stove tops ?

[Panda]

I am so poor that I :

1. hand roast with hot air gun, pyrex bowl and wooden stick
2. hand grind (at least its a zassenhaus!)
3. brew in a bialetti
4. cant find a cheap way of making microfoam (*sobs*)

Obviously when I win the lottery I will buy a hottop, mazzer mini and a shiny new espresso machine .. but not this week .. 8(

In the meantime, how does bialetti (moka espresso) for espresso/latte compare with french press or a proper home espresso machine (like cimbali junior/ vbm domobar / gaggia classic). I assume aluminium affects flavour less than stainless steel ?

Would I be better using a bodum (cheapest french press i can think of) than a bialetti for first 48hours post roast anyway ?


Any advice welcomed!

[phil]

I wouldn't use a french press that soon after roasting as the foaming would be excessive. And for once I believe that Mark Prince agrees with me.

[josh_robb]

I've been here. This is what I did.

1. Bought a Bialetti Brikka (around 20 quid). Tastes better than straight moka to me.

2. Bought a Starbucks Barista Grinder for 40 quid. (now 60 )

3. Bought a stove top steamer for 30 quid. Loads and loads of steam power!

4. Bought a cheep ebay morphy richards espresso machine. The espresso sucked but it was good for steaming and wormed up more quickly than the stovetop steamer.

This was over the course of a year or so so it didn't break the bank.

j.

[Panda]

how did you decide on the morphing richards for steaming ? luck or specification ?

[josh_robb]

Was cheep on ebay. (29 quid or there abouts). The PF lock for the brew group is some type of platic which cracked after about 6/8 weeks (of 3/4 doubles a day) so that was the end of the espresso - but I used it for steaming until I bought the Gaggia.