It seems to me that there's a natural affinity between our appreciation of fine Italian automobile machinery and the love of good coffee. I'm sitting here with a latte (doppio) as I type - I know, it should be an espresso, or at least a macchiato at this time of day - having just used my much loved Rancilio. Of course, it doesn't need as much maintenance as the Alfetta and its minimalist Italian design and appearance is offset by being called the Miss Silvia model but . . .
Are there any other coffee perverts out there? Should we post photos of our coffee machines? Where do we buy our coffee beans and what variety. Finally, I must add that I have a coffee tree growing; it's only 100mm high, but I expect great things.
Bonk Frog,
I also have Miss Silvia at my home, and I'm very happy with her. We bought her about 2 and half years ago and never had an issue. We use to have the automatic Saeco but it kept breaking down.
I try to change coffee bean suppliers every few months, We're using Grinders beans at the moment, have used Five Senses, 7 seeds and Dimattina's in the past. But I guess it all depends on whether you are a short balck person or a latte person.
Ed
You're not alone on this one guys ;D
over here in Perth I also have a great Fiorenzato coffee machine for home use and regularly get together with some of my Alfa mates at some of the great coffee houses around Perth. I use the "local" Yahava roasted beans from Margaret River -they roast their own beans so have a bean for every taste/style of coffee drinker...
Having just returned to work after a couple of weeks off I do miss the opportunity to sit out in the morning sun at my local cafe enjoying a great coffee (long mac + extra shot) admiring my lovely Alfa, now it's a quick drive by, grab a large take away and because there are no cupholders in a 166 nurse the coffee between my legs while I drive 30k's to work :D
That's brave Rocco! 30kms with hot coffee between your legs!
At the moment I'm using Genovese Super Brazil beans - anyone noticed the red paint colour on their vans? I also get beans from a local roaster in Albury for a change.
true, the 30K drive can get a bit hazardous :o occassionally I get to wear some coffee but generally it's not so bad - the commute to work is on two of the most congested "highways" in Perth so there is no danger of getting close to the 100k limit normally I'll tool along behind a Q of traffic in the right lane at 40-60kph as the P-plater/tradie/retiree at the head of the line applies make up/eats cereal/plays with their Navman...in those situations a great coffee comes in handy ;D
Quotenatural affinity between our appreciation of fine Italian automobile machinery and the love of good coffee. I'm sitting here with a latte (doppio) as I type - I know, it should be an espresso, or at least a macchiato at this time of day - having just used my much loved Rancilio. Of course, it doesn't need as much maintenance as the Alfetta and its minimalist Italian design and appearance is offset by being called the Miss Silvia model but . . .
If we are owning up to other Italian fetishs ( coffee machines) i have got 3 saeco's 2X Coffee Magic & 1 Giro.
QuoteI use the "local" Yahava roasted beans from Margaret River -they roast their own beans so have a bean for every taste/style of coffee drinker
. Rocco is that coffee from the coffee roasters in Yallingup ? . Their coffee is always good.
At the risk or hyjacking / expanding this thread, where is your favourite coffee spots in Melb ? and where do you get your beans.
Here's a few for starters Car Park Cafe Camberwell. Middle Park Hotel Middle Park . Country :Continental Hotel Sorrento Innocent Bystander Heallesville. For beans , sorry Mocopan but Coffee Max Camberwell
QuoteI use the "local" Yahava roasted beans from Margaret River -they roast their own beans so have a bean for every taste/style of coffee drinker
. Rocco is that coffee from the coffee roasters in Yallingup ? . Their coffee is always good.
Yep that's them, they've moved to a newer premises just outside of Margaret River now on the main highway so business is booming - I always make sure I grab a few bags of roasted beans when I am down that way for some r'n'r....
QuoteFinally, I must add that I have a coffee tree growing; it's only 100mm high
Hey Bonkfrog any companion planting like the "Non flowering Tomato Bush, Bob Hope variety ". Ha Ha
Cheers
Gully
Hey guys for me at the moment, given I am on holidays (1 week skiing in NZ - Queenstown based, which was absolutely fantastic) and this week back on the home rennos project, any excuse to get down to my local cafe for a latte, double shot or espresso is gratefully appreciated. At home, I rarely need any excuse to fire up my Bialetti for a decent espresso or if needs must even a plunger. At the moment I have been mostly appreciating the flavours of Tas Coffee Roasters dark Colombian, Mocca and French Blends or if needs must pre-ground Lavazza.
