Coffee Connoisseurs Please Help Me With Real Coffee

Willco88 on 14/08/2021 - 03:47
Last edited 14/08/2021 - 10:02 by 1 other user

Okay I'm sorry I'm naive. I grew up pretty simple life and lived off regular Nescafe or if lucky Moccona coffee just the instant stuff but I've been hearing so much good stuff about real coffee, actual coffee beans.

Okay my question is, is the Aldi stuff really as amazing as everyone says? Is there a particular Aldi brand/flavour to use? I love the caffeine hit as well

I love everything I buy from Aldi already and I'm intrigued if the coffee is actually as good as everyone says not to mention the killer price.

Or NQR has Lavazza, is that any good?

Really hope we have some serious coffee connoisseurs here.

Oh btw I'm only using a Trusty little coffee plunger thingo from like Kmart where you manually add hot water and let it brew then use the plunger, I hope that's good enough?

Appreciate any positive feedback

Food & Grocery Coffee

Comments

  • Porker on 14/08/2021 - 06:00
    +4

    Taste is quite subjective.

    Perhaps buy it and see if you like it and then you'll know if you want to buy it again or not.

    • Willco88 on 14/08/2021 - 06:12

      Thanks but was after other people's opinion too

  • EightImmortals on 14/08/2021 - 06:52
    +2

    What Porker said, taste is subjective.

    If you have a grinder then a lot of new possibilities open up for you, sounds like you dont. There are plenty of roasted bean sellers in Aus and we have tried a lot of them but always kept going back to Coffeesnobs beanbay for the taste. Last year we bought a mini roaster to use at home (not cheap) and that raised the bar even higher. But yes pretty ANYTHING will be a step up from instant coffee. Just try a small bag at a time and see how you go.

    Sorry I can't help you with pre-ground stuff, haven't used it for years but your bodum should be fine if you don't have a coffee machine yet.

    • Willco88 on 14/08/2021 - 06:58

      I'm looking at the cheap varieties but thank you

  • teacherer on 14/08/2021 - 07:00
    +1

    If you're on a budget a hand grinder would do you a world of good. Is 30 sec of hand grinding too much per coffee?
    Freshly ground will be the biggest change.

    • Willco88 on 14/08/2021 - 07:18

      Might have to find one

  • SBOB on 14/08/2021 - 07:43
    +3

    is the Aldi stuff really as amazing as everyone says?

    It's good for the price (and ease of availability)

    It's what we use all the time in our BDB , as both myself and wife like it compared to a couple of more expensive roaster options we tried, so just stick with what we know/like
    (Not a coffee snob/connoisseur, don't drink short blacks, your mileage may vary)

  • DannyC on 14/08/2021 - 08:12
    +1

    Don't really need to be a "coffee connoisseur" when it comes to those coffee pods. Since it sounds you like the convenience of instant but want to venture out to the pre-ground pod system for a budget overall the ALDI pods do the job. They are half the price of Nespresso, though Nespresso have a certain taste profile to them. Their "awards" are from Canstar Blue so take that with a grain of salt. As others have said taste is subjective. If the price is right they have many different varieties to try, the machine itself is like $80?

    • Willco88 on 14/08/2021 - 08:23

      Not looking at pods just regular coffee beans

      • DannyC on 14/08/2021 - 09:08

        Oh btw I'm only using a Trusty little coffee plunger thingo from like Kmart where you manually add hot water and let it brew then use the plunger, I hope that's good enough?

        Ah the Lazzio beans. You will need a decent grinder, would suggest a hand grinder as most are cheaper. French press need a fairly course grind. As ddhar said educate yourself on proper grind settings for particular type of brew.

    • [Deactivated] on 14/08/2021 - 12:41

      Does Aldi sell these $80 machines or you have to go somewhere else to buy them

  • ddhar on 14/08/2021 - 08:48
    +2

    I highly recommend buying from your local roasters as the beans are usually better roasted (not too dark) and fresher (<1-month-old).

    As you are sticking to supermarket stuff, get yourself a good grinder instead. Big difference between freshly-ground and pre-ground coffee.
    Then educate yourself on getting the correct grind size for the type of brew you are making. This is major.

