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Just bought an Aeropress to see if they’re as good as everyone on here seems to think they are. So where is best to buy the coffee? I don’t think a can be bothered to grind my own (unless that sort of behaviour is going to get me a ban!) So until I see the error of my ways and buy some fancy grinding thingy does anyone care to recommend me an online coffee supplier?
Ta.
Lavazza red...or black if you can justify it, if buying from a supermarket.
If going poncey and online try one that does an aeropress grind* - I think Hasbean does.
*On my grinder espresso is a 1**, AeroPress is a 3, pour over 5 and french press 8 - yes, I am that sad
** who am I kidding, it depends how old the beans are, it might be a 1h if fresh, right down to a 1a if a couple of weeks old. Did I say I've lost it to the coffee gods?
Well I’ve been using a Nespresso Vertuo for the last few years and I’m getting fed up of the foam that is supposed to be crema. Plus I’m trying to recreate the stuff that I get in several cafes but without spending £1500. I like a flat white and a lot of it, I’m not an espresso drinker at all… The Nespresso is costing me a fortune and I hate what comes out of a French press ….
Aldi coffee is pretty decent and a fraction of the price of anything else. There's better out there, but if you want the best you really have to grind. Pre-ground always tastes a bit stale.
No local artisanal roasters nearby? Mind you, that will make the Nespresso seem cheap 😂
Oh go on then - recommend me a grinder as well - I bloody knew it would be futile to resist (not that I’m putting up much resistance). I’m soon to be off down the rabbit hole that is aiming for coffee perfection. Mrs OS is going to go bonkers, she doesn’t drink coffee at all. Ever. 🙄😂
Oh go on then – recommend me a grinder as well
How bad are your habits? i.e. how many coffees a day are we looking at here? And, how....."trained" is your "best" arm. If the answer to the former is not every hour and the latter is 'a healthy habit' you sir, might be just the man for a porlex hand grinder. My van has both an aeropress and a porlex - they are the perfect combination as long as your coffee habit has not gone beyond 3-4 a day. Personally I don't think an aeropress justifies a grinder - but I like the whole 'ritual' of grinding and pressing.
I’m afraid I’m definitely in the 4+ camp most days and my first is around 5am. I’m going to need a combination of pre and freshly ground as I definitely can’t be grinding coffee at that hour and especially not if any electricity is involved due to what I imagine is a noise similar driving a lawnmower over gravel…..
Perhaps I’ll just try pre ground for now and see how much better it is than the Nespresso….
Start of with the Lavazza Red and go from there, once you have got the hang of the Aeropress then start to experiment.
I have a Knock Aergrind to go with my Aeropress, it grinds pretty quickly so not a big issue even early in the morning. It's gone up in price recently soess of a good deal so a 1zpresso Q2 might be a better bet depending on how much you want to spend. It's best to avoid ceramic burrs like on cheaper grinders.
Pre ground coffee is usually too coarse to create pressure when you press the plunger. So you could use the upside down method for aeropress. But yes get a grinder.
I have this one. It's good enough for Aeropress.
Krups GVX231 Expert Burr Grinder, Black/Silver https://amzn.eu/d/6LLOJRl
Plus I’m trying to recreate the stuff that I get in several cafes but without spending £1500.
An Aeropress is not going to make you an espresso like you'd get in a shop. It'll make a slightly stronger version of what you'd get from a French press (hint is in the name). Only this time, with a slight plastic aftertaste.
Camping, the Aeropress is a God-send, I wouldn't bother with it otherwise
200° will grind it how you want, as do 47°, and both have postal delivery.
Our local artisansal roasters aren't original with names.
Camping, the Aeropress is a God-send, I wouldn’t bother with it otherwise
I would. It makes decent enough coffee, better IMO than a cafetière, and no more faff. In fact less, because it's quicker.
It makes decent enough coffee
That's an arguable point, right there.
That’s an arguable point, right there.
Indeed, but as I'm sure you're no doubt aware, people's standards vary hugely. So I reckon that for 99.999% of people Aeropress makes a decent cup. From what the OP has said I don't think they're in the 0.001% of coffee connoisseurs. I'm certainly not, on purpose.
🗣 "Coffee snobs to the forum!"
I been using an aeropress for coming up for 7 years. It’s the cheapest thing in my coffee set up. A massive upgrade on a French press for me (both in taste and faff).
I’ve been buying coffee from the same place for, oh, 25 years I guess (Macbeans in Aberdeen). It’s definitely not a cheap option!
