Coffee / Coffee Machine / Coffee Grinders

ratoloko on 19/04/2025 - 21:35
Last edited 20/04/2025 - 09:32 by 1 other user

Hi all, I am not coffee addicted, but I have had enough of Nespresso capsules that just feels like I am drinking dirty water.

I am looking for recommendation for:

  • Coffee beans:
    I don't wanna get into baking beans at this stage, so a brand that sells roasted beans ready to use in NSW would be awesome. I am happy to pick-up over delivery, but it is not mandatory. A brand known for the quality of the beans (Coming from somebody who is drinking Nespresso sounds like a joke, I know haha )

  • Coffee machine:
    Nothing fancy, I do like cappuccino which I usually buy from coffee shops and each one tastes different \o/
    If the machine allows me to learn and make cappuccino rather than just black coffee would be amazing, no more spending money hoping I picked the right coffee shop. But again, I am not after those machines taking the entire kitchen bench top, with touchscreen and all, the more mechanic the better, less things to break. I do like Breville brand and it is Australian brand from what I know. Is there a model I should avoid or something??

  • Grinders:
    There are not many secrets here, but I remember crossing coffee posts last year where folks mentioned about how fine is the grinder and it can alter the taste or something along those lines. It must be manual, I am putting together a camping setup into my car, and I am staying away as much as I can from electronics. Sure, I will look into those big camping batteries, but I don't wanna basic stuff depending on electricity to work. Be as offline as possible. So, I will be buying two grinders, at home I wanna keep things simple also.

Thank you so much for any info.

Food & Grocery Coffee Coffee Grinder Coffee Machine

Comments

  • Stewardo on 19/04/2025 - 21:47
    +1

    First thing addicts always say is “I’m not an addict but”

    • Some Human on 19/04/2025 - 23:43

      I reckon they meant Coffee Snob

    • ratoloko on 20/04/2025 - 13:49

      I drink coffee in the morning once, only, unless at work once a week I might have two cappuccino.
      Don't judge others because their reality is different than yours…. peace!

      • ATTS on 21/04/2025 - 17:32

        Curious is everyone drunkibg coffee as soon as woken up

    • ATTS on 21/04/2025 - 17:31

      Curious what is considered an addict?

      I also believe coffee tolerance is normal though right?

  • wombat81 on 19/04/2025 - 22:03
    +2

    Coffee machines. IMO you don't want anything smaller or cheaper than a Sunbeam Cafe Series Duo Espresso. There are similar Breville and De'Longhi machines that I'm sure others will be able to recommend. But if you want to make espresso coffee, that's your starting point, IMO. I've heard the Breville dual boilers are good, but I haven't used one.

    Grinders. The Breville Smart Grinder is a good start. I know you said you want manual, but you really don't want that. Save that for camping, or grind a bunch of coffee to take camping with your electric grinder before you go.

    • ratoloko on 20/04/2025 - 13:50

      I know you said you want manual, but you really don't want that. Save that for camping, or grind a bunch of coffee to take camping with your electric grinder before you go.

      That makes sense, since I am wanna take things as ready as possible to enjoy more and spend less time "preparing".
      I will have a look into those.

      Thank you

  • Gunnar on 19/04/2025 - 22:09

    Budget???

    • ratoloko on 20/04/2025 - 13:52

      Whatever it is worth but nothing fancy and smart, it has to be functional and simple.

      • dtc on 20/04/2025 - 14:26
        +2

        People seriously recommend $4000 coffee machines and $1000 grinders ‘as ok to start with’; so a budget is relevant

        • ratoloko on 20/04/2025 - 14:45
          +1

          WoW Are you serious? lmao

          I don't drink coffee enough to justify a $1000 machine for what I care, let alone $1000 into a grinder haha
          I need something I will use, and not to post on social media to show status, yes, people seriously do that!!!

          That is why the as old school as possible, nothing fancy, no bloody mobile app, no touchscreen and this and that.

          • coffeeinmyveins on 21/04/2025 - 08:32

            @ratoloko:

            WoW Are you serious? lmao

            When you go to a cafe how much do you think the machine cost?

            • ATTS on 21/04/2025 - 17:34

              @coffeeinmyveins: Not sure if true also, but apparently the automatic machines at the crappy hj, cost around 10k

  • AustriaBargain on 19/04/2025 - 22:23
    +1

    Get a budget espresso machine with a built in grinder or a separate grinder and with a built in milk further or a separate one. Having them all built in one is nice like that Breville machine. Milk throttler is good for making hot chocolate too.

  • chew_chew on 19/04/2025 - 22:44
    +3

    Bambino plus, or check out flair if U prefer manual

  • altomic on 19/04/2025 - 23:06
    +2

    I have a little sunbeam coffee machine, and get my coffee from aldi (ground).

    Budget + reasonable quality.