    • [Deactivated] on 14/08/2021 - 12:40

      Is pre ground coffee the same as instant coffee where you add a teaspoon of coffee, some milk and hot water? Are there any guides for coffee noobs

      • kiitos on 17/08/2021 - 15:52

        No, preground coffee doesn't dissolve like instant coffee does. You use preground coffee where you would ground to order coffee - eg, espresso machines, plungers, drip filters, Aeropress, etc. The water passes through the preground coffee and is filtered out into your cup.

  • Jimothy Wongingtons on 14/08/2021 - 09:12
    +1

    Aldi beans unbeatable for value.
    Use it with inverted aeropress.

  • Banj0 on 14/08/2021 - 09:30
    +2

    +1 on grinder, as others have mentioned. Get the best you can. Look at grinders like the Hario models, Timemore Chestnut, 1Zpresso, and Comandante. You'll see a wide variety of prices here. In general, the higher you go, the more consistent a grind you'll get. You'll see a lot of people on here using the Breville Smart Grinder Pro - which can be had at the same price as a premium hand grinder such as 1Zpresso or Comandante (my impression is that the Breville does not have quite so fine gradations compared to the premium hand grinders though).

    Immersion coffee is fine (your plunger). Consider looking at pourovers too if you want to experiment a bit.

    I've heard good things about Aldi beans, but have not tried them. If you want to try something more 'boutiquey', consider putting in an order with Direct Coffee (deals often here on OzB), where you can get a selection of coffees to try for not crippling prices - I'm not saying you have to buy that sort of thing all the time, just that it's a great way of experiencing some different roasts in smaller quantities.

  • Chocobros on 14/08/2021 - 09:56

    French press and pre ground lavazza oro is how I started out…. Million times better than instant. Can't comment on aldi beans as haven't tried them yet.

    As others have said grinding own beans elevates it more, getting beans from local cafes may provide better quality beans and fresher roasts which elevates it further and of course roasting yourself and grinding for each cup would provide the best cup.

    Enjoy your coffee journey!

  • raptormesh on 14/08/2021 - 10:38

    Saw your title and got ready to give my Melbourne (profanity) coffee spiel but then got sad when you're really talking about pods :(.

    • El cheepo on 14/08/2021 - 11:23

      Get that spiel out!
      Op is talking about beans despite it looking like pods
      (Read his replies above)

  • mickyb80 on 14/08/2021 - 13:27

    You are using a plunger? (French press) right?

    There are so many variables with this. Personal taste, the strength of the bean, how long you wait to let the ground settle, the temp of water, the grind size, and and and the list goes on…

    Whereabouts are you based? There is a lot of cafe's in Sydney, Melbourne and the likes they have in-house blends (or rebrand) that you can taste before buying the beans.

    One thing you might want to try is, to put the ground up beans into the beaker first, then add some room temp water (like bottled water) into the beaker, enough just to cover the ground then boil the kettle. When the kettle is boiled then pour in. Wait for the recommended or referenced time you like depending on the strength and plunge away.

    If you are adding milk, then heat a little glass cup in the microwave too and add.

    Just play around and see how you go. Way to many variables and personal preferences with coffee.

  • Hugh G Rection on 14/08/2021 - 23:30

    if you like aldi, stick with it and save tons of money, lol.
    i started with the 3 in 1 instant coffee and worked my way up all the methods to brew coffee. now i do espresso.
    unless you have a lot of money, stick with the cheap. it gets very expensive traveling down this way.
    ultimately if you want the best coffee you need to get freshly roasted whole bean locally and grind it seconds before you brew it. doesn't matter what method you use, it needs to be freshly roasted whole bean coffee that you grind immediately before brewing.
    I get my coffee freshly roasted and use to pick it same day (before covid), but now I receive it next day (during covid). i buy 1 week supplies because after a week it loses its freshness and flavour. the grocery store stuff doesn't have a roast date, just and expiration date.
    its an expensive initial cost getting a burr grinder and an espresso machine with all the accessories, but it will pay itself off once you factor in 2 cups off coffee a day for me and my wife.
    if you find something that you like that is cheap, stick with it, there is no need to change. unless you have money burning a hole in your pocket, lol.

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