Posted Mon Jan 28, 2013, 8:35pm Subject: Re: Hi i'm new here, and my bugatti Diva is new in my house..
The most common are flat or convex (I believe that would be the "american curve"). I haven't really heard of the other ones. I prefer flat myself, it's really a matter of personal preference. I would venture to say flat is really the most common, but may get argument on that- we'll see I guess. As for the handle that's really one thing you can just pick what you like, and what looks like it would be comfortable for you to use. Always funny that even rather expensive espresso machines come with those cheap plastic tampers. But then it is fun to pick one out you really like. I have a Bumper tamper with the bulb handle, came with a rubber base. I really like it :)
emradguy Senior Member Joined: 31 Mar 2011 Posts: 1,798 Location: Houston Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Izzo Alex Duetto II Grinder: MacapM4T, Macap M4, OE Lido,... Drip: Espro press; Aeropress Roaster: internet
Posted Mon Jan 28, 2013, 10:25pm Subject: Re: Hi i'm new here, and my bugatti Diva is new in my house..
I have a Solis 166/*$$ Barista grinder. It sucks for espresso. It is ok for press pot...yeah, just ok in my opinion. I second the proposal to get a Hario for the time being until you decide what you want from an electric and save up the money for it.
Tampers come in so many different variations at the base surface that I think it can't possibly matter. However, I've heard people say to match the base to your shower screen (whether flat or curved) some swear by one only to hear someone else with the same gear swear by another. They make ridged ones, which I just can't seem to understand...I mean, if the idea is to present a nice puck to the group for an even extraction, why the f&@k would one want to create an uneven surface? I can't imagine that would do anything other than promote channelling. I think the most important feature is that it fits your baskets well. Second most that it feels good in your hand.
ZzLine Senior Member Joined: 19 Jan 2013 Posts: 36 Location: Norway Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Francis Francis X3 Grinder: The point is to ENJOY THE... Roaster: Dualit--> The English Verson...
Posted Tue Jan 29, 2013, 8:45am Subject: Re: Hi i'm new here, and my bugatti Diva is new in my house..
Ok guys! Listen, I have been so lucky to get the chance to try out det Dualit compared to the Gaggia MM on two different machines.
First one to go was Francis Francis X3 with Gaggia MM and with the same setting as Diva produced best crema (which I choose to call this light brown, tenacious cream) with 3rd up from the finest ground.
All three with double shot's: Francis Francis X3 at the 3rd finest with Gaggia MM = 9cl full after 9 sec and mostly water. Francis Francis X3 at the second finest with Gaggia MM = 9cl full after 15 sec and watery. Francis Francis X3 with the finest ground beans with Gaggia MM = 9cl full after 20 seconds and a little crema.
So I changed over to the Dualit grinder and went straight on 3rd up from the finest still at Francis Francis X3: It ran through in 10 seconds but a little crema. Went straight to the finest setting, and out came crema espresso in 28 seconds :-D
Now I'll put the Gaggia MM for sale at the secondhand market and considering if the Bugatti Diva is about to suffer the same fate as the grinder!
Sorry about me going back and forth and you joined at it guys, but I have not the patience to wait until I get more money in the bank. I want the best I can afford and I want it now!
ZzLine Senior Member Joined: 19 Jan 2013 Posts: 36 Location: Norway Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Francis Francis X3 Grinder: The point is to ENJOY THE... Roaster: Dualit--> The English Verson...
Posted Wed Jan 30, 2013, 1:42am Subject: Re: Hi i'm new here, and my bugatti Diva is new in my house..
emradguy Said:
I have a Solis 166/*$$ Barista grinder. It sucks for espresso. It is ok for press pot...yeah, just ok in my opinion. I second the proposal to get a Hario for the time being until you decide what you want from an electric and save up the money for it.
