'Barista' Style Instant Coffee Recomendations

[icehockeyboy]

I have a choice of Christmas pressies, and one of the options is a replacement coffee/espresso/ cappuccino maker to replace the one I have, or do I get something else and use those 'barista' style coffees?

Now, so far I've tried 3, Nescafé Azeera, Tesco's own, and Kenco Milicano, and whilst they're not bad, they are really not as good as coffee made by my old machine, so before the wife buys me a new maker, I want to check out the other instant brands.

What have you tried, and your thoughts please.

[CageyH]

My thoughts are stick with a proper coffee machine.
Instant may be getting better, but it's not a patch on the real stuff.

[Tim]

Tried them all and they are all a very poor choice and over priced when it comes to a value/flavour comparison. I haven't drunk instant coffee in over 2 years now since buying an Aeropress (http://www.aeropress.co.uk/) and second hand Zassenhaus (http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=zassenhaus+coffee+grinder&tag=googhydr-21&index=aps&hvadid=34725793548&hvpos=1t1&hvexid=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=2585574208976613856&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=b&hvdev=c&ref=pd_sl_105vuguq9x_b) burr grinder on eBay. The Aeropress is simplicity itself to use and grinding your own fresh beans cannot compare to instant for flavour. Machines break, cost a lot to buy in the first place, need maintaining and the coffee pods are more than double the price of fresh beans - no brainer in my book, get the real thing ;)

http://www.coffeesoeasy.co.uk/

[struth]

id say get a decent machine and if looked after will last for ages unless you uue it all the time. i just have 1 a day and my machine is still working great. much depends on budget tbh but unless you are going to spend mega money a decent to high end delonghi is adequete
http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/14/12/06/f50d40d754ae48eb521d26b2925c8c35.jpg

[destroysall]

My advice would be to cast away any instant coffee and invest into a Chemex coffee maker, chemex filters, a Hario V60 Buono Kettle, and a Hario Skerton Ceramic Coffee Grinder if you don't own a Grinder. It may seem expensive at first glance, but trust me, this in an investment worth plenty. A Chemex is one of the best brewers and creates such a clean and delicious cup of Coffee while leaving all the bitterness behind.

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2010/04/22/t-magazine/22strand-chemex/22strand-chemex-tmagSF.jpg

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51ZPeFEe2GL._SY355_.jpg

http://ab.wsimgs.com/wsimgs/ab/images/dp/wcm/201470/0231/img94c.jpg

Cheers,
Chris.

[SLS]

Haven't drunk instant coffee for at least 20 years. Have always ground fresh.

For about 3 or 4 years have been using the Rancilio Silvia V3. In fact I have two, one at home and one at the office.

This is the only consumer machine built to professional standards under about £1,500 and it costs £355. It is difficult to see how they can do it so cheaply. It has a copper boiler and the new v4 has a replaceable heating element.

I bought one of the machines in the doserless grinder package.
http://www.coffeeitalia.co.uk/proddetail.php?prod=set-ranc-2uk

I bought the other on its own, a local guy with several cafes used to be a big machine supplier and still makes his own make of grinder with a good electronic doser.

The Silvia is dead quick and easy to use.

Coffee Italia are a big Italian coffee trade supplier and I have found them very reliable. They have a London office, but just order from their site. No problems. Deliveries come direct from Italy.

The best way to get the beans you like is to go to lots of independent coffee shops, see what you like and ask what they are brewing. Many will sell them, or point you in the right direction. I used to get coffee from one of the last remaining small roasting shops, in Parkway, Camden Town. There is a good one in Shoreditch. I now get from my local guy, Ray. Otherwise, Illy beans from Tesco are good, £6.50/250g. I pay £18/1kg from Ray.

Saeco machines are good, recently purchased by Phillips.

If you do go for making your own coffee, you need the right size tamper, a decent thermometer (overheated milk is criminal) and a milk pitcher with a central post.

[CageyH]

+1 for Illy beans. I use these most of the time. Getting different blends from the "local" coffee roasters/blenders is not always that easy.

