(relax topic) what's your preferred method to make coffee?

[DiTBho]

Last time I visited  Yakutiya, I bought a big soviet thermos mug with a big red star on it. Funny coincidence, I found the same kind of object in Yakutsc. Now I have two soviet thermos mugs, easy to clean, and awesome to use!

I can make some coffee in the morning and the thermos mug keeps it hot for hours so I always have coffee when I work on my computer 

[Nominal Animal]

I love my thermos mugs exactly because when I get into flow, I can do two hours without noticing the passage of time.  In a normal cup, my coffee or tea would always be cold.

The bottle-shaped thermos flask is nice when going for a walk in the winter (hot drink!) or summer (cold drink!).
Because of childhood memories, I often put hot berry juice mix in mine in the winter: that's what we always got as kids when skiing.
That and steamed sausages.

When downhill skiing, hot cocoa is the thing.  After a few hours of clearing snow, hot rum, tea, and honey hits the spot perfectly.

[brucehoult]

E61-based HX (heat exchanger) espresso machine.

Right now I have a NZ [1] "Rocket" (original model) which I bought used two years ago when I arrived back from overseas. The whole setup with machine, grinder (Mini Macho), two handles and set of three baskets, aluminium tamper, a supply of cleaning materials, a set of four cups&saucers, two steaming jugs cost exactly NZ$1000 (US$680). Before that I had an Italian La Scala "Butterfly" for 10 years, also bought used. I took that to Moscow from NZ when I lived there and sold it there when I left -- for more than I paid for it :-)

I switch the machine on when I stagger out of bed. By the time I've been to the toilet and stuff it's hot. It then takes 3 minutes to grind beans, make coffee, steam milk, assemble a Flat White, and clean up. No biggie.


[1] NZ/Italian. Some NZ businessmen bought the rights (parts? factory?) from Italian company ECM when they decided to get out of domestic machines and concentrate on commercial.

[jh15]

Makita heat gun, large stainless bowl, colander, green beans. Beans good for a couple years, weigh them into colander, 70 grams after roasting, forget the green weight. Just as they turn dark brown and oily , and the first crack flak gone, dump in bowl to cool. It happens so fast, so is hard for me to not get dark roast which I like anyway.
     Then french press, then into a thermos thing.
     Haven't done it for awhile, and this thread reminded me I have a sack of green beans.
     It seems the caffeine in this is much stronger. I usually only have a cup of drip for for a kick start, but this is engine nitrous boost.

[Cerebus]

You can get nasty biofilms and burned in stuff off stainless steel with boiling water and machine detergent.  For the truly stubborn stuff, boil clothes detergent in it.

I'll let you into a secret that your grandmother knew: washing soda (Sodium carbonate).

Hot washing soda solution gets almost anything off almost anything. If it doesn't the muck is probably trapped in limescale and you need to descale it (I use hot citric acid solution) and then try the washing soda again. Washing soda is particularly good at cleaning off the stains from brewing coffee, most of the commercial cleaners for espresso machines are mostly sodium carbonate or some similar simple inorganic alkali. Also really good for removing burned on fat. Do not use it on aluminium, under any circumstances, it will eat the aluminium away.

[DiTBho]

Do not use it on aluminium, under any circumstances, it will eat the aluminium away.

Yup, I did that mistake. I won't repeat 

[DiTBho]

Today I bought a Chemex-glass coffee maker.

Unusual for me, but very interesting.

It will require coarse grind coffee 

[DiTBho]

I also bought this mini portable French coffee maker and a mini portable grinder.

It is so small that I can put it in my bag and it will surely be the perfect companion for the extreme summer adventure that I will have.

A man alone in the middle of nowhere with his bicycle, without wifi and telephone coverage but not without coffee

[DiTBho]

I had an Italian La Scala "Butterfly" for 10 years, also bought used. I took that to Moscow from NZ when I lived there

WOW, unusual and very professional coffee maker machine 

[Halcyon]

My daily driver is a Breville "Barista Pro". For me it's the right balance of automation combined with a manual machine and it gets to about 90% of the "quality" a professional would with a commercial machine. It's certainly good enough for me.

