(Part 2) Reddit mentions: The best coffee & espresso machine parts

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LIST OF PARTS/BUILD LIST TO GET TO WHERE WE ARE:

Gaggia Classic: new they come in around $3-$400, but you can pick up a refurb from Whole Latte Love for about $290, or even cheaper on the used market (I picked one up that was basically just out of the box for half a decade but never used for $250. After some cleaning she was in perfect condition)

https://www.wholelattelove.com/refurbished-gaggia-classic-brushed-ss-espresso-machine?source=googleps&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI2eCjlYLJ4AIVrr3tCh1zHg6yEAYYBCABEgIaVvD_BwE

Mr Shades PID Kit: £89 - and worth every penny. How to get in touch with Mr Shades to get it I already explained above

https://coffeeforums.co.uk/showthread.php?27931-MrShades-Gaggia-Classic-PID-Kit-Complete-PID-kit-with-full-guide-%A389

Baratza Sette 270WI: They come in at around $550 new for the latest, and most updated WI model (that we think is the move for overall durability and ease of use). There are other 270 and W models all available for cheaper, but the most desirable WI model dskot got refurbished from Baratza’s site for $450, but only when they have them available.

https://www.amazon.com/Baratza-270Wi-Grind-Weight-Conical-Grinder/dp/B01G82WTZ2/ref=sr_1_3_sspa?hvadid=267969625121&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9021717&hvnetw=g&hvpos=1t1&hvqmt=e&hvrand=12162448283058120052&hvtargid=kwd-470582918388&keywords=baratza+sette+270wi&qid=1550621304&s=gateway&sr=8-3-spons&tag=googhydr-20&psc=1&smid=A302OQK4GZWXCC

20g VST PF Basket: $20 - Competition grade baskets from VST just help to take out another potential layer of uneven extraction, closer examined by having bottomless PF’s. We’ve also noticed this just helps the consistency of shots a little better, but like I said earlier, we’re not certain if it was more due to the PID or the basket, as we put them in at the same time. Not meant to be a scientific review, all you gotta know is this thing will help your extractions.

https://store.vstapps.com/products/vst-precision-filter-baskets

Tamper: $57 (or much cheaper) We would recommend getting a precision tamp to work better within the VST basket, which is precision machined to 58.4mm. Just fits together a lot nicer than a standard 58mm tamp, and will prevent any further potential for uneven distribution, but realistically, you can get just any 58mm tamper. I got the Cafelat precision zebra wood tamp linked below, but recently upgraded to the Eazytamp 5 star pro because I’m lazy and find myself tamping unevenly, but this is just part of my OD nature in doing things. There are cheaper options depending on the wood you choose from them, just look on amazon to whatever fits your preference. Just whatever you do, DO NOT drop your tamper on the floor or counter. I learned the hard way on accident and had to buy another because they will dent/bend and any chance of precision is now out the window, but thats my fault, and not just because of the type of metal they use.

https://www.amazon.com/Cafelat-Zebra-Wood-Tamper-58-35mm/dp/B01MG3ZDKH/ref=sr_1_6?keywords=cafelat+tamper&qid=1550621500&s=gateway&sr=8-6

EVERYTHING BEYOND THIS POINT IS OPTIONAL, BUT WILL CONTRIBUTE TO HELPING YOU MAKE GREAT, AND CONSISTENT EXTRACTIONS

Distribution tool: $18 - We both went the cheap route, and got the OCD knockoff tool from amazon. There are a handful of other options from the Pullman, OCD, BT Wedge, and so on, but are all very expensive, and for $18, we didn’t think it could be a bad move. Major differences are the 3 fins vs 4 fins on the OCD, and also very likely any type of precision milling will not be there on the knockoff, but realistically, they do the same thing, and we’ve both been able to get near perfect center streams almost every time within 10-15 sec of extraction. Only reason why it would take longer or wouldn’t go perfect center is bc I’ll occasionally lop side my tamp, or in the beginning when we didn’t necessarily understand how to properly use the tool yet (Once height is dialed, I use 6 counterclockwise turns to distribute, followed by 4 clockwise turns to smooth the top. There are plenty of videos and tutorials online on how to get your tool dialed in if you decide to get one)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B077BZ4CV6/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o08__o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Bottomless PF (PortaFilter): $35-65 Few different options here - just make sure you get one that will work with the Gaggia classic, or most Gaggia machines as they have different flange positions than most other machines or E61 group heads. Cheaper/simple black version is on the first link, but if you’d prefer to go down the same route I did and get the walnut handle, I bought the one off of ebay from Portugal. I know there are a few other links on the web for a walnut handled PF for the Gaggia, but I only care to include things from experience, and even though I can’t really tell you if it’s legit/high-quality wood or not, I’m more than happy with it and it’s looks.

https://www.amazon.com/Bottomless-Portafilter-Gaggia-Filter-Basket/dp/B00KRR4K2K/ref=sr_1_1?hvadid=176952831569&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9021717&hvnetw=g&hvpos=1t1&hvqmt=e&hvrand=4233166420998163957&hvtargid=kwd-46401287557&keywords=gaggia+classic+bottomless+portafilter&qid=1550622553&s=gateway&sr=8-1&tag=googhydr-20

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Bottomless-Portafilter-Gaggia-6-6-mm-Wings-Walnut-Wood-Handle/222827423587?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

Rancilio Silvia Steam wand: $25 - a very easy mod (just an unscrew and trade of the nut to connect it to the machine, (don’t use the extra washer from the Rancilio wand)) to upgrade the machines milk steaming capabilities. Also plenty of videos online how to do so. I decided to go with the Silvia wand instead of the pannerello for the extra durability (full metal wand vs plastic part trade off) and also easier to keep the Silvia wand clean and sanitary. Up to your personal preference, I get good results with the Silvia wand but have heard and seen good things from the pannerello alternative.

Acaia Lunar: $225 - will probably put you over the top of the $1k range, and isn’t directly necessary, but is a very useful tool to time your shots accurately, as well as have a very accurate scale setup to weigh everything out. Great for logging your shots and helping to develop recipes for different beans. You can essentially do the same thing with a normal scale sensate down to .1 grams, and then either a timer or your phones timer, but if you have the bread for the lunar, it’s definitely well worth it with it also being water resistant (they say in a video you can’t list something as waterproof unless it can operate under water, and you obviously can’t get an accurate reading of coffee weight while the thing would be underwater).

And finally, if you care to go down the exact same route I did with wrapping it, you can basically buy any type of automotive 3M wrap (color and finish of your choice) and just take off all the components and wrap the front facade. Little tedious, but if you like the look it’s well worth it.

That should basically do it for the full writeup of where we’re at with our home setups, and hopefully can aid in giving you some insight to what you might want to do with yours. Might be a lot to digest, but hopefully we included enough detail and info to get you started. If not, feel free to ask either of us any questions, or if you’d care for any of our suggestions on if any piece of this caffeinated puzzle would be worth it or not, just shoot away in the comments.

Outside of that, happy extracting :)

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Broke college student here, I'm also a barista that's use to having amazing, freshly roasted coffee. So far, no one has lied. AMAZING espresso IS expensive. But can you make a latte as well as your local cafe? With a little practice, time and money, yes.