I’ve a Knock grinder. Again, not cheap. With the recent price hike for the aergrind you might as well go whole hog and go for the Feld47. I have one of these. It’s bigger than you need and over engineered to shit but is a thing of beauty. I actually enjoy grinding my beans... 🤪
You’ll also need an airtight bean container/storage.
I’m a bit OCD over my coffee ‘ritual’ so much so when I go visit people I take my ‘works’ with me.... it works for me.
You're just going to get a big list of coffee brands mixed in with people telling you none of this is good enough.
I don't mean to sound like a dick, but there's loads out there to try, you just need to keep going until you find what you like! I'm always picking up stuff I've never had before.
Personally, I don't have a grinder and I use the aeropress inverted to brew a mugs worth of coffee in one go. It's good enough for me.
Favourite coffee is Dark woods, but rave, hasbean and Atkinson's are all good as well. Booths Kenyan and any Ethiopian I can get my hands on are always worth trying.
And if you just want cheap, Costa pre-ground is usually available for £2.50 a bag at Tesco! (Ooooo.... Controversial! 😜🤫)
I am on my 2nd one after a recommendation on here many years ago. No expert but the coffee is always good. I received a grinder about 4 years ago and for xmas (A Delonghi burr grinder) and tend to buy beans from Tesco/Aldo. Tried a few online "artisan" types but found them expensive and no better than the stuff off the shelf.
What the **** is a French press?
If you mean cafetiere then just say cafetiere.
I buy pre-ground Italian blend from Tesco own brand.
It's absolutely lovely in my eyes. Well, not literally in my eyes you understand.
I keep it in the fridge when open which possibly maybe slightly appeases the coffee dictators.
I can rarely bear to drink the stuff you get when you're out-out as it's always dishwater and bitter compared to what I make ime.
I don't know who's wrong. 🤔
If you mean cafetiere then just say cafetiere.
or a piston press, or stantuffo, or presspot, or plunger. Cafetiere is no more "correct" than any really.
Pre ground coffee is usually too coarse to create pressure when you press the plunger
Can someone please explain this to MrsMC - "I bought you this ground coffee as it was cheap/looked interesting/whatever, even though you've told me it isn't fine enough for the aeropress"
I seem to recall James Hoffman (youtube, great coffee content), really doesnt rate a cheapy blade grinder, but still rates it over supermarket ground coffee.
If you can grind your own beans, even if they are supermarket ones, it will be better than pre ground.
I picked up this bur grinder from a friend:
https://www.delonghi.com/en-gb/kg79-kg-series-grinder/p/KG79
And while its cheap ish, it is CLEARLY better than the blade grinder that preceded it. You can get a nice consistent, fine ish grind for the aeropress.
Ive got nothing fancier to compare it to, but im getting on well with it.
Worth just trying a local search. I discovered one just round the corner from me operating out of a (nice) shed in their garden. I take my own tin round to fill up so, although relatively expensive coffee, I get a discount for saving them the postage and packaging.
"https://www.google.co.uk/maps/search/coffee+roasters+near+me/"
What the **** is a French press?
If you mean cafetiere then just say cafetiere.
It's got multiple names. Sorry if this is difficult for you but it's true 🙂
local artisanal roasters
Well, I know a few folk I could apply that label to...
Yeah, it has to be said lot's of the Art Is Anal crowd make some pretty poor coffee. I generally use either Lavazza pre ground or Segafredo. Both of which are perfectly acceptable in a press on in a moka. Neither make for good espresso though.
I’m afraid you’re going to need a Knock Aergrind if you want to participate further in this discussion. Sorry, but them’s the breaks.
You may be lucky, as I was, and get a “factory seconds” one with some invisible cosmetic defect at a considerable discount.
It’s got multiple names. Sorry if this is difficult for you but it’s true 🙂
Only one of which is standard use in the UK. The other is just used by yanks and pretentious pillocks.
Kinda ironic that in this case the French version is the less pretentious version 😄
Find one you like. Fresh ground will always be a better option, but live within your means and enjoy what you have.
For reference I am a coffee snob (in my opinion I like good coffee made well), it's not a bad thing to be able to identify something you like vs something that could be better.
Niche Zero, Flair Pro2, Aeropress, Airscape vacuum canisters (one for regular, one for decaf).
Oooh another coffee snob thread 😀
I got rid of my Krups burr grinder and got a Timemore C2 hand grinder (~£50). Immediately and obviously better tasting and more consistent coffee. I wouldn't bother with cheap electric grinders, if I'm just making one cup at a time I can grind by hand in less time than the kettle takes to boil. Plus it's much smaller and easier to clean.
Tried Lavazza Red and some other supermarket beans and they're really unpleasant. I guess some people like the burnt flavour.
Only one of which is standard use in the UK. The other is just used by yanks and pretentious pillocks.
