dorkroast Senior Member Joined: 3 Oct 2012 Posts: 78 Location: CA Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Gaggia Classic Grinder: Mazzer Mini Roaster: Popcorn Pumper
Posted Wed Oct 31, 2012, 9:46pm Subject: Can't make a bad espresso- Loving my new hobby.
So I finally received my new Gaggia Classic.
I was a bit scared of crappy espresso. I'd purchased drinks from several local shops and the espresso was always pretty poor. Two cups were exceptionally poor and both were from local shops who roast their own beans and claim to be experts in espresso. One was bad enough that I poured it out after one sip- it was so sour there was no way I could stomach it.
So while I'm waiting the week for my machine to arrive I read all there is to read here and elsewhere. If you read the forums, it makes it sound like decent espresso is nearly impossible to make without years of experience, growing/roasting your own beans, a million dollar machine, and a PhD in bean science.
I was afraid my espresso would truly suck but was prepared to practice to make it great.
My first espresso drink was made with fairly good beans but a horrible blade grinder. The grind was uneven and the espresso was out of the machine in probably 10 seconds. I sipped it preparing to die a horrible death but it turns out it was pretty decent- actually better than anything I had purchased.
I figured maybe it was the beans....so I used some old Peets Espresso Roast beans I'd had for a couple of weeks in order to practice more. Again, still better than any espresso I had purchased, using old cheapish beans and a blade grinder.
I used my home roasted beans which had been roasted a few days earlier...again, a horribly uneven grind, 10 second shot....again, quite good.
I made my wife a mocha (her favorite drink). She's quite the critic when it comes to her drinks....she loved it, downed it, and asked for another.
I made several caps, mochas, and lattes.... all turned out really good- better than what I buy at local shops....
So now I'm just here to thank everyone for sharing their espresso knowledge. I've made some truly great drinks and am extremely happy with my purchase.
My new grinder just showed up today and I finally got it dialed in to my machine... I can't wait to play with it more and add espresso to every morning.
I hope everyone has the coffee gods smile on them, as they've smiled on me. Thanks for all the help folks!
NobbyR Senior Member Joined: 10 Jul 2011 Posts: 1,608 Location: Germany Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Poccino Opus One, Ariete Grinder: Eureka Mignon Istantaneo,... Vac Pot: N/A Drip: Melitta Linea Unica de Luxe Roaster: N/A
Posted Wed Oct 31, 2012, 10:32pm Subject: Re: Can't make a bad espresso- Loving my new hobby.
Congratulations on your new set-up, and I'm glad you enjoy your espresso. After all that's what really counts, that you like the taste in your cup.
However, that espresso must have been horribly underextracted. It makes you wonder about the quality of the drinks you got served at those shops you mentioned. Or maybe you just like your caffè that way better?
By the way, did you use the pressurized portafilter that comes with the Classic as a standard?
*** "This drink of the Satan is so delicious that it would be a shame to leave it to the infidels." (Pope Clement VIII on coffee)
emradguy Senior Member Joined: 31 Mar 2011 Posts: 1,713 Location: Houston Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Izzo Alex Duetto II Grinder: MacapM4T, Macap M4, OE Lido,... Drip: Espro press; Aeropress Roaster: internet
Posted Thu Nov 1, 2012, 7:50am Subject: Re: Can't make a bad espresso- Loving my new hobby.
Awesome to hear, your story! Glad we could help too. Please stay on board here, keep us posted how your progress, ask questions, and most importantly share your experiences with other newbies.
Looking forward to hearing what grinder you got as well.
dorkroast Senior Member Joined: 3 Oct 2012 Posts: 78 Location: CA Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Gaggia Classic Grinder: Mazzer Mini Roaster: Popcorn Pumper
Posted Thu Nov 1, 2012, 8:40am Subject: Re: Can't make a bad espresso- Loving my new hobby.
Agreed Emradguy- it was horribly underextracted, and it was still better than what I've bought locally! So I wonder what kind of swill and skill they serve up at the local places. I was surprised what with everything going against it, it was still better than any of the 4 drinks I had purchased at local places.