My current home setup consists of a Delonghi EC155, this is a true espresso machine, it's not steam powered and with a little modification and practice makes good espresso. Modification wise the only thing I'd recommend is depressurizing the portafilter basket, which is easy. If you ever want a better machine but don't want to spend the money you can modify it even more. They're vary popular machines and can be modified to pull amazing shots. They go anywhere from 70-130, however, occasionally things get repacked or the packaging gets damaged in the warehouse. They'll offer them at a hefty discount, I just got mine "reboxed" from amazon for 47 dollars, wait a few days and one will come up. If you use your student email you can get Amazon Prime for free, take advantage of that.

http://www.amazon.com/DeLonghi-EC155-Espresso-Cappuccino-Maker/dp/B000F49XXG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1396498476&sr=8-1&keywords=delonghi+ec155

I also got this tamper, works well, it's a little light for my tastes but for home use it's fine. The EC155 has a 52mm basket, if having a 50mm tamper bothers you then pay the extra few bucks for a 52mm tamper. Personally doesn't bother me, and it was only 7 bucks.

http://www.amazon.com/Espresso-Tamper-Sizes-Alloy-Coffee/dp/B0001XRNEM/ref=pd_bxgy_k_text_z

Here's a milk frothing cup, you'll need it to properly froth milk. You can poorly froth milk in a microwave but why do that when you can spend an extra 8 dollars and do it properly? I personally got mine for a dollar from a thrift store.

http://www.amazon.com/Update-International-EP-12-Stainless-Frothing/dp/B000MR6I9I/ref=pd_bxgy_hg_text_y

I got one of these grinders years ago for around 20 dollars. I've seen them used, repackaged, and refurbished for about that much. Wait around and a deal will come up. You can also get a Hario Mini and a number of other hand grinders. But this one does just fine. Now out of the box it won't grind fine enough for espresso, however, with about 20 minutes worth of work you can shim it and it'll grind perfectly for espresso. It's not hard and anyone can do it with a screw driver and some tin foil.

http://www.amazon.com/Cuisinart-DBM-8-Supreme-Grind-Automatic/dp/B00018RRRK/ref=sr_1_1?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1396498766&sr=1-1&keywords=cuisinart+grinder

At this point if you're willing to wait for a deal on the EC155 you've only spent 107 dollars. Even less if you're willing to wait on a deal for the burr grinder as well. If you want AMAZING coffee you can spend another 27 dollars and get an Aeropress, or wait for a deal and get it for 20 dollars. It will make a coffee concentrate which will taste "okay" for a latte.

At this point, I cannot recommend going to your local coffee houses and asking if you can buy green beans. They typically sell green coffee for 5-8 dollars a pound. You can roast your own coffee with a skillet and a whisk, or a popcorn popper, there are hundreds of ways to do it cheaply and it easy. You'll save money and you'll be drinking tastier coffee.

Don't let these people get you down, good espresso doesn't have to be expensive. Feel free to message me if you have any questions!

I just got my AP for Xmas. My setup is a Skerton, these metal filters, and a Hario scale.

The AP doesn't demand a complicated setup or anything. It's nice and easy. I prefer the inverted method (the regular method drips a lot). I insert the plunger up to the (4) mark, and I find this holds 20 g of medium grinds and 200 g of water perfectly. You can make it more concentrated and add water to your cup if you want more; but I find I really like this 1:10 ratio.

The best thing I've found out so far is that the funnel it comes with perfectly fits the base of the AP when you are pressing, so if you have a mug/cup that is smaller you can use the funnel to press into it.

Cleanup is super simple; take the cap off (and metal filter if you are using one), and press the grinds "puck" into the trash. Rinse everything else off with water, separate plunger and chamber to let dry. I'd give a soapy cleaning every 1-2 weeks so the oils don't build up in the plastic too much; but I hear these kind of need to get replaced every few years anyhow.

I've been making 1:10 strong coffee with mostly light roasts, and it is sweet and nicely acidic. I use a medium grind and a 3 minute brew time. This is the first time I've ever liked my coffee more black, rather than with milk/sugar. Just before seeing this post, I made my first "Aerospresso" (I just did a 1:3 ratio and 1 minute brew). I've never even had much true espresso, but this was so thick/syrupy and complex I'll definitely try it again with a darker roast. Being able to make super concentrated coffee makes the AeroPress really versatile for me, and I can make any kind of drink I want or even make a bigger batch of concentrate to dilute if I want to make multiple servings.

Hey there! I am also from Ohio! I'll give you two answers.

Cheapest possible way to get into it is a whirly blade grinder and a french press. No filters needed, just fresh ground coffee made rather quickly and easily. This was my first ever coffee set up, and really got me into drinking better coffee. If you tell me what city in Ohio you are closest to I will give you a recommendation on a local roaster to get beans from. Buying locally from a reputable roaster will be the best option for quality beans for a good price.

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The other answer, is to buy nice or buy twice. After using the above set up for a few months I was hooked and decided to upgrade everything. So I will send you some options for the cheapest way to make specialty level coffee. For this I would look at a nicer grinder and a pour over. While hand grinders are great, almost everyone upgrades to an electric one. The linked options there are my favorite for the money. The electric model from baratza can be found refurbished on their website from time to time for addtional savings.

The next thing you'll need is a pour over and a kettle to pour with. I recommend a Chemexhere as they are good for serving one to three cups comfortably. I recommended a glass handle chemex because they are beautiful, but wood necked models are a little cheaper. I would get the white square filters with it as they impart less papery flavor. As for a kettle you have a ton of options. I am going to link a budget electric kettle as I find the stovetop models to be more of a hassle.

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As for healthy sweeteners, brewing it well I hope you won't need them as much, which would be the healthiest. But whole milk and stevia in the raw are your best healthy fixins.

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Hope this is helpful! Happy brewing and welcome to the fam!

Take a look at Aeropress. It isn't true expresso, but it is really excellent coffee and only costs $35. My setup:

Aeropress

An electric kettle with temperature options like this: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B07HT3FXCY

A simple manual coffee grinder like this: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B010UJZ5XW

A manual and fun-to-use milk frother like this: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B010E1ZQVC

Buy coffee from a local or mail-order coffee roaster: I like Dunn Bros. best in our neighborhood.

Actually, my setup isn't like these, it is these. My SO and I are enjoying latte's, Americanos, and mochas. It is fun to make, really delicious, and cheap.

/u/AmNotLost covered the basics really well. I would recommend the Baratza Encore (you can sometimes find them refurbished on their website here).

The method of brewing depends on how you like your coffee. If you like a more big-bodied mouthfeel and are okay with some sediment in your coffee I would recommend a French Press. You can pick them up almost anywhere.

If you like a cleaner cup with more brightness and less sediment I would go with something that uses a paper filter. The Aeropress or Kalita Wave are my recommendations for this (important note: the Aeropress comes with filters, the Kalita Wave does not. You can buy them here).

Next: water. Use fresh, filtered water about 30-45 seconds off the boil to brew with. Water between 195F and 205F is recommended to brew with, and this should put you somewhere in that range.

Use fresh roasted coffee from a local roaster. If you're in even a semi-major city this shouldn't be too tough. If not, you may want to try ordering online. I have plenty of recommendations if you want. In fact, let me know and I can send you a bit of coffee for free to get you started.

Finally, and this cannot be stressed enough, drink what you like.

We here in /r/coffee typically gravitate toward more modern light roasted coffees. I definitely do myself. But if you try a bunch of coffees and still like the taste of medium/dark/burnt to a crisp coffee, then keep drinking it.

I hope this helps and is not too intimidating. Don't hesitate to reach out with questions or anything! I love helping people find the perfect cup of coffee. It is literally my job to do so.

Cafe (Ca Phe) Sua Da is a really common Vietnamese drink that incorporates condensed milk with coffee that often has chicory as an adjunct. Cafe Du Monde is the most common brand of coffee that I've seen but you really can use anything.Note that it has chicory as an adjunct but a good dark roast can do the trick. They're made using a phin which as you can see, is fairly straight forward metal filter that relies on gravity and a finer grind to extract. It's really easy to make and quite delicious though I treat it more as dessert than coffee.

If you live in an area with a decent sized Asian population, you should be able to find it fairly easily as it's crossed over into non-Vietnamese shops. A good bet would be a pho shop or failing that, a bubble tea shop. However, if you live in a place that has a large Vietnamese population (e.g LA or Houston) you may be to explore Vietnamese coffee beyond cafe sua da. Houston, for example, has Long Coffee which does a variety of Vietnamese style coffees, all which are delicious. At the same time, one of Houston's more famous coffee shops Blacksmith does their own version of cafe sua da as the owner is one of the biggest proponents of Houston's Vietnamese food scenes.

Quick tip : you can drink it straight up but it's served with a cup off ice so once it's finished brewing, mix the condensed milk in and pour it over the ice. The residual heat will melt the ice, dilute the drink and bring the sweetness down to something I find more palatable.

edit : spelling/clarity

Nobody will think a pour over is sacrilege. Provided you're not using a blade grinder. . . :) Brew methods are a matter of taste. A french press isn't better or worse than a Chemex; it's just different. If you're going pour over, these are way better than these, because they're a true cone, so the water has to go through all the grounds.