One is considerably easier to spell and pronounce. I had a speech impediment as a kid, so it’s a French press for me thankyouverymuch. In the same way that binoculars are field glasses (™️Adventure Kit circa 1973).
Didn’t realise the king of the world mantle™️ was already reallocated...
Only one of which is standard use in the UK
Not really. But y'know no one is getting wound up about this but you, call it what ever you want. I'll do likewise thanks
Only one of which is standard use in the UK. The other is just used by yanks and pretentious pillocks.
A wholesome contribution to the thread, keep it up.
Tried Lavazza Red and some other supermarket beans and they’re really unpleasant.
The fact something is bought in a supermarket doesn't mean much, so to the OP don't be put off. For example there are lots of rarified brands in my local Waitrose, it's a great selection and some of it is lovely. Currently have a cup of Ueshima house blend. But the fact it's from Waitrose also doesn't mean much, because this particular store doesn't seem to sell a lot so some of the fancy beans were roasted 5 months ago. The freshest ones I suspect (they don't print the date) are the Asda own brand Extra Special beans. Yes, you heard me - ASDA!
Just work your way through what's on offer and see what you like. You're only losing three or four quid a pop.
It wasn't intended as some anti supermarket statement, that's where nearly all my food comes from.
Problem is supermarkets don't treat coffee as a fresh good but as something that can sit in a warehouse for ages, and it really tastes better fresh. Also not burnt.
I'm not a coffee snob, but I do follow James Hoffman's youtube and have used his advice for my aeropress and v60 coffee making
It's worth understanding the differences between different coffee beans and growing areas.
Lavazza is Robusta, which is also used in things like instant coffee. It has 2x the amount of caffeine and is usually dark roasted to hide the lower quality bean used.
Some artisanal Robusta coffee can be nice but it's few and far between.
Arabica is the most common 'proper' coffee sold. The number covers the roasting level which weirdly starts at 3 for lightest roast (for that brand). Better quality beans can be lightly roasted, dark roasting can hide lower quality beans.
Even though it's the same plant the region it's grown in can dramatically change the characteristics of the beans. I really like lightly roasted Ethiopian coffee; some may like heavily roasted Columbian. YMMV
Do a bit of experimenting and you'll find what works for you? I can make a decent coffee out in the middle of nowhere, or in my kitchen just as easily now
Also not burnt.
There are dark and light roasts available in supermarkets. I quite like a dark roast paired with milk, personally.
hand grinding is a ballache - its fun to start with but its gets boring fast.
and i cant really tell the difference between a fresh mice bean cheapo electric grind and a hand grind.
i can tell if its pre-ground though so definately grind your own.
My cheapo worktop espresso machine makes much nicer coffee than the aeropress. but the aeropress is suitable for those times when you cant be arsed with the faff/camping. Its definately not the same.
yeah, there is a place near me where you can pick beans up that've been fresh roasted that morning. The difference is incredible, you can actually pick out the normally-bullshit flavour notes in the same way as good wine, imperial stouts, etc.Problem is supermarkets don’t treat coffee as a fresh good but as something that can sit in a warehouse for ages, and it really tastes better fresh.
Trouble is the price is 3-4 times that of supermarket beans, so it's an occasional treat only!!
I like the aero press but defo camping only for me. Normally pair it with the above beans though!but the aeropress is suitable for those times when you cant be arsed with the faff/camping
I use one of these for the office, grind enough for a few days and leave it and the Aeropress in my locker.
I got an Aeropress to use in the caravan, just because the 'puck' makes it easier to clean than a cafatiere. It makes no better or worse coffee than a cafatiere though.
Either my taste buds are weird or I'm not a snob but I've tried all sorts of grinds/makes & IMO (like someone mentioned) Aldi's 'best' is really good at a fraction of the price of lots of others. I mean, I saw some in a deli in Norfork that was £10 for 227 (?)gms but there's no way its £6.02 better than Aldi's £3.98 stuff, IN MY OPINION.
Grinding? Yeah I like grinding my own in this 60 yr old thing. All I need to do is get the handle off so I can attach a cordless drill to the shaft.
Storage? Anyone use those containers that Rave sell, the ones that purge the air out? Any good or gimmicky?
I'm hand grinder curious 😱
I have an aeropress and usually just go for lavazza ground stuff, I should get decaf blue, bit often get red. I only have one, maybe two a day and not everyday. Will a cheap (£10-£15) hand grinder off Amazon do?
And can you get decaf beans easily, like in a supermarket (access to Lidl and Asda) A local coffee roaster is selling decaf beans at £9 per 200g which I'll not be paying.