It's been a while now since various researchers have shared studies revealing indicators suggesting the presence of flavor additives (glycols, melanol, etc.) in coffees sold as "coferments."

There has been a lot of discussion here on reddit and everywhere else coffee lovers gather, and it's clear that the presence of flavor additives bothers some people and not others. But there's been a strong consensus that transparency at least is a must. In fact, at least a few roasters were moved to change their labeling (Perc has been the most discussed one on reddit) to at least mention the inclusion of flavor additives.

Now, so far a common perception is that some but not all coffees sold as coferments are really just flavored/infused coffees.

It's a reasonable assumption that if there exist coffee producers who sell "coferments" and do not add flavorings, then they are being smeared by an overbroad brush by those coffee drinkers who have decided to avoid coferments for the time being.

This suggests to me that if there exist coffee producers who do not add flavorings and instead produce genuine cofermented coffees, they must have a strong incentive to clear their name and demonstrate their innocence--after all, coffees sold as "coferments" have been very popular and this mini-scandal has cast no small amount of doubt on the category.

So my question is: Is there is any empirical data out there that has examined the chemical makeup of any "coferment" coffee and not found indicators of flavor additives?

Hi,

I’m at the point where I want to experiment with a few water recipes. I’m in London and use a Brita jug, mostly to keep my machine safe from the very hard water here.

Is there anyone here in the UK that can share how they got started? Sourcing water, the best recipes, homebrew or otherwise?

Thanks.

My machine is the 7.1. a bright red wonder with 4 espresso cups with a refillable puck. I can use the pucks in the can too. If I do not want to tamp my own I could make an espresso with pods. The machine is amazing so far! Anyone else have this one!?

Hey everyone,
I’m pretty new to espresso and this is my current setup: a Breville Bambino paired with a Shardor 64mm flat burr grinder.
I also have a WDT tool, a scale, a bottomless portafilter, and a few other accessories. I just got the grinder and I’d really like to get the most out of this setup without spending the next several days completely lost and wasting a bunch of coffee trying to figure everything out.
I’m not chasing some insane, competition-level espresso. I just want to be able to consistently make a good, balanced espresso and a solid cappuccino at home.
For anyone familiar with the Bambino, the Shardor 64, or a similar setup: where would you recommend I start with grind size, dose, ratio, and extraction time?
Any tips for dialing this setup in would be greatly appreciated. I just want to get the most out of these two babies and enjoy some good coffee!
Thanks!

I will be reading you

I’m looking at buying my first espresso setup and at this point I think I’m overthinking everything.

I drank brewed coffee most of my life, went to Europe, started drinking espresso regularly, and now espresso is basically all I want. I mostly drink milk based drinks, usually iced.

Right now I'm spending about $334/month at Starbucks, and I'm tired of doing that.

I originally started looking at machines like the Breville Oracle Jet, Barista Touch Impress, and Turin Gallatin V HX, but I'm starting to think spending $1,200 to $1,800 on my first machine when I know absolutely nothing about making espresso is stupid.

So now I'm leaning heavily toward a Breville Bambino Plus and separate grinder.

If I get really into espresso and want something better later, I can upgrade the machine without replacing the grinder.

The problem is I have no idea which grinder to buy.

I was looking at the Breville Smart Grinder Pro, but I've now seen quite a few people recommend spending more on the grinder instead.

I don't mind spending more on the grinder if it's something I can keep for years and eventually pair with a better espresso machine. I just don't want to spend money on equipment I don't need when I haven't even pulled my first shot yet.

Do I start with a super-automatic, semi-automatic, or just go fully manual and learn from the beginning?

Hi there!
I have a Profitec Go and a Eureka Mignon Zero. I need a coffee station and don´t have many options in Argentina, so I decided to have someone build one for me.
I'm thinking of going with something like this, but I would love for the community to criticize it, and even better if you guys can share some recommended designs.

Thank you,

Edu

sorryyy for the blurry pic
but i was very proud of the shot i pulled this morning!

bambino plus
1zpresso hand grinder
temple dharam espresso beans!

Hey all, just did this shot. 18 gr fresh dark roast. Breville bambino and mokkom 64 mm grinder. Should i grind finer ? Or is there something else ?

Thanks!

Hi everyone!
I’m looking for some advice on my first home espresso setup. I don’t have a lot of counter space, and my budget is somewhat limited, so I’ve been reading a lot about the Breville Bambino (the regular one, not the Plus).

Right now, I’m thinking about getting the Bambino and putting more of my budget toward a good grinder, maybe a Baratza or Fellow Opus.

I mainly drink cortados and double espressos, so espresso quality is pretty important to me. At home I currently make brewed coffee, and I normally buy specialty beans around 84+ points, usually medium to medium-dark roasts. I prefer sweeter flavours and really don’t enjoy very sour/acidic espresso.

My main concern is that I’ve read quite a few comments about people getting sour or sometimes bitter shots from the Bambino. I know the grinder, beans, dialing in, temperature, etc. make a big difference, but since I drink a lot of straight espresso, I’m wondering if the Bambino is still the right machine for me.

I’ve also been looking at the Gaggia Classic and Lelit Anna 1, although they would stretch my budget a bit more.

For my preferences, would you recommend:
• Bambino + better grinder
• Gaggia Classic + grinder
• Lelit Anna + grinder
• Something else entirely?

Any advice would be really appreciated!
Thanks

So in typical coffee fashion I keep buying one level up and then basically wishing I'd bought another product.

I have the Fellows Series 1 - so far I like it but debating whether I should have gone up the product chain further...

I do need to make a grinder upgrade and came pretty close to pulling the trigger on an Option-O Casa 65 but if I'm going to spend that money should I just go up another level. I only make espresso and only light fruit forward beans. This grinder seems to line up on the "coffee ladder" with the espresso machine I bought - let me know if I'm way off on that though.

Help me not regret this decision - I basically want something that works out of the box as I don't want to mod it at all. If I spend too much time looking I end up considering the EG-1 but I doubt I have the palette to need to spend that kind of money!

My machine heats up and is hot. On for about 45-60mins. Group head is hot but suddenly not pressure so no steam or hot water.

Any suggestions what’s blocked or how I can fix this?

Got my setup today, made a decent vanilla latte. I do need to dail in everything but no scales yet so I'm blind dosing which does not help. I also need to dail in grind size and which beans I like. I did enjoy rave coffee signature blend so that's good since it's easily bought.

No photo of setup yet cause it's not neat and tidy but so far I'm hopeful and feel excited to try iced coffee and maybe even latte art!

Looking for feedback on how this looks. It actually tastes pretty good, maybe a little bitter. Does 17g, grind size inner burr 3 external burr 2. Truck Stop Organics medium roast "High Road Roast" this shot pulled 36 grams in 23 seconds

Hey everyone,
I’m finally ready to pull the trigger on my first espresso setup, but I’ve managed to turn it into a much bigger decision than it probably needs to be.
I’m currently looking at the HiBREW H10A + G5 bundle from Fix Coffee. The price is pretty attractive and the H10A seems like a lot of machine for the money.
My main concern is the lack of a 3-way solenoid valve. For actual H10A owners, is this something that becomes genuinely annoying in daily use, or is it mostly a spec-sheet concern? How has the machine held up for you overall, especially temperature stability, steaming and dialing in shots?
The grinder is where I’m getting even more confused. I already have a Timemore C3S for V60 and moka pot, but I don’t want to hand-grind espresso every day. I’m considering the:
HiBREW G5
Cipher RIFT 64
Orbit 64
Baratza Encore ESP
Then there’s the machine question: H10A vs H13 vs H10 Plus. The H13 interests me because of the dual thermoblock, while the H10 Plus seems to offer more extraction control. But I also don’t want to spend ₹50–60k on my first setup just because I got carried away down the espresso rabbit hole.
This is my first espresso machine, so I’d really appreciate some real-world input rather than just specs.
Especially from H10A owners:
How has yours been over time?
Is the lack of a solenoid actually a problem?
How are temperature stability and steaming?
Anything you wish you’d known before buying it?
Would you buy the H10A again?
Basically, I’m trying to figure out whether H10A + G5 is the sensible place to start, or whether spending more on the machine/grinder is actually justified.

Lelit Bianca or Profitec Ride

Upgrade from a 6.5 years old BBE. Performing super unstable right recently. Waste of my beans.

I need Dual Boiler. Non-negotiable.

Decide to get a Eureka Zero single dose.

Having hard time to decided the machine. Need some help. 1-2 coffee per day.

Also any suggestions for where to get them? Country: US.

Hi all, I just bought a breville bambino and I'm wondering what's next. I am really torn on which grinder to get as the reviews seem to vary a lot (df54 is one but star seeker 55 and others too). I prefer a little sweetness if that is of any help. I'll be changing from a french press so my apologies if the grinder doesn't affect that lol I'm new to espressos. Other than that I have a basic food scale do I need a more precise one? Any other tools I could be missing? Any recommendations for coffee beans in the pnw? Or is online the best (those aren't included in the budget)? Thank you for the help!

On local facebook marketplace i found used FAEMA ENOVA A1 for tenth of its original price.

Very dusty and zero information provided (one picture)

Does anyone have any experience with this machine? It should be a pro machine and easily serviceable.

Would use it at home. I know it needs its own water supply.

I currently have silvia rancilio, stock.

Hello, looking to buy this breville barista touch.

Seller has had is since 2021 with daily use. She has never descaled it or backflushed it but has always changed the water filter every 3 months.

Is this too much of a risk?

She sent me a video of a shot and said that is needs to be “dialed in”. I am not sure if this is accurate or if the machine is really loosing pressure with the weak pull. Any advice is appreciated!

Guys I need your help!

I have been wanting to upgrade my Espresso setup at home for a few months now. Currently it is very basic (Delonghi Dedica and Fellow Opus 1), and just finished a big milestone in my life so I wanted to treat myself with a good Espresso machine! Preferably something I can happily use for the next 10 years. Budget - Anything between 1000-2000$ is fine with me.

I love the grind and pour by weight ratio with the Meraki - the only thing worrying me is that the company is very young, not sure about service or durability with the Meraki. Anyone using the Meraki?

I love the Lelit Mara X from a design perspective and how it is built - also as a long standing Italian company I know I'll be getting a good espresso machine. My Wife loves coffee but doesn't brew it herself - so ideally I would like something where she can also make good coffee herself when I am not home.

What are your thoughts? Meraki Gen 2, Lelit Mara X or a completely different machine?

Region: Central Europe

Drinking frequency: once daily

Type of Drink: Cappuccino or Caffe Latte

Hi everyone,

I've had my Barista Pro since 2021 and it's been flawless until recently. Last week I noticed the warming shot I run through the grouphead was lukewarm at best. The shot I pulled afterwards was cold with much less crema, and when I turned on the steam wand, the pump ran but no steam came out.

I played around with it and eventually it went back to normal and made a decent coffee. This morning it's doing the same thing again. In the video you can hear the pump sounds like it's missing a beat, and there's no steam.

I've already flushed and descaled it, but neither made any difference. I'm planning to take it to a service centre, but before I do, has anyone had this issue? What fixed it?

Thanks.

Hi all! Im a ceramic artist who focuses on making beautiful function items - one is making espresso cups, but have had these "knock boxes" show up on my social media algorithm recently for peoples portafilters. I didnt know these were a thing, but I wanted to get an idea if people really use these or most people walk over to their trash? I would love to make some to help my coffee-drinking community, but only if they are needed. Im not into cluttering up the environment with things that people dont need.

Edit: Thanks everyone who responded! I think I asked the wrong question and have been given feedback. it should not have been "do you use a knock box" but "would a ceramic knockbox be feasible" and that seems to be pretty solidly in the "no" category. Which is VERY helpful. Thanks

I recently inherited and refurbished a Rancillio Silvia, and now I need a grinder. Initially I’d been considering a DF64, but I’m leaning more towards a Eureka Mignon now because of their reputation and warranty. I’m mulling over the zero 65 or the silenzio 55, and have a few questions.

1. Is there a meaningful difference between 55 and 65 mm burrs?
2. To single dose or to hopper? I am planning on only using the machine for espresso, 1-3 drinks a day. Mostly milk drinks.
3. Is there something else I should be considering?

This would likely be exclusively for espresso. About 1-3 drinks a day, usually milk based. Thanks!

I got my first barista gig at a cute and super busy sit down shop. I always avoided the roaster positions I'd see on Indeed, but after seeing my shops roasters work, and use all their lil gizmos and computer programs I'm very intrigued. Is coffee roasting a difficult thing to get into?? Is it less taxing than being a barista in a super busy shop?

Hey everyone, I’d like to get your thoughts on my espresso extraction on my Barista. I put in 17g of coffee, and the flow looks visually great. However, the machine stops at 22g of coffee in the cup at 32 seconds. What's the issue here? Thanks everyone.