I drink my coffee black so the only time I use the steam wand is if I'm making coffee or hot chocolate for visitors.

My backup solution is a French press.

I will absolutely never ever drink instant "coffee". I would rather go without.

[brucehoult]

I had an Italian La Scala "Butterfly" for 10 years, also bought used. I took that to Moscow from NZ when I lived there

WOW, unusual and very professional coffee maker machine 

It's a domestic machine, but can also suit something like a pub or restaurant that gets asked for coffees from time to time, but isn't making them flat-out all day every day.

Like all or at least most E61 machines, most of the components are either built to last forever, or else have a lot in common with commercial machines. Every city in the world has some company that services commercial machines, and in my experience they are happy to look after the domestic variants too. The only parts that might sometimes fail and cost more than $10 are the boiler, the water pump, and the motherboard. All are easily replaced for not more than $200 each, and then you'll get another 20 years of service from the same machine.

[beanflying]

Doing some work on Group 1 (waiting to parts) of my 3 group Bench hog at present, major strip and clean is needed too after a busy last few months too 

I still drink a lot of brewed coffee as well but generally Siphon or Pourover brews.

Added a pic of the broken bit  Not sure if it was heat over a decade of use or more likely a manufacturing stress point that eventually fractured

[beanflying]

You can get nasty biofilms and burned in stuff off stainless steel with boiling water and machine detergent.  For the truly stubborn stuff, boil clothes detergent in it.
....snip...

Yep Napisan or Oxy type booster powders of various sorts break down coffee oils well. They share a fair bit in common with commercial coffee machine cleaners. Also works well on Glass for removing oil residues too.

*** Really important however be careful around some machines like Seaco and Delonghi as they have a stack of Aluminum parts in them and you might get issues with chemical attack.

For removing Lime, Calcium or hard water build up on machines or brewing gear then Food Grade citric Acid from a supermarket works well. Don't use Vinegar as is can leave a taint behind.

[SilverSolder]

I get good results cleaning coffee and tea stains by rubbing wetted salt (plain kitchen salt and a little water) on the affected area.  Use it as a kind of scouring powder to remove the stains from porcelain and stainless cups and mugs.

[DiTBho]

Today I tried to make coffee with Chemex-glass. It's definitely different from what you do with Moka and French-press, but it's delicious

[Alex Eisenhut]

Today I tried to make coffee with Chemex-glass. It's definitely different from what you do with Moka and French-press, but it's delicious

or

[beanflying]

Today I tried to make coffee with Chemex-glass. It's definitely different from what you do with Moka and French-press, but it's delicious

I am not a fan of Paper filtered coffee as it takes out to much of the oils/flavours. What you do get is a much cleaner lighter flavour cup which in the case of some beans is great.

For my Chemex I swapped it out to one of these https://ablebrewing.com/products/able-kone-coffee-filter I think yours is the narrow neck version so I am not sure this is an option. Still gives a very clean cup but lets most of the oils past.

Another cheap thing to get and try is the Neru Sock type of filter eBay auction: #392295810861 One of these will likely fit your Chemex for a cheap play thing. The Cup will be slightly cleaner than the metal Cone option but nearly all the oils will pass through. Cleaning in Oxy type cleaners and rinsing well say weekly and a good wash after use. Hario make a nice one with replaceable socks I use so look for a local source maybe.

