buying into the whole manufacturing and running a new electric vehicle, I think, though I'm very much open to correction on that.

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Thu May 23, 2024 2:25 pmI have a similar argument going for my 21 year old petrol Ford Galaxy, keeping that on the road is far more eco-friendly than buying into the whole manufacturing and running a new electric vehicle, I think, though I'm very much open to correction on that.

Depends on your mileage I reckon

Biffer wrote: ↑Thu May 23, 2024 12:53 pm a milk kettle

Hipster

epwc wrote: ↑Thu May 23, 2024 2:26 pm

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Thu May 23, 2024 2:25 pmI have a similar argument going for my 21 year old petrol Ford Galaxy, keeping that on the road is far more eco-friendly than buying into the whole manufacturing and running a new electric vehicle, I think, though I'm very much open to correction on that.

Depends on your mileage I reckon

How so?

This is something I'm very interested in as although I'm not a religious man I do say a prayer every year at MOT and Service time, at some point I'll need to get a new car, public transport will only do so much for our needs

epwc wrote: ↑Thu May 23, 2024 2:26 pm

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Thu May 23, 2024 2:25 pmI have a similar argument going for my 21 year old petrol Ford Galaxy, keeping that on the road is far more eco-friendly than buying into the whole manufacturing and running a new electric vehicle, I think, though I'm very much open to correction on that.

Depends on your mileage I reckon

I was anti-electric cars until I had a go in a couple recently (including a £120k BMW IX60 which almost pulled my organs out it's so fast!) They just so smooth and calming to drive (slowly).
200 mile range is plenty for me. If I could afford the £40k+ asking price right now, I'd have one in a second.

Getting back into my petrol car was like chucking 10 milk crates down the stairs.

Sandstorm wrote: ↑Thu May 23, 2024 2:33 pm

epwc wrote: ↑Thu May 23, 2024 2:26 pm

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Thu May 23, 2024 2:25 pmI have a similar argument going for my 21 year old petrol Ford Galaxy, keeping that on the road is far more eco-friendly than buying into the whole manufacturing and running a new electric vehicle, I think, though I'm very much open to correction on that.

Depends on your mileage I reckon

I was anti-electric cars until I had a go in a couple recently (including a £120k BMW IX60 which almost pulled my organs out it's so fast!) They just so smooth and calming to drive (slowly).
200 mile range is plenty for me. If I could afford the £40k+ asking price right now, I'd have one in a second.

Getting back into my petrol car was like chucking 10 milk crates down the stairs.

Even if you're lucky enough to average 60mph on a UK motorway a 200 mile range is still three and a half hours of driving, anyone would need a break by then. I believe the charging infrastructure is still shite, though.

Sandstorm wrote: ↑Thu May 23, 2024 2:33 pmGetting back into my petrol car was like chucking 10 milk crates down the stairs.

Yep, we are all EV at home and in the firm

Sandstorm wrote: ↑Thu May 23, 2024 2:29 pm

Biffer wrote: ↑Thu May 23, 2024 12:53 pm a milk kettle

Hipster

Oh yeah. But a cooler, gen X hipster

Those Sage machines appear to cost about the same as my monthly salary in Turkey so I think I'll stick with my trusty Aeropress and handgrinder for the time being.

Sandstorm wrote: ↑Thu May 23, 2024 2:33 pm

epwc wrote: ↑Thu May 23, 2024 2:26 pm

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Thu May 23, 2024 2:25 pmI have a similar argument going for my 21 year old petrol Ford Galaxy, keeping that on the road is far more eco-friendly than buying into the whole manufacturing and running a new electric vehicle, I think, though I'm very much open to correction on that.

Depends on your mileage I reckon

I was anti-electric cars until I had a go in a couple recently (including a £120k BMW IX60 which almost pulled my organs out it's so fast!) They just so smooth and calming to drive (slowly).
200 mile range is plenty for me. If I could afford the £40k+ asking price right now, I'd have one in a second.

Getting back into my petrol car was like chucking 10 milk crates down the stairs.

My wife's Zoe is about 80 miles range, and that's plenty in town. Utterly insufficient for anything extra-urban, which is why we've also got a diesel.

We're still thinking PHEV for the next car, to keep the ability to use electric in town and petrol/diesel on longer.

inactionman wrote: ↑Thu May 23, 2024 4:25 pmWe're still thinking PHEV for the next car, to keep the ability to use electric in town and petrol/diesel on longer.

I've got a 58kWH Cupra Born, that gets me from Essex to Birmingham with about 30 miles to spare, Harrogate I have to stop at Newark for 20 mins to recharge.