You can buy beans online, but if possible it's best to buy locally roasted coffee to ensure freshness. Coffee is at its best around a week after roasting, and gradually loses flavor over time. Chances are you've got a decent roaster in your area. If not, look around online, and make sure you buy from a place that will tell you when yours was roasted.

And feel free to keep asking questions. I'm happy to tell you what I know.

USE SUNSCREEN. Wear a hat. Wear sunglasses, bring extras. Bring several pairs of comfortable shoes, flip flops or worn out shoes are going to be a bad time. Carry extra socks with you, amazing how refreshing it is to change your socks in the middle of the day.

Earplugs are a must, for loud music areas and for trying to sleep.

Bring a larger tent than you think you need. Room is nice. also bring a luggage lock - a small combo lock that can fit through your zippers and make it a bit more secure (but lock real valuables in your car.)

In addition to your tent, bring a 10x10 canopy like this to shade your tent or the area in front of your tent. It will keep the sun off of your skin while chilling, and if used over your tent can cool it off inside.

Get some solar powered lights to put in or around your camp. Find a way to put the solar charger outside, outside lights can help you find your tent, light the interior on under the canopy I suggested, and makes it look pretty cool.

If you are worried about juicing your phone, clip one of these to your backpack as you walk around all day. A good one can keep your phone topped off pretty well. Get one per phone, they aren't that heavy. Beats having to visit charging stations.

I posted elsewhere about using a camping stove, these are really good - make sure to get some JetFuel for each one. Bring old pots and pans, a kettle to make hot water, and butter cooking spray is the bomb to keep things fairly non-stick. To make coffee, use a simple pour over device with cone shaped paper filters. Bring reusable cups for each person.

Bring bags for garbage. Try to reduce the amount of plastic you throw away.

If you don't want to pay for showers, bring one of these camp showers. I also bring another 5-gallon container to refill your bag and for washing dishes etc, and a folding wagon to carry it in because I'm too old to struggle.

I like dark roasts, and prefer African coffee beans if I get a choice in it, they have a nice deep and spicy flavor. I get them as whole roasted beans from a coffee shop in town, which roasts them fresh every couple of days. If you are looking to get into it, you can just search for coffee roasters in your area, and if there really aren't any I'd look for roasters who sell single origin beans online. In a pinch, Starbuck's single origin beans are good too, just really expensive for what they are.

I use a hand mill grinder, a gooseneck kettle, and a Chemex coffee maker and filters. It sounds like a lot, but all that together is still cheaper than a decent drip machine. You grind the beans with the grinder (I use 3 heaping tbps of grounds), bring the water to a boil and then let it sit for a minute (letting it come down just a little in temp keeps the coffee from being acidic, the gooseneck also helps with that). Pour a little on the grounds in the filter, and let it sit for about 30 seconds wet to bloom. Then pour the rest and just let it drip through.

The chemex makes the smoothest, best tasting coffee I've ever had, and I've tried quite a few different methods. If you like it stronger, a french press might be better for you.

Stuff:

Chemex Coffee Maker

Filters

Hand Mill Grinder

Goose Neck Kettle

I'm with you (recently started drinking coffee after leaving Mormonism and spouse not excited about having a coffee maker in the kitchen). We just visited my wife's friend while on vacation and she made me a cafe au lait that was delicious and easy to make without expensive equipment. In fact, I'm about to invest in the following two things:

• A Bialetti Stovetop Espresso Maker https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000CNY6UK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_9AyBzbA35C50N
  
• A Bellemain Stainless Steel Hand Pump Milk Frother https://www.amazon.com/dp/B010E1ZQVC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_yGyBzbGC2QH3P
  
  It takes a few minutes but that is part of the fun.
  In fact I came here looking for advice from experienced coffee drinkers. I know this combination is great for making strong coffee or a latte, but can I easily water down the coffee to make coffee well suited for a thermos? i.e. Can I use a Bialetti to make something more comparable to brewed coffee?
  

For a cheaper intro to cold brew check out CoffeeSock

Cold brew works best with coarse ground beans, but the coffeesock works with any grind. It takes roughly 12 hours to brew medium/fine ground beans so it can be set up at night to be ready the next morning. Each batch makes 2-3 days of coffee. I find that this makes roughly a 1:1.5 coffee-to-water concentrate.

If you want to make a stronger concentrate, you can double brew. Brew for 12 hours, discard grounds, add new grounds and brew for another 12 hours. This produces a concentrate that's closer to 1:3 coffee-to-water.

I enjoy cold brewed coffee either cold or hot, straight black. No sugar/cream. I cannot tolerate hot brewed without some sugar and creamer. Cold brew has no bitterness, and really lets you experience the full flavor of the beans.

If you do happen to get into cold brewing coffee, the best coffee I've ever had was from KingdomCoffeeRoasters.com. They are a little more expensive, but it's the first coffee I've ever tasted that let me taste what people describe as "fruity". It's more expensive, but definitely a great occasional treat.

Here's the thing..

Gooseneck kettle will last you forever and it is an absolute staple if you're going to invest in this hobby/truly enjoy this ritual.

I like this one: https://www.amazon.com/Hario-VKB-120HSVV60-Buono-Pouring-Kettle/dp/B000IGOXLS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1501770513&sr=8-1&keywords=hario+gooseneck+kettle

I also would recommend a scale that can weigh out by the .1 gram (or even more fine). Also a timer is important.

I like this one: https://www.amazon.com/Hario-Coffee-Drip-Scale-Timer/dp/B009GPJMOU/ref=sr_1_1?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1501770540&sr=1-1&keywords=hario+food+scale

Kalita wave is very forgiving, great to learn on, and makes a wonderful cup of coffee. I use Kalita Wave each morning and Chemex on weekends.

Kalita Wave: https://www.amazon.com/Kalita-05033-Wave-185-Drippers/dp/B000X1AM0Y/ref=sr_1_1?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1501770620&sr=1-1&keywords=kalita+wave

Kalita Wave Filters: https://www.amazon.com/Kalita-22199-Filters-White-Japan/dp/B00BJBOITS/ref=sr_1_1?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1501770637&sr=1-1&keywords=kalita+wave+filters

Good luck buddy!

I make Turkish coffee. Here's a good ibrik, a small pot to boil the grind in.

Update International 12 Oz. (Ounce) Turkish Coffee Decanter, Espresso Decanter, 18/8 Gauge Stainless Steel, Barista Coffee Decanter Pitcher https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008NCXJ3C/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_j1ZNBb8CND96F

You don't need fancy cups, any container will do. To make Turkish properly you need quite a bit of grind to water. Look up a YouTube video. I use Turkish grind to make normal French Press style coffee, you need patience or a pressurised filter system to get a good cup.

Turkish coffee is like a percolater, you boil it until the mixture rises to the brim of the ibrik, take it off heat for a few moments, stir a bit (or don't), put it back on heat to boil again, repeat a few times, then take it off heat and pour slowly into your cup. If you pour too fast you'll get muddy coffee. There will be grind in your cup, that's normal. You wait for it to settle at the bottom. Pouring slowly allows the grind to settle to the bottom of the ibrik.

Copper is lined with tin or stainless steel, full copper is not normal and is dangerous. Stainless steel is perfectly normal and fine to use. My copper ibrik is lined with tin. I also own that stainless one. I filter my coffee using an aeropress, and I don't boil it like Turkish coffee. I don't have a recipe for Turkish coffee, just look on Google and YouTube, it's pretty easy.

It's a lot like espresso, good mixed, meant to be an almost 1:1 ratio water extract to grind. Don't expect a full cup of coffee unless you intend to make it like I do, that is like 2 espresso pucks of coffee grind to around 10oz of water.

No sweat

I would recommend this and this

It's a clever dripper (think easy to use French press for a single cup with a generic grocery store cone filter) and a manual Burr grinder (it's not as good as an automatic conical Burr grinder, but it does a decent job at a medium-fine grind, which is okay, being as with an immersion style brew like a clever dripper, you just use less time and and still get a great brew.)

Total is about $25 on Amazon prime.

Edit: you would also need a kettle if you don't already own one.

