[WanderNomad]

I am a regular at Devans and he supplies to a lot of commercial establishments in North.

He has a variety of blends and is reasonably priced.

I buy it for the commercial setup I have at home (Nothing less could satisfy me).

[mercedised]

First of all, A big Thank you! for the wonderful guide. I need a coffee machine for my grand ma, she drinks 2 cups (hardly 200ml, milk & sugar coffee) daily. A cheap simple machine would do the job. Are there any particular brands I should pay attention to? or any regular coffee machine would do the job?

I am thinking of buying coffee beans, grind them, store them according to need.

[archat68]

Originally Posted by mercedised

First of all, A big Thank you! for the wonderful guide. I need a coffee machine for my grand ma, she drinks 2 cups (hardly 200ml, milk & sugar coffee) daily. A cheap simple machine would do the job. Are there any particular brands I should pay attention to? or any regular coffee machine would do the job?

I am thinking of buying coffee beans, grind them, store them according to need.

I think a french press will suit your need. CCD used to stock them. Also, beans shall be stored whole and small quantities shall be ground just before use to get the most. But grinding everyday may be too much. In that case you can grind quantity equivalent to 2-3 days and store them in a airtight container (like I do). But grinding coffee to the correct coarseness is a tough job and can not be achieved without a proper coffee grinder (burr type). Too fine or too coarse will yield completely different (or devastating) result from the same bean.

[mercedised]

Originally Posted by archat68

I think a french press will suit your need. CCD used to stock them. Also, beans shall be stored whole and small quantities shall be ground just before use to get the most. But grinding everyday may be too much. In that case you can grind quantity equivalent to 2-3 days and store them in a airtight container (like I do). But grinding coffee to the correct coarseness is a tough job and can not be achieved without a proper coffee grinder (burr type). Too fine or too coarse will yield completely different (or devastating) result from the same bean.

Thanks, I am looking for a automated machine. I liked Philips and Inalsa. Any clues on what is anti-drip function? Also are espresso and capp. machines any good? (in the ranges of 3-5K)

http://www.amazon.in/Inalsa-Caf%C3%A...0-00004a957bb9

[Jaguar]

Originally Posted by mercedised

First of all, A big Thank you! for the wonderful guide. I need a coffee machine for my grand ma, she drinks 2 cups (hardly 200ml, milk & sugar coffee) daily. A cheap simple machine would do the job. Are there any particular brands I should pay attention to? or any regular coffee machine would do the job?

I am thinking of buying coffee beans, grind them, store them according to need.

If it is just two cups, you can explore catridge based machines. CCD sells them here. You just pop a catridge, press a button and instant coffee.

[archat68]

Originally Posted by mercedised

Thanks, I am looking for a automated machine. I liked Philips and Inalsa. Any clues on what is anti-drip function? Also are espresso and capp. machines any good? (in the ranges of 3-5K)

http://www.amazon.in/Inalsa-Caf%C3%A...0-00004a957bb9

I had one of those. It used to produce lukewarm coffee. so had to throw it away.
If you like drip coffee maker then go for the following. I'm using one in my office for last 2 years. It's perfect except it only make one cup at a time.
http://www.flipkart.com/black-decker...49069&srno=b_1

[mercedised]

Thanks guys. Will be ordering the B&D model and a electric kettle (incase my grand ma finds using the drip model difficult).

[goodboid]

Buying a coffee machine entirely depends on two things. What kind of coffee do you want, and what's your budget?

Kinds of coffee -

1. Espresso - For this you'll need an espresso machine, ie a machine that can give you a shot of espresso. That shot of espresso is then used as a base to create cappuccinos/lattes/macchiatos/etc. Simply put, the amount of milk/foam added to the espresso determines what it's called. An espresso is a strong thick coffee, that you get by pushing water (at 9 bars of pressure) through finely ground coffee beans. At the end of the process you get about 25ml of coffee. It's a common consensus that for good espresso, a good grinder (that can grind very fine) is more important than your espresso machine. This is an expensive and fussy option, I wouldn't recommend it for your grandmother, who might want something simple to use.

