Want to know how to make a barista-style brew at home, where to buy the best coffee beans – or which espresso machine is best? The Filter’s coffee expert, Sasha Muller is answering your questions live now.
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Sasha has tested coffee machines, cafetieres, espresso machines and more for the Filter, so post your questions in the comments below on anything from his favourite maker and how to choose a machine to his coffee no-nos and pet hates.
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Best bean-to-cup machines for caff and decaf?
Question from Crodd:
I would like a bean-to-cup but also want to be able to switch from caff to decaf regularly ie past midday! I’d also like to not break the bank. Thoughts?
Sasha:
double quotation markBean to cup coffee machines with dual hoppers do tend to cost a hefty premium, but one slightly more affordable option is the De’Longhi Rivelia. I do mean slightly, though – the most basic model which uses a manual steam wand is currently £575, and the fully automatic version I’ve tested in recent months is £675. It’s a great machine that justifies the premium over cheaper models – both in terms of its coffee brewing, which is superb, and its design. The masterstroke here is that the Rivelia comes with two plastic swappable bean hoppers which twist and lock into place. You do still end up with some beans left in the mouth of the grinder when you swap them over, but the Rivelia’s touchscreen gives you the option to purge the beans, or brew one last caffeinated (or decaffeinated) cup. And if only two types of beans isn’t enough then you can buy replaceable bean hoppers for £18 a pop.
Photograph: Lasse Kristensen/AlamyGo-to budget picks
From JosephFrady:
Go-to coffee on a bit of a budget please! Beans or ground (or both). Many thanks.
Sasha:
double quotation markIt really depends what kind of coffee you like – and how you’re brewing it – but sadly I’ve struggled to find any real bargains. I’ve tried a bunch of the cheapest beans from the likes of Aldi and Lidl in recent months in the interests of science (and saving cash), and they’ve mostly been fine – but none of them have really hit the spot. It’s definitely worth looking out for time-limited deals on supermarket own brand beans and ground coffees – they can be surprisingly decent – but you’re partly at the mercy of how long the bags have been sitting on the shelves. With no roast dates on these coffees, they could be months old and past their best. It’s impossible to tell.
One of my guilty penny-pinching options is a big 1kg bag of Lavazza Rossa beans or similar. These occasionally come up on a deal for around £10 to £12, and although they’re by no means a refined pick – the experience is akin to someone smearing burnt toast and intensely bitter chocolate all over your taste buds – they make a mean Italian-style espresso and similarly potent cappuccino.
If you want something more refined, and which you know is fresh, then my advice is to hunt around the various subscription deals from UK roasters. Some have cheap trials to get you hooked, so it’s worth shopping around. I’ve got subscriptions to a couple of roasteries – Craft House Coffee and Clifton Coffee – and with the various discounts you can get prices down to about £5/6 per 250g if you buy in 1kg or 2kg bags. That’s not super cheap, but given the choice between potentially stale supermarket coffee and wonderfully fresh, attentively roasted coffee, you do definitely get your money’s worth.
Whether you buy beans or grounds, look around for cheap subscription trials Photograph: Boy_Anupong/Getty ImagesDelicious decafs?
From Yhoughes:
The best decaf for an espresso experience without the jitters?
Sasha:
double quotation markBest is a very subjective thing – I’m still working on taste-testing every decaf across the UK – but there are loads of independent UK roasters making wonderful decaf coffees to choose from. If you have any nearby, then I’d try out their house decaf and continue to work your way around the map until you find one you really love. If you need inspiration, then these are some of the decaf beans I’ve enjoyed: Square Mile’s Decaf Coffee (£17.25/350g), Climpson & Sons The Decaf (£12.50/250g) and Craft House Coffee Decaf Colombia Tumbaga (£9.75/250g).
Photograph: Jason Reed/ReutersIs mod life worth it?
From Badboy8:
I’ve got a 2012 Gaggia Classic which I’ve modded and upgraded and provides great coffee. I’m about to go down the whole PID route plus I may upgrade the boiler in the future (the steam generation is definitely the weak point of this machine.) Before I do, I’ve considered whether selling it and putting money towards a more modern machine might be a better bet? Any advice? I’ve got a very good grinder (cost more than the Gaggia!) so in terms of investment that angle is covered.
Sasha:
double quotation markI’ve also got a Gaggia Classic that I have a bit of a soft spot for – and totally agree that the steam can be a bit on the limp side. And especially so if you’ve modded the OPV spring to reduce the brew pressure. I don’t have any personal experience of any more involved modifications, but I’ve heard amazing things about the Gaggiuino. For about £200 – and the considerable effort it takes to install it – it adds a vast amount of deep control to the Classic – and a 4.3in touchscreen – which takes it into giant killer territory. Installation is not easy: if you don’t feel confident with soldering, wiring and flashing software, I’d hunt around for a local coffee repair engineer who might take on the work for you. If this sounds like your cup of tea coffee, then the excellent Lance Hedrick did a deep dive into its wonders on his YouTube channel which is well worth seeking out.
Can you taste the difference on the high street?
From StanEthel:
Where I live I can get a £2 cappuccino from Greggs/McDonald’s and a £4 one from somewhere like Caffè Nero. Is there really any difference?
Sasha:
double quotation markThe main differences are to be found in the subtle variances of texture, flavour and mouthfeel, but the gamechanger here is that Greggs do the best bacon/sausage rolls. This makes the £2 coffee taste far better in my experience.
One technical difference is that Greggs/McDonald’s use commercial bean to cup machines whereas Caffè Nero uses ‘proper’ espresso machines. Consumer bean-to-cup machines tend to use lower dosages than espresso machines, and also struggle to produce the same intensity of well-extracted espresso. So, it is possible that you’ll get a slightly stronger cup of coffee from Nero. But would I pay £4 for a coffee when I could get a coffee and a bacon roll for less cash? Probably not. (And no, I am not on Greggs’ payroll. Not yet.)
Would you pay £4 for a coffee when you could get a coffee and a bacon roll? Photograph: Danny Lawson/PA