Also, the reason why I ask about the drill, it takes a few minutes to grind a single serving of coffee, but it's much faster to use a drill. If you have trouble with mornings, I would just grind 7 days worth of coffee and put each days grounds in their own ziplock bags. It will take maybe 20 minutes on a Sunday (or whenever) but you'll have fast, delicious coffee every morning with minimal effort.

That being said, ground coffee does lose quality after a few days, but it should still be drinkable. If you find you miss the freshness, you would have to grind twice a week. Or spend 2m grinding each morning while your water is boiling, but I know I never wanted to do that.

Edit 2: You probably want to go with the slightly larger clever dripper for an extra few bucks.

If you're looking to brew a single cup at a time then you might consider getting an Aeropress. They run like $30 on Amazon. They work kind of like a French press, but they're much easier to clean and maintain. They make excellent coffee, and you can get a steel filter if you don't like the disposable paper ones.

Being to cheap for $100+ for a grinder, I picked up a hand grinder. It does well enough for me, and I got the grinder, Aeropress, and steel filter for under a bill.

Here is a pretty barebones method that is a great way to start out. Greek coffee = Turkish coffee.

This
is another pretty straightforward method. Plus his accent is glorious.

This is how you don't make Turkish coffee.

This guy shows off some variations of the Balkan method of making Turkish coffee.

The World Champ making some Turkish coffee.

About as authentic you can get.

Now that I've got you salivating, you may want this or this. Enjoy.

Of all the pourover brewers, I've heard that the V60 can produce the best cup, but is very easy to mess up due to the large opening. I have a Chemex and I love it, but it does take some experimenting. Also, it produces an extremely clean bodied coffee, so that is also something that should be considered. Although I haven't used it, I've also heard that pourover brewers with a channel, such as this HIC brewer, are more forgiving and consistent. I believe that Counter Culture uses these in their stores.

Congrats on the 150 days of sobriety! That's fantastic!

Coffee is the bomb. I do cold-brew because there's less acid, by 97%, so it's nicer on the stomach. And it's also got more caffeine because hot-brew burns away the caffeine. It's also a lot sweeter naturally, since the acidity is what brings out the bitterness in hot coffee. I use much less creamer in that than I ever did any hot coffee, so it's healthier that way too.

It can also be kept in the fridge for a month before going stale. So it cost a lot less in the long run if you just make a gallon or so at a time.

I'd suggest buying a cheap kit like this to start!And this short video will give you a basic step by step to get you started!

There's tons more in-depth videos so you can learn more, or if you have any questions, I'd love to help!

>I guess my expectations are high because of the tight bond this community shows.

Yeah, I totally get that! I find cigar people, even IRL, are friendlier than most.

 

By "drip method" are you talking about an auto-drip machine? Because if so, I highly recommend exploring a manual pourover set-up. I prefer the Hario V60, but many others like Chemex or something like the Clever Dripper (a combination pour-over and immersion brewer) instead. The cheapest option for trying your hand at a pourover is the plastic Melitta brewer, often available at your local grocery store for $2-$3, some standard #2 filters, and an electric (or stovetop) water boiler with a decent spout for slow, steady pouring. It's funny that you mention a (french) press pot and moka pots don't give you a full enough flavour, though, because those are typically two of the more full-flavoured methods. I suspect your water:coffee ratio or grind size/consistency might be causing a weak (under-extracted) brew.

In my opinion, though, whilst brew method makes a difference in your cup, I'd say bean freshness and grind make more of a difference than anything. I'd much rather have fresh beans recently ground at a proper size and consistency brewed in a $10 Mr. Coffee than stale pre-ground or poorly ground beans in a professionally-poured manual brewer.

In the end, if you find a manual brewer is too much hassle, the SCAA (Specialty Coffee Association of America) does test and maintain a list of certified auto-brewers that meet the temp/brew time requirements.

*Ninja-Edit: Here's a good starter on grind size and how to adjust for flavour.

Well actually I went ahead and searched your post history.

vApe_Escape 1 point 1 day ago
Yeah, everyone I've talked to has just bought it in the store. Amazon has it as well.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004OR6OLY (AFFILIATE MARKETING!)

[–]vApe_Escape 1 point 1 day ago
SX350J for under $100 https://vaporider.net/shop/vvvw-mods/vrsx-powered-by-yihi-sx350j-now-shipping/ (AFFILIATE MARKETING!)

[–]vApe_Escape 1 point 2 days ago*
Yeah, you should have gotten an email about it if you signed up for the Unkamen email thing.
https://www.trybeans.com/$unkamensupplies/
Edit: sent you a PM (AFFILIATE MARKETING!)

https://www.reddit.com/r/beermoney/comments/40fiix/free_25_for_netspend_signup/
Free $25 for NetSpend signup. (self.beermoney)
submitted 3 days ago by vApe_Escape to /r/beermoney (AFFILIATE MARKETING!)

–]vApe_Escape[S] 1 point 6 days ago
Phins are a pretty neat little Vietnamese brewer. You can get them for like $10 on Amazon or even cheaper if you have a Vietnamese or Asian store near you.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008A0932S
(AFFILIATE MARKETING!)

Over and over and over, THAT'S YOUR ULTERIOR MOTIVATION. This is my last response to you, I was wondering genuinely why you where trying to pick apart what I was saying and not acknowledging my legitimate responses, there is why. You are someone who abuses reddit to do this type of bullshit marketing and you make money off of people believing you've sampled these products. This mind you is only a couple pages back, not amounting to even 5 days of posts, if I keep going back I'm sure I could fill a whole thread of this stuff. Try to spin your bullshit some place else. PS if you wanna try to engage in an argument like this you might want to consider moving over to an account you don't spam on.

I have a home setup that works great for us:

For under $200, you can buy the Cuisinart 15-bar espresso machine, and a decent burr grinder, and Terry's tamper is worth the $6 + s&h.

Also, as others have mentioned, the Aeropress makes great strong coffee that can make great mochas and such.

There’s a couple companies that make cold brew coffee pouches that are similar to a tea bag, you put the pouch in a jar with water in the fridge and in like 18 hours you have coffee ready. Chameleon makes some but I didn’t think they were strong enough.

Or you can buy a filter like this on Amazon that fits into a Mason jar and you can use whatever coffee you want.

KLEIN Cold Brew Kit - Cold Brew Coffee Maker - Wide Mouth Mason Jar Filter for Brewing Coffee Concentrate and Infused Tea at Home - 100 Micron Mesh - Stainless Steel - Free Spoon & Silicone Seal https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0721RVRYN/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_ehpoDb1NN89BK

That was extremely calming and relaxing. Really painted a good picture. The only thing is (Not your fault), it seems you can only make one at a time with that filter, which is rather disappointing. But the video was wonderful, minimal, and well done. Should be proud!

Edit: After going to the items Amazon page, one customer question includes usability with half gallon mason jars, which they say it works with and will hold enough grinds for. Im sold!

I like your setup! I started with a Toddy, but when we were traveling I bought two nut milk bags that I've been using since. I steep the water and coffee in a regular pitcher, then pour through the bag when I'm done. It's replaced my Toddy now. Super cheap, portable, and makes great coffee.

I think someone else on this thread gave a better answer on why the Kalita is better than I could. Basically, it's easier to get a more even extraction based on the design (flat bottom, 3 small holes) which leads to a more consistent cup. V60 has a more demanding pour regimen that, if not done the exact same way every time, can end up tasting different.

Here are some links:

Kalita Wave 185

Kalita Wave 185 filters

Kettle that I bought and I'm happy with

I forgot to mention that the Kalita uses proprietary filters. Something about the ridges is supposed to maintain heat and give better extraction since the coffee doesn't touch the walls? I think I read something about that somewhere.

I've been doing some infusions, and have learned a couple interesting things:

• Fruits like strawberries and raspberries are pretty well infused within 24-48 hours.
  
  
• Citrus peels can take weeks (Limoncello) unless you speed things up with in immersion circulator bath or an Isi Whipper
  
  
• Pineapple - two weeks on the counter gave fantastic results.
  