    • ratoloko on 20/04/2025 - 13:54
      +1

      Thanks for that, I am staying away from the supermarkets, stock issues, price issues.
      I have moves to buying from farmers.

  • sumyungguy on 20/04/2025 - 00:49

    Which Nespresso machine are you using? They're not all rubbish.

    • ratoloko on 20/04/2025 - 13:57

      A Nespresso Vertuo, if I drink if just the coffee, 5 minutes and I am in the toilet lol
      I just need black coffee, nothing mixed with lot of stuff.

      Before you ask, it belonged to my ex who used to work there and left it behind.
      I use it but I don't need coffee with "flavours"

  • Nedman on 20/04/2025 - 06:24
    +5

    I went through this about a month ago, there is a big selection. I finished up with the Bambino Plus and Baratza Encore ESP.

    • ratoloko on 20/04/2025 - 13:58

      Sweet, I will have a look into those.
      Thank you

  • EightImmortals on 20/04/2025 - 07:05
    +1

    "coffee beans:
    I don't wanna get into baking beans at this stage, so a brand that sells roasted beans ready to use in NSW would be awesome. I am happy to pick-up over delivery but it is not mandatory."

    Coffeesnobs BeanBay, we always end up going back to them after trying others. Used to buy the roasted, now we buy the green ones.

    https://beanbay.coffeesnobs.com.au/

    • ratoloko on 20/04/2025 - 13:59

      Sweet, I will check them out.
      Thank you

  • ChrisLevo on 20/04/2025 - 08:51
    1. Your local coffee roaster.
    2. Expobar Leva.
    3. Breville Smart Grinder.

    /thread.

  • Banj0 on 20/04/2025 - 13:09
    +1

    Coffee Beans

    Whatever you can get, as long as it's been roasted within the past couple of weeks. Worth trying the various deals that pop up here. Eventually you'll find some favourites. Certainly try some local roasters if they are convenient to you.

    I've bought roasts that I thought were crap, until halfway through the packet I managed to tweak things 'just so', and suddenly it's the best coffee I've ever had. It's all about getting your parameters just right for your taste and the roast you're pulling: input quantity, output quantity, and the time. As the beans age, the pull will change a little and you may need to adjust things.

    Coffee Machine

    Because you like a milk based coffee, something with a boiler. Usually a boiler will give you a better experience in steaming milk. If you come to a place where the milk texture is important to you, then you want a nice powerful steam wand.

    "the more mechanic the better"

    So…you want to avoid electronics? Old fashioned build?

    The Expobar recommendation above is probably a good one for a machine with a more 'commercial' build and less fancy stuff to go wrong. At the bottom end of these machines with a more traditional build you'll find the Gaggia Classic (but maybe an aluminium boiler in that), and the Rancilio Silvia (brass boiler I believe).

    These are the kinds of machines that you get repaired when they fail, and parts are easily sourced. Your average consumer model, maybe not so much - especially when there's vulnerable circuit boards and bespoke fittings. People throw cheap machines out when they break outside of warranty, and that kind of sucks.

    Different heating arrangements across machines. You've got dual boilers, heat exchange (HX), single boilers, and single and dual thermoblock machines. Dual boilers are probably considered the bees knees.

    Grinder

    It must be manual, I am putting together a camping setup into my car, and I am staying away as much as I can from electronics.

    Errrm…does this mean you want a hand operated coffee machine?

    Plenty of recommendations for hand grinders in these threads. Just don't buy a $30 plastic jobby…it won't give a consistent grind.

    Commandante, 1Zpresso, Kingrinder, Timemore…they are all coming out with some pretty nice grinders. You can get a very precise and repeatable grind out of these things. Look for one designed for espresso.

    Enjoy!!

    • ratoloko on 20/04/2025 - 14:01

      So…you want to avoid electronics? Old fashioned build?

      I don't need those machine so called smart, with mobile app, and Bluetooth and shit.
      I am not old but I am old fashioned, physical buttons, simple, built to last.

      Thank you so much for sharing that, I will have a look into all the brands and models you mentioned :)

      • ChrisLevo on 20/04/2025 - 17:15

        Banj0 is pretty much spot-on.

        I would add that a quick course (WEA run them here in Adelaide, so probably the same in Sydney) on how to use a manual machine like the Expobar (or a few equivalents) is worth the money and a few hours of your time.

        HTH

  • Faiz on 20/04/2025 - 18:39

    I bought a Breville Barista Express about nine years ago, and it has more than paid for itself. At the time of purchase, I didn't know much about coffee machines, so an all-in-one machine seemed like an easy choice. Since then, we've been making around three to four cups of coffee each day. It consistently produces great coffee, and the frothing quality is quite good.

  • ATTS on 21/04/2025 - 19:25

    Out of curiosity does anyone get coffee stains on teeth?

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