I love the smell of freshly ground coffee beans first thing in the morning !!!!
Oh and the 156 sportwagon certainly has been getting some use too, transporting me out to the country property for the daily rennos project. Plastering at the moment, what joy !! Dave
lavazza is what you all should be drinking as they do support alfa's i remember 2 yrs ago they gave away 5 alfa's i think. i certainly drank my quota then trying for the alfa got a bit sick of it in the end, but the best coffee ive found so far is african beans get them from a local importer of coffee
Dehne
Quote√
That's nothing! I can remember giving away Alfas several times (installing guibos without the compressor).
Davidm1750, yes, the Bialetti - simple and it works; elegance in design.
Yeah Im a Coffee Pervert amongst pervin at other things ;) so also have a Rancilio 'Signora' Silvia with the Rocky grinder, its a great combo and I love it. Basically a scaled down industrial coffee machine so the internals are rock solid, with features like a brass boiler and copper fittings that opens up a can of whooparse on the old Saeco Magic Comfort it replaced.
The Saeco was great in the first 2 years then started to break down (sounds like my 147), in the end it was about as reliable and expensive to service as a 1980's Maserati BiTurbo......
The Silvia has been faultless although it went back under warranty once due to the chrome plating flaking on the cover where the portafilter goes, yet most of the other parts are stainless
Ive sampled various brands & blends but usually buy my beans from a local roaster in Moonee Ponds, I usually get two blends a stronger richer one for me (short blacks) and a smoother less bitter one for the Latte set that tends to visit all to often.
Heres a few photos of the Ranci with my 1965 Giulia Sprint GTA parked out the front......
Yes +1 for the Bialetti fantastic, works well with Kimbo coffee
Please post photos of your coffee machine(s)
Un buon caffe vale la vita.
I share your passion for coffee,have 2 machines,one in the garage,a GACCIA Classic with 17bar pressure,perfect for espresso and a gaccia grinder,grinding is nearly as important as the coffee quality.
In the SPAM theres a DELONGHI fully automatic new generation with burr grinder,a little beauty,makes awesome espresso with good crema as long as the caffe is freshly roasted.
I also had a SAECO FULLY auto in the past,unfortunately it spent more time getting fixed than making caffe.
My passion is collecting those great little works of art BIALETTI moca machines,have probably about 12 on display,in italia this is still the housewifes and nonnas favourite way of making caffe.
As for coffee quality and crema-have noticed that brand name doesnt count as much as x how freshly roasted the beans are as to the amount of a good crema. In sydney i go to the factory of BRASILERO where they wood fire the beans and the result is the most abundant thickest crema,but the segret is the freshness-- alla salute
Quote from: pep105 on September 02, 2010, 09:21:14 PM
Heres a few photos of the Ranci with my 1965 Guilia Sprint GTA parked out the front......
very cute photos :)! If i may ask where did you get your scale model of the 1965 Guilia Sprint GTA?
It was a 30th birthday present from a mate of mine not sure where he got it from, ill ask next time
I see him. Its a Road Signature 1:18 scale model no. 92348 if that helps.
I was lucky got the model 105 and a real one from the wife as presents :)
Sorry bout the photo quality taken from my iphone
Wow, so cool to see some people who love their machines so much. Nice one.
I just got the first one I saw that matched my cups, is that bad? Seems to produce a good coffee, but definitely needed a bit of practice to work around it's limitations.
I like it Sheldon
Hey, my web search for Miss Silvia returned some pretty non-family orientated material. As you all know, I like to keep things clean and respectful. Doing so ensures we are not subjected to stealth censorship, as experienced in Communist China or Nazi Germany. Anyway, we don't need to worry about that in the Alfa club, do we?
I use a few sizes of moka and a Nespresso machine. All simple and reliable, producing nice coffee. I really love the Nespresso due to the reliability, simplicity and large range off coffees available.
Does that sound like and ad?
This is my favorite coffee maker.
Cheers,
Marco
haha, why am i not surprised... yeah, i rely on my bialetti brikka which really does the job well... anyway, its the bean that matters - and using it while its still 'fresh'.... the best beans i've had are from first pour in abbotsford (veneziano warehouse) and some decent beans from 65 degrees (exhibition st melb, they do their own deadman blend which is very good!) and brother bubba budan (7 seeds)
for take away coffee, i find the above places pretty good, but a reasonably surprising contender is toby's espresso also on exhibition st... really great small dedicated coffee shop.