[jpyeron]

Black Coffee Ice Cream

1 part solid coffee (E.g. spray dried instant coffee)
1.5 part heavy cream
2 part whole milk
1/96 part sugar
App 22x strength normal drip coffee

I use silicone egg molds to hold 7 days worth @ 2 scoops per morning (= 44/3 cups )

1 out of 10 tolerate it; 1 out of 20 enjoy it

[Halcyon]

Black Coffee Ice Cream

1 part solid coffee (E.g. spray dried instant coffee)
1.5 part heavy cream
2 part whole milk
1/96 part sugar
App 22x strength normal drip coffee

I use silicone egg molds to hold 7 days worth @ 2 scoops per morning (= 44/3 cups )

1 out of 10 tolerate it; 1 out of 20 enjoy it

A shot of espresso with vanilla ice cream works well too. I love a good affogato.

[Cerebus]

Another cheap thing to get and try is the Neru Sock type of filter eBay auction: #392295810861 One of these will likely fit your Chemex for a cheap play thing. The Cup will be slightly cleaner than the metal Cone option but nearly all the oils will pass through. Cleaning in Oxy type cleaners and rinsing well say weekly and a good wash after use. Hario make a nice one with replaceable socks I use so look for a local source maybe.

So let's just get this clear. You're telling him to strain his coffee through a sock!?!

Bloody Australians! 

[brucehoult]

Another cheap thing to get and try is the Neru Sock type of filter eBay auction: #392295810861 One of these will likely fit your Chemex for a cheap play thing. The Cup will be slightly cleaner than the metal Cone option but nearly all the oils will pass through. Cleaning in Oxy type cleaners and rinsing well say weekly and a good wash after use. Hario make a nice one with replaceable socks I use so look for a local source maybe.

So let's just get this clear. You're telling him to strain his coffee through a sock!?!

Bloody Australians! 

You sound like the kind of person who would be aghast at fashioning a shim for their BMW motorcycle using a bit of aluminium from a Coca Cola can, instead of a Genuine Part from Berlin.

[Cerebus]

Another cheap thing to get and try is the Neru Sock type of filter eBay auction: #392295810861 One of these will likely fit your Chemex for a cheap play thing. The Cup will be slightly cleaner than the metal Cone option but nearly all the oils will pass through. Cleaning in Oxy type cleaners and rinsing well say weekly and a good wash after use. Hario make a nice one with replaceable socks I use so look for a local source maybe.

So let's just get this clear. You're telling him to strain his coffee through a sock!?!

Bloody Australians! 
[/quote

You sound like the kind of person who would be aghast at fashioning a shim for their BMW motorcycle using a bit of aluminium from a Coca Cola can, instead of a Genuine Part from Berlin.

No I sound like the kind of person who'd take the mental image of beanflying pulling a sock off to make coffee amusing; and I look like the kind of person who can get a quote tag in the right place.

It used to be that you could trust an Aussie to know when one was indulging in a little friendly piss taking, rather than getting all chippy about it.

[beanflying]

Rather one of these socks than the likely Pommie version that Dobby the Elf was wearing 

Way back in the mists of Beanflying's adventures (circa 2009  ) into coffee these toys. The Kettle makes getting consistent pourover results much easier and the one on the right is for cold steeped coffee.

[DiTBho]

@Alex Eisenhut
LOL 

[DiTBho]

I am not a fan of Paper filtered coffee as it takes out to much of the oils/flavours.

It seems there is also a kit with some cloth filters. I have to buy them separately and check.
What is included is a set of paper filters. Apparently they don't look bad, but I have the same idea as you.

I think yours is the narrow neck version so I am not sure this is an option. Still gives a very clean cup but lets most of the oils past.

Umm, I will try this from Amazon. If it won't work, I will return it.

Another cheap thing to get and try is the Neru Sock type of filter eBay auction: #392295810861 One of these will likely fit your Chemex for a cheap play thing. The Cup will be slightly cleaner than the metal Cone option but nearly all the oils will pass through. Cleaning in Oxy type cleaners and rinsing well say weekly and a good wash after use. Hario make a nice one with replaceable socks I use so look for a local source maybe.

I want it I want it I want it 

(thanks for the info)