People from Hongcouver usually have no balls. Come to Saskatchewan we will teach you some manners

OK, Phil.

Some of the nicest people I know are from Saskatchewan.

Im one of them...when the sun is shining on the canola

Leave the canola out of this - I don't know you that well.

canola party!

[quote="rickettyrabbit"]
1) Your beans not be good quality, or may simply be stale - too long out of the roaster. If they were roasted more than ~ 10 days before you grind, the quality of the espresso goes downhill fast. There are notable exceptions - I got some Mokito Verde in Shanghai at a food exhibition. The valve bag had been opened and I wasn't willing to use it for espresso, but I ran out 6 weeks later and tried it out of desperation. It's the only "old" roast I've ever got decent coffee from. If I could buy it now, I would, but I can't find a local supplier.



Oh it can't be the beans....

wait for it....

wait for it....

wait for it....

I bought them at Starbucks!

boywonder wrote:

rickettyrabbit wrote:1) Your beans not be good quality, or may simply be stale - too long out of the roaster. If they were roasted more than ~ 10 days before you grind, the quality of the espresso goes downhill fast. There are notable exceptions - I got some Mokito Verde in Shanghai at a food exhibition. The valve bag had been opened and I wasn't willing to use it for espresso, but I ran out 6 weeks later and tried it out of desperation. It's the only "old" roast I've ever got decent coffee from. If I could buy it now, I would, but I can't find a local supplier.



Oh it can't be the beans....

wait for it....

wait for it....

wait for it....

I bought them at Starbucks!

hahahaa yup!

Again the beans could be stale or a bad quality (and really expensive) = Starbucks Especially CHINA!!

Unlike other chains not all Starbucks are the same. For me coffee is a food group essential for life and China Starbucks tastes weak and stale. I would need to get at least 3/4 extra shots in a large coffee (I refuse to use those gay Starbucks terms). Oddly enough Starbucks in the US is equally shitty...its all the energy frikken drinks people slam into their face I suppose.

When I got to Jakarta a friend suggested we stop at Starbucks...I tried to hide my distaste and agreed. From habit I ordered 3 extra shots much to the surprise of all around me and soon discovered why. Drinking that coffee was like doing lines of cocaine! It was so frikken strong! I quickly surmised "I am in a coffee producing, coffee drinking, frikken Island called JAVA for Chissakes!! It was then over the sounds of angels vocalizing I had my spiritual awakening, I attained nirvana! ommmmmmm

I do everything wrong when I make coffee but it still tastes frikken great maybe because the local coffee beans have been picked by nubile semi-naked girls gently rubbing each bean on their supple breasts.

I buy medium roast beans and grind them with a grinder attachment on my blender, ya that's right. I then use a coffee press. Great coffee everytime so there must be a very wide latitude when the beans are very good.

tihZ_hO wrote:

boywonder wrote:

rickettyrabbit wrote:1) Your beans not be good quality, or may simply be stale - too long out of the roaster. If they were roasted more than ~ 10 days before you grind, the quality of the espresso goes downhill fast. There are notable exceptions - I got some Mokito Verde in Shanghai at a food exhibition. The valve bag had been opened and I wasn't willing to use it for espresso, but I ran out 6 weeks later and tried it out of desperation. It's the only "old" roast I've ever got decent coffee from. If I could buy it now, I would, but I can't find a local supplier.



Oh it can't be the beans....

wait for it....

wait for it....

wait for it....

I bought them at Starbucks!

hahahaa yup!

Again the beans could be stale or a bad quality (and really expensive) = Starbucks Especially CHINA!!

Unlike other chains not all Starbucks are the same. For me coffee is a food group essential for life and China Starbucks tastes weak and stale. I would need to get at least 3/4 extra shots in a large coffee (I refuse to use those gay Starbucks terms). Oddly enough Starbucks in the US is equally shitty...its all the energy frikken drinks people slam into their face I suppose.

When I got to Jakarta a friend suggested we stop at Starbucks...I tried to hide my distaste and agreed. From habit I ordered 3 extra shots much to the surprise of all around me and soon discovered why. Drinking that coffee was like doing lines of cocaine! It was so frikken strong! I quickly surmised "I am in a coffee producing, coffee drinking, frikken Island called JAVA for Chissakes!! It was then over the sounds of angels vocalizing I had my spiritual awakening, I attained nirvana! ommmmmmm

I do everything wrong when I make coffee but it still tastes frikken great maybe because the local coffee beans have been picked by nubile semi-naked girls gently rubbing each bean on their supple breasts.

