Hey Erik, I do know what you mean about espresso makers. I just stopped buying them. My wife says I've used up enough countertop space with all my kitchen gadgets, so I make due with the pour over cones, a French press, and three moka pots (3, 6, and 9 cup). The 9 cup makes a nice big mug of coffee, but I use it for company mostly. It is too much for me alone. The 6 cup is what I like best in the morning if I'm not doing a pour-over, the 3 cup in the afternoon.
I know for a fact my wife got me a "Clever Dripper" for Christmas, one with a cover. It combines the best of filtered pour over and the French press coffee. $22 on Amazon. It is a cone dripper than steeps the coffee like a French press. When your 4 minutes have elapsed, you put the cone on your mug and it allows the coffee to flow thru. I'll tell you how it works in a month and a half. There are YouTube videos of the Clever Dripper.
I've tried Dillanos and Lavazza. Still prefer my own ground beans. From what I've read, true espresso is an 80/20 mix of Arabica and Robusta beans, medium to medium-dark roast. I can taste a Robusta bean from a mile away, so that's why I prefer my own grinds, and now my own roasts.
I have had to move away from black coffee the last several years. I add coconut milk or frothed milk to my coffee. Since you have an espresso machine, you have a frother. I just put cold milk in a jar, shake it for 30 seconds or so, take the top off and microwave it for 12-15 seconds. Works just like a milk frother.
As far as a bean recommendation, I wish I had one. Still too new roasting. I'm loving this Costa Rican I ordered from Sweet Maria's. Sipping some right now. Sweet Maria's is nice because you can order coffee in 1 lb batches and try several different sources.
The reason I bought the Nicaraguan in 3 lbs off Amazon was for learning to roast. It wasn't expensive and any failures wouldn't hurt, especially if I was only roasting 6-8 oz of green beans. Just like BBQ though, the failures were still pretty dang good. If it wasn't so acidic, I'd recommend it. Some people like the acidic taste. I used to, but my stomach can't handle it any longer.
I just took delivery of inexpensive, Mexican, organic green beans ordered off Amazon from Smokin' Beans Coffee Company. 5 lbs delivered was $27.85, or $5.57/lb. It is actually cheaper from Amazon than it is on the Smokin' Beans Coffee Company website, and it is shipped from the same place! Go figure. I'm going to roast a batch today to try over the next several days. I bought it for making Mexican Kahlua for Christmas gifts, and for personal consumption. Will know in few days how good it is.
Take the leap into home roasting, Erik. But trust me, it adds a whole new meaning to the love of coffee.
I know for a fact my wife got me a "Clever Dripper" for Christmas, one with a cover. It combines the best of filtered pour over and the French press coffee. $22 on Amazon. It is a cone dripper than steeps the coffee like a French press. When your 4 minutes have elapsed, you put the cone on your mug and it allows the coffee to flow thru. I'll tell you how it works in a month and a half. There are YouTube videos of the Clever Dripper.
I've tried Dillanos and Lavazza. Still prefer my own ground beans. From what I've read, true espresso is an 80/20 mix of Arabica and Robusta beans, medium to medium-dark roast. I can taste a Robusta bean from a mile away, so that's why I prefer my own grinds, and now my own roasts.
I have had to move away from black coffee the last several years. I add coconut milk or frothed milk to my coffee. Since you have an espresso machine, you have a frother. I just put cold milk in a jar, shake it for 30 seconds or so, take the top off and microwave it for 12-15 seconds. Works just like a milk frother.
As far as a bean recommendation, I wish I had one. Still too new roasting. I'm loving this Costa Rican I ordered from Sweet Maria's. Sipping some right now. Sweet Maria's is nice because you can order coffee in 1 lb batches and try several different sources.
The reason I bought the Nicaraguan in 3 lbs off Amazon was for learning to roast. It wasn't expensive and any failures wouldn't hurt, especially if I was only roasting 6-8 oz of green beans. Just like BBQ though, the failures were still pretty dang good. If it wasn't so acidic, I'd recommend it. Some people like the acidic taste. I used to, but my stomach can't handle it any longer.
I just took delivery of inexpensive, Mexican, organic green beans ordered off Amazon from Smokin' Beans Coffee Company. 5 lbs delivered was $27.85, or $5.57/lb. It is actually cheaper from Amazon than it is on the Smokin' Beans Coffee Company website, and it is shipped from the same place! Go figure. I'm going to roast a batch today to try over the next several days. I bought it for making Mexican Kahlua for Christmas gifts, and for personal consumption. Will know in few days how good it is.
Take the leap into home roasting, Erik. But trust me, it adds a whole new meaning to the love of coffee.