2019 Christmas Gifts for Cyclists - try one of these proven hits

armb wrote:

(Or, more seriously, something like https://www.homegrounds.co/porlex-mini-hand-grinder-review/)

I do have a similar item, though I need bigger muscles to use it !

PRSboy wrote:

Have any of you coffee enthusiasts got a good solution for storing ground coffee?  I find the packets of ground coffee go stale quite quickly, even in a tin etc.

Don't grind it until you're ready to use it is my advice. Beans will also go stale, but not as quickly as ground coffee.

PRSboy wrote:

Have any of you coffee enthusiasts got a good solution for storing ground coffee?  I find the packets of ground coffee go stale quite quickly, even in a tin etc.

You don't, you grind the beans when you need them.
Some people suggest freezing and others say that is the worst thing to do to them.

hirsute wrote:

You don't, you grind the beans when you need them. Some people suggest freezing and others say that is the worst thing to do to them.

Totally agree. Ground coffee goes stale very, very quickly. If you're 'into' your coffee you're far better off buying a burr grinder and whole beans.

PRSboy wrote:

Have any of you coffee enthusiasts got a good solution for storing ground coffee?  I find the packets of ground coffee go stale quite quickly, even in a tin etc.

Once packet is open, store in a fridge., ideally reseal as best you can. I keep mine in an old instant glass jar with glass lid.

ktache wrote:

And one of the best cycling gadgetty things I have ever purchased, the Elite Deboyo insulated stainless steel bottle

https://www.elite-it.com/en/products/water-bottles/thermal/deboyo

which I am currently drinking from, good tea that I made at 10 this morning which is still relatively hot.

Using the non cycle bottle lid, keeps things warmer, and the thin rim of the flask makes the tea taste wonderful.

I have never used the spout, too much chances of scalding and much less insulation, and just wrong for hot drinks.  Yes I have to stop, fair enough, life is too short not to stop and have some good, hot tea on a ride.

It kept me going for 2 years commuing train and ride.  Once returned a day later by a fellow commuter.  And was my use at work mug too, proper tea made in a pot, and then there for the next few hours if needed.

I REALLY love it.

That's cool - or hot!

Something for the Xmas list!

hawkinspeter wrote:

instead get someone an Aeropress or even the new (not released yet?) Aeropress Go which is a slightly smaller version for travelling.

Or a mug
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Zyliss-Hot-Mug-Cafetiere-Red/dp/B00DB4JY72
£8 !

The Aeropress produces a coffee that is almost an espresso, rather than the filter coffee style produced by a cafetière and is a better match to the Nespresso machine 

hirsute wrote:

hawkinspeter wrote:

instead get someone an Aeropress or even the new (not released yet?) Aeropress Go which is a slightly smaller version for travelling.

Or a mug https://www.amazon.co.uk/Zyliss-Hot-Mug-Cafetiere-Red/dp/B00DB4JY72 £8 !

hawkinspeter wrote:

I hate Nespresso for so many reasons, so instead get someone an Aeropress or even the new (not released yet?) Aeropress Go which is a slightly smaller version for travelling. They're around £25, last for ages (especially if you replace the rubber bung that starts to wear down/go sticky after a few years) and will use any ground coffee.

 

I've used cafetieres and mokka pots for years now, but am making the switch to a coffee dripper (the process was recommended to me by a very good coffee shop in Bristol) this Christmas:

https://www.bodum.com/gb/en/11592-109-pour-over

Inexpensive, simple method, and this example uses a s/s gauze so there's no need to buy wasteful paper filters.

Truffl3Shuffl3 wrote:

hawkinspeter wrote:

I hate Nespresso for so many reasons, so instead get someone an Aeropress or even the new (not released yet?) Aeropress Go which is a slightly smaller version for travelling. They're around £25, last for ages (especially if you replace the rubber bung that starts to wear down/go sticky after a few years) and will use any ground coffee.

 

 

I've used cafetieres and mokka pots for years now, but am making the switch to a coffee dripper (the process was recommended to me by a very good coffee shop in Bristol) this Christmas:

https://www.bodum.com/gb/en/11592-109-pour-over

 

Inexpensive, simple method, and this example uses a s/s gauze so there's no need to buy wasteful paper filters.

Yeah, I use a metal filter with my Aeropress as well.

I've never really used pour-over coffee - I've heard that it takes a certain knack to get an even extraction from it.

I also enjoy using a siphon brewer from time to time though that's a bit more involved (got myself a metal filter for that as well).

hawkinspeter wrote:

Truffl3Shuffl3 wrote:

I've used cafetieres and mokka pots for years now, but am making the switch to a coffee dripper (the process was recommended to me by a very good coffee shop in Bristol) this Christmas:

https://www.bodum.com/gb/en/11592-109-pour-over

 

Inexpensive, simple method, and this example uses a s/s gauze so there's no need to buy wasteful paper filters.

Yeah, I use a metal filter with my Aeropress as well...

