Home coffee

I have been often asked about what I do for coffee at home. I have two options open to me at home and they are my Breville 800 Cafe series machine and "the Otto".
I like the ease and convenience of the Breville and for my morning fix before work it is 'good enough'. But if I am feeling in more of a challenging mood I can attempt the Otto.

Breville, although it is a thermoblock*, yields a good flavour because I use freshly ground coffee in it. Unfortunately, I have to grind by hand at the moment but I am hoping to get a good burr grinder soon and it will be Much easier from then on.
I have worked out the quirks of my machine and I can manage a decent cup from it. Not as good a coffee as I can get from my father-in-laws Rancillio Miss Silvia! But that's another story.

Unlike the Breville, the Otto needs to have the right conditions to yield a brilliant cup. I am yet to master the device but it is a challenge I will not back down from. It is a beautiful stainless steel stovetop machine, made with precision and I know it can do better then what I have managed so far. Don't get me wrong I have made several drinkable cups from it but I know it can do much better. The problem is the grind I think and once I get a decent grinder to use I will sort it once and for all.

So that's my home coffee experience in a nutshell. I have not had instant coffee in my house for over six years and I am happier for it.

If it's a coffee you need then I say take the time and make it a good one. If not, have tea.

The 800 & hand grinder



The Otto




*Thermoblock verses Boiler.
Too much info needed to explain this here but if you want more information about this I am happy to tell you in further blog entries.