Tampers come in so many different variations at the base surface that I think it can't possibly matter. However, I've heard people say to match the base to your shower screen (whether flat or curved) some swear by one only to hear someone else with the same gear swear by another. They make ridged ones, which I just can't seem to understand...I mean, if the idea is to present a nice puck to the group for an even extraction, why the f&@k would one want to create an uneven surface? I can't imagine that would do anything other than promote channelling. I think the most important feature is that it fits your baskets well. Second most that it feels good in your hand.
From what i have learn in here a, flat would make sense, yeah. Might just buy half of it and ask a friend, a good handyman to make me one with a personal touch :-)
I have a neck injury that does not go so well with a hand-operated grinder - so I'll stick to this that impressed compared to the Gaggia MM anyway.
emradguy Senior Member Joined: 31 Mar 2011 Posts: 1,798 Location: Houston Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Izzo Alex Duetto II Grinder: MacapM4T, Macap M4, OE Lido,... Drip: Espro press; Aeropress Roaster: internet
Posted Wed Jan 30, 2013, 12:12pm Subject: Re: Hi i'm new here, and my bugatti Diva is new in my house..
ZzLine Said:
From what i have learn in here a, flat would make sense, yeah. Might just buy half of it and ask a friend, a good handyman to make me one with a personal touch :-)
yeah, I think so anyways. I have used flat, c-flat, and eurocurve. These terms come from the Reg Barber website. I don't think they are universal. The c-flat is a flat one with a slight angle up at the outside 3 or 4 mm, supposedly to prevent side channeling by packing the grounds preferentially peripherally, while still giving a predominantly flat base. I haven't noticed a difference. The eurocurve is shallow curve compared to the american curve which is like a bowl almost (exaggerating). I haven't noticed a difference here either...who knows, maybe it's me?
If you have a friend who can make you a custom handle that would be great, especially if he/she can do it off of a mold of your grip, to maximize comfort.
ZzLine Said:
I have a neck injury that does not go so well with a hand-operated grinder - so I'll stick to this that impressed compared to the Gaggia MM anyway.
ZzLine Senior Member Joined: 19 Jan 2013 Posts: 36 Location: Norway Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Francis Francis X3 Grinder: The point is to ENJOY THE... Roaster: Dualit--> The English Verson...
Posted Tue Feb 5, 2013, 10:20am Subject: Re: Hi i'm new here, and my bugatti Diva is new in my house..
emradguy Said:
yeah, I think so anyways. I have used flat, c-flat, and eurocurve. These terms come from the Reg Barber website. I don't think they are universal. The c-flat is a flat one with a slight angle up at the outside 3 or 4 mm, supposedly to prevent side channeling by packing the grounds preferentially peripherally, while still giving a predominantly flat base. I haven't noticed a difference. The eurocurve is shallow curve compared to the american curve which is like a bowl almost (exaggerating). I haven't noticed a difference here either...who knows, maybe it's me?
If you have a friend who can make you a custom handle that would be great, especially if he/she can do it off of a mold of your grip, to maximize comfort.
Well, this makes sense for sure. Had I known sooner, I would have stopped making this suggestion :)
I were supposed to tell that in the first place of course, but didn't think it matter. I tend to forget my neck injury constantly even myself.
Anyways, my new Francis Francis X3 (http://coffeegeek.com/proreviews/detailed/francisfrancisx3) deliver good crema and and I have found a Norwegian coffee shop / online store in Oslo (the capital of Norway), which roasts beans that they have imported from different locations. With regard to the link below, I can only say, thank god for google translator;-) Click Here (www.kaffa.no) Click Here (www.kaffa.no)
So right now I'm sitting here with a coffee latté from their beans that were roasted Jan. 23:-D AND my beans are kept dry and dark in a tupperware box, actually yhe the only one I ever owned.
So now I hope you guys may well say: Line has learned a little bit of us about the Barista subject so you are slightly pleased that she has at least learned something! ;-)
emradguy Senior Member Joined: 31 Mar 2011 Posts: 1,798 Location: Houston Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Izzo Alex Duetto II Grinder: MacapM4T, Macap M4, OE Lido,... Drip: Espro press; Aeropress Roaster: internet
Posted Tue Feb 5, 2013, 10:35am Subject: Re: Hi i'm new here, and my bugatti Diva is new in my house..