I didn't use the pressurized basket, I went straight to the standard double basket. I wanted to do it right from the start and not start off with a bad habit.
My new grinder is a Mazzer Mini. I was going to buy a Vario but find the Mazzer for only slightly more money and liked the sturdier construction. The thing is awesome. Easily chokes my Gaggia- I'm still working on dialing it in exactly but I'm really close to 25 seconds now, give or take 5. My problem is I'm running out of beans due to all of the drinks I've been making so I'm rotating between three different kinds of beans which is making readjustments necessary. No big deal, eventually I'll settle on one roast and be all set.
I just pulled a couple of shots for my wife that were perfect. She caught me sipping her espresso while I was frothing her milk. :)
I need to browse bean selections again now that I have my equipment. I'd like to keep roasting my own- they seem to turn out really well and ensure fresh beans when it's time to grind them. I may have to actually break down and buy and actual roaster so I can do more than a couple ounces at a time.
qualin Senior Member Joined: 30 Jun 2012 Posts: 463 Location: Calgary, AB Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Izzo Alex Duetto 3 Grinder: Mazzer Mini Elect. Type A Vac Pot: Looking to buy Drip: Manual Roaster: Considering?
Posted Thu Nov 1, 2012, 7:32pm Subject: Re: Can't make a bad espresso- Loving my new hobby.
One thing I always had an issue with, dealing with one of the local coffee shops here...
Heat Exchanging machines are supposed to be flushed before the barista brews coffee in them, especially if they've been sitting for a while. That's so the heat exchanger can be cooled down and all of the superheated water sitting in the heat exchanger can be flushed out through the group head.
Sometimes the espresso machine would sit there for an hour unused... Then the barista would pull a shot without flushing.... So they were brewing with steam instead of water.
No wonder why the espressos always tasted horrendously bitter... After I learned about that, it surprised me but it made sense why it was happening.
NobbyR Senior Member Joined: 10 Jul 2011 Posts: 1,608 Location: Germany Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Poccino Opus One, Ariete Grinder: Eureka Mignon Istantaneo,... Vac Pot: N/A Drip: Melitta Linea Unica de Luxe Roaster: N/A
Posted Fri Nov 2, 2012, 12:00am Subject: Re: Can't make a bad espresso- Loving my new hobby.
dorkroast Said:
... My new grinder is a Mazzer Mini. I was going to buy a Vario but find the Mazzer for only slightly more money and liked the sturdier construction. The thing is awesome. Easily chokes my Gaggia- I'm still working on dialing it in exactly but I'm really close to 25 seconds now, give or take 5. My problem is I'm running out of beans due to all of the drinks I've been making so I'm rotating between three different kinds of beans which is making readjustments necessary. No big deal, eventually I'll settle on one roast and be all set ...
Excellent grinder! However, it's not umcommon to "waste" a few pinds before everthing runs smoothly. Do you use a digital scale for dosing? It's very important to work very concistently as far as dosing, distributing and tamping is concerned in order to be able to dial in the grinder correctly. Otherwise the right setting will vary from shot to shot.
Besides that, the required grinder setting can change from day to day (sometimes even within one day) depending on factors like humidity, aging von the beans or using the single shot basket instead of the double, for example.
*** "This drink of the Satan is so delicious that it would be a shame to leave it to the infidels." (Pope Clement VIII on coffee)
takeshi Senior Member Joined: 12 Oct 2002 Posts: 731 Location: Houston Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Silvia Grinder: Super Jolly Roaster: Amaya Roasting
Posted Mon Nov 5, 2012, 12:56pm Subject: Re: Can't make a bad espresso- Loving my new hobby.
dorkroast Said:
If you read the forums, it makes it sound like decent espresso is nearly impossible to make without years of experience, growing/roasting your own beans, a million dollar machine, and a PhD in bean science.
What's decent is also subjective and depends on experience. If the bar's low it's pretty easy to exceeed. If the bar's high it's a bit trickier. As mentioned above, it's how you like what's in the cup that matters.
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