Been given a coffee machine for my wedding anniversary by the wife which was a bit of a surprise as she doesn't drink it herself. Its a DeLonghi EXAM5600, so it will take either beans or preground. I've been drinking instant for years like a pleb so have no idea what to buy to go in it!
I generally like my coffee white and reasonably strong but do take it black whenever I get the chance to have 'proper' coffee elsewhere. Any recommendations?
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Coffee-which one am bestest?
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Posted 12 months ago #
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Hot Lava Java. It'll put hairs on your chest.
Posted 12 months ago # -
I am guessing this is an espresso type machine. If so, and if you plan on buying pre-ground coffee, just make sure you buy stuff marked 'espresso'. It will be ground more finely, which is what you need for an espresso maker for various reasons.
Beyond that, it's a question of taste. Personally I don't like anything roasted too far on grounds of flavour. My favourite espresso is M&S espresso, and it's half the price of Illy.
Posted 12 months ago # -
if it's an espresso machine then it's got to be Lavazza coffee
if its any other type then shop around and see what you like.
Posted 12 months ago # -
Hell fire. Do you mean ESAM 5600?
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Delonghi-Perfecta-ESAM5600-Graphic-Machine/dp/B003DPSPE2
That's a lot of machine.
Posted 12 months ago # -
*sits down with a nice cup of tea to await the niche-tastic one-upmanship that occurs with these coffee threads*
Posted 12 months ago # -
Well, you've opened the gates of needless arsiness early, which is as good a start as any.
Posted 12 months ago # -
That's a lot of machine.
That's what I thought...!
Posted 12 months ago # -
Just buy some stuff and try some stuff. Find a local roaster if you can and try fresher coffee. What is lovely to you may be poo to someone else. Obviously, if it is civet poo then accept it!
Posted 12 months ago # -
Find your local Italin/French deli. Get trying 'em out! My local does a lovely blend for me.
Posted 12 months ago # -
Lavazza is good. Illy is better (but stupidly expensive these days) - I couldn't afford to drink it as my daily tipple.
Is there a coffee shop somewhere in town whose coffee you like? Most of them will sell bags of their blend of coffee.
Nice piece of kit by the way.
(If you like something strong, I'd suggest trying a blend of Java & Mocha. Java as a single blend can be a bit of a kick but the Mocha smoothes it out. That's as anal as I'm going to get
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Posted 12 months ago # -
Illy is better (but stupidly expensive these days) - I couldn't afford to drink it as my daily tipple.
Buy it once then keep the metal tin to keep subsequent inferior brands in and wow your guests with your seemingly opulent lifestyle.
Posted 12 months ago # -
You'll want whole beans for that, since it grinds them itself within the machine. You can get some in most supermarkets, couldn't judge them as I've not tried any, but wasn't particularly impressed with any pre-ground stuff I've tried like Illy or Lavazza.
We've got an independant roaster who sells on Salisbury market who I use a lot. Have to say though, I've had beans from somewhere online ( maybe Happy Donkey?) and that was a cut above anything I've had before. You have to buy in reasonably quantities to make it cheaper though I'd say.
Posted 12 months ago # -
+1 for the lot in Salisbury market.
Posted 12 months ago # -
Illy is better (but stupidly expensive these days) - I couldn't afford to drink it as my daily tipple.Buy it once then keep the metal tin to keep subsequent inferior brands in and wow your guests with your seemingly opulent lifestyle.
Damn
With my limited knowledge and skill combined with a budget maker, Lavazza pre ground is the most consistent and tasty
Posted 12 months ago # -
Talk to him about sailing Flashie, and you'll be there until the market shuts!
Posted 12 months ago # -
With my limited knowledge and skill combined with a budget maker, Lavazza pre ground is the most consistent and tasty
also the no.1 seller in italy.
but i'm sure they know nothing about it.
Posted 12 months ago # -
He sails? Oh man, that sounds dangerous! Trips to town take an age these days! Just getting out of Stonehenge isa mission in itself!
Posted 12 months ago # -
the niche-tastic one-upmanship
And as night follows day...
Posted 12 months ago # -
i prefer coffee made from ground beans that have been shit out by a rhino then eaten by a pelican and then dried out and fine ground. if not lavvazza will do
Posted 12 months ago # -
Am besten? Lidl GranArom.