2. Plain black coffee - There are a number of options for getting plain coffee. If you're ok with south indian coffee, buying a steel percolator will be your cheapest option (don't buy beans and grind freshly for this method, because the coffee is steeped for too long and over extracted anyways, buying fresh beans and grinding it won't make a difference), buy coffee powder from Kalmane coffee. If you like the taste of fresh coffee, you have a few more options.

a) Aeropress - Very simple to use, and can get you a great cup of coffee in minutes (buy freshly roasted coffee, in powder form, from BlueTokaiCoffee, don't keep in storage for more than 2 weeks).
You can get one here - http://www.amazon.in/AeroPress-Coffee-and.../dp/B000GXZ2GS

b) Moka Pot - Bialetti made the world's first stove top coffee percolator (they call it espresso, but it isn't, since the water isn't put coffee at 9 bars of pressure). But it's simple to use. Again just buy freshly roasted and ground coffee and you're good.
You can get one here - http://www.amazon.in/.../dp/B000CNY6UK/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1...

CoffeeDay has their own Moka Pot as well, which you can get for less than Rs500. It might be a good idea to buy that first and see if you like Moka Pot coffee.

c) Pour over - You can get a Hario pour over kit, with chemex filters. You will need a good goose neck kettle for this and fuss over your coffee, so this might not be the best option for your granny. But it's available and gives great results. Currently this is the preferred way of making coffee at most Coffee Bars the world over.
You can get one here - http://www.amazon.in/Cra.../dp/B0118DWGTU/ref=aag_m_pw_dp...

If you still want an espresso machine that does a good job, the only good option in India, at a reasonable price, is the Philip Saeco Poemia -
http://www.amazon.in/Philips-HD8325-1-Litre.../dp/B0040434CI

[navin]

Originally Posted by goodboid

1. Espresso - For this you'll need an espresso machine, ie a machine that can give you a shot of espresso.

2. Plain black coffee - There are a number of options for getting plain coffee.

a) Aeropress -

b) Moka Pot -

If you still want an espresso machine that does a good job, the only good option in India, at a reasonable price, is the Philip Saeco Poemia

I used to import beans but now get roasted beans from Nandanavan Coffee Co. Nadanavan was started by Hansraj Mariwala (uncle of Harsh Mariwala of Marico) who bought a small farm in Kodai and started to make a good bean before he passed away. The other sources are 2 shops - 1 in Matunga called Mysore Concerns and the other a mail order firm called Kumbakonam Coffee Centre (I hope I spelt that right).

All 3 sources guarantee their beans have no Chicory.

I use 3 methods for the coffee depending on time of day and time available.

My morning cup is a big French press as shown in the link below.
http://www.amazon.in/aerolatte-Frenc...s=french+press

In the office where time is limited I have a Jura machine (J500 replaced my aging F50) as it can deliver all the fancy-shancy stuff others like.

In the evenings or on Sunday when I am more relaxed I use a Bialetti style stove top machine.

I wont say which is better, they all are equally good.

[BenjiRoss]

For those of you who buy or plan to buy coffee beans or powder at The Indian Bean - http://theindianbean.com
They have a 25% discount coupon till tomorrow.
Use "FEST25" to get 25% off.
Their coffee is quite good.

[Turbanator]

I buy it for the commercial setup I have at home (Nothing less could satisfy me)

can you share details of your setup

If you still want an espresso machine that does a good job, the only good option in India, at a reasonable price, is the Philip Saeco Poemia

How about something like -

http://www.amazon.in/Philips-Intelia...331605&sr=1-14

I read some bad reviews about this machine relating to Power / software issues , can you suggest something different ?

[BenjiRoss]

Can anyone help troubleshoot my Breville 800ES espresso machine.
My breville espresso machine has been giving this problem intermittently for a month now. It starts off well and heats the water and is ready to dispense my coffee. However after I turn the knob to start brewing it pours out the brew for 5-10 seconds and then stops. The red light comes on and blinks and so do the other white lights. The only way to get it to restart is to switch off the power and turn it back with the knob in the brew position. Any suggestions on what I can do? This is a three year old machine and I am presently in a place that has no breville centers.
I am still able to brew good coffee with the switch off and switch on mod .
I have googled and come up with a few suggestions most of which seem a little too difficult for me to do (involve dismantling the machine and checking a capacitor, etc).
Here is a video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xKZtve4HTs

[WanderNomad]

Originally Posted by Turbanator

can you share details of your setup

Sorry had missed this.

Enclosing pics.

[chunkathumpa]

www.bluetokaicoffee.com

My fix for all the coffee I buy

Always beans, freshly ground and then brewed in a stove top espresso every time

[Samurai]

An interesting link for coffee drinkers: http://www.techinsider.io/best-way-b...ee-home-2016-1