  
• Filtering is the hardest part! I strain through fine mesh, then several layers of cheesecloth, then finally through a series of Chemex coffee filters. There is always some level of residue that still makes it through. Pineapple left the most residue for me of any fruit (I had pulsed it in the blender at the beginning of the steep to get more surface area, so that may be a factor)
  
  
• The higher the proof of your starting alcohol - the better! You're going to get some level of dilution with the liquid from the fruits no matter what you do, so the higher your starting ABV, the better it will be in the finished product, you can always add water later if you want.
  
  I purchased a Spirits Hydromoter to see what my final ABVs were on my different infusions. The numbers I got were lower than expected, and on the pineapple infusion, it read zero! I talked with a local craft distiller, and it's the natural sugars from the fruits (apparently pineapple adds a lot!) throwing off the hydrometer reading, since the sugar in the liquid changes how far the gauge sinks.
  
  If in doubt about your final product, just store it in the fridge.
  
  I did most of mine with 100 proof New Amsterdam vodka, but from now on I'm going to be starting with 151 proof NGS, or even 190 proof Everclear to have a more shelf stable product in the end.

The cold-brew I had last night (which my friend made, not me) was at least as good as premade, if not better. I drank it cold.

She apparently uses very cheap ground coffee, and by virtue of being cold-brewed, it tastes good enough to her (and she's pretty...discerning/discriminating when it comes to foodstuffs and flavors).

Her approach is to put 1/3 c of coffee grounds into one of these filters, stick it into a mason jar (sorry, not sure if it's 24 or 32 oz), and let it sit for 12-24 hours. After that period, she puts the cold brew into a jug in the fridge, and starts a fresh mason jar going.

I use the Melitta brown paper filters (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00006IUTQ/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1) with my Clever and my coffee tastes fantastic.

Like everyone has already said, just make sure to rinse the filter first. That does wonders for eliminating the papery taste.

Not as much air pressure, but I use a Giottos Rocket Blaster. Combine this with food safe cleaning tablets like grindz and you're good to go.

Personally, manual drip pour over into a pre-heated thermos is the only way to go for me. https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000BUDDTY/

Works great with fresh ground beans, pour the hot water over it in thirds, you're good to go. So many advantages and very little downside.

Just an fyi, I use [this] (http://www.amazon.com/RSVP-Manual-Coffee-Carafes-Thermos/dp/B000BUDDTY) with my thermos all the time, and works great. By no means am I turning you away from the bonavita, but you will get probably just as good results from the rsvp cone, although it will take an extra minute or two of effort on your part to brew. It takes both #4 and #6 filters.

...And single hole drippers typically don't take much technique at all to yield a good cup.

Edit- grammar and such

I live in the Middle East and drink Turkish coffee every day.

Nobody uses those copper pots. This is more like what's actually used, and it does a much better job (and is a lot cheaper, cleans easier, and isn't probably safer).



As far as getting started goes, really all you need is the pot and some really fine-ground coffee. Most home grinders aren't capable of grinding fine enough (with some exceptions), so your best bet is to either buy pre-ground Turkish or ask a cafe to grind their beans for you as fine as they can.

Just buy a plastic cone, a grinder, and #4 filters. Buy beans in bulk and make coffee at the cheapest and best rate.

It is the cheapest and best quality/taste/speed/temperature/bother ratio

Phins are a pretty neat little Vietnamese brewer. You can get them for like $10 on Amazon or even cheaper if you have a Vietnamese or Asian store near you.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008A0932S

Yeah I bought the classic off eBay for cheap as well! I've not done a total tear down though I did take out the shower head and clean that really well. Pulled off the top and vacuumed out the internals. It arrived prettty dirty lol

Here's the link to the bottomless I got. Had to also order a double basket to replace the triple it came with: Bottomless Portafilter Gaggia https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KRR4K2K/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awd_gRA9wb2ZWJ9G3

My filtering setup:

Melitta Coffee Maker, 6 Cup Pour-Over Brewer with Glass Carafe

Melitta Cone Coffee Filters Natural Brown #4 100 count

This setup filters the fine stuff extraordinarily well. The tea should still be hot when you pour it, but not boiling. Also, it helps if you decant it a bit while pouring, if you fill the filter up with plant material first thing, it will clog. It's worth the effort if you want the cleanest tea possible.

If you want to make larger batches, you could go for the 10 cup version.

It is easy to use. Fill tank with water. Grind beans. Put grinds in coffee basket and tamp. Put basket on the unit and tighten down. Put cup underneath basket and turn the knob once. Wait for the green light to come on. Turn the knob again to dispense. Turn off when done.

And here is the tamper I use. It is excellent IMO. Cheap and useful AND sturdy. Can't beat it.

EDIT: Well here is the rest of what I use as well. Grinder. This is a bit cheap, you could do better but also do worse.

And the milk pitcher for frothing. It may seem silly to spend that much on a metal pitcher but I highly recommend it.

So for about $120 $140 plus shipping you can be all set up!

EDIT 2: Buy decent whole beans and keep them tightly rolled in the bag and put the bag in something like this. Grind just enough to make a cup when you are wanting one.

Get the Encore. Ideally a cheap $10 scale but I've found with experience that I can consistently eyeball it well enough with the scoop which came with something I bought. $12 kettle. $15.50 Clever dripper if it's cheap enough and some $6 papers (or off brand instore somewhere cheaper) or a $11.50 french press.

If you can get the Encore at 70, and just the kettle and brewer (no scale) that's just under 100.

Edit. I forgot you'd need to weigh the water to get the proportions correct and consistent, and would need a scale for that but, because water has many special magic properties you can just measure it 500ml=500g etc, so a cheap $1 plastic jug could also work.

OK thats good to know, not sure if we have the condensed milk at the store or not.

Is this the same coffee? http://www.amazon.com/Trung-Nguyen-Vietnamese-coffee-can/dp/B000F17AKC/ref=pd_bxgy_gro_img_y

It looks little different, will I need coffee grinder for this?

This is the filter
http://www.amazon.com/Vietnamese-Traditional-Coffee-Filter-Gravity/dp/B008A0932S/ref=pd_bxgy_gro_text_z

It's funny because they have them linked all 3 together in suggested, I guess lot of people saw the video and bought all 3.

I think you can. You froth the milk using a french press or this. Mokapots can come pretty cheap if necessary. There are plenty of cheap hand grinders; alternatively, if you have a blender with a grinder attachment, you can use the blade grinder to do it this way.

I use a 64 oz Mason jar, have a reusable coffee filter that fits in it, and then rough grind some beans about 1/2-3/4 way up the filter. Fill the jar with water and let it soak in the fridge for about 24 hours. I've seen some people say 12 hours, but that was pretty weak tasting, and that's coming from someone that does not like strong coffee. I once forgot about it for 48 hours and that was pretty strong.

I bought something similar to this.

Nice, I'll have to check those out.

Best coffee I ever made with an Aeropress so far was a Gesha I ordered from Bluebottle....so smooth....but waaaay too expensive to do all the time :P. We have a local roaster here that does a decent job...it's fun using different techniques with the AP...one thing I'd recommend (besides a decent kettle if you don't already have one) is little containers for the filters. I grabbed some really cheap 2.5 inch tins containers from Amazon for the task. I'd avoid spending money on a reusable filter at first...and perhaps look into one that is part of the end-cap rather than a loose one as one thing I hated about using a loose metal filter is I'd constantly accidentally pop it into the trash. Hope you enjoy it!

edit: built in filter cap for later on :). https://www.amazon.com/Fellow-Pressure-Actuated-Attachment-AeroPress-Espresso-Style/dp/B079YBT2LJ

I have a BV1800TH.

If you have a scale, weigh out around 74 grams of coffee for the full 1300ml. If you don't have a scale, that's about 14 tablespoons of ground (medium-course) coffee. Dial it back if that's too strong for you.

Never use the carafe to fill the tank; always use a clean container, preferably with filtered water (for taste).

#4 cone filters are what you need. It comes with a few.

Do two batches of just water before you brew. EDIT: For the first time.
___
That's it. It's such a good coffee maker. I never new I like drip coffee so much until I bought this brewer. I love it.