Posted 12 months ago # -
also the no.1 seller in italy.
Stella Artois is the best selling lager in the UK, but I'd not recommend it to anyone. Caffe Kimbo is the best selling coffee in the Naples area - I'd recommend that if you want a belting cup of espresso.
Posted 12 months ago # -
Personally I'd get Lavazza or Ily (in bean format) to get started. Its good middle of the road, its also widely available and consistent. Use that to get good at making coffee with your machine - then start buying other stuff and see how its different and use those differences to guide you towards what you prefer. Buy different new beans before the old ones have run out and then you've got better comparisons to make.
Buying beans from a local cafe you like is an idea - but don't get carried away, they'll have chosen the beans to suit their kit, what tastes great when they make it might not work out when you make stuff yourself with it. Fell for that recently when had a particularly nice cup from a local cafe - asked to buy some of the beans and they offered me about 50gms in a little paper bag. Wanted something bigger and as they didn't have any other paper bags ended up walking out the shop £20 lighter with a 2kg catering bag under my arm. Couldn't get a good cuppa out of the stuff to save my life, although trying to improved my coffee making a good bit.
Posted 12 months ago # -
Personally like Jamaican Blue Mountain beans, but I prefer ground to espresso.
Posted 12 months ago # -
Hot Lava Java. It'll put hairs on your chest.
It'll certainly make your pupils twitch and talk gibberish. First cup is 'interesting'
Posted 12 months ago # -
if it's an espresso machine then it's got to be Lavazza coffee
really? mass produced and past it's best by the time it gets to you.
*sits down with a nice cup of tea to await the niche-tastic one-upmanship that occurs with these coffee threads*
nothing wrong with using recently roasted (in small batches) beans from a coffee retailer like hasbean, monmouth etc that tastes better than old
lavazza monmouth/hasbean/square mile house blend expresso is much better (imho) and the same price or cheaper.illy smells great when you open the packet but stale after a few hours because it's old coffee.
Posted 12 months ago # -
Happy Donkey sell very good beans, low cost if you buy about £30 worth and the postage gets split between the 10 packs.
Otherwise http://www.azorieblue.com/ and http://www.hasbean.co.uk/ do good beans too but the advantage with happy donkey is the courier they use gives very accurate delivery times.
Brans are 100 times better thabn pre ground.
Posted 12 months ago # -
+1 to what MrSmith said.
Beans from the decent roasters are about 20 quid a kilo, cheaper than Illy & loads fresher. You'll notice the difference.
If you're in that London, pay a trip to one of Monmouth's shops. Their organic espresso blend is my personal favourite.
Posted 12 months ago # -
It's getting nichier by the post.
Posted 12 months ago # -
Whats the big deal with illy - only ever had it at illy coffee shops in france and i must say bitter - very bitter !
Hot java lava is what kept me alert when i worked in africa - 14 hour shifts wired !!!!
I like taylors cafe brazilla in my cafetiere - but tastes different when done at pressure
Posted 12 months ago # -
home roasting green beans and modifying your machine is 'niche'.
picking up some fresh roasted beans on the way home or ordering them over the internet is just good coffee.Posted 12 months ago # -
home roasting green beans and modifying your machine is 'niche'.
Am considering machining the bottom off my filter to save £27
And the mate who gave me the beans from the net has roasted before and considering doing it again, which I'm encouraging.And finally, the bloke who runs the coffee stall on the market used to work for Monmouth Coffee, just to complete the circle of nicheness.
Posted 12 months ago # -
trailmonkey - Member
Illy is better (but stupidly expensive these days) - I couldn't afford to drink it as my daily tipple.
Buy it once then keep the metal tin to keep subsequent inferior brands in and wow your guests with your seemingly opulent lifestyle.Oh ****, busted!
Anyway, the first beans I bought were the cheapest M&S beans I could get, TBH they were nicer than the rest of the supermarket available stuff I can find, well bar Illy, but that's expensive
Posted 12 months ago # -
I've been getting my Coffee beans from Small Batch Coffee recently and I really like both blends I've tried so far. Great service and quick delivery from them every time.
Posted 12 months ago #
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