kotmj 1,308 Report post Posted April 13, 2012 Was at myespresso cafe on Wednesday. Chan offered to make me a ristretto (on the house). If espresso is the essense of the bean, a ristretto is the essense of the essense of the bean. It is a shorter pull than an espresso. It was very extreme for me, too concentrated, too next level. jeremytok.com Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
carbman 13 Report post Posted April 18, 2012 Ah...the ristretto, a 'restricted' pull. I have a hard time gulping down an espresso, much less a ristretto. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kotmj 1,308 Report post Posted June 22, 2012 Stella Napoletana by J. Mark Bertrand, on Flickr jeremytok.com Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
carbman 13 Report post Posted June 24, 2012 I'm guessing here...but you put the grounds in the top compartment, flip the thing over and its drips down to the lower compartment, yes? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kotmj 1,308 Report post Posted June 24, 2012 Pretty close. The original version has you boiling the water in the thing itself before flipping, but I think most people boil it in a separate kettle. jeremytok.com Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest scaredcloud Report post Posted July 11, 2012 Thanks for the review......I've never been there myself. You really work fast. Glad u bought the Aeropress.....the best thing is that its fairly portable. I wanted to buy it once, but was concerned about the availability of filters....any problems there? I see you going full-on espresso-maker in a few months....heh heh heh. Oh yeah...check out the discount: its a way to reward loyal, regular customers. Must drop in someday. get an ABLE disk (stainless steel filter) for the Aeropress and you can stop worrying about filter replacement... and cleaner brew. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
F1refighter 50 Report post Posted November 3, 2012 ... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ivanswk 52 Report post Posted November 7, 2012 me coffee Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kotmj 1,308 Report post Posted November 10, 2012 I bought myself a stove top 'espresso maker' and some ground coffee from Monmouth today at the Borough Market. Set me back for a pretty penny but I find the whole experience of making my own coffee using ground coffee is quite interesting. I realized a few things: 1. Never pour the distilled/evaporated espresso into the cup completely because there are sediments at the base of the pot and if that gets into the drink, it will be a very sandy (and shitty) experience. 2. Never put too much milk - what the pot actually makes are not thick shots of espresso, but rather an Americano. Putting in too much milk would really fuck things up. 3. It's delish. Is your moka maker by Bialetti? I have their most advanced model, the one with a high pressure valve. Do try the Aeropress -- order it off ebay. I used a Bialetti for years, then I tried the Aeropress and I never used the Bialetti even once since. I was deliberating recently about getting an espresso machine, but I'm so happy with the Aeropress (which I use everyday) I do not see how it would enhance the experience. jeremytok.com Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Petepan 66 Report post Posted November 12, 2012 Espresso makers using capsules are getting more affordable. With patents on the K-cups/Nespresso running out this year, you will not have a lack of choice in the coming year. I have a cheapo Expressi machine bought from Aldi (about AUD$70- not quite double the price of Aeropress), and the capsules cost less than AUD$0.40 each. Early morning coffee routine is less than 1 minute which includes rinsing off the removable machine parts. Coffee quality is much better than any you can get from manual gadgets, but just a notch or two below cafe quality. Wife loved it, for obvious reasons, since she makes the coffee for me. And it seems they have new sleeker version now which is slightly more expensive. http://aldi.com.au/a...hine-silver.htm p/s BTW, coffee grounds are amazing fertilisers. Waste not want not. Starbucks donates tonnes every year. I tested it- it is true. The only gripe I have with capsules is the wasted capsule container. Mine goes into the city council's recycling bin. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
F1refighter 50 Report post Posted November 12, 2012 ... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kotmj 1,308 Report post Posted November 12, 2012 Espresso makers using capsules are getting more affordable. With patents on the K-cups/Nespresso running out this year, you will not have a lack of choice in the coming year. I have a cheapo Expressi machine bought from Aldi (about AUD$70- not quite double the price of Aeropress), and the capsules cost less than AUD$0.40 each. Early morning coffee routine is less than 1 minute which includes rinsing off the removable machine parts. Coffee quality is much better than any you can get from manual gadgets, but just a notch or two below cafe quality. Wife loved it, for obvious reasons, since she makes the coffee for me. And it seems they have new sleeker version now which is slightly more expensive. http://aldi.com.au/a...hine-silver.htm p/s BTW, coffee grounds are amazing fertilisers. Waste not want not. Starbucks donates tonnes every year. I tested it- it is true. The only gripe I have with capsules is the wasted capsule container. Mine goes into the city council's recycling bin. It's probably not as good as in the cafe because the coffee at the cafe is fresher. I live 15 minutes away from KF Chan's cafe and go there a few times a month. His beans are about 2 weeks old from roasting. He tells me freshness is ultimately important. I've checked the manufacturing dates of the beans sold at The Coffee Bean and Starbucks and supermarket Lavazzas. They are some four to nine months old. Also, once, the barista (his wife?) made me a coffee (on the house) from some special beans one of the partners sourced while on holiday/coffee sourcing expedition in Australia. For this particular coffee she used an Aeropress. It tasted like a hybrid of tea and coffee, very floral. She once said something about cutting off something to avoid acidity etc., from which I surmise the taste of the coffee is also influenced at the machine, based on the characteristics the barista wants to suppress or accentuate. Yeah, capsule coffee is taking over the world. My office, when I was still there, provided free Lavazza capsules. When I started with the handgrinder and Aeropress and Highlander Supremo (there is also the Highlander Premio Blend, a darker roast, which is very likable and full bodied) was when I completely stopped drinking the Lavazza. jeremytok.com Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
