Thread: Coffee Enthusiasts

Grinders are absolutely key to great espresso. I will take my $200 Lido E-T hand grinder (conical burr-set) over the $1,000 Mazzer Mini (planar burr-set) any day of the week. The conical grind profile helps produce better extraction with less bitterness.

Stepless grind adjustment is also preferred for OCD home baristas.

Originally Posted by Speedster

Grinders are absolutely key to great espresso. I will take my $200 Lido E-T hand grinder (conical burr-set) over the $1,000 Mazzer Mini (planar burr-set) any day of the week. The conical grind profile helps produce better extraction with less bitterness.

Stepless grind adjustment is also preferred for OCD home baristas.

The only problem with a hand grinder unless you have one of those huge commercial jobs is it works too slow and some of the coffee essence evaporates before brewing. Coffee should be ground as fast as possible (with care) or at least that's what some super coffee geek once told me.

Still chasing that perfect shot of Espresso here............

Trying to tune in my grinder, still a bit bitter. But nowhere near as bad as it was, just still not perfect.
Yes, my OCD makes me strive for perfection.

Richard, once again thanks for the link to that book. IT arrived and I've read it for the first time.
I need to read things like that a couple times to really get all the info processed.
But it sure has helped me get things going in the right direction I feel

Aloha!

Been so busy the last few months have not posted here, and had to temporarily convert from straight razors to DE. This weekend I'll actually do my first STRAIGHT shave in a few months.

HOWEVER, I do notice the one thing I don't compromise on is coffee. Every morning no matter how busy or pushed for time, I get up a little earlier just so I can enjoy a cup of Espresso with extra milk. More of a "Flat White" than a Latte, but whatever you want to call it, it is an espresso based cup. I don't seem to enjoy regular coffee as much as I used to, and I make the effort to do an espresso prepared cup.

I use a Moka Pot every morning to make my brew. I have these Japanese aluminum pots (one 4 cup one 8 cup) handy;

The Osaka Moka Pot

They are great, however, I am a bit concerned (right or wrong) that I'm preparing espresso every day in aluminum. There is a bit of research out there that preparing food or beverage in aluminum is linked to Alzheimer's disease. So I'm contemplating going with a copper/stainless pot. Like this one;

Bonvivo Intenca Copper and Stainless Moka Pot

Once you master the Moka Pot (and it's simple to master), it makes a fine cup of Espresso.

-Zip

I wouldn't worry about aluminum: the metal itself is quickly (even before the first use) covered by aluminum oxide, which unlike the rust on iron doesn't "eat" into the metal but stays only on the surface and acts as a protective layer. It doesn't come off into the food. Moreover, as any Moka lover knows, you don't wash off the oily coffee residue from the inside of your pot, and this is an additional layer of protection. On the other hand, aluminum is a better heat conductor - so the aluminum pot should be better for coffee preparation.
The bottom line: the entire nation of Italy can't be wrong Use the aluminum one, and just don't rub it too hard when washing.

Originally Posted by dimab

I wouldn't worry about aluminum: the metal itself is quickly (even before the first use) covered by aluminum oxide, which unlike the rust on iron doesn't "eat" into the metal but stays only on the surface and acts as a protective layer. It doesn't come off into the food. Moreover, as any Moka lover knows, you don't wash off the oily coffee residue from the inside of your pot, and this is an additional layer of protection. On the other hand, aluminum is a better heat conductor - so the aluminum pot should be better for coffee preparation.
The bottom line: the entire nation of Italy can't be wrong Use the aluminum one, and just don't rub it too hard when washing.

I totally agree with you and have thought about that. Yet my doctor was aghast when I told him that I was making espresso in Aluminum. He begged me to switch. He said he won't even drink pop or beer from aluminum cans. His concern is that I'm using it 365 days a year like clockwork. And I am.

The jury is still out on this. 50 percent say don't use aluminum at all. 50 percent say it's safe. Who knows. One thing I do know is I love the look of that copper/stainless Moka pot. I will get it just because it looks great and use it anyway. Even though my aluminum moka pot is by now covered with a rich patina of coffee. Because of course I NEVER wash it out!

Then, in 10 years I'll read a report saying Aluminum is the safe metal after all. Stainless and Copper are the culprits for Aizheimer's! Ha. Wouldn't surprise me.

-zip

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

The only problem with a hand grinder unless you have one of those huge commercial jobs is it works too slow and some of the coffee essence evaporates before brewing. Coffee should be ground as fast as possible (with care) or at least that's what some super coffee geek once told me.

It takes me a minute to grind a dose of coffee in my Lido hand grinder. I am extremely skeptical that someone can detect a taste difference in a coffee dose taking 60 seconds to hand grind versus 10 seconds in an electric grinder.

Besides, an electric grinder imparts heat to the quickly ground beans which also has a negative effect on brew quality.

I was merely attempting to point out that planar grinders are (by design) inferior to conicals for great tasting espresso.

Well, just read a very good detailed review of the Elektra MicroCasa Lever machine I have.
I believe some of the bitterness I've been trying to alleviate is the coffee I've been using.
According to the review/write, up by a very experienced lever user, this machine will favor City to City+ roasts. Not the dark roasts I've been using.
Nice to know, and since I just roasted beans today, tomorrow morning will be a good test as I roast to City/+ roast.

Originally Posted by ZipZop

One thing I do know is I love the look of that copper/stainless Moka pot. I will get it just because it looks great and use it anyway.

Now this is the true (and very good) reason to switch the pots I'm all for getting what your heart desires.

Just to make you more comfortable with your old one, read this. According to it, there is much more risk in taking some chrome from your SS cookware than aluminum from your Moka pot (which is anodized/oxidized BTW). Moreover, this medical research shows that from each cup of aluminum stave-top coffee you are getting less than 1% of WHO daily allowed dosage of aluminum intake. You are getting more of it from aspirin, processed cheese, deodorant, and sometimes even plain drinking water.

All in all, you don't need to worry about the aluminum pot, but this should definitely not stop you from getting the new one - it does look great

Originally Posted by Dieseld

Well, just read a very good detailed review of the Elektra MicroCasa Lever machine I have.
I believe some of the bitterness I've been trying to alleviate is the coffee I've been using.
According to the review/write, up by a very experienced lever user, this machine will favor City to City+ roasts. Not the dark roasts I've been using.
Nice to know, and since I just roasted beans today, tomorrow morning will be a good test as I roast to City/+ roast.

Also, keep in mind some coffee is better matched for espresso than others. Make sure the one you are using is a good match.