The coffee thread

[scraynes]

Looking into getting an espresso machine in the Cali. I use a nespresso machine at home, and think the simplicity would make it ideal in the Cali.

Looking on the website I see that there are 2 small machines, the pixie and the inissia. Just wondering if any of you can spot what the difference is, apart from the price?

Also can't find any info on what power requirement is. It would be ideal if it could be run off the inverter socket, which if I recall correctly is limited to 300watts. Has anyone got one and can see what the input wattage is of the machine?

Thanks in advance

 

[Martin]

I know that quite a few people on here use the Handpresso device I was also very tempted by this but was worried about how hot the coffee is when it comes out ( nothing worse than luke warm coffee ) I have a bean to cup machine at home and I think the problem is nothing portable will ever compare to this.

 

[KernowLad]

I know that quite a few people on here use the Handpresso device I was also very tempted by this but was worried about how hot the coffee is when it comes out ( nothing worse than luke warm coffee ) I have a bean to cup machine at home and I think the problem is nothing portable will ever compare to this.

I've had one for years; very handy, portable and makes decent coffee plus you get a free workout pumping it up...
The key is to pre heat your cup and the hot water "bulb" and top up with a dash of hot water.
Get it right and you have a decent coffee with a good crema. If anyone needs tips on good ESE pods, shout. They do a hybrid version that takes ground coffee but that removes the convenience IMO; the used ESE pod is like a near dry teabag so very easy to dispose off; no coffee grinds rinsing at all.

We use a stove top for multiple coffees; more than two with a Handpresso is a faff.

 

[johnyboy]

I have a lattisima or summat, never tried it in the van but would think it is more than 300W - John Lewis says 1260W so maybe hookup only

 

[teeboy]

I think the internal inverter is actually only 150W.

I have a Dolce Gusto machine at home and this is well over a kW (even though they only boil a small amount of water they do it pretty quickly) - so a no-no for inverter use.

The manual nespresso that Martin posted looks like a good toy, but I think I would find it a faff to boil the kettle on the gas, then pour into the gadget and then pump it up.

If I need coffee in the van I use these sachets:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/23083965 ... 0&ff14=108

They are effectively only personal drip coffee, so not real express, but as they are personal it is always fresh drip coffee, so not the thick brewed stuff from the 80s!

I must be getting old, as I am slowly converting to tea

T

 

[Larkrise]

We use an AeroPress in the van...really excellent, no power needed and easy to clean.

 

[Mazvw42]

Sad statement, but the thought of a decent coffee is making me drool. I have never been a fan of the coffee pods/bags but I might be selling them short – apologies! My personal preference, for what it’s worth, is old school. We use a Bialetti espresso stove top pot and a Bialetti tuttocrema milk frother. Both are simple to use and work well, you get decent coffee and frothy milk after some pumping. Only downside might be washing up!

 

[campandfly]

Aeropress is the way to go. Have used one for camping for months.
We just had two nights in a Cali and the first thing I packed was the Aeropress.
If water is short they are great as they don't really need cleaning out and the filters can be reused if you are careful.

 

[Kirk]

We used to have the Aeropress but found it too much of a faff for a coffee that resembled a filter coffee, as mentioned above the best way to get a quality coffee as near to the type you would expect from a bean to cup is with a stove top espresso maker combined with hot milk and maybe a frother.

 

[Larkrise]

have a feeling this one could run and run...dsg/manual...footwear....

 

[snowy55]

What's up wi a kettle and Nescafe

 

[calikev]

I prefer tea Yorkshire of course.

 

[Andy]

+ 1 for the AeroPress

Also have Rombouts individual cup as here

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/60-x-Rombouts-Original-Roast-Cup-Size-Coffee-Filters/141439237689

 

[scraynes]

Thanks for the replies.

I've since found the manual for the nespresso machines, and indeed the power is in the order of 1200w, so no chance on the inverter, shame.

The aeropress looks great, but not espresso. I'm thinking it's either stovetop (messy) or the hand pumped espresso. I'll have to investigate further...

 

[Andy]

Thanks for the replies.

I've since found the manual for the nespresso machines, and indeed the power is in the order of 1200w, so no chance on the inverter, shame.

The aeropress looks great, but not espresso. I'm thinking it's either stovetop (messy) or the hand pumped espresso. I'll have to investigate further...

Look on AeroPress website, it will do espresso shots.

http://www.aeropress.co.uk/

 

[Pml]

Personaly also enjoy Latte etc as well so when travelling use stove based Atomic Coffee machine (www.atomiccoffeemachines.com.au) based on a 1950's italian design. Not exactly cheap but really good and can cater for several people at once.

 

[johnyboy]

Seems like there is a pod-based solution on 12V I just came across. Not using nespresso pods though.
http://www.espares.co.uk/product/es1673 ... ffee-maker

 

[scraynes]

I've just had that email too can't find much info on it though. Will investigate later

 

[KernowLad]

Personaly also enjoy Latte etc as well so when travelling use stove based Atomic Coffee machine (http://www.atomiccoffeemachines.com.au) based on a 1950's italian design. Not exactly cheap but really good and can cater for several people at once.

That is lovely! How good is it?!

The photo does look like a pair of backsides though!

 

[owen_h]

They work really well after a bit of practice. Parents have an original one, it's nowhere near as shiny as that picture though.

 

[KernowLad]

How much better than a Bialetti?

 

[owen_h]

Different rather than better or worse. Its a much longer coffee. One brew will provide enough for 3 to 4 cappuccino or latte's and then you have the steam wand as well.

 

[KernowLad]

Different rather than better or worse. Its a much longer coffee. One brew will provide enough for 3 to 4 cappuccino or latte's and then you have the steam wand as well.

I am always looking for new coffee machines - the Handpresso is good for single cups, we have three sizes of Bialetti for more coffee. I do like the coffee they make but you need to be there with it to avoid scalding the hell out of it (I've done that many times!). There's also no crema which is a shame.

I find "proper" machines too much of a faff and rarely superior to a stove top/Handpresso anyway.

Cafetieres aren't very trendy but they can occasionally make a great brew. But they just as often make horrible brown dishwater - I have yet to find the "key" to a good pot every time (the same with a pot of tea)!

That stove top does look great but it looks like it's as least £200...

 

[maui2512]

We use a metal, double-walled cafetiere - makes a very nice cuppa and unbreakable too!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Double-wall-Str ... +cafetiere

 

[Zebedee]

Cotswold Outdoor do fab coffee in a big brown bag thingy. Pour boiling water in the top let it brew and you can then pour from it. Much much better than a cafetiere. They do a couple of different ones. The fair trade Ethiopian is my favourite and is always a talking point with neighbouring campers.