Which coffee maker / best way to make it?

[Rykard]

Hi,
I am after some advise on the best way to make myself a strong cup of coffee. Buy a machine? Which one - don't want to break the bank.
What beans? Grind my own?

arghh all I want is a decent cup of strong coffee...

 

[Globalti]

Go to France and walk into any cafe.

 

[Rykard]

A little impractical at 6:30 in the morning

 

[longers]

Something like one of these? Easy to use and shouldn't break the bank - thats the first one I found.

I get a decent brew using the Lavazza packs of ground coffee. Tried most of the "flavours" and prefer the Gold myself.

 

[Wolf04]

My personal preference is for filter coffee. The machines are cheap enough. Buy an electric bean grinder and your set. Or even easier try one of the myriad of commercial blends out there. Taylor's Hot Lava Java will give you the caffeine blast you seek.

 

[alecstilleyedye]

if you go down the espresso route, make sure the machine can put the coffee through at about 15 bar pressure, or it will be poor.

avoid that groovy looking nescafé thing, the coffee's rubbish.

 

[Fnaar]

I have a machinetta, like Longers suggested. And I am coffee mad (and tea). Mind you, an italian friend says of Lavazza... "Lavazza, Lavazza, e merda in tazza".. (it's sh!t in a cup) ... but I quite like it too

 

[bonj2]

stove top espresso pot - one of these fellas:

they sell them in department stores like john lewis

 

[bonj2]

lavazza's quite nice, as is illy.

 

[longers]

Mind you, an italian friend says of Lavazza... "Lavazza, Lavazza, e merda in tazza".. (it's sh!t in a cup) ... but I quite like it too

No accounting for taste is there?

 

[Rykard]

Am I better grinding beans fresh rather than having grounds sitting around in the fridge?

 

[Crackle]

Am I better grinding beans fresh rather than having grounds sitting around in the fridge?

ONly if you buy a very good grinder. £50 upwards. It makes a huge difference to the quality.

 

[Rykard]

what's recommended? I don't mind spending on a grinder as the stove top espresso maker doesn't look too expensive.

 

[longers]

Try buying ready ground beans before you splash out on a grinder. My tastebuds don't know the difference - yours may differ.

Apparently you don't need to refrigerate your coffee* - keeping the air out is much more important.

*and if you do you're supposed to get it out the fridge five minutes before you brew up.

 

[Rykard]

I will grab some ground coffee tomorrow. Anyone recommend a good, reasonably priced outlet in Leicester?