Gate Senior Member Joined: 4 Feb 2006 Posts: 244 Location: South Carolina Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: La Pavoni Romantica EPG-8 Grinder: Mazzer Super Jolly Vac Pot: various Drip: too many to recall Roaster: Four FreshRoast+8's
Posted Thu Dec 21, 2006, 2:12pm Subject: Re: Need a bit of advice
Aw, shucks. (blush) I'd love to accept that, Alexandre, but I'm convinced that bravery is something that is a choice, and my situation is such that I don't have a choice. But, I will accept that I'm tough. And so far, tougher than this disease.
The pot has been seasoned. I will know in the morning if my coffee has been tainted. At least, the pot doesn't smell bad any more.
richedie Senior Member Joined: 17 Jun 2006 Posts: 683 Location: Pennsylvania Expertise: I love coffee
Posted Thu Dec 21, 2006, 5:48pm Subject: Re: Confessions of a Brikka Lover
Gate, I hope you get well soon.....sorry to hear your troubles my friend. We'll be thinking about you.
Your thoughts on cleaning had me eying up my Bialetti aluminum Moka pot with some baking soda or some cean-cafe coffee cleaner. Do all of you clean your moka pots periodically? I usually just clean them with water and wipe them out with a paper towel. However, sometimes they seem to need a real bath, with some coffee cleaner and maybe even some baking soda. I can't see how the dirtiness wouldn't effect the taste after while. The gasket in my aluminum pot is almost black! My mother in law works at a large coffe/kitched store in South Philly so she said she has plenty of spare gaskets. Maybe I'll pick one up.
Posted Thu Dec 21, 2006, 6:12pm Subject: Re: Confessions of a Brikka Lover
I hope this question is considered on topic <fingers crossed> ... I've read numerous comments in this monster thread, in other threads, and on other web sites that the 2 cup Brikka produces a superior cup to the 4 cup model. Is it superior enough that folks would recommend not even bothering with the 4 cup model?
Gate Senior Member Joined: 4 Feb 2006 Posts: 244 Location: South Carolina Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: La Pavoni Romantica EPG-8 Grinder: Mazzer Super Jolly Vac Pot: various Drip: too many to recall Roaster: Four FreshRoast+8's
Posted Thu Dec 21, 2006, 6:59pm Subject: Re: Confessions of a Brikka Lover
I may be the exception on this one, Pat. I hear that the two cup is better, but I have both, and they are the same. You just get more with the four cup! But I get the same amount of crema, everything. However, and this is a big however, I've not heard anybody else say this. Most everybody thinks the two cup is better. I ordered the two cup first, then got the four. I think I was just lucky.
Posted Thu Dec 21, 2006, 8:18pm Subject: Re: Confessions of a Brikka Lover
Gate,
Thank you very much for such a quick response. I can't find either size Brikka locally and have only seen the 4 cup versions online. I'll continue searching for a bit.
I've made a lot of changes to my coffee options this week - Until this morning, my only way to fix coffee here at home was my Cuisinart Grind & Brew. With fresh beans, it wasn't bad (MUCH better than my prior separate grinder & brewer), but I've been wanted better flavors here at home. So .... my new Rocky grinder was delivered this evening. As was an Aeropress. And while I was out finishing my Christmas shopping today, I found a 6 cup Bialetti aluminum Moka for $19.99 at Bed, Bath & Beyond. AND I ordered a Chemex from SM last week that UPS Tracking indicates should be here tomorrow (Friday).
I need to learn what level to grind the beans to for each type of brewing. I did two throw-away brews in the Moka this evening and am drinking my first home, non-drip brewed coffee ever. Not bad, but a little more bitter than I expected. Probably ground too fine. Do the Moka & Brikka work with the same basic grind? In other words, once I find what I like out of the Moka, should the same grind work for which ever Brikka I end up picking up?
Gate Senior Member Joined: 4 Feb 2006 Posts: 244 Location: South Carolina Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: La Pavoni Romantica EPG-8 Grinder: Mazzer Super Jolly Vac Pot: various Drip: too many to recall Roaster: Four FreshRoast+8's
Posted Thu Dec 21, 2006, 8:30pm Subject: Re: Confessions of a Brikka Lover
I grind the same for both moka and brikka. I think you'll find your moka will be lots better later. I used three throw-aways and it improved much more after that. I just had it perfect when I fried it. Tomorrow it gets to go back into service, but I don't have a whole lot of hope for it.
If you want a two cup Brikka, order from Italy. Most of us did that. I think you'll have to experiment with all your pots and grinds, but I found I need to grind just a bit coarser for the aeropress than for the brikka. And coarser for the brikka than my espresso pot. I used to use a Cuisinart Grind and Brew, too, and thought it was fine until I got educated by these coffee geeks here. Can't stand to drink it now. Sad. I use it for house guests. :) They don't know the difference. You will have a wonderful time with all these options. It's a serious addiction, you know!
Posted Thu Dec 21, 2006, 8:50pm Subject: Re: Confessions of a Brikka Lover
Yep, I've known that for years. :) Have ... sort of ... kept it under control until now. I can imagine what my sister or my folks will say when they comer over to visit, finally see the new grinder and ask "how much". :o
I tried my first ever Aeropress after the first Moka pot. Set the grinder for 40, had done the Moka at 30. It tasted less bitter and more like some of the better Kona I've had. Very rich. Will have to try the Moka in the morning at the same grind. I think with the right grind I'm going to like it a lot.
Italy, eh? Hmmm ... well, I've ordered things from the UK, HK and Japan before. Why not. :)
Enkerli Senior Member Joined: 1 Aug 2004 Posts: 711 Location: Montreal, Qc Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: (At cafés, not at home) Grinder: Hario hand grinders Vac Pot: (Moka Pot) Bialetti Brikka Drip: Steep and release pour-over Roaster: iRoast-2
Posted Fri Dec 22, 2006, 11:15am Subject: Re: Confessions of a Brikka Lover
Same thing here, pretty much. In fact, as you probably realized from the pictures, my pots aren't very clean. If you notice something that seems off, cleaning might be the solution. But cleaning doesn't improve the pot. Takes the seasoning away. Speaking of which, has anybody seen reliable resources on seasoning, with some scientific background?
As for the 2cup/4cup thing, the main issue seems to be lack of crema on the 4cup. Those with 4cups seem to have pretty good luck with their Brikkas. Gatewood's the only one who has both, IIRC.
Symbols: = New Posts since your last visit = No New Posts since last visit = Newest post
Forum Rules: No profanity, illegal acts or personal attacks will be tolerated in these discussion boards. No commercial posting of any nature will be tolerated; only private sales by private individuals, in the "Buy and Sell" forum. No cross posting allowed - do not post your topic to more than one forum, nor repost a topic to the same forum. Who Can Read The Forum? Anyone can read posts in these discussion boards. Who Can Post New Topics? Any registered CoffeeGeek member can post new topics. Who Can Post Replies? Any registered CoffeeGeek member can post replies. Can Photos be posted? Anyone can post photos in their new topics or replies. Who can change or delete posts? Any CoffeeGeek member can edit their own posts. Only moderators can delete posts. Probationary Period: If you are a new signup for CoffeeGeek, you cannot promote, endorse, criticise or otherwise post an unsolicited endorsement for any company, product or service in your first five postings.
= No New Posts since last visit 