Topic: Coffee and tea making

[Claire.]

Strange but has to be done.

When you make yourself a coffee or a tea, and your partner/friend/colleague/whoever makes one for you, does it taste wildly different?

I made myself a coffee this morning, lovely stuff, and he's just made me one and it doesn't even taste vaguely similar. I asked how he'd made it, order of things, and it was the same as I do it, but it tastes nothing like it.

[CraigDS]

Nah, I have her properly trained.

Or maybe she has me properly trained come to think of it 

If anyone else makes me a brew other than my gf it does tastes different though.

[McrRed]

One thing I found out.

Green tea should never be made with boiling water. 85° is needed or it tastes bitter. That's why so many people try it and don't like it.

[Sir Harvest Fields]

Yes, cos the twat at works puts a drop of milk in me black coffee then remembers i hate it. Sure its done on purpose.

[Claire.]

If I make instant then I always give the water 5-10 before I pour it, and I do milk first cos I know it burns the coffee and makes it taste like shite, he's undergone that training, so it should taste the same but it never does

[Claire.]

One thing I found out.

Green tea should never be made with boiling water. 85° is needed or it tastes bitter. That's why so many people try it and don't like it.

You wanna get one of these http://www.johnlewis.com/sage-by-heston-blumenthal-the-smart-kettle/p489130

[BarryCrocker]

You wanna get one of these http://www.johnlewis.com/sage-by-heston-blumenthal-the-smart-kettle/p489130

You actually need this:

http://www.breville.com.au/the-tea-kettle.html

It's seriously the best way to drink tea.

[Twelfth Man]

You actually need this:

http://www.breville.com.au/the-tea-kettle.html

It's seriously the best way to drink tea.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sage-Heston-Blumenthal-Maker-Litre/dp/B00CI32S5M/ref=reg_hu-rd_add_1_dp

[BarryCrocker]

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sage-Heston-Blumenthal-Maker-Litre/dp/B00CI32S5M/ref=reg_hu-rd_add_1_dp

Breville was forced to devise a new brand for its range in the United Kingdom due to the pre-existence of a separate Breville brand marketing small appliances.

[۩ Imperator ۩]

A kettle you have to clean out every time you make a brew? No ta.

[Wallingtonian]

One thing I found out.

Green tea should never be made with boiling water. 85° is needed or it tastes bitter. That's why so many people try it and don't like it.

Never experienced that personally. I always fully boil the water when making green tea (but mostly white tea these days - I'm kind if addicted) and it never tastes bitter. Might be down to the quality/brand of the green tea

[Buck Pete]

Anyone got a coffee machine?

I recently bought a Nescafe Dolce Gusto by De Longhi.  Only 40 quid from Currys.

Takes Pods.  I've had Cappuccino and Cafe Au Lait up to know.  Both very nice

Really impressed to be honest. Not much difference than buying one in proper coffee shop for 2 or 3 quid to be fair.

[reddebs]

Anyone got a coffee machine?

I recently bought a Nescafe Dolce Gusto by De Longhi.  Only 40 quid from Currys.

Takes Pods.  I've had Cappuccino and Cafe Au Lait up to know.  Both very nice

Really impressed to be honest. Not much difference than buying one in proper coffee shop for 2 or 3 quid to be fair.

We got one last year and we like it.

We've not tried any of the weird stuff you can get online but the cappuccino cafè au lait and the choc ones are good.

We've started buying just the milk pods to use with our normal coffee and that's good too.

[CraigDS]

Nah, I have her properly trained.

Or maybe she has me properly trained come to think of it 

If anyone else makes me a brew other than my gf it does tastes different though.

The new (say new, we’re 3 and a bit years in) is not as well trained 

[Claire.]

Anyone got a coffee machine?

I recently bought a Nescafe Dolce Gusto by De Longhi.  Only 40 quid from Currys.

Takes Pods.  I've had Cappuccino and Cafe Au Lait up to know.  Both very nice

Really impressed to be honest. Not much difference than buying one in proper coffee shop for 2 or 3 quid to be fair.