QuoteThis is my favorite coffee maker
Marco , you should have posted a few days earlier. That would have made the perfect "fathers day " gift.
I use mostly my stove top moka (one not shown being washed) and for a cappuccino my trusty old Gaggia. The one on the right is my travelling electric Velox espresso unit that beats motel/hotel electric jug + coffee sachet!!!
As for coffee choice of course this one at 5 euro a can and the beans are of course, or is that "corse" Alfa...only problem is I have to wait another 100yrs to buy some more!
Always been a bit of a fan of the Bezzera. Just cant afford one yet! This one was even a limited edition Giulia model
Bezzera, yum!! Here's a shot of the Silvia (not Nissan) & Bialetti. I thought - really - about gluing on a spare Alfa badge. Perhaps not.
Quote from: Derek Entesano on September 06, 2010, 04:52:42 PM
Always been a bit of a fan of the Bezzera. Just cant afford one yet! This one was even a limited edition Giulia model
Good grief Derek, as if I coul afford such a beauty as that one, though it would definitely have to be a case of one up manship if one were to have that Giulia in the SPAM, model (and not the one Marco kindly showed us, for she would need to be elsewhere heh heh ;D) on display in the bookcase and car in the garage.
One for the wish list La Pavoni PL, would happily settle for Marco's coffee maker.
Hey Marco is that one hard to clean ?
I've heard they need a regular back flush.
QuoteHey Marco is that one hard to clean ?
I reckon a light hand rub with soapy water would do the trick
You need to give them a good bang every now and then to clear out the flow passages.
About 10 years ago AROCA NSW bought a Saeco automatic espresso machine. It was an enormous thing that I had to "babysit" from time to time between club events. Of course we "test drove" the Saeco at home and coffee never tasted the same again.. :)
At that time Saeco wasn't widely available, certainly you couldn't get one at Harvey Norman then. We went to the NSW distributor and bought a very simple manual Saeco machine with a non-descript plastic finish. We then purchased a separate Saeco electric grinder.
I know it sounds a bit cumbersome to operate. However neither machine has ever given any trouble – both are still going strong today after almost 10 years. I don't think that would be the case if we had bought an automatic machine.
As for coffee beans, nothing too fancy for our long blacks – Caffe Migliore or Vittoria do the trick. In the past we used to table in some of the Gloria Jean flavours, Irish Creme was a favourite - quite sweet.
[Edit: I accidentally started a new topic, so I've moved this to here]
How nuts (beans?) are you about your coffee?
Fi and I had our ten year wedding anniversary a few weeks back, and our present to each other was this Rancilio Silvia coffee machine, in a package with a matching Rancilio grinder. We survived the first ten years drinking stove top moka pot coffee, this apparently is how we'll survive the next ten years.
Thus far this is one of the coolest items I've ever owned - every morning we warm the machine up and make our macchiatos, so tasty with freshly ground coffee and thick crema. I still haven't perfected the art, but I think our coffee is better then most of the rushed bitter or flavourless espresso milkshakes you pay $3 for in the city.
Highly recommended as an 'entry level' espresso machine, much nicer than that Nespresso sh*t. Takes up a bit of bench space but it's worth it.
Evan ,
It doesn't pay to leave the country for to long . This topic got a pretty good run whilst you where away.
http://www.alfaclubvic.org.au/forum/index.php?topic=5555.0
By the way your choice was a smart one.
Thanks Gully - I decided to merge my topic into the other one!
I won't mind bumping along the thread as to where everybody gets their beans from or who their favourite roaster is
I just bought this machine brand new for $380 on the weekend. It'll do while I save and dream of a retro Faema E61 sweetie to accompany my '60s cars.
Evan Im with Gully nice choice and it's even better with the rocky grinder.
Notice you've got the 2010 facelift with minor changes to the knobs and portafilter handle
All you need now is the stand if you can fit it on your bench.
Had mine for 2 years now and hasn't missed a beat and is used daily multiple times.