Hot coffee over ice gets oxidized and bitter tasting, unless iced thoroughly and instantly (look up japanese iced coffee)

Cold press is where it's at. Get a couple of these: https://www.amazon.com/Gallon-Coffee-Filter-Pouches-2-pack/dp/B00QG1Y18E

You literally just put ground coffee in the bag, put it in a large container of water, and let it sit for 12-24hrs. Take them out and you have magnificent coffee that is strong and has super low acid content.

Ok cool. Here is what I ordered, a 3 pack...fine, very fine, and mesh.

[stainless steel filters ](3 Pro AeroPress Stainless Steel Filters by Corretto Coffee - FINE, ULTRA-FINE & MESH + Brewing Guide - Reusable, Permanent, Paperless, Premium Metal Filter Set for AeroPress https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01C94E17C/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_6TqIybJQW8XCH)

It sounds like you're entirely starting new, so I can give you some pointers I hope will be helpful. I also run a Breville Infuser, but I have a Ceado E6P.

• Maintenance and cleanliness. (More of general kitchen tip, but applies doubly here)
  
  When was the last time the grinder was cleaned? When was the last time the machine was descaled and back flushed? Consider this to be like brushing your teeth: you do it regularly so you don't get cavities and dental disease. You do not want to wait until things get funky. I clean my stuff about once a month. I also descale once a month because I have hard water; but I used to live somewhere where I only needed to descale once every 6 months.
  
  On cleaning your grinder: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVVsTAUzVzM
  
  Grindz tablets: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0014J7FUY
  
  Descale: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lq1TiwoJbWA
  
  Our machines do not have a descale mode, but that doesn't matter, you can follow the steps anyway. Also, just buy citric acid, you don't need Breville's stuff. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GNBHPAS/ I always backflush after I descale, so I stop following this guide at roughly the 2 minute mark.
  
  Backflush: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1N8HLoW6ew
  
  Cafiza: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004L8RTEM/
  
  
• Beans:
  
  You need fresh beans. There's no two ways around this. You can play with this if you like. Old beans are monumentally difficult to dial in, and often it's impossible. I find beans last nearly a month after the roast date, but there's a noticeable drop off after the second week. There's a lot of room for experimenting here, I recommend you do. Also note, that some beans cannot be dialed in. I don't understand the roasting and processing factors, but there is a lot of variation here.
  
  
• About the Infuser:
  
  Our machine can be programmed such that it will dispense a fairly precise volume of water with the press of a single button. My 1 cup button is programmed to purge the group head, and my 2 cup button is programmed for a regular pull. I want you to know that this a really a good approximation, but Breville has a "smart" feature where it will try to "save" the shot if it thinks the pressure is too high. This has ruined a few cups for me, so I only have this programmed for those bad mornings, but otherwise I don't use it.
  
  Edit: I'm an idiot. If your pressure gauge is "bouncing" or fluctuating during a shot, most likely your pump is going bad. You can try to service it or replace it, I bought one of these off amazon and it is working: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NMNA138/. I got this because it arrived the same day. This is the actual pump: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B077ZRP3GD.
  
  I only use the 2 shot single walled basket, and I have also modified my portafilter to be bottomless. I generally find a good shot is just after the second screw in the pressure gauge, but that gauge is not very helpful.
  
  
• 
  
  I bought a few toys to help me out. These are not necessary, and in fact some people will tell you that you don't need them at all. Those people are probably right, but I like my toys anyway.
  
  A funnel: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07N693YSS/ A cut yogurt cup can work. It doesn't need to be fancy, I just wanted something fancy.
  
  A pick: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003E48EWA/ A toothpick or anything pointy can totally suffice. Again, just wanted to be fancy.
  
  A leveling tool. I have a 51mm because that's what I could find cheaply at the time, but it looks like 53mm are also available now. 51mm: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BTN1S2C/ 53mm: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07S4Q179B/
  
  A tamp: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MUXN53U/ This tamp has a spring inside it. I only bought this because I had a nasty habit of over tamping.
  
  I found this video that I like: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMldWhQVMQA I would not tap the filter after the distribution (where he's stirring the grounds), and I tamp gently. I don't twist or turn the tamp.
  
  
• 
  
  Dialing in is a trial and error type deal. In general, you want ~16 grams in the portafilter, and want to pull ~32 grams of espresso in ~30 seconds. These aren't hard and fast rules, and there's a lot of wiggle room here.
  
  Find a coin like a nickel or penny and clean it. After you've tamped your portafilter, place the coin directly on top of the grounds, then lock the portafilter in the machine. Remove the portafilter and then carefully remove the coin from the grounds. (Do not pull a shot with the coin in there)
  
  Is there an indentation in the grounds? If so, then you have overfilled the portafilter. If not, you might be good, or the portafilter might be underfilled. A scale will really help here.
  
  To pull a shot, I have my portafilter locked in, and place my mug on top of my scale underneath the portafilter. I will hold down the 2 shot button (doesn't matter, you can hold down the 1 shot button), and keep it depressed for roughly 10 seconds. This is the preinfusion stage. Low pressure water is being introduced to the grounds. I chose 10 seconds because this is when I first start to see espresso appear at the bottom of my basket. You can experiment here. I then release the button to allow the full extraction. I press the button again at ~30 grams to stop the extraction.
  
  I want to emphasize that these are rough guidelines. You may find something entirely different that works. I apologize if I came off as rude or condescending, I'm a bit of a turd by nature. Please ask if you have any questions.

It will cost you but this will allow you to get a lot of Crema, I highly recommend!

Fellow Prismo - AeroPress Coffee Maker Attachment https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B079YBT2LJ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_Vba8CbC5346PJ

This bad boy, or anything like it should be perfect. Fill it like half way with water, throw like 2 tbs coffee in, and you're set. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008NCXJ3C/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_gYY0BbC5BJD5H

Not OP but I use a coffee sock (basically this kit: https://www.amazon.com/CoffeeSock-ColdBrew-Reusable-Organic-KIT64/dp/B00L7478JE/) and it works great.

You can buy a bottomless portafilter which should help diagnose shots easier as well. Along with that I believe the spouts should be able to be unscrewed

Grinder: Hario Slim ~$25 or mini mill ~$29 (looks too expensive to go for the mini mill)

Option 1: Aeropress and filters, may be just under or around $50 with the grinder, might overshoot by a few bucks. ~$29 for Aeropress and paper filters, steel filter available but not within budget (~$15-18).

Option 2: melitta pourover cone and filters, need a pyrex to heat/pour your water, but every kitchen should have one of those anyway. ~$13 for cone and filters.

Looks like going the pourover route (before shipping and whatnot) will cost you a total of ~$38, while the Aeropress will be ~$54. The pourover route will mean you don't have as great a control over the brew (many people like an expensive gooseneck kettle, but whatever), but will be significantly under-budget. The Aeropress will be slightly over budget, but you won't have to worry about pour control.

Pourover. Fast, hand brew coffee maker. Makes really good cups.

No and Yes

You will still get coffee. Will it be good? It really depends more on technique than the tools. But using the correct tools for the job makes the technique easier to master. I wonder how many takes they had to use for the video to not end up having a mess of coffee and water everywhere.

If you are a college kid (dorm) and have little money.

Funnel

Filter

Funnel, microwave not included Also I had the anchor one for a while it spilled water everywhere the pyrex one doesn't.


[EDIT]: also look into a hand grinder Cuissential or haro

I don't own a hand grinder but fresh ground beans make a big difference in quality. Don't get a blade grinder, they don't work worth a damn.

Do you 'true-flat' filters or the 'flat-cone' (the ones you linked to)?

Anyways, I'm not sure of anything that find your needs perfectly. Perhaps you could get a huge Melita cone and place it on top of the Chemex (or fashion a home-made lid that'd make up any difference)

Edit: Here is a photo of two options that could also work for you. Not nearly as pretty however. You could of course place the included carafe aside and just use the pourover over a Chemex

Edit 2: Here is a #6 cone sold by itself

This one: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B0721RVRYN

Mason jars come separately. I got a 12-pack of 32oz jars from Target for something like $15.

Cleanup is only slightly troublesome. What I do is take a paper towel, hold it over the mouth of the filter, then hold the filter upside-down under a trickle of water to catch the lion's share of grounds. Towel+grounds go into compost, and then whatever little remains in the filter just goes down the drain as I rinse it more strongly.