I had a Nespresso for ages and loved it but then the milk heating bit of it broke and ended up getting a bean to cup machine, they're not cheap but I think it kind of works out over time with the beans versus the pods!

[Elmo!]

We just moved into a new office at work (pre-lockdown) and got Nespresso machines installed, replacing the shit Flavia machines in our old office. I do really like the coffee but I don't have the space for an espresson machine in my own small kitchen. I'm happy with a cafetiere and a moka pot at home.

[CraigDS]

We just moved into a new office at work (pre-lockdown) and got Nespresso machines installed, replacing the shit Flavia machines in our old office. I do really like the coffee but I don't have the space for an espresson machine in my own small kitchen. I'm happy with a cafetiere and a moka pot at home.

You can get some really small Nespresso machines. My gf has had a really small Nespresso machine for a few years, with a separate milk frother thingy, and really doesn't take up much room.

[Lush is the best medicine...]

You can get some really small Nespresso machines. My gf has had a really small Nespresso machine for a few years, with a separate milk frother thingy, and really doesn't take up much room.

got one too, very good for a quick espresso in the morning

[Charlie Adams fried egg]

I had a Nespresso for ages and loved it but then the milk heating bit of it broke and ended up getting a bean to cup machine, they're not cheap but I think it kind of works out over time with the beans versus the pods!

What did you go for in the end and would you recommend it?
We've had a pod machine for ages and it doesn't owe us a thing, but we're spending a fair bit on pods and are thinking of bean to cup.

[BER]

Gotta let that teabag steep for at least three minutes before adding the milk. It's shocking how few people do this, even see some monsters add the milk first! guess they just like weak tea?!

[CraigDS]

Gotta let that teabag steep for at least three minutes before adding the milk. It's shocking how few people do this, guess they just like weak tea?!

Only 3? It's 5-6 mins for me, then the bag comes out before the milk goes in.

[Mumm-Ra]

Only 3? It's 5-6 mins for me, then the bag comes out before the milk goes in.

This is the only way, and don't ever let that little freak Crosby Nick tell you otherwise

[CraigDS]

This is the only way, and don't ever let that little freak Crosby Nick tell you otherwise

Yup. He's a proper wrongun.

[Dim Glas]

Anyone got a coffee machine?

I recently bought a Nescafe Dolce Gusto by De Longhi.  Only 40 quid from Currys.

Takes Pods.  I've had Cappuccino and Cafe Au Lait up to know.  Both very nice

Really impressed to be honest. Not much difference than buying one in proper coffee shop for 2 or 3 quid to be fair.

I used to have a Coffee Ninja  Was ok for a while, but soon had issues with it, and reading reviews - seems that was a frequent problem! Threw it out after having it less than 2 years I think.

So now I just use a good old steel espresso pot to make coffee. 

And I have got into making cold-brew coffee quite recently, so now the weather is hot again I’ll be doing a lot more of that.

[bryanod]

Find Nespresso horrendous.

Use a French press at home, need to find single serve one though as make far too much at time....

Tea, I'm a 1-2minute person. Not fussy if someone else makes it....

 Mother in law makes books kettle, makes tea in tea container and boils it for few minutes. Literally tar.

Now Vietnamese coffee is the shit. Especially over ice with condensed milk mmmmm Ca phe sua da.

[Lad]

One thing I found out.

Green tea should never be made with boiling water. 85° is needed or it tastes bitter. That's why so many people try it and don't like it.

Ditto instant coffee. Hot water not boiling.

[TheKid.]

Loose leaf tea is my go to at the moment

Had a few orders from here during lockdown. Liverpool Breakfast and Irish breakfast are my favourites

https://liverpoolteawarehouse.com/

[Ciara (with a capital "C")]

I only buy Clipper breakfast tea  but it’s In the cup for a good 3-5 minutes. I like my tea almost orange in colour! My Husband makes a good cup of tea but anywhere else, I will offer to make my own in someone’s house and then make sure the teabag is in there for a good 5 mins at least.

Have a Nespresso machine now and only drink black coffee so that’s easy!

[Crosby Nick]

3-6 minutes? Dirty bastards the lot of you.

Have I professed my love for weak and milky tea elsewhere?

