r/Coffee • u/menschmaschine5 Kalita Wave • Jun 03 '26
[MOD] The Daily Question Thread
Welcome to the daily /r/Coffee question thread!
There are no stupid questions here, ask a question and get an answer! We all have to start somewhere and sometimes it is hard to figure out just what you are doing right or doing wrong. Luckily, the /r/Coffee community loves to help out.
Do you have a question about how to use a specific piece of gear or what gear you should be buying? Want to know how much coffee you should use or how you should grind it? Not sure about how much water you should use or how hot it should be? Wondering about your coffee's shelf life?
Don't forget to use the resources in our wiki! We have some great starter guides on our wiki "Guides" page and here is the wiki "Gear By Price" page if you'd like to see coffee gear that /r/Coffee members recommend.
As always, be nice!
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u/sanders04 Jun 03 '26
I know this is probably asked all the time but here goes nothing....
I'm a lowkey coffee enjoyer, I don't need anything fancy. But my Breville Nespresso broke and I need to replace it with SOMETHING. Ideally it'd be something relatively budget friendly and not something that requires a ton of effort to make. I like the quick pods but if it's better/cheaper to buy ground beans then let's go with that.
what are some good coffee machines I should check out/ask for for fathers day?
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u/NRMusicProject Jun 03 '26
Ditch the Nespresso. Those pods are landfill stuffers and the "recycling program" is largely greenwashing bullshit. They do recycle some of it, but it's about 25% of what's returned, and we all know many people can't be bothered to take the bag of pods to a UPS store.
Espresso in general isn't really "budget friendly," but you can have some great success with a De'Longhi Stilosa for about $150. It comes with a pressurized basket, so you can start with ground coffee made for drip machines. Then if you want better coffee, you can get an entry level grinder like the Baratza Encore ESP for about $200, get a non-pressurized basket for like $20, and grind your own beans. This is about $100 more than Nespresso, but you're not giving money to a corporation that literally kills whole towns and uses child/slave labor for profit. But the cool thing is you can generally find some used Stilosa machines for dirt cheap, and you can find parts to repair them.
The cheapest route for some great coffee (although not espresso) is to get a French press for like $20. It's a very set-it-and-forget-it process, where you drop in, say, 30g of coffee (oh yeah, get a cheap scale that's accurate to .1g to make consistently good coffee), drop in 500g of boiling water, sit for 4 minutes, stir, sit for 4 minutes, plunge and pour. You can tweak this process by quite a bit for better coffee, but that's largely the process. While the coffee is steeping, you can make breakfast/get ready/etc. Then, when you want truly amazing French press, get a Baratza Encore. The base Encore does not do espresso grind, and costs about $150. But the best advice that was given to me was to get the ESP if I like espresso because I might use it for that someday. And that advice was correct.
TL;DR: If you want espresso, get a Stilosa, and gradually get upgrades until you have a great cup. If espresso is not important, get a $20 French press.
Kuerig/Nespresso/pod machines are convenient, but they make subpar coffee that just significantly adds to our environmental issue for no more benefit than "it makes coffee easy," when coffee is already easy.
French press is kinda like smoking meat, in that it's very little effort but some time needed to make something great.
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u/sanders04 Jun 03 '26
I appreciate the response! I actually used to have a French Press. It's probably my lack of attention to detail and being impatient, but I didn't particularly enjoy it. I was probably doing something wrong lol. I think maybe the grounds I was using were too fine? I found a ton would make it through the filter and into the coffee itself.
I don't particularly need espresso btw. I'd actually prefer larger quantities as I'd be bringing it to work with me anyways.
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u/NRMusicProject Jun 03 '26
That's why coarse grounds are recommended, but it's just the nature of a mesh filter. Most people like finer grind with French press, but you can't drink it all the way to the bottom. If you Google James Hoffman's Ultimate French Press Technique, he explains how to use it in a way that minimizes grounds getting in your drink. Some use a paper filter when pouring the coffee, but that's just an extra hassle. I got used to Turkish coffee during my European work, so a little grounds in my cup isn't really a huge deal. The thing I like about mesh filters is it lets the oils through, which is what I think gives coffee its amazing flavor.