I have an older version of the Bodum pour over with a metal gauze, but have found, like cafetieres and mokkas, that some finer coffee grounds make their way through into the mug, which I can't stand, so have reluctantly reverted to using filter papers which seem to prevent this. I assume the Aeropress s/s gauze is the same?

On a related note, my other half bought me a Nespresso machine a couple of years ago. I hate the capsule waste and am not impressed by the flavour (to be fair, she thought that would be the case and only really wanted to get me the milk frother, but such is the nature of the Nespresso business model that it was actually cheaper to buy the frother bundled with a coffee machine), so it's now lying unused. I have recently seen refillable s/s 'capsules' which you can fill with coffee of your choice, which makes it more appealing. Anyone used them? Worthwhile, or just throwing good money (c£30) after bad?      

[EDIT] - I have just discovered that the man who invented AeroPress also invented Aerobie. He gets my money. 

quiff wrote:

hawkinspeter wrote:

Truffl3Shuffl3 wrote:

I've used cafetieres and mokka pots for years now, but am making the switch to a coffee dripper (the process was recommended to me by a very good coffee shop in Bristol) this Christmas:

https://www.bodum.com/gb/en/11592-109-pour-over

 

Inexpensive, simple method, and this example uses a s/s gauze so there's no need to buy wasteful paper filters.

Yeah, I use a metal filter with my Aeropress as well...

I have an older version of the Bodum pour over with a metal gauze, but have found, like cafetieres and mokkas, that some finer coffee grounds make their way through into the mug, which I can't stand, so have reluctantly reverted to using filter papers which seem to prevent this. I assume the Aeropress s/s gauze is the same?

On a related note, my other half bought me a Nespresso machine a couple of years ago. I hate the capsule waste and am not impressed by the flavour (to be fair, she thought that would be the case and only really wanted to get me the milk frother, but such is the nature of the Nespresso business model that it was actually cheaper to buy the frother bundled with a coffee machine), so it's now lying unused. I have recently seen refillable s/s 'capsules' which you can fill with coffee of your choice, which makes it more appealing. Anyone used them? Worthwhile, or just throwing good money (c£30) after bad?      

[EDIT] - I have just discovered that the man who invented AeroPress also invented Aerobie. He gets my money. 

The Aeropress comes with very fine filter papers do the job nicely, though the paper does absorb some of the oils which changes the taste slightly (some prefer it with paper and some without). The metal filters are available from lots of different manufacturers and have different size holes, so it's a case of finding the optimum filter and grind that you like (or sticking with the paper filters). By the way, you can re-use the paper filters a surprising number of times, though they get weaker with re-use until you end up pressing down and shooting a load of hot coffee slurry around your kitchen when the paper suddenly tears.

I don't recommend storing coffee in a fridge or freezer as you can get moisture affecting the beans. As air cools, it can't hold as much moisture, so a fridge/freezer will tend to condense water out of the air around the beans and onto the beans. I'd prefer to keep beans somewhere dry and dark - you want to control how the water and beans meet.

quiff wrote:

 

[EDIT] - I have just discovered that the man who invented AeroPress also invented Aerobie. He gets my money. 

I thought that was Reebok.

The best coffee that is not a proper espresso can be made with the SwissGold one cup filter, with a gold mesh. 

https://www.perfectdailygrind.com/2015/06/pure-gold-for-pure-coffee/

One of the problems with paper filters is that they remove the oil, which is where much of the flavour is.  Gold filters don't do this, and they can also have insanely small holes in the mesh so that bits of ground coffee can't get through. 

ConcordeCX wrote:

quiff wrote:

 

[EDIT] - I have just discovered that the man who invented AeroPress also invented Aerobie. He gets my money. 

I thought that was Reebok.

The best coffee that is not a proper espresso can be made with the SwissGold one cup filter, with a gold mesh. 

https://www.perfectdailygrind.com/2015/06/pure-gold-for-pure-coffee/

One of the problems with paper filters is that they remove the oil, which is where much of the flavour is.  Gold filters don't do this, and they can also have insanely small holes in the mesh so that bits of ground coffee can't get through. 

(Quiff is right about aeropress's inventor by the way).

I still use an Aeropress metal filter that I made from a SwissGold filter (a basket type for traditional drip machines - I don't think they sell it anymore). I used scissors to cut the appropriate sized disc from it and it works really well. It allows a fast flow of coffee so it's better suited to the upside down brewing method which also allows a nice bit of crema/foam through to the cup.

ktache wrote:

I will attempt to get the chain back on by shifting gears, that usually works, if not, then a gloved (nitrile) hand.

I used to have surgical gloves in a barbag pocket, but whenever (rarely) I needed them, they tended to disintegrate due to age.

hirsute wrote:

ktache wrote:

I will attempt to get the chain back on by shifting gears, that usually works, if not, then a gloved (nitrile) hand.

I used to have surgical gloves in a barbag pocket, but whenever (rarely) I needed them, they tended to disintegrate due to age.

Latex dies, nitrile seems to last a lot longer.

ktache wrote:

A big NO! to rehook,

It's only 12.99. What do you use then ?
confused