My favourite roaster is still Coffee Amore in Moonee Ponds, nothing like going for a sqiurt on the Vespa
to buy coffee beans like a big wog
I've been hankering after the Sunbeam Cafe series for a while now, but every time I am ready to take the plunge (pun intended!) I think of what Alfa parts I could buy for that sort of money....
Is this model any good, should I be looking at something equivalent or better at a lower price?
Help me coffee tragics ;)
Wait....what....I just re-read Dereks post. Derek, where did you get it for $380????????????
Just so others know after I emailed Phil, it was a lucky find on Gumtree classifieds! Its funny most roasters I have talked to reckon Sunbeams are the go as they are well made, many with italian made componentry. Anyway, not allowed to open til Christmas so I will reserve judgement til then.
Quote from: pep105 on December 16, 2010, 12:17:19 AM
All you need now is the stand if you can fit it on your bench.
Yeah shame we don't have space for the stand, bench space is at a premium.
Fi's buying beans from the Brunswick East Project in Lygon St - Padre Coffee (http://www.padrecoffee.com.au/) which I cannot fault. I did try some beans from Sensory Lab (David Jones) in Collins St but found them a bit weak in flavour. In desperation while I was away Fi had to buy some pre-packed Vittoria beans, what a waste I found them very hard to get a good slow extraction and weak on crema.
I'll definitely be trying a couple of the places you guys are talking about esp. Brother Baba Budan as it's not far from my office, and the joint in Moonee Ponds.
thanks,
Evan.
Spot on with the Sunbeam Cafe series - the early ones had a portafilter / group seal that wore out quickly - but the later seals can be used - and seem to last forever. Dad and Brother in law both swear by them.
We've been using Coffee Supreme roasters in Richmond for beans http://www.coffeesupreme.com.au/ (http://www.coffeesupreme.com.au/) great bunch that manage to combine their two passions - cycling and coffee - they have a cool lounge upstairs for cupping / drinking - and often run Friday arvo cupping sessions. Big selection of coffee machines to play with too. (bulk of their customers are cafe's of course)
Will defintely give PadreCoffee a go !
Andrea's on the decaf they do (oh the humanity) while preggers - it actually tastes pretty good - but that's all it does ;)
+1 on the Silvia ... Until everyone searching ebay for them falls asleep, I'll have to stick with the trusty ol Via Venezia with the hacked in temp controller. Happiness is a tangle of wires on the SPAM bench that does a reasonable short black - 60% of the time, it works every time.
Coffee Supreme are in Aus now, fantastic!! I'll be visiting them tomorrow. The chap that started Coffee Supreme back in NZ taught me how to make coffee.
Evan,
Im using prepacked Vittoria beans atm as Ive run out as well.
When I first tried them the coffee was awful, wouldve got the same result if I licked the sludge from bottom of the oil cap from my alfa twin cam sitting in my garage.
I adjusted the grind setting on the rocky grinder from 10 to 4 after trying progressively and it's not bad and quite drinkable the crema is good and it's slowed the extraction making it stronger and sharper as well.
Bit like running 91 octane (which you wouldn't typically) need to retard the ignition timing
Give that a go hopefully that helps, might try padrecoffee always open for suggestions from you coffistas and the Vespa ride to Moonee Ponds is not long enough
On Pep's recommendation, I visited Amore Coffee (http://www.amorecoffeemelbourne.com.au/) yesterday in Moonee Ponds. I purchased 500g of their cafe blend, recommended for the flat white coffee we drink in the morning. Fantastic result - beautiful slow extraction, creamy crema with no bubbles, very nice rich flavour. Thanks Pep!
When I started this thread I thought there might be a connection between good coffee and great Italian machines, but . . .
AikenDrum105: for a Miss Silvia, try the Aust. Steam Company on the web (I think that's the name); they sometimes have refurbished machines - not sure you'll get a Silvia though.
pep105: you mean you don't lick the sludge from your oil cap? Please, no pornographic replies.
Paul: that brand of coffee machine, is it Italian? Andiame un'po, I translate Monroc as "My rocks". Is that right?
BTW I often get (expensive) beans from coffeeco.com.au, but make do with beans from the Moreland Road home of Genovese. Good crema, pleasant cafe latte to wake me in the mornings.