Whatever you do, don't scrimp on the grinder. You need a proper burr grinder.
You could get a Silvia - Rocky package. That would work well, although Mazzer make some fine grinders, but they are a bit expensive.

[icehockeyboy]

Some good suggestions, thanks.

Whilst not being a machine, I'm liking what I've read about the Aeropresso.

[CageyH]

Just make sure you get a decent grinder to go with it.
The secret to a good coffee is in the grind. It has to match the machine.

[marvi]

Some good suggestions, thanks.

Whilst not being a machine, I'm liking what I've read about the Aeropresso.

Definitely recommend the Aeropress. First recommended & demonstrated to us by Darren of the Little Red Roaster in Norwich.

Most decent independent coffee shops in Nottingham are likely to use and sell them (only ~£20-25).

[Haselsh1]

Sadly, there really is no substitute for the real thing. Instant is simply instant and therefore a good portion of the real coffee taste is missing. Try out Imperial Teas in Lincoln, they do a blend called Aged Java which just has to be the boldest and earthiest taste statement I have ever crossed.

[struth]

I now use preground Taylors of Harrogate coffee mostly and it is very good... I mix their espresso grind (or tesco finest espresso) with the Hot Lava Java in layers then tamped, with top middle and bottom being the rougher ground Java. the 2 espresso layers being a lot thicker. This improves taste, strength and flow, and also stops the fine grounds sticking to the head at top and gumming up the bottom of the portafilter...

[Tim]

Sadly, there really is no substitute for the real thing. Instant is simply instant and therefore a good portion of the real coffee taste is missing.
+1 with bells on.

I keep going back to Tesco Finest Colombian Supremo, came high on a Which Magazine taste testing and was recommended by AlexUK. It's hard to beat not only for flavour, but also value. Regular price £2.99 for 227g, but often at 2 for £5.00, so I buy then and always have a stock. I have tried all sorts of speciality coffee's, direct sellers like HasBean and Square Mile Coffee, which are great, but again I keep going back to Tesco Supremo.

Aeropress makes a very 'clean' tasting coffee, without bitterness and you can really taste the subtleties of differing blends with an Aeropress coffee. I re-use the filters about 7 times, just rinse them out. The only slight snag with Aeropress is it's really only a one-cup brewer. I use a French press for multiple cups.

Here's an interesting thing about value, I just looked online at the Tesco offer price for Tassimo pods - £3.17 for 16 x 9g. I like a robust brew taste and use 17~18g per 300ml of water. Which makes my cups around 20p each using Supremo. Tassimo would need 2 pods to make it how I like it, so that works out at 39p (ish) per cup, then there's the cost of the machine on top of that. I would take an Aeropress any day as you can alter the strength, brew time and water temperature easily, which are all important factors in getting the best coffee. And that's before you even consider the grind . . . and it's all in the grind ;)

rUal5lWRYvg

Good machines are great, especially if you like foamed milk, but as I'm an Americano addict, I always drink it black so don't need one. I also like the manual process of grinding the beans by hand and making the coffee using measured amounts with water at just the right temperature, which unless you have a sophisticated machine is not so easy to control. Each to their own though, but I would never be without an Aeropress now.

[WAD62]

I have to agree, keep it real...and inexpensive too ;)

http://www.costco.co.uk/view/product/uk_catalog/cos_11,cos_11.11,cos_11.11.3/658358

...excellent value at £9 for 907g, and grind them up with one of these

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Krups-Twin-Blade-Coffee-Mill/dp/B00004SPEU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1418048147&sr=8-1&keywords=spice+grinder+krups

...used every day for more than 3 years, still going strong!

Oh and a cafetiere...:)

[icehockeyboy]

Wife is buying me the recommended kit for Xmas.

Thanks for your suggestions!

[icehockeyboy]

Wow!

What amazing coffee the Aeropresie makes!

Bought a burr grinder and some Labazza espresso beans, and what a taste!

Thanks for recommending it.