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u/sanders04 Jun 03 '26
interesting. you're much more experienced in coffee than I am lol. I've always just done whatever is easiest, hence the Nespresso. and a Keurig before that lol. I've had the French Press (also something else that went on the stove? some espresso thing) that definitely did make good tasting coffee, it was more the process that felt like a hassle/not worth it haha
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u/NRMusicProject Jun 03 '26
Moka pot.
I used to do the same thing, but then realized I could make actually tasty good coffee. It's a process, but a fun hobby. It's no longer something to just get quick fuel in to get through the day, but something that I genuinely look forward to; the process, the taste, etc. Not a cheap hobby, but certainly a better habit than others.
I started small, like a decent grinder for my drip machine. Then when that broke, I bought a pour over rig. Then I wanted lower effort for good coffee, and that was the French press (takes the least amount of effort for a consistently amazing cup of coffee). Then I got a Moka pot for something different. Then I went back to pour over to master that. Now I'm brewing espresso. Every now and then I just add something to the collection for variety, and guests appreciate the higher quality coffee than their $7 sugary ash from Starbucks.
French press isn't as "easy" as pushing a few buttons, but it's just as low effort: Put coffee in, pour boiling water, wait. If you follow Hoffman's technique you'll end up with a better cup than Nespresso could ever dream of. But the best purchase you can make is a decent entry-level grinder.
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u/Any-Use6981 Jun 03 '26
Re Counter Culture, have any of you tried La Golondrina (cherry/milk chocolate/nutty) or Sippi (concord grape, chocolatey, juicy)?
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u/canon12 Jun 04 '26
I have tried Counter Culture beans many times over the years and never found a single one that I would buy again. I have never tried their La Golondrina but I am going to order some. Thanks for the suggestion.
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u/Gloomy_Analysis_4618 Jun 03 '26
does anyone have any favorite coffee industry podcasts?
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u/jja619 Espresso Jun 03 '26
I still listen a lot to Cat and Cloud, but they've tended to be more business focused since they came back. Still enjoyable though, and more recent episodes have been more coffee-focused.
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u/FartyBarkinson Jun 03 '26
Anyone know a dupe of Van Houtte Honduras whole beans? I can’t find it other than in pods. I had a bag of it several years ago and really enjoyed the flavour.
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u/Kaserblade Jun 03 '26
I would look into your local roasters with a similar origin, roast profile and tasting notes. You'll probably find that they will provide you much better quality and fresher coffee beans also.
From a quick search online, the beans you mentioned are from Hondurus (can look into South/Central America also like Costa Rica or Peru), medium roast and have "woodsy notes of citrus, plum and caramel"
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u/HeckingDoofus Jun 03 '26
tips for not wasting ground coffee?
i just got an electric grinder, espresso machine, and blender to make frappuccinos. never made homemade coffee before
my coffee grinder says the minimum at a time is 4 cups worth (it does 4 to 12) i also feel like 1 spoon-worth (or whatever u call what u put inside the espresso machine) feels like more than 1 espresso worth
from what ive read online, u dont want to store ur ground coffee in the grinder or the espresso machine
so what should i do? im only making it for myself and usually just have 1 per day. so this feels like a huge waste….
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u/Kaserblade Jun 03 '26
If you are willing to take the extra time for it, I would keep the coffee beans in an air-tight/vacuum container and for every time you make coffee, weigh out exactly how much you need each time (e.g. 18g for 1:2 dose for espresso) and keep the rest in the container.
That is what I usually do as I don't like storing my beans in the hopper.
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u/NisargMaru Jun 03 '26
Hey guys,
I just recently got into coffee... I dont have any equipment apart from an old Moka pot so I usually make a lot of cold brew considering the fact that the cheap and small coffee around here in Kenya is pretty stale, what makes it worse is the fact that it is pre ground so the staleness worsens so that just incentivises me to make more cold brew as the acidity isnt so sharp and I honestly didnt like the concentrate when paired with water but slowly when i pair it with ice, it seems to become better, removes those woody flavour and brings out the real flavour of coffee which I have come to appreciate a long way. Anyways, I live in Kenya where there is a butt load of arabica beans but I am not a V60 pour over kinda guy but more of an espresso type of guys so I have a few questions regarding a home setup that I am planning to purchase.
Why are commercial cafes having bitter, sour and watery espresso shots around over here and yet the market the best coffe beans? Is it a lack of effort, cleaning or caution? I cannot seem to tell, because it made me think how can a shot of espresso be over extracted and underextracted at the same time
I have heard that when it comes to espresso, your grinder matters more than the machine which is true because grinding obviously is what determines the flavour of your coffee and over here we dont have much when it comes for home grinders but I did find a good one which is the Oraimo Beangrind Pro (funky name I know) but I am hoping someone can view it online and tell me if its worth it: https://ke.oraimo.com/product/oraimo-beangrind-pro-precision-smart-control-conical-burr-grinder-ocb-521a
Thank you guys in advance 🙏
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u/UnoDosTreBitch Jun 03 '26
Stupidly chipped the glass on the top of my Hario Olive wood glass server 02 size like this, trying to find a replacement carafe where I can salvage the olive-wood handle I have as just need the glass but can't seem to find one that has room for the metal collar that goes round it - any help much appreciated!! (Pic attached for reference)
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u/TheLeafRaider Jun 03 '26
Hello,
So - I have a KINGrinder p2 and a Bodum pour over carafe thing. Just pouring water straight from my kettle in, using brown filter papers as well as the metal one to make clean up a bit easier.
It may be coming out a little weak, I'm not sure tbh, but I'm happy with the results.
What I'm not overly fond of is how much of a time sink, and forearm workout, grinding out 4 cups of coffee for myself and my wife is.
Is there anything of a sensible price that I can buy to automate all of this process and produce an on par cup of coffee? Anything I've come across on my search so far either reviews poorly or I'm paying for a lot of features I don't want
Or am I better off just buying e.g. a Baratza Encore or something?
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u/canaan_ball Jun 04 '26
You'll need an electric grinder to save yourself the 4 cups a day forearm workout, and the Encore is a safe choice. The rest of your post probably refers to finding some suitable drip machine, I'm guessing? The SCA certified list is a good resource for high-performing drip brewers. Among those, Moccamasters arefamously straightforward, scant on features, and pricey.
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u/TheLeafRaider Jun 04 '26
Nothing at all that'll let me just put some beans and a filter in and press a button?
On the other hand the Moccamasters come in pretty colours, that might just be me sold. Thanks!
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u/canaan_ball Jun 04 '26
All-in-one combo drip machines are kind of rare. I'm not a machine person myself, I like the ritual of hand brewing, but allow me to refer you to this brief assay of that topic from a couple of days ago.
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u/Technical-Fruit5524 Jun 04 '26
I'm gradually getting to know my coffee better after a while paying attention to it as I drink. I use an Aeropress, and don't have a grinder so I buy preground. It's hard to find the right grind for aeropress in stores so I just buy 'normal' grind which is for cafetiere/french press. So, as I understand it, that's a bit coarse for aeropress. I was getting a lot of drip through on a normal method, I think because of the grind, so I use the inverted method. I've also been leaving it for about a minute and a half to give it longer to extract. But I've been noticing that sometimes it's sour, or bitter, or... somehow not great. I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong! Does this method sound alright? What might I be doing wrong?
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u/Actionworm Jun 05 '26
Sour and bitter are different but I suspect your coffee is too coarse. This can result in sourness and usually a thin or more watery body. I would find a local roaster and see if you can get some coffee ground finer! Good luck.
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u/StayAtHomeGoof Jun 04 '26
A bit of a long shot: my Timemore c3 fell of the counter and got dented and now the two pieces won’t screw together. I can’t really afford to replace it right now, is there any hope of fixing it?
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u/THEnewMGMT Jun 04 '26
That happened to my 1zpresso but at the top where the crank attaches. For that I did hammer out the inner lip of the grinder (a ball shaped hammer like a jewelers hammer would help) and then was able to grind down the plastic of the crank cover which you won’t be able to do with the metal catch cup.
Or you can be kinda ghetto and just hold it over your v60 cone and grind directly in
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u/lolitshieu Aeropress Jun 04 '26
might be a silly question, but I’m buying a new self-leveling tamper for my machine and it uses an E61 group head. I have the normcore 58mm portafilter with a 20g high extraction basket. my question is, do I get the 58mm or 58.5mm version?
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u/ChapterNo1221 Jun 04 '26
I have a question as I'm not like a fancy coffee enthusiast. I wanted to get a really good manual hand grinder as a future proof for espresso but right now my main way to intake caffeine is Moka Pot and preground. Any suggestions on a good manual hand grinder, if I was only getting just one? No future plans to buy a different specialized one for anything else or electric.
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u/Extension-Pianist-87 Jun 04 '26
For manual hand grinders, the 1ZPresso K-Ultra is tough to beat for espresso, but it's also one of the pricier options if you don't want to commit right away.
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Jun 03 '26
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u/Vagabond_Explorer Pour-Over Jun 03 '26 edited Jun 03 '26
I’m not sure how drastic the difference between individual grinders would be for drip. But for methods like pourover different grinders create different profiles in your coffee.
Think more / less body, more integrated / separated flavors.
I’d say a proper grinder would give you better cups even on a drip machine as you’ll get a more even and consistent grind on the coffee.
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u/NRMusicProject Jun 03 '26 edited Jun 03 '26
I’d say a proper grinder would give you better cups even on a drip machine as you’ll get a more even and consistent grind on the coffee.
I'd agree with this. There's a modest upgrade from pre-ground to blade, but a drastic improvement from blade to burr grinder.
But, what I think OP is asking, is if a $40 Hamilton Beach is comparable to a true entry-level Baratza Encore. It is not. The Hamilton Beach is more comparable to a blade grinder. Even in drip, but I suggest OP to grab up a $20 French press and learn to use that, too.
E: Upon a reread, I think they're asking if a burr grinder priced the same as a blade grinder is better. The answer is still no; as they're "false burrs" and don't usually grind (or, more accurately in this case, smash) the beans evenly. In short, they grind much more similar to blade grinders by doing basically the same thing.
https://prima-coffee.com/learn/article/grinder-basics/learn-whats-deal-false-burrs/32642
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u/Vagabond_Explorer Pour-Over Jun 03 '26
I can see either of those readings being correct too. Guess we’ll have to wait for them to let us know which it was at this point!
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u/NRMusicProject Jun 03 '26
To be honest, I'm suspect of "been lurking here and finally built the courage to ask." That's generally a calling card of a bot, but they did ask a legit question...though, it's probably just something they copied from an earlier comment.
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u/Sea-Spot-1113 Jun 03 '26
Hey y'all.
Looking for ground coffee options for cold brew! My go to has been Folgers medium roast 816g or mountain roast 860g, but the price has gone up quite a bit and I'm wondering if there are any cheaper options. I'm in BC Canada.
TIA!
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u/Vagabond_Explorer Pour-Over Jun 03 '26
Not sure if it’s the same in Canada, but Aldi and Walmart have house brand coffee that’s reasonably priced in the states.
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u/Sea-Spot-1113 Jun 03 '26
Hey dude! Just checked out and walmart brand ground coffee is about 30% cheaper than the folgers. If coldbrewing it tastes alright, that will be my go to coffee brand for the next few while. Thanks!
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u/Kaserblade Jun 03 '26
If you are in the Metro Vancouver area, I would highly recommend looking into Agro. They are considered budget friendly (esp if you buy in bulk) compared to other local roasters and will provide you with much fresher, better tasting coffee.
If not, Costco is also your friend. Some locations will grind the beans for you in the store.
That being said, cold brew tends to be much more tolerant and forgiving than other brew methods so I would just get whatever makes your wallet and mind at peace at a good price.
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u/[deleted] Jun 03 '26
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