I buy medium roast beans and grind them with a grinder attachment on my blender, ya that's right. I then use a coffee press. Great coffee everytime so there must be a very wide latitude when the beans are very good.

hahahha.. you are so exaggerating!! they don't rub them beans on the breast, they dip them inside their aXX

talking about kopi luwak

GoingMad wrote:

tihZ_hO wrote:

boywonder wrote:

rickettyrabbit wrote:1) Your beans not be good quality, or may simply be stale - too long out of the roaster. If they were roasted more than ~ 10 days before you grind, the quality of the espresso goes downhill fast. There are notable exceptions - I got some Mokito Verde in Shanghai at a food exhibition. The valve bag had been opened and I wasn't willing to use it for espresso, but I ran out 6 weeks later and tried it out of desperation. It's the only "old" roast I've ever got decent coffee from. If I could buy it now, I would, but I can't find a local supplier.



Oh it can't be the beans....

wait for it....

wait for it....

wait for it....

I bought them at Starbucks!

hahahaa yup!

Again the beans could be stale or a bad quality (and really expensive) = Starbucks Especially CHINA!!

Unlike other chains not all Starbucks are the same. For me coffee is a food group essential for life and China Starbucks tastes weak and stale. I would need to get at least 3/4 extra shots in a large coffee (I refuse to use those gay Starbucks terms). Oddly enough Starbucks in the US is equally shitty...its all the energy frikken drinks people slam into their face I suppose.

When I got to Jakarta a friend suggested we stop at Starbucks...I tried to hide my distaste and agreed. From habit I ordered 3 extra shots much to the surprise of all around me and soon discovered why. Drinking that coffee was like doing lines of cocaine! It was so frikken strong! I quickly surmised "I am in a coffee producing, coffee drinking, frikken Island called JAVA for Chissakes!! It was then over the sounds of angels vocalizing I had my spiritual awakening, I attained nirvana! ommmmmmm

I do everything wrong when I make coffee but it still tastes frikken great maybe because the local coffee beans have been picked by nubile semi-naked girls gently rubbing each bean on their supple breasts.

I buy medium roast beans and grind them with a grinder attachment on my blender, ya that's right. I then use a coffee press. Great coffee everytime so there must be a very wide latitude when the beans are very good.

hahahha.. you are so exaggerating!! they don't rub them beans on the breast, they dip them inside their aXX

talking about kopi luwak

hahaha

Ya that's kopi luwak

and not the aXX but next door

talking about Kopi cewek

here are some tips for you.

When frothing milk always use a stainless steel jug.
Always ensure the steam arm is clear of condensation by purging.
Only fill the jug one third with milk. It will spill out over the top during the frothing process otherwise.
Place the tip of the steam nozzle just under the surface of the milk.
Open the steam valve fully and lower the jug slowly as the froth develops depending on the order required.
Then submerge the nozzle and create a whirlpool effect without letting the nozzle break the surface.
This blends the milk and gives a meringue consistency; the milk becomes dense with very small bubbles.
The ideal temperature for milk is 65-70 degrees centigrade.
Always turn off the steamer before removing the jug and utillise the milk immediately.
The milk will separate between 25 seconds after frothing if left and will be almost impossible to re-combine, the same as when a spoon is used to pour milk. This makes the coffee taste thin and lacks any creaminess.
Remember, Never clean the nozzle with an abrasive or by soaking it, this can create unhygienic places for the milk to adhere or could contaminate the boiler of the machine.

tihZ_hO wrote:I do everything wrong when I make coffee but it still tastes frikken great maybe because the local coffee beans have been picked by nubile semi-naked girls gently rubbing each bean on their supple breasts.

Well, that would certainly improve my crema.

ashleym wrote:here are some tips for you.

When frothing milk always use a stainless steel jug.
Always ensure the steam arm is clear of condensation by purging.
Only fill the jug one third with milk. It will spill out over the top during the frothing process otherwise.
Place the tip of the steam nozzle just under the surface of the milk.
Open the steam valve fully and lower the jug slowly as the froth develops depending on the order required.
Then submerge the nozzle and create a whirlpool effect without letting the nozzle break the surface.
This blends the milk and gives a meringue consistency; the milk becomes dense with very small bubbles.
The ideal temperature for milk is 65-70 degrees centigrade.
Always turn off the steamer before removing the jug and utillise the milk immediately.
The milk will separate between 25 seconds after frothing if left and will be almost impossible to re-combine, the same as when a spoon is used to pour milk. This makes the coffee taste thin and lacks any creaminess.
Remember, Never clean the nozzle with an abrasive or by soaking it, this can create unhygienic places for the milk to adhere or could contaminate the boiler of the machine.

Good description. OP, it may sound complicated as written, but if you have a VPN, check on YouTube for steaming milk and you'll find some great instructional videos. A pic is worth many words.

