Lavazza Beans et al

[fiend]

Waitrose are now selling pre-ground Cup of Excellence coffee. I won't say who roasts it, but it makes me sad. At least it is a step in the right direction.

It's madness. It's a free world, but why, why why?

And I don't want to hear any pious talk from you suger-adders either.

[KateM]

Supermarkets don't sell coffee!

[Beanie]

Waitrose are now selling pre-ground Cup of Excellence coffee. I won't say who roasts it, but it makes me sad. At least it is a step in the right direction.

It's madness. It's a free world, but why, why why?

And I don't want to hear any pious talk from you suger-adders either.

And before you know it, we'll be seeing "instant" COE *sigh* Just in case you didn't think it could get worse.... decaf instant COE

[Bertie_Doe]

Bean-Believer wrote

And before you know it, we'll be seeing "instant" COE *sigh

Well the local supermarker already sells instant cuppacino. From memory, it comprises about 30% instant coffee and the remainder is made up from powdered milk glucose etc.
They must be making a fortune. This wasn't 'fair trade' coffee, so they are paying less than $1.80 per pound, for the tiny coffee%. Sheesh!!
Quentin

[quink]

Sainsburys own Lombardy espresso beans are far superior (in fact not bad for a supermarket). Crema production average (either all arabica or possibly 5% robusta)

I'll hold my hand up, I have on occaisions used this and I was pleasently surpirsed, thy even state on the pack its a lighter northern italian roast. Damned impressive for a supermarket brand.

[Davec]

Sainsburys own Lombardy espresso beans are far superior (in fact not bad for a supermarket). Crema production average (either all arabica or possibly 5% robusta)

I'll hold my hand up, I have on occaisions used this and I was pleasently surpriosed, thy even state on the pack its a lighter northern italian roast. Damned impressive for a supermarket brand.

Yup, if your desperate, then they are a reasonable stopgap and better than anything *()_^& Whittards produce
!
However, as posted in my other thread, my local microroaster (which I didnt know existed) only 700m away, produces a really nice espresso blend.

I am going to take a journey to Traders in Surbiton next week and see what their premium espresso blend is like. I didn't know they roasted their own beans and now I do, well 7 or 8 miles is nothing.

[CakeBoy]

I keep a stock of Tesco Columbian beans in for emergencies, as it is the best supermarket beans I have found near here. It makes perfectly adequate milk drinks, way better than the local cafes. Best not used for espresso though in my opinion, but perfectly good if I am late ordering from Steve or go a bit mad one week and drink loads then promptly run out of the good stuff.

[PerfectPourUK]

I'll hold my hand up, I have on occaisions used this and I was pleasently surpirsed, thy even state on the pack its a lighter northern italian roast. Damned impressive for a supermarket brand.

Only unfortunately it's not a NI roast, last time I had to resort to Sainsbury's Lombardy blend I thought it was pretty damn dark but then I guess that's light for a supermarket's own roast! Don't remember much other than it having a very dark bitter finish, but as I've now realised could have been my machine, My Valentina does seem to do a significantly better job with every bean i've tried in it over my old Brugnetti Top HX.

Have to say guy's after sampling a lot of coffee on offer from some of the UK's mail order microroasters and albeit a desire to support local craftsman roasters where possible I currently can't get enough of Mr John Robert's (www.e-coffee.co.uk) Espresso Milano Blend (I'm guessing the blend has changed a bit since i first tried it), I'd gone off it a bit as it was less that ideal in my old machine but now from La Val's E61 it just oozes creamy chocolate out of the portafilter, very smooth with bags of chocolate hints of toffee and a lovely reddish brown crema that also cuts with milk superbly (I can see you mouth's watering! ) Give it a try.

Ciao,
Chris

[CakeBoy]

Pure coffee porn Chris, pure porn ........ pics?

[simonp]

I have really enjoyed Roberts' espresso blends too, not tried any for a while, but I liked both the Milano, and the Sienna (I think it was called). I must try some again, I occasionally get some roasted as a change from the home roasts.

[PerfectPourUK]

Pure coffee porn Chris, pure porn ........ pics?

Well I'll have to see if the Birthday Fairy...aka missus...brings me a nekkid PF or not in a few weeks, then i promise to U/L the full works video with music (Aka Kingseven), grind (yes you'll actually get to hear my Cimbali running...don't get too excited... ), distribution and tamp....pour and then to finish the affair some milk texturing and some (hopefully!) half decent latte art.....

Till then youll have to make do with the descriptions...)

Ciao,
Chris

[CakeBoy]

Oh yes, nekkid!

[PerfectPourUK]

Ok OK, here's something for you to watch in media player, just playing around with my shitty (sorry moderator) camera, here's a short video of La Valentina's cooling flush, machine had been idle around 4minutes, pressurestat swing is 1 - 1.1BAR precisely.

The quality of the video is not so good but good enough to get an idea for any HX Newbies......Im sure somebody will find this usefull, Here goes:

http://www.youtube.com/?v=k2iYwAgW6Uk

[PerfectPourUK]

P.S sorry for Hijacking the thread....

[Davec]

Ok OK, here's something for you to watch in media player, just playing around with my shitty (sorry moderator) camera, here's a short video of La Valentina's cooling flush, machine had been idle around 4minutes, pressurestat swing is 1 - 1.1BAR precisely.

The quality of the video is not so good but good enough to get an idea for any HX Newbies......Im sure somebody will find this usefull, Here goes:

http://www.youtube.com/?v=k2iYwAgW6Uk

Wooo. she gets a bit hot....need to clean that shower screen

On a serious note, that looks to be around 4 oz+ cooling flush?