ZzLine Said:
So now I hope you guys may well say: Line has learned a little bit of us about the Barista subject so you are slightly pleased that she has at least learned something! ;-)
More importantly, I am pleased you are now able to make good espresso-based drinks that you enjoy! ...and, yeah, it does also feel good to have been able to help you, but I just try to think about all the people who've helped me in the past :) Maybe you want to start helping other here too? Just think to what you knew when you made your first post and how far you've already advanced...there are always new members who are at the place you started! I think sometimes they are more convinced to hear from someone who has just recently learned what the more experienced users are trying to tell them.
IMAWriter Senior Member Joined: 4 Jul 2002 Posts: 5,475 Location: Brentwood, TN Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Nothing at the moment Grinder: Vario-W,Preciso-Esatto/KyM... Vac Pot: Adcraft SS, Yama 8 cup Drip: Brazen.Chemex, Hario, Clever... Roaster: Behmor 1600, CO/UFO combo
Posted Tue Feb 5, 2013, 1:33pm Subject: Re: Hi i'm new here, and my bugatti Diva is new in my house..
ZzLine Said:
From what i have learn in here a, flat would make sense, yeah. Might just buy half of it and ask a friend, a good handyman to make me one with a personal touch :-)
I have a neck injury that does not go so well with a hand-operated grinder - so I'll stick to this that impressed compared to the Gaggia MM anyway.
OK, lets start with the tamper. If the group screen 9the screen under the group is slightly rounded, go with a slight convex tamper. (American curve) If the screen is flat, go with a flat tamper. You MUST know the exact sizer of your group. Now, you seen to prefer machines that are visually striking to those that may look less "handsome" but might be better at consistency. (Such as a Silvia as opposed to the Francis Francis) That is, of course your right, but in the opinion of most here, a mistake as regards the actual QUALITY of the espresso. I would stick with the manual grinder, as none of the grinders, especially the Dualit will give you as consistent a grind. The Skerton would be the better choice, but the Slim will do just fine. Please understand that the MOST important part of the "equation" right now is that your coffee be beans be FRESHLY ROASTED. A $5000 machine and grinder will usually produce NO or little crema and body with stale beans. The exception being blends that contain a LOT of Robusta bean, as opposed to Arabica.
I recommend you take JonR's advice and use his link to find beans. I can't say which machine is better, the Francis or your Bugatti, but either, with your Hario should produce pretty good espresso AS LONG as you use freshly roasted beans These beans are at their best 5-15 days after the roast date. Remember, not ALL coffees , even fresh make great espresso. Some might be to "sharp/acidic" tasting for you, others too dark. Ask the roasting company you order from what they recommend for YOUR taste preference.
IMAWriter Senior Member Joined: 4 Jul 2002 Posts: 5,475 Location: Brentwood, TN Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Nothing at the moment Grinder: Vario-W,Preciso-Esatto/KyM... Vac Pot: Adcraft SS, Yama 8 cup Drip: Brazen.Chemex, Hario, Clever... Roaster: Behmor 1600, CO/UFO combo
Posted Tue Feb 5, 2013, 1:37pm Subject: Re: Hi i'm new here, and my bugatti Diva is new in my house..
ZzLine Said:
So right now I'm sitting here with a coffee latté from their beans that were roasted Jan. 23:-D AND my beans are kept dry and dark in a tupperware box, actually yhe the only one I ever owned.
So now I hope you guys may well say: Line has learned a little bit of us about the Barista subject so you are slightly pleased that she has at least learned something! ;-)
I just saw this posting!! We are all pleased that you have survived the journey...thus far. The point is to ENJOY THE COFFEE, not stress about it. You will be surprised how, with a bit more practice how it will get even better. Have you purchased a new tamper as yet? Or did I miss that?
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