That's the longest runs I do, for the rest of it I can go 2 weeks between charges. With the larger battery version I'd make it all the way to Harrogate, I've not really suffered range anxiety.

robmatic wrote: ↑Thu May 23, 2024 4:11 pm Those Sage machines appear to cost about the same as my monthly salary in Turkey so I think I'll stick with my trusty Aeropress and handgrinder for the time being.

I have a Sage dual boiler. Not bean to cup but I'm happy with it.

Caveat, they seem to require a fair bit of maintenance. I actually have 3 machines in various states of disrepair. Getting spare parts in the UK is harder than it should be (thanks to Sage deliberately witholding them)

I'm currently paying £28 a kilo for coffee. I discovered some time back that freshness of the roast is more important to me than whatever obscure varietal rolled on the thighs of virgins people are going nuts for this week.

epwc wrote: ↑Thu May 23, 2024 4:36 pm

inactionman wrote: ↑Thu May 23, 2024 4:25 pmWe're still thinking PHEV for the next car, to keep the ability to use electric in town and petrol/diesel on longer.

I've got a 58kWH Cupra Born, that gets me from Essex to Birmingham with about 30 miles to spare, Harrogate I have to stop at Newark for 20 mins to recharge.

That's the longest runs I do, for the rest of it I can go 2 weeks between charges. With the larger battery version I'd make it all the way to Harrogate, I've not really suffered range anxiety.

the journeys that would be tricky are the ones up to the Cairngorms and form Edinburgh to Norfolk (although there are a number rf fast chargers popping up on the A1, it's still a bit patchy at either end)

inactionman wrote: ↑Thu May 23, 2024 4:49 pmthe journeys that would be tricky are the ones up to the Cairngorms and form Edinburgh to Norfolk (although there are a number rf fast chargers popping up on the A1, it's still a bit patchy at either end)

Yeah, range and number of fast chargers getting better all the time though. I guess for 90+% of drivers there's no issue now

inactionman wrote: ↑Thu May 23, 2024 4:49 pm

epwc wrote: ↑Thu May 23, 2024 4:36 pm

inactionman wrote: ↑Thu May 23, 2024 4:25 pmWe're still thinking PHEV for the next car, to keep the ability to use electric in town and petrol/diesel on longer.

I've got a 58kWH Cupra Born, that gets me from Essex to Birmingham with about 30 miles to spare, Harrogate I have to stop at Newark for 20 mins to recharge.

That's the longest runs I do, for the rest of it I can go 2 weeks between charges. With the larger battery version I'd make it all the way to Harrogate, I've not really suffered range anxiety.

the journeys that would be tricky are the ones up to the Cairngorms and form Edinburgh to Norfolk (although there are a number rf fast chargers popping up on the A1, it's still a bit patchy at either end)

I remember "range anxiety" from my childhood in my grandfather's car in the Highlands in the 70s, due to the availability and hours of business of petrol stations

epwc wrote: ↑Thu May 23, 2024 4:53 pm

inactionman wrote: ↑Thu May 23, 2024 4:49 pmthe journeys that would be tricky are the ones up to the Cairngorms and form Edinburgh to Norfolk (although there are a number rf fast chargers popping up on the A1, it's still a bit patchy at either end)

Yeah, range and number of fast chargers getting better all the time though. I guess for 90+% of drivers there's no issue now

I have a 60kwh BEV in NZ. Similar size country and distances with a fraction of the population. We are seeing steady rollout of fast chargers across the country and I've done a couple of 1300km runs across the North Island. I don't see the need for a hybrid myself and the idea of dragging around two propulsion / fuel systems seems ridiculous. On top of that... the analogy Sandstorm draws about throwing milk crates down the stairs is apt. After 37000km in the BEV, the thought of going back to any ICE vehicle is laughable. The driving experience is just that good.

I’ve got a Melitta bean to cup, it’s a treat to myself and I love a fresh espresso in the morning and then latte through the day.

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Thu May 23, 2024 2:25 pm

Uncle fester wrote: ↑Thu May 23, 2024 1:52 pm

laurent wrote: ↑Thu May 23, 2024 12:53 pm

Pods are rip offs
I will get bean to cup when my current machine (delonghi) dies (it's over 10 years old and unlikely to keel over for same amount of time). I use a grinder cause I like to put coffee everywhere

Also bad for environment.
Delonghi magnificia Evo is what we have in work. Makes a fine cup of coffee once you tune the settings.

meh, aluminium is very recyclable, as far as I'm aware there are no limits to how many times it can be re-used. The majority of greenhouse gases associated with a cup of coffee come in the growing of the beans, the amount of coffee and water wasted in other methods of making a cup of coffee mean that pods can actually be more eco-friendly.