So it looks like my espresso machine is dead.... (It's a GEE espresso machine for reference)

It had been leaking from the steam wand for a while and now it's so bad that I get no espresso, just a big puddle on the counter from the steam wand.

So, last night I tried descaling the system in case it's scale that's causing the leak.

So, I descaled as per normal, but, as I was purging it through I noticed something sparkling in the liquid, on holding the container up to the light it was basically full of small metal fragments from somewhere inside the machine.

I'll try to get it fixed but it sounds pretty terminal to me, and frankly it's a crap machine anyway, I fancy something new and shiny.

Which brings me to the point. Can anyone recommend a good espresso machine available in China? And somewhere that I can actually try the maching before I buy.

I'm looking at a Gly Shuttle (http://www.coffee.com.cn/goods.php?id=173), which is apparently a Chinese built version of the Rocket Giotto (authorised and using Italian compoents), but does anyone have any other suggestions?

Anyone know somewhere with a range of demo machines I can try?

I'm trying to stay away from a Rancilio Silvia because I hear they're very finnicky!

thanks

The Silvia isn't half the machine that a Rocket is . . . yet in experienced hands, it can produce a damned fine espresso - as good as anything if the operator is spot on and the grinder is really up to snuff. But you can't produce a small dinner party of cappuccinos with a Silvia, while you certainly can with a Rocket. I dunno about the Chinese version . . .

I don't know what is available in China, but a Rocket would make me quite happy if the price was good.

Of course, remember that the Rocket is a single boiler HX machine, meaning it uses the same boiler for steaming and brewing. When they're property set up, it's not a problem, but I wonder if there's a Chinese made version of something like the La Spaziale Vivaldi II? Very nice 2-boiler machine that has very precise temperature control for brewing, and plenty of steam. My Italian made version has been very reliable.

Wabbitt the local Rockets go for about 7000 rmb, how does that sound?

boywonder wrote:So it looks like my espresso machine is dead.... (It's a GEE espresso machine for reference)

It had been leaking from the steam wand for a while and now it's so bad that I get no espresso, just a big puddle on the counter from the steam wand.

So, last night I tried descaling the system in case it's scale that's causing the leak.

So, I descaled as per normal, but, as I was purging it through I noticed something sparkling in the liquid, on holding the container up to the light it was basically full of small metal fragments from somewhere inside the machine.

I'll try to get it fixed but it sounds pretty terminal to me, and frankly it's a crap machine anyway, I fancy something new and shiny.

Which brings me to the point. Can anyone recommend a good espresso machine available in China? And somewhere that I can actually try the maching before I buy.

I'm looking at a Gly Shuttle (http://www.coffee.com.cn/goods.php?id=173), which is apparently a Chinese built version of the Rocket Giotto (authorised and using Italian compoents), but does anyone have any other suggestions?

Anyone know somewhere with a range of demo machines I can try?

I'm trying to stay away from a Rancilio Silvia because I hear they're very finnicky!

thanks

Never ever use tap water or mineral water for your steamer or coffee maker...it will get encrusted. Instead use Watson's or Nestle's DISTILLED water

Oh I only use Evian for making coffee...

Seriously though, I didn't think of that, it's been mostly Nongfu Spring through it.

DAMN THOSE FARMERS AND THEIR STUPID SPRING!!

boywonder wrote:Wabbitt the local Rockets go for about 7000 rmb, how does that sound?

Great price. It's $1799 in Seattle.

http://www.seattlecoffeegear.com/Rocket ... 86-011.htm

Here's my handiwork from this morning:



This result is easy to achieve with the Rocket for an experienced amateur. I've never worked as a barista, and I'm not particularly talented.

You can buy a 2000 USD Coffee machine for your house. If you really need to drink half a pint of foam with your coffee every day. I find warm milk is just fine unless I'm drinking espresso. There are however perfectly acceptable methods of making good coffee at home that don't involve machinery, expense and hassle.

1. Most people know about the French Press. Just use any good quality medium or coarse grind coffee. It's that simple. Pretty hard to screw up and doesn't require any special training.

2. A stove top espresso maker. Every Italian household has one. Buy a Bigletti and it will last you your lifetime. A bit trickier but a monkey can figure this out. Makes excellent quality espresso provided you use good coffee.

3. Vietnamase Coffee drip. Perc your coffee into warm milk or condensed milk with ice.

4. The sock. Ok TRUE coffee nerds that I know swear by this. It's a wire frame with a long fabric "sock" filter. You brew the coffee at a lower temperature and drink it black. No milk or sugar involved. Not my thing really but friends who are obsessive to the point of growing their own beans use this exclusively.