Cheers
Bonkfrog
No thread on this topic would be complete without the Alfa sugar.
http://shop.alfisti.net/Fan-Articles/Party-Articles/Sugar-Sticks::2589.html
(http://shop.alfisti.net/images/product_images/info_images/2589_0.jpg)
Quote from: Evan Bottcher on February 17, 2011, 12:20:46 PM
On Pep's recommendation, I visited Amore Coffee (http://www.amorecoffeemelbourne.com.au/) yesterday in Moonee Ponds. I purchased 500g of their cafe blend, recommended for the flat white coffee we drink in the morning. Fantastic result - beautiful slow extraction, creamy crema with no bubbles, very nice rich flavour. Thanks Pep!
No worries Evan, glad you liked it, Ive gotta come clean though I bought you a sample a few weeks ago which I was intending to give you when I picked up the rims, however didn't get a chance to as there was a lot going on and my missus gave birth to our third child last week (Massimo Valentino). Sorry I didn't get it to you sooner, Ill PM you.
Quote from: bonkfrog on February 18, 2011, 12:24:22 PM
pep105: you mean you don't lick the sludge from your oil cap? Please, no pornographic replies.
Bonkfrog: What kind of Alfisti do you think I am ? Of course I lick the sludge from my oil cap ! I can even taste the difference between a 1600 & 2 litre Alfa donk. Pornographic reply ? Me ? Never......
Quote from: pep105 on September 02, 2010, 09:21:14 PM
Yeah Im a Coffee Pervert amongst pervin at other things ;) so also have a Rancilio 'Signora' Silvia with the Rocky grinder, its a great combo and I love it. Basically a scaled down industrial coffee machine so the internals are rock solid, with features like a brass boiler and copper fittings that opens up a can of whooparse on the old Saeco Magic Comfort it replaced.
I've had my Silvia now for 5 or so years during which she has pumped out some spectacular coffees. She's been back for repairs a few times and she's now on her second replacement boiler. Seems that I just can't leave it switched on all the time and expect the boilers not to burn out. Unlike bigger commercial machines, Silvia doesn't have a pump to automatically keep the boiler filled.
I've since connected Silva to a timer so she can be warmed up an ready when I wake up.
If I was to replace her, I'd look for a double boiler unit with a pump.
Quote from: bonkfrog on February 18, 2011, 12:24:22 PM
BTW I often get (expensive) beans from coffeeco.com.au, but make do with beans from the Moreland Road home of Genovese. Good crema, pleasant cafe latte to wake me in the mornings.
Can't go too far wrong with Coffeeco - Alan seems to be a real "coffee geek" - read his machine reviews.
I'm partial to a black coffee with some length to it - a bit of acidity in there helps too, definitely not interested in an over roasted bitter thing. Freshness matters more than anything as far as I can tell (no expert) - every now and again my "make do" choices from the supermarket turn out ok - very little to do with brand and everything to do with how far away from the ridiculous use by date afaiks. If anyone has a recommendation for something locally obtainable in Brisbane that is consistent quality and fresh I'm all ears - so far I haven't seen anything that is cheaper than buying from Coffeeco that fits that bill.
Oh - I have and am very happy with a Lelit Combi.
well i just brought a new delonghi machine, and its awesome, saves me lots of $$$ and is quick and easy love it. its the nespresso one it takes small pods and makes for easy cleaning, but what i want to know is, is there a shop where i can buy them rather than order online
dehne also just acquired a nespresso.
Where abouts do you live in vic?
im in bendigo but i frequent melb a bit just annoyed that i have to wait 3 to 4 days for a delivery and its worse cause ive ran out
The best i can do is point you to ->
http://www.nespresso.com/#/au/en/store_locator
I assumed u have already looked here.
I was gonna say if ur city bound, there is a store in Collins Street.
And if out south/east there is one at Knox City
Its looks like most Nespresso outlets are moving out of Myer stores into their own shop fronts.
They keep fresh for a long time so keep ur stocks up.
I now drink more as they are so easy to make :)
Another coffee 'snob' here.
As the only coffee lover in my house, I have a small espresso machine, but it is a Gaggia. I also have a good quality burr grinder. I buy my beans from the Coffee Works in Mareeba, Nth Queensland.
For work, I grind my coffee every morning and take it to school (teacher) where I have an Aero Press (like a plunger, but uses air to press the water through the coffee via an individual filter paper). Whilst not as good as a quality espresso machine, it is a very good alternative when speed and space are a premium.
Cheers
Rob