The coffee itself is pretty smooth, albeit a little muddy at the bottom.

Just got mine a couple of weeks ago and love it. The big advantage is you can do 'full immersion' (leave the grounds to steep for a minute). Without this accessory, you have to do this upside down maneuver that fell apart and coated my counters in wet grounds on several occasions.

I like the Clever Coffee Maker: Amazon link

Hijacking top comment to recommend this product.
https://www.amazon.com/Urnex-Professional-Grinder-Cleaning-Tablets/dp/B0014J7FUY/ref=asc_df_B0014J7FUY/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=309735741984&hvpos=1o3&hvnetw=g&hvrand=2266436962078040546&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9004361&hvtargid=aud-800703102928:pla-347658283862&psc=1

If OP wants to keep the coffee maker in good condition this is necessary anyway.

I used to work in coffee and this is the industry standard.

I must concur. I starting using at home as well since it makes consistently great coffee.
Also picked this up http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00JVTQHVC/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Fits my Mason perfectly and two lasted two years!

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00QG1Y18E/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

​

So on my second set; all I use, and use it a lot!

Filters are different. But "size 2" would usually mean a Melita size 2, or a Filtropa size 2, or a generic one from anywhere, or a coffee sock size 2, or a metal mesh size 2, will also fit. The important thing is that wedge shape (vs. a true cone [like a v60 filter] or something with a flat/level bottom [like a Bunn filter]).

Edit: here's an example. I prefer the white ones, though https://www.amazon.com/Melitta-Coffee-Filter-Count-Natural/dp/B000FKJNNA

Nowhere. My bad. I corrected the post.

Bellemain Stainless Steel Hand Pump Milk Frother, 14 oz. capacity https://www.amazon.com/dp/B010E1ZQVC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_taa_xgtPCb5Q9FAZW

It does work well though for frothing (not a steamer).

Indeed. I do a pour over batch in a thermos in the morning.

Fills this mug three times. I drink two and my wife drinks one every morning.

My physical dependence might be a result of many years of consuming copious amount of caffeine or maybe just my own special genetic predisposition to migraines, to be fair.

Initially I might try using cheese cloth.

Regarding the cloth bags: are you referring to something like this?

EDIT: Or like this one that is made of hemp?

Nescafe is actually not horrible, it has far less acid in it than fresh coffee, but yeah. An Aeropress is dirt cheap and makes absolutely stunning coffee. https://www.amazon.com/AeroPress-Coffee-and-Espresso-Maker/dp/B0047BIWSK

Also, you can get an aftermarket filter so you don't have to keep getting paper filters: https://www.amazon.com/Altura-Mesh-Aeropress-Stainless-Reusable/dp/B00JVTQHVC/

Oh, I forgot. If you plan to do this often, invest in an aeropress and the metal screen filter (links below). This is the easiest way I've found to filter tinctures and oils with minimal waste. Also a superb way to make coffee.
https://www.amazon.com/Aeropress-Coffee-and-Espresso-Maker/dp/B0047BIWSK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1483129322&sr=8-1&keywords=aeropress

https://www.amazon.com/MESH-AeroPress-Stainless-Reusable-Guarantee/dp/B00JVTQHVC/ref=pd_sim_79_2?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B00JVTQHVC&pd_rd_r=H0RCARYJRYHBV3Q99K8Y&pd_rd_w=wC3LO&pd_rd_wg=P2hDQ&psc=1&refRID=H0RCARYJRYHBV3Q99K8Y

I bought a shaving bag, scale and use a hard case for my coffee. Here's what I picked up on Amazon, fit well and traveled through Iceland and Ireland for two weeks.

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B075XKQV3N?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title&th=1

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B079YBT2LJ?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000O37TDO?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title

I just use a gallon jar like this:
https://www.amazon.com/Pack-Airtight-Dishwasher-Kombucha-Fermentation/dp/B075JQR2KD/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=gallon+jar&qid=1556897898&s=gateway&sr=8-4

and a coffee filter bag like this:
https://www.amazon.com/One-Gallon-Coffee-Pouches-Cooking-downloadable/dp/B00QG1Y18E/ref=sr_1_5?crid=1GMVT79P5PN1O&keywords=coffee+bag+cold+brew&qid=1556898009&s=gateway&sprefix=coffee+bag+cold%2Caps%2C330&sr=8-5

Note: I am a single person though and drink about a cup of coffee a day. So not a ton

get something like this for a 1qt/2qt mason jar(i would get the one to use for 1qt so you can use in either. use 6-8g of tea per qt.

Grindz, which work brilliantly!

Thanks for this. What about when using an attachment like this for pressurization?

The TUBE: Cold Brew Coffee Maker and Tea Infuser Kit. Premium Stainless Steel Mesh Filter Designed for Wide Mouth Ball Mason Jar FREE Brewer Guide and Recipe eBook (The TUBE) https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0744ZJCHY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_Ve8VCbC29Q1KV

I went French Press first, because it was inexpensive and it made multiple cups (there are two of us drinking coffee). I had been on the fence about the Aeropress for a while and finally bit the bullet. It's fantastic for those single cup mornings where it's just me running out the door before everyone is awake. It's more expensive, though. Finally, I got the Moka pot because I wanted to be able to make cappuccino and espresso at home. I got the Bellemain 6-cup with the hand pump milk frother by the same company. Both cost $31 with shipping (Prime), so well worth it.

I got this one off of Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KRR4K2K/ref=oh_aui_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I'm not sure if there are better or cheaper options available elsewhere, though!

The Skerkton Pro is a great companion to the Aeropress.

Stumptown Coffee has a good video on the Aeropress basics on youtube.

The Aeropress uses small paper filters, but you can also get a variety of stainless options.

Amazon has a ton of options/manufactures.

It's been said already but I have few other thoughts. Purchase an Encore. I've had mine for 6 years now with zero problems and it's still performing. Think of it as an investment.

The only thing I would suggest is make a scale a priority as well. It's secondary to the grinder but eliminates much of the guess work and allows you to make repeatable brews.

If you're open to it, consider getting a clever dripper. It's how I started because I couldn't afford to buy a gooseneck kettle at the time.

If what you have above is within your budget I would stretch it a little bit more to get a proper grinder.

To sum up I would suggest:

• Encore Grinder
  
• Scale
  
• Clever Dripper

Yes. Aeropress makes the best coffee for the price. Unfortunately, it doesn't make very much of it.

However, Aeropress doesn't make espresso. Espresso requires around 10 bars of pressure to make, Aeropress doesn't get anywhere close to this. However, if you want to get as close as possible you can buy this doodad.

5x5 would be fine. The PSI is on the material being squished anyway. Don't get Nylon, get polyester (for these I like the Mash 710 bags) or use Chemex Filters

I bought these back in late September and they came in a Kalita branded bag, fit the 185, and worked well. Not sure how much more legit they could possibly be?

Kalita 22199 Wave Filters, 185, Pack of 100, White (Japan Import) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BJBOITS/

I looked up this portafilter on Amazon. Would the VST 25g basket fit in this one?

I have one of thesecold brew filters. I put coffee in the filter, fill the mason jar with water, and put it in the fridge for 24 hours. So easy, coffee is smoother,

Just so you know, you can cut off amazon links after the /dp/###### part

https://www.amazon.com/Urnex-Professional-Grinder-Cleaning-Tablets/dp/B0014J7FUY

You can even remove the description line, if you really decide to care.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0014J7FUY

Others have mentioned that your grind is too coarse but if the fines are something that you've just noticed, they can increase without proper cleaning of your burrs. Get some grindz or run some white rice through there (followed by a few beans until all traces of the rice/grindz have gone). Alternatively, you can strip the grinder and get at it with an old toothbrush.

Pour Over Cheap, filters can be acquired for under $5 from any grocery store. The kettle will work perfectly for it! I have that pour over and can vouch for its awesomeness. A hario pour over is available but is more expensive. Any high end grocery store should carry moderately freshly roasted coffee allowing you to bypass high shipping costs.

Well... that makes a lot of sense as far as the clogging goes. As far as the coffee filter holder, do you mean something like:
Coffee Filter Holder

Or something else?