All of these involve almost no expense beyond the coffee itself, no moving parts and takes 5 min to brew up a cup.

Damn you and your fancy machine wabbit!!!

Hmm, if I calculate the amount I spend on starbucks every day I can easily justify the upgrade, right now I go once a day, within a year the machine's going to pay for itself..

Mind you that's the justification I told the wife last time I bought the GEE, I might need to come up with something better...

boywonder wrote:Damn you and your fancy machine wabbit!!!

Hmm, if I calculate the amount I spend on starbucks every day I can easily justify the upgrade, right now I go once a day, within a year the machine's going to pay for itself..

Mind you that's the justification I told the wife last time I bought the GEE, I might need to come up with something better...

Starbucks? Fffft, Starbucks, is the Taco Bell of coffee; that explains "Grande,” “Venti,” and now “Trenta"

Boy, 'sno Wonder you're confused about coffee

Oh it's not always Starbucks, on the weekend I go to Costa!

Chavster, socks/stovetops/french presses are all very well but they're not dripping in chrome and fancy dials!

boywonder wrote:Oh it's not always Starbucks, on the weekend I go to Costa!

Chavster, socks/stovetops/french presses are all very well but they're not dripping in chrome and fancy dials!

First was the Commodore 64 coffee maker



to the coffee server

boywonder wrote:Damn you and your fancy machine wabbit!!!

Hmm, if I calculate the amount I spend on starbucks every day I can easily justify the upgrade, right now I go once a day, within a year the machine's going to pay for itself..

Mind you that's the justification I told the wife last time I bought the GEE, I might need to come up with something better...

That's how I justify my machine. Plus, my company pays for it.

But there ARE other options, as Chavster noted.

I don't have an espresso machine in Shanghai, so when I'm there I use a Zazzenhaus manual grinder and make my coffee in a moka pot (Bialetti). I heat my milk in the microwave. It's quite good - not cappuccino, but quite good.

When I come back to Shangers I'll bring my Aero Press. I find it a little faster and better than a moka pot.

http://www.amazon.com/Aero-Press-Coffee ... B0018S2Y0M

No latte art, but it'll get you your morning jolt.

tihZ_hO wrote:

boywonder wrote:Oh it's not always Starbucks, on the weekend I go to Costa!

Chavster, socks/stovetops/french presses are all very well but they're not dripping in chrome and fancy dials!

First was the Commodore 64 coffee maker

The attachment commocoffee-64 coffee maker.jpg is no longer available

to the coffee server

The attachment coffee-maker.jpg is no longer available

And in case the coffee gives you the runs, there's this . . .

rickettyrabbit wrote:

tihZ_hO wrote:

boywonder wrote:Oh it's not always Starbucks, on the weekend I go to Costa!

Chavster, socks/stovetops/french presses are all very well but they're not dripping in chrome and fancy dials!

First was the Commodore 64 coffee maker

commocoffee-64 coffee maker.jpg

to the coffee server

coffee-maker.jpg

And in case the coffee gives you the runs, there's this . . .

Unknown.jpg

Macs never become obsolete

somewhat related - I didnt want to start a new thread.
anyone know where to buy a french press?
just a normal plain ole french press - dont give a shizz about espresso, just about dying from caffeine withdrawal and need a french press to get my quick fix. Ive been in shanghai 5 days now and Im about 48 hours away from freebasing some nescafe packets so any info would be appreciated.
p.s. already checked ikea, carrefour, and city shop all with no luck.
thanks in advance

liiliilulu wrote:somewhat related - I didnt want to start a new thread.
anyone know where to buy a french press?
just a normal plain ole french press - dont give a shizz about espresso, just about dying from caffeine withdrawal and need a french press to get my quick fix. Ive been in shanghai 5 days now and Im about 48 hours away from freebasing some nescafe packets so any info would be appreciated.
p.s. already checked ikea, carrefour, and city shop all with no luck.
thanks in advance

IKEA always had them for about 150rmb so it seems IKEA has become stupid. Try METRO, they used to have them as well. METRO is a good place to look for things other than the aptly name ShittyShop and Jellyfour. Bring your passport as its a member only store and you can get your membership card free and on the spot.

monalisalee wrote:You do not need your passport for Metro. Just get a one day pass, then next time take your fapiao, to get through checkout. Simple.

China is like the Catholic church - this law is 'eternal'. I wonder how many people are still in hell doing time on the meat rap?






As its easter time I thought I should put a religious spin on my comment

thanks for the info, I guess I'll have to trek out to Metro. of course then I will run into the problem of where to buy my beans. my guess is that having friends send me a box from colombia wont make it here without some serious customs pilfering but it might be worth a try...