[CHOPPER]

Have I professed my love for weak and milky tea elsewhere?

Trump Tea.

You fucking tramp.

[Crosby Nick]

Trump Tea.

You fucking tramp.

Tea is to be drunk when you fancy a little skive off work. No time for the tea nazis who insist how it should be made.

[BarryCrocker]

Loose leaf tea is my go to at the moment

Had a few orders from here during lockdown. Liverpool Breakfast and Irish breakfast are my favourites

https://liverpoolteawarehouse.com/

If you've got some coin get this. Without doubt the best tea maker I've ever used. Love the ability to use the timer so its ready when you get up.

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/l8aSFfukm-Y" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/l8aSFfukm-Y</a>

[Alf]

Never made as many cups of teas ever as I have in lock-down, think I've perfected the art now.

[FlashGordon]

I keep the teabag in the cup. As little milk as possible. And just like Gareth Roberts it's got to be Barry's Tea.

[gjr1]

Coffee... I don’t use at home. We have an ok machine at work. I only drink strong black coffee with no sugar. I assume it’s about the beans you use to get the taste you want.


Tea... I never really drunk any tea at team at home until lockdown, but sadly I purchased some stuff that was a little weak.
So the method is 2 teabags, 2 sugar. Pour boiling water and Make sure your teaspoon of holding down the teabags. After a couple of minutes, get your teaspoon and play with the teabags. No squeezing just yet. Let all rest for another couple of minutes or more. Remove the teabag(s) remembering to give the, a little squeeze in the side. No milk or if milk, just enough to change the colour... nothing more

If you have strong tea then ofc use only one bag

[Claire.]

What did you go for in the end and would you recommend it?
We've had a pod machine for ages and it doesn't owe us a thing, but we're spending a fair bit on pods and are thinking of bean to cup.

It's a delonghi autentica cappuccino, not sure if it's been discontinued but there's very similar ones about. I've never tried it myself but it does have a little slot on the top for putting grounds as well.



The coffee from it is great and I can't fault it at all in what it does. It's easy enough to clean and descale and clean the infuser, the milk jug can go in the dishwasher but you have to do the rest by hand. We do use the water filter with it, and even in a soft water area it'll moan and say it needs changing all the time but I just do it every two months as it says in the instructions.

The only thing is the size of the machine. It's tall and thin but deep, can't put it underneath your cupboards cos the tank is on the back and you load the beans from the top so you need access. You might have the perfect spot for it, our kitchen is like a postage stamp but I can't live without the thing so it has all the space it needs

[TheKid.]

If you've got some coin get this. Without doubt the best tea maker I've ever used. Love the ability to use the timer so its ready when you get up.

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/l8aSFfukm-Y" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/l8aSFfukm-Y</a>

Oh I need me one of them!!!

[Barneylfc∗]

I don't drink coffee, it's vile.

For tea, I generally leave the tea bag in with a bit of milk. I'll take a bit more care if I'm making it at home that I am at work. Stir and squeeze the bag. In work the water goes in with the bag, then the milk goes in, then I dunk the bag a few times and that's about it.

Anyone putting milk in either tea or coffee first needs locking up.

[Zlen]

Without a hefty investment you can’t get much better option for home brewed coffee than freshly roasted beans, grinder and a good moka pot. Though convenient I find Nespresso pods coffee horrible. French press is ok as well.

[Dr. Beaker]

I drink lots and lots of tea all day long and all night long - it can't be good for me but I love it. I cant stand milk - absolutely hate the stuff but black tea stains your teeth and your cups so I use unsweetened soya milk which has no discernible flavour whatsoever and seems to do the trick.

The one thing that I have done which has immeasurably improved the quality of the tea and I would highly recommend it to anyone, is to get a Zerowater filter, no other filter seems to do the biz. They even give you a little electronic device for measuring the water impurities but I never use it because you can tell when the filter needs changing as your tea has gone back to tasting and also looking (!) horrible again. A filter costs  about £11 and lasts about a month, so it's a bit expensive. In fact I am thinking of getting a second jug so I can use my old filters as prefilters to try and increase longevity.