joonian 164 Report post Posted November 29, 2012 The Jiro of coffee: http://travel.cnn.com/fine-art-perfect-tokyo-coffee-684001 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
boysdontcryy 434 Report post Posted November 29, 2012 You find good coffee here yet? I don't want to be a wet blanket, but I haven't had a cup of good coffee here in London. Instagram: http://web.stagram.com/n/thestraitssettlement Tumblr: http://anuntitledaddress.tumblr.com Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
carbman 13 Report post Posted November 29, 2012 For milk-coffee lovers, I'd recommend Magnolia's fresh milk. I've come to realize that unless the milk is 'fresh', i.e. not reconstituted from milk powder, the froth you make will disperse almost immediately. Also, this milk gives some awesome, creamy goodness, and once properly steamed, becomes sweet. Making hot milo with steamed/frothed milk produces a sweetness that just like milo with condensed milk, minus the sugar. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
joonian 164 Report post Posted November 29, 2012 I'm not a coffee connoisseur. I just drink the stuff because it's easily available, contains caffeine, and has minimal calories. That said, I've had nice tasting coffee at places all over East London. Ozone Roasters, Salvation Jane, this one Japanese place that uses Monmouth beans, etc. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
boysdontcryy 434 Report post Posted November 29, 2012 I found those around Bloomsbury not too good. But I didn't go out of my way to look for good coffee. Just grabbed them around and about. Main problem, to me, is that the coffee is too diluted. I barely taste the coffee beans. Instagram: http://web.stagram.com/n/thestraitssettlement Tumblr: http://anuntitledaddress.tumblr.com Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kotmj 1,308 Report post Posted November 30, 2012 For milk-coffee lovers, I'd recommend Magnolia's fresh milk. I've come to realize that unless the milk is 'fresh', i.e. not reconstituted from milk powder, the froth you make will disperse almost immediately. Also, this milk gives some awesome, creamy goodness, and once properly steamed, becomes sweet. Making hot milo with steamed/frothed milk produces a sweetness that just like milo with condensed milk, minus the sugar. It's a whole milk, which is also what I look for. I normally go for the Dutch Lady with the green label which is a whole milk from New Zealand. There are 3 sorts of Dutch Ladys, the other two are reconstituted. Recently though, I've been drinking Fernleaf full cream milk powder, and I have to say I love it (not necessarily with coffee, just milk). They seem to have removed the lactose, because I can drink lots of that without problem. jeremytok.com Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
carbman 13 Report post Posted November 30, 2012 Right....that should be the word: whole milk. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kotmj 1,308 Report post Posted January 4, 2013 http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/02/dining/learning-to-create-the-perfect-cup-of-coffee.html?src=me&ref=general jeremytok.com Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
joonian 164 Report post Posted January 4, 2013 Espresso is completely overrated. Filter is the best. http://www.bostonmagazine.com/articles/2012/11/george-howell-coffee-connection-starbucks/ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
carbman 13 Report post Posted January 5, 2013 Honestly...HONESTLY....the best tasting coffe I make at home is not an americano (espresso + hot water) or a latte or espresso - its regular-joe brewed coffee. My method: heat water to just before boiling in a pot (200g of H2O per cup), add freshly ground coffee and stir (10g-14g per cup, depending on the beans), let it steep for 3 minutes, and strain with a cloth-like strainer (the one mamak stalls use). Cleanest cup of coffee I can produce (don't have an aeropress, so can't compare). But for milk-based drinks, the mother-coffee (espresso) is still the best, IMHO. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kotmj 1,308 Report post Posted January 6, 2013 Honestly...HONESTLY....the best tasting coffe I make at home is not an americano (espresso + hot water) or a latte or espresso - its regular-joe brewed coffee. My method: heat water to just before boiling in a pot (200g of H2O per cup), add freshly ground coffee and stir (10g-14g per cup, depending on the beans), let it steep for 3 minutes, and strain with a cloth-like strainer (the one mamak stalls use). Cleanest cup of coffee I can produce (don't have an aeropress, so can't compare). But for milk-based drinks, the mother-coffee (espresso) is still the best, IMHO. Get yourself an aeropress already. They are cheap on eBay. I use mine almost everyday. jeremytok.com Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kotmj 1,308 Report post Posted January 8, 2013 It took me a while to get here. I have always drank my coffee with sugar and milk, then about a year ago dropped the sugar. Since three months, I've been drinking them black without sugar. jeremytok.com Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
"6" 256 Report post Posted January 8, 2013 Espresso is completely overrated. Filter is the best. Whilst I enjoy my filter coffee - great espresso is never overrated. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites