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Medium Format and Coffee

dave.gt

Well-known member
May I suggest we make espresso the OFFICIAL FOCUSING FLUID of MF users?

After a long stay in the bowels of the ER on Friday night and Saturday (not me), I have been in bad need of something. Just made a nice cup of coffee, turned on some classic vinyl music, pulled the H5 (with Velvia loaded) to check battery and daydream a little now that our Anniversary Trip this week has been cancelled, and I am uplifted somewhat! Temporary, I know, but after 72 hours, it is much appreciated. I am feeling the rhythms in sync now.

I am focused!
:thumbup:
 

dave.gt

Well-known member
It's a rainy night in Georgia.

Cold wind and rain... a warm wood fire and a cup of coffee. What more does one need to enjoy processing some MF images?:thumbup:

Leica S
Vario 30-90mm:
 

gnuyork

Active member
More espresso machine porn though not an especially high-end machine. Snaphot with an XF / IQ4 150.
I use a Chemex mostly, but sometimes I change it up with French Press. I also have the Technivorm MochaMaster drip coffee machine for when I'm lazy.

If I were to buy an espresso machine, I think this is the one I'd go for (The La Spaziale S1) based on reading up on these. I could also be very tempted by a lever Electra, especially a schmancy copper one.

I also read the grinder is equally if not more important than the machine.

I use a conical burr grinder everyday, even for my pour overs.
 

dchew

Well-known member
I need some advice! My Delonghi Magnifica XS finally gave up the ghost, so I took a different path. Today an Aeropress arrives along with a Baratza Virtuoso+ grinder.

Any recommendations on how to start out? Mid-grind, coarse, fine? Their website recommends setting at 12. Any other tips on how to get started? I did find this video:
https://vimeo.com/140715216.
Temp 205 deg F
18 gm beans
med-fine grind
~2:00 brew time

?
Dave
 

Jack

Sr. Administrator
Staff member
I have yet to find anything that beats my Jura Impressa S9. I have set the temp up to "hot," grinder at 3rd fine dot, and espresso strength at 5 beans for a 1oz/30ml cup, Americano at 4 beans for a 5oz/150ml cup. My favorite beans are Peet's Major Dickensons or Arabian Mocha Java.

I am currently without any MF camera however, so IDK if that perhaps limits my opinions value on posting of this ( :) )
 

MGrayson

Subscriber and Workshop Member
I need some advice! My Delonghi Magnifica XS finally gave up the ghost, so I took a different path. Today an Aeropress arrives along with a Baratza Virtuoso+ grinder.

Any recommendations on how to start out? Mid-grind, coarse, fine? Their website recommends setting at 12. Any other tips on how to get started? I did find this video:
https://vimeo.com/140715216.
Temp 205 deg F
18 gm beans
med-fine grind
~2:00 brew time

?
Dave
Dave,

Those are good starting parameters. You don’t want too fine a grind or the Aeropress will choke and a messy explosion may result. Otherwise play around with everything- especially how much water to add after expression. The AP makes truly awesome Americanos.

Enjoy!

Matt
 

Mexecutioner

Well-known member
I need some advice! My Delonghi Magnifica XS finally gave up the ghost, so I took a different path. Today an Aeropress arrives along with a Baratza Virtuoso+ grinder.

Any recommendations on how to start out? Mid-grind, coarse, fine? Their website recommends setting at 12. Any other tips on how to get started? I did find this video:
https://vimeo.com/140715216.
Temp 205 deg F
18 gm beans
med-fine grind
~2:00 brew time

?
Dave
Hi Dave,

That's the exact same setup I have here at work. You will like the grinder, the timer function really helps get close to the amount of coffee you need preventing waste. Still I would recommend a small digital scale if you want consistency and get the 18 grams, no more, no less. I got this one from amazon for cheap and it is very small and accurate (.01 gr.): https://www.amazon.com/STree-Digita...ction+Pocket+Food+Scale&qid=1579016014&sr=8-1

I have tried both fine and coarse grounds and have not noticed a huge difference in flavor but decided to finally settle on the fine ground, looks close to granulated sugar and not super powdery. I left it at setting 16 for now.

What I have found best is to brew the coffee with the aeropress upside down so it doesn't start dripping through the filter right away. I put the plunger in and leave it at the edge of the tube, then put in the coffee and water. I take 10 seconds to pour it, I stir it for another 10 seconds, put on the filter and let it sit and when my timer is at 1 minute 45 seconds I flip it over my cup and press it down in order to be completely done at 2 minutes. I found this releases the flavor better than if I do it with the aeropress standing up.

This guy here shows the inverted method for a concentrated shot: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMqjk2jZ4AE

Hope this helps and have fun!

Rodrigo
 

Steve C

Member
Hi Dave,

That's the exact same setup I have here at work. You will like the grinder, the timer function really helps get close to the amount of coffee you need preventing waste. Still I would recommend a small digital scale if you want consistency and get the 18 grams, no more, no less. I got this one from amazon for cheap and it is very small and accurate (.01 gr.): https://www.amazon.com/STree-Digita...ction+Pocket+Food+Scale&qid=1579016014&sr=8-1

I have tried both fine and coarse grounds and have not noticed a huge difference in flavor but decided to finally settle on the fine ground, looks close to granulated sugar and not super powdery. I left it at setting 16 for now.

What I have found best is to brew the coffee with the aeropress upside down so it doesn't start dripping through the filter right away. I put the plunger in and leave it at the edge of the tube, then put in the coffee and water. I take 10 seconds to pour it, I stir it for another 10 seconds, put on the filter and let it sit and when my timer is at 1 minute 45 seconds I flip it over my cup and press it down in order to be completely done at 2 minutes. I found this releases the flavor better than if I do it with the aeropress standing up.

This guy here shows the inverted method for a concentrated shot: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMqjk2jZ4AE

Hope this helps and have fun!

Rodrigo
Very clever. As a 10 year veteran of the Aeropress, I concur with Rodrigo's process. Also note, there is a reusable bayonet filter by Fellows with a valve at the bottom to keep it from dripping until pressed. Great for backpacking too.
 

dave.gt

Well-known member
What a glorious sunrise this morning!:)

I managed to spend a whole minute to fix a cup of blonde roast coffee this morning just to enjoy the event.

:thumbup:

But, I have located a store not far from here that sells the 3-cup Bialetti at a good price. Tempted to forego a dinner out, and just pick it up this week.

However, what coffee/grind, etc. should I get for the first pot of mocha?
 

MGrayson

Subscriber and Workshop Member
What a glorious sunrise this morning!:)

I managed to spend a whole minute to fix a cup of blonde roast coffee this morning just to enjoy the event.

:thumbup:

But, I have located a store not far from here that sells the 3-cup Bialetti at a good price. Tempted to forego a dinner out, and just pick it up this week.

However, what coffee/grind, etc. should I get for the first pot of mocha?
Hi Dave,

I'm a dark roast medium grind guy for moka pots, but almost anything works. It's a forgiving workflow :cool:

Best,

Matt
 

dave.gt

Well-known member
Hi Dave,

I'm a dark roast medium grind guy for moka pots, but almost anything works. It's a forgiving workflow :cool:

Best,

Matt
It would be nice to pick up something local to start...Starbucks French or Italian roast? Or maybe a local coffee shop that has Medium and Dark roasts of their own, I tried their Guatemalan roast and loved it.

What grind? They always ask...:facesmack:
 

MGrayson

Subscriber and Workshop Member
It would be nice to pick up something local to start...Starbucks French or Italian roast? Or maybe a local coffee shop that has Medium and Dark roasts of their own, I tried their Guatemalan roast and loved it.

What grind? They always ask...:facesmack:
Go local! Start midway between espresso and drip. That's what I do, anyway.

M
 

dave.gt

Well-known member
Hmmm.... diverted by several emergencies so I have yet to get the Bialetti. Still unsure which coffee to start with.:loco:

:)
 

MGrayson

Subscriber and Workshop Member
This has been a cause of much amusement in the coffee community. It's not even worth rebutting.

There's a wonderful short story called "The Aliens Who Knew, I Mean, Everything". They bring magnificent gifts to human-kind, but they're insufferable. They declare Hyacinths to be the best flower and fill the Kalahari desert with them. Beethoven's Emperor Concerto is the best classical piece, but the score to Dr. Zhivago is the best music. It goes on and on.
 
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dave.gt

Well-known member
Tomorrow I have a doctor's appointment to get a snapshot of my overall health. I do not know if he is a coffee or even a MF type of person. So, it is best to have this discussion before my appointment.:)

Discussion topic: Dark, medium or light roast coffee.

Which has the lowest amount of caffeine? Yes, I realize this like starting a thread in car forums about the best engine oil use.:)

Further discussion: Espresso, mocha, regular coffee etc. Which is... ahem!... "healthier"? :ROTFL:
 

MGrayson

Subscriber and Workshop Member
Tomorrow I have a doctor's appointment to get a snapshot of my overall health. I do not know if he is a coffee or even a MF type of person. So, it is best to have this discussion before my appointment.:)

Discussion topic: Dark, medium or light roast coffee.

Which has the lowest amount of caffeine? Yes, I realize this like starting a thread in car forums about the best engine oil use.:)

Further discussion: Espresso, mocha, regular coffee etc. Which is... ahem!... "healthier"? :ROTFL:
Hi Dave!

The darker the coffee, the more similar they all are. This can be good if you want a "comfort shot", which is dark, but not bitter. Lighter roasts are trickier to get in the sweet spot. VERY interesting when you get it - floral, fruit, but not sour or bitter.

Caffeine varies, but quantity is, I believe, the determining factor. A blend called Blue Thunder is more likely to be more caffeinated :cool:.

Healthier? Coffee, despite decades of attempts to find a health problem, is benign. It's all a question of what you add. Sweeteners are worst, dairy fats depend on your system.

In short, drink what you like and don't worry. If a light roast is proving hard to dial in, try a darker one.

Enjoy!

Matt
 

mristuccia

Well-known member
The final solution is indeed quite simple: "Il Caffè del Professore" in Naples, Italy.
They say it is one of the best Espresso ever made, but unfortunately I haven't been there, yet...
I'm carefully planning a very close-focused mission: taking a flight in the morning, being there at lunch time, taking a flight to be back home by the evening of the same day. No distractions of any sorts will be allowed, just taste the coffee, interview the barman and come back. :)
 

Jorgen Udvang

Subscriber Member
Tomorrow I have a doctor's appointment to get a snapshot of my overall health. I do not know if he is a coffee or even a MF type of person. So, it is best to have this discussion before my appointment.:)

Discussion topic: Dark, medium or light roast coffee.

Which has the lowest amount of caffeine? Yes, I realize this like starting a thread in car forums about the best engine oil use.:)

Further discussion: Espresso, mocha, regular coffee etc. Which is... ahem!... "healthier"? :ROTFL:
I have a weakness for Vietnamese coffee, particularly when consumed at on tiny chairs at street cafés in Vietnamese cities, with or without ice. Coffee purists keep telling me that it doesn't actually taste good and that it's the ambience and my naive brain, but I don't care.

As for caffeine, I've found that I sleep well after an espresso or two, while instant coffee keeps me awake for days. That's probably by design. There's no other reason for drinking instant coffee than staying awake.

Medium format and coffee? I never take drugs while creating photos. That includes coffee.
 
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