I used to have a Delonghi home barista type machine and I could never get a coffee that resembled the ones I make now. I had my previous pod machine about ten years before it gave up the ghost a couple of years ago, the current one is still going strong so I'm not replacing it and incurring the associated carbon footprint cost with buying new every couple of years. I have a similar argument going for my 21 year old petrol Ford Galaxy, keeping that on the road is far more eco-friendly than buying into the whole manufacturing and running a new electric vehicle, I think, though I'm very much open to correction on that.

Do you separate the pod from coffee, clean the pod and then put it in recycling? Fair play to you if you do but most don't.

Uncle fester wrote: ↑Thu May 23, 2024 9:00 pm

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Thu May 23, 2024 2:25 pm

Uncle fester wrote: ↑Thu May 23, 2024 1:52 pm

Also bad for environment.
Delonghi magnificia Evo is what we have in work. Makes a fine cup of coffee once you tune the settings.

meh, aluminium is very recyclable, as far as I'm aware there are no limits to how many times it can be re-used. The majority of greenhouse gases associated with a cup of coffee come in the growing of the beans, the amount of coffee and water wasted in other methods of making a cup of coffee mean that pods can actually be more eco-friendly.

I used to have a Delonghi home barista type machine and I could never get a coffee that resembled the ones I make now. I had my previous pod machine about ten years before it gave up the ghost a couple of years ago, the current one is still going strong so I'm not replacing it and incurring the associated carbon footprint cost with buying new every couple of years. I have a similar argument going for my 21 year old petrol Ford Galaxy, keeping that on the road is far more eco-friendly than buying into the whole manufacturing and running a new electric vehicle, I think, though I'm very much open to correction on that.

Do you separate the pod from coffee, clean the pod and then put it in recycling? Fair play to you if you do but most don't.

I do, I use this https://www.dualit.com/products/ecopres ... e-recycler

Pushing the coffee out of the pod in this is actually a very satisfying thing to do, then I wash the spent pods with used washing up water (I don't have a dishwasher)

I can recommend Jura. Not cheap but very excellent.

epwc wrote: ↑Thu May 23, 2024 4:36 pm

inactionman wrote: ↑Thu May 23, 2024 4:25 pmWe're still thinking PHEV for the next car, to keep the ability to use electric in town and petrol/diesel on longer.

I've got a 58kWH Cupra Born, that gets me from Essex to Birmingham with about 30 miles to spare, Harrogate I have to stop at Newark for 20 mins to recharge.

That's the longest runs I do, for the rest of it I can go 2 weeks between charges. With the larger battery version I'd make it all the way to Harrogate, I've not really suffered range anxiety.

Range is so speed related though my ≈60kWH leaf will get like 200 miles range doing local urban driving above like 60mph and the range just dies. Due to this still have a big diesel estate. As most driving is short range the vast majority of miles are on the electric.

Get a moka pot and stop being a wanker.

We "fell for it" and got a De'Longhi Magnifica Evo a year or so ago.

Positives:
- It is easy. Chuck in a bag of beans, press a button and you have a nice coffee. There is faff to it, but less that using a cafetiere for example. The ground bean drawer needs emptied every 10-15 cups, you can get away with emptying the drip tray at the same time. Water tank needs re-filled. Filters need changing/machine de-scaled every few months or so.
- The smell. If you love the smell of coffee then be prepared to press the button and stand by the machine just to take in the smell. Also, opening a fresh bag of beans is probably the best coffee smell.
- The variety of beans is almost endless. More on this below though.
- Their milk frother device type things does a good job, best if washed after each use.
- It has a seperate option to use ground beans too. Quite useful if you have someone who drinks full coffee and someone who drinks decaffe for example.
- You don't have to leave the last mouthful because it won't be a mouthful of ground beans.

Negatives:
- I get sucked in by the bean marketing basically every week. "Oooo.... this one says it tastes of dark chocolate and caramel". It doesn't.
- The expense doesn't end with the machine purchase, as mentioned above with filter replacement/de-scaling etc.
- Be prepared for guests to not be able to use it. You'll find them standing by the machine in the morning with an expression like they are trying to solve a quadratic equation, usually muttering something like "What's wrong with a cafetiere?"
- It might just be me and the beans that I but, but I felt like I got more different flavours from my old pod machine.