Hario Coffee Mill Slim Grinder

Melitta Ready Set Joe Single Cup Coffee Brewer

Filters

That leaves you with about $12 to spare, which you could spend on some beans.

(This is my own setup btw, so I may or may not be biased. It is cheap though.)

Some people use something like this to air blast grounds out.

You can also run Grindz through your grinder. I wouldn't use rice.

Also a small brush as previously mentioned.

Oh, they make variable size filter cones. I use this one and it'll fit a #6 style Melitta filter. I can brew 48oz and routinely do.

I got it at a Vietnamese super market. Here it is at amazon. I'll try finer grounds, but am already getting a lot of sediment with a corse ground.

This one, not really sure if its the best or not but it was on prime so thats why I bought it along with my Aeropress.

Get a mason jar and a hard stainless filter. I highly recommend this one:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0721RVRYN/

Yeah it is. Pressurized means that there is a flow restrictor that keeps the water and coffee in contact at pressure longer. This means you get good shot times no matter the grind (ish)

Since the pressure drop isn’t across the coffee it’s very different. Since it’s so easy to just pop that thing out or put it back I would recommend trying, just make sure you tamp it. If you don’t have a tamper check this one out (no affiliation I bought one 10y ago with my 155)

RSVP International TAM Dual Sided Espresso Tamper, One Size, Multi Color https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0001XRNEM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_JfbLDbSTWNPEF


First one will probably run fast, tighten grind until 1oz in 30s and go from there (it’s a 52mm PF I think? It’s been years sorry, anyway that means it won’t match a lot of the full size 58mm recipes you read on here FYI).

Oh, that's so lame.

You can also look into systems that use seamless paper filters, like the Kalita Wave 185, but it's a little over $30CAD, especially with the filters ($10CAD).

After experiencing filter issues not too dissimilar from yours, I finally broke down and traded my v60-01 for a Kalita 155 and am kicking myself for waiting so long. Once it's dialed in, the coffee is phenomenal and, better yet, consistent.

I got these last year, and like them a lot. I think the cup has more flavor using these over the paper ones, but that's just my opinion, man.

I use a Rocket Blower and occasionally run an ounce of Rolled oats through. Knock suggests uncooked rice but other grinder manufacturers claim it's too hard and can damage burrs. Grindz is what others recommend.

As far as a deep clean? not really sure. I think Knock suggested just brushing the burrs, but you can't reach them without taking the whole thing apart which then voids your warranty. Hmmm.

You can also eliminate the url altogether. Put what ever text you want in brackets in front of the url info, then parentheses around the link:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0014J7FUY
[amazon link](url address)
amazon link

Don't shy away from cleaning the grinder regularly. When they say "grinds" in the video they are talking about this sort of thing.

Here is the basket I previously used-non pressurized, I believe.

This is the bottomless I bought, now using the basket that came with it (in the same style as the one I'm currently using)

Got mine on amazon.

My kit is an Aeropress with a metal mesh filter and a milk frother.

What's the difference between the "Mesh" and the "Disc"? Are either necessary for the aeropress?

You can find this item at any Mexican or Asian market.
Link so you can see it. https://www.amazon.com/Vietnamese-Traditional-Coffee-Filter-Gravity/dp/B008A0932S
or https://buymorecoffee.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/1137243857-1.jpg
Then look on line for Vietnamese coffee method so you know how to use it.

Coffee Sock

Try prismo

Investment?

Really?

for those wondering what a Phin is:

http://www.amazon.com/Vietnamese-Traditional-Coffee-Filter-Gravity/dp/B008A0932S

I got these three for 14 bucks, haven't had any issues with them.

https://www.amazon.com/Urnex-Professional-Grinder-Cleaning-Tablets/dp/B0014J7FUY

1)https://www.amazon.com/Aeropress-Coffee-and-Espresso-Maker/dp/B0047BIWSK 2)https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01C94E17C/ref=psdc_13397451_t1_B00SAEX73U 3)https://www.amazon.com/GEVALIA-House-Coffee-Medium-Ground/dp/B00MS95U74

You can order this and try all 3: https://www.amazon.com/AeroPress-Stainless-Filters-Corretto-Coffee/dp/B01C94E17C

Mine was from Kafeologie or something, but this one is it.

Have you thought about one of these?

Fellow Prismo https://www.amazon.com/dp/B079YBT2LJ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apap_XCgygjIaI7CJA

This was an absolute game changer for me

I use these:

https://smile.amazon.com/Urnex-Professional-Grinder-Cleaning-Tablets/dp/B0014J7FUY?sa-no-redirect=1

In my Sette 270.

I looked, and I have this stuff, actually, for milk wand cleaning:

https://smile.amazon.com/Urnex-Circle-Espresso-Machine-Cleaning/dp/B004NRXFP8?sa-no-redirect=1

I bought the one below. It's a little flimsy I guess, but I haven't had any issues with it. I've been using it daily for the last few weeks (owned it for a few months).

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008A0932S

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KRR4K2K/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

edit: only for 2015 and up.

What I am using since starting my collection over the last 14 months:

Tamper

Tamping mat

Distribution tool

Decent Pitchers (got the 3 set)

My Weight Scale

Bottomless Portafilter for Gaggia Classic

What grinder are you using? That is something you should consider investing money in more-so than anything else.

According to my order history, these ones were $9.13 with Prime, sold by Barista Lab.

Sorry I don't remember to hyperlink


Kalita 22199 Wave Filters, 185, Pack of 100, White (Japan Import) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BJBOITS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apip_5Rljz3PurlZA3

This works for that problem: Fellow Prismo, Pressure-Actuated Attachment for AeroPress Coffee Maker with Reusable Filter, Espresso-Style, No-Drip Immersion, and Cold Brew at Home https://www.amazon.com/dp/B079YBT2LJ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_g.93DbN5B0J2R

Encore doesn't come with a ceramic burr set. It's steel so that's not good. Hope s/he dried it off right away instead of letting it air dry.

Definitely unnecessary to replace it. You can replace the burr for much cheaper than replacement if worst comes to worst. I would open it up (lots of youtube videos on how to do it from baratza themselves) and clean out the lower burr chamber and the chute. Then buy some grindz and run it through. Run some coffee through it and it should be fine. This is assuming your burr is ok. If not, well you can always take it as a good chance to upgrade your burrs to the M2 ones.

I keep a bag of these Grinding beans for when I run something oily and nasty through it like that. It gets gunky after a single hopper of that stuff.

Or get a Vietnamese type coffee filter. The only replaceable item is the coffee itself. No filters.

Huh weird. I got square ones with mine!

Edit: apparently they do both! Here are the square ones -
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000N4W2SG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_mDXtDb1DPJCV3

Well, even if you are very low on funds there has to be a way to make a cup of coffee.
I have no affiliation to Amazon and just sought the cheapest suff I could find there. But at a dollar store (or something) I bet you can go even cheaper.
Coffee filter holder: https://www.amazon.com/HIC-Coffee-Filter-Number-1-Size/dp/B013S2HYHS/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1519521231&sr=8-2&keywords=coffee+filter+holder
Coffee filters: https://www.amazon.com/Cone-Coffee-Filter-Natural-Brown/dp/B000FKJNNA/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1519521231&sr=8-7&keywords=coffee+filter+holder
A pack of coffee can be bought at any supermarket for very little as well. And while I'm probably going to agitate some coffee snobs here on Reddit this will make a cup of coffee that will beat the snot out of any cheap instant cup you can make.
You wrote you are from the Philippines, I believe the Phin is also from the Philippines. It's a simple coffee maker that does not require any filter at all. That way you only have to buy a Phin and a pack of coffee. It won't set you back any more than a paper filter holder with a pack of filters.
Coffee is like any hobby, you can make it as expensive as you want.

I'm using these: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000N4W2SG ...
I guess it's me then :-(

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00OOST5FK/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1 It comes with a plastic piece to sit right on the cup if you'd rather. It also is a pain to separate from the plastic. It came with a metal filter but I use it at work where there isn't a nearby sink so I use these filters https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FKJNNA/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I'm using these filters No particulate was found at the bottom of the cup.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00006IUTQ/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I'll go buy some new beans then! Not sure how the quality of my tap water is...