Coffee and Alfas

[bonkfrog]

It seems to me that there's a natural affinity between our appreciation of fine Italian automobile machinery and the love of good coffee. I'm sitting here with a latte (doppio) as I type - I know, it should be an espresso, or at least a macchiato at this time of day - having just used my much loved Rancilio. Of course, it doesn't need as much maintenance as the Alfetta and its minimalist Italian design and appearance is offset by being called the Miss Silvia model but . . .

Are there any other coffee perverts out there? Should we post photos of our coffee machines? Where do we buy our coffee beans and what variety. Finally, I must add that I have a coffee tree growing; it's only 100mm high, but I expect great things.

[UNICO]

Bonk Frog,

I also have Miss Silvia at my home, and I'm very happy with her. We bought her about 2 and half years ago and never had an issue. We use to have the automatic Saeco but it kept breaking down.

I try to change coffee bean suppliers every few months, We're using Grinders beans at the moment, have used Five Senses, 7 seeds and Dimattina's in the past. But I guess it all depends on whether you are a short balck person or a latte person.

Ed

[Rocco166]

You're not alone on this one guys 

over here in Perth I also have a great Fiorenzato coffee machine for home use and regularly get together with some of my Alfa mates at some of the great coffee houses around Perth. I use the "local" Yahava roasted beans from Margaret River -they roast their own beans so have a bean for every taste/style of coffee drinker...

Having just returned to work after a couple of weeks off I do miss the opportunity to sit out in the morning sun at my local cafe enjoying a great coffee (long mac + extra shot) admiring my lovely Alfa, now it's a quick drive by, grab a large take away and because there are no cupholders in a 166 nurse the coffee between my legs while I drive 30k's to work 

[bonkfrog]

That's brave Rocco! 30kms with hot coffee between your legs!
At the moment I'm using Genovese Super Brazil beans - anyone noticed the red paint colour on their vans? I also get beans from a local roaster in Albury for a change.

[Rocco166]

true, the 30K drive can get a bit hazardous    occassionally I get to wear some coffee but generally it's not so bad -  the commute to work is on two of the most congested "highways" in Perth so there is no danger of getting close to the 100k limit normally I'll tool along behind a Q of traffic in the right lane at 40-60kph as the P-plater/tradie/retiree at the head of the line applies make up/eats cereal/plays with their Navman...in those situations a great coffee comes in handy 

[Paul Gulliver]

natural affinity between our appreciation of fine Italian automobile machinery and the love of good coffee. I'm sitting here with a latte (doppio) as I type - I know, it should be an espresso, or at least a macchiato at this time of day - having just used my much loved Rancilio. Of course, it doesn't need as much maintenance as the Alfetta and its minimalist Italian design and appearance is offset by being called the Miss Silvia model but . . .

If we are owning up to other Italian fetishs ( coffee machines) i have got 3 saeco's 2X  Coffee Magic & 1 Giro.

I use the "local" Yahava roasted beans from Margaret River -they roast their own beans so have a bean for every taste/style of coffee drinker

. Rocco is that coffee from the coffee roasters in Yallingup ? . Their coffee is always good.

At the risk or hyjacking / expanding this thread, where is your favourite coffee spots in Melb ? and where do you get your beans.

Here's a few for starters Car Park Cafe Camberwell. Middle Park Hotel Middle Park . Country :Continental Hotel Sorrento  Innocent Bystander Heallesville. For beans , sorry Mocopan but Coffee Max Camberwell     

[Rocco166]

I use the "local" Yahava roasted beans from Margaret River -they roast their own beans so have a bean for every taste/style of coffee drinker

. Rocco is that coffee from the coffee roasters in Yallingup ? . Their coffee is always good.

Yep that's them, they've moved to a newer premises just outside of Margaret River now on the main highway so business is booming - I always make sure I grab a few bags of roasted beans when I am down that way for some r'n'r....

[Paul Gulliver]

Finally, I must add that I have a coffee tree growing; it's only 100mm high

Hey Bonkfrog any companion planting like the "Non flowering Tomato Bush, Bob Hope variety ". Ha Ha

Cheers

Gully

[Davidm1600]

Hey guys for me at the moment, given I am on holidays (1 week skiing in NZ - Queenstown based, which was absolutely fantastic) and this week back on the home rennos project, any excuse to get down to my local cafe for a latte, double shot or espresso is gratefully appreciated.  At home, I rarely need any excuse to fire up my Bialetti for a decent espresso or if needs must even a plunger.  At the moment I have been mostly appreciating the flavours of Tas Coffee Roasters dark Colombian, Mocca and French Blends or if needs must pre-ground Lavazza. 

I love the smell of freshly ground coffee beans first thing in the morning !!!! 

Oh and the 156 sportwagon certainly has been getting some use too, transporting me out to the country property for the daily rennos project. Plastering at the moment, what joy !!  Dave

[dehne]

lavazza is what you all should be drinking as they do support alfa's i remember 2 yrs ago they gave away 5 alfa's i think. i certainly drank my quota then trying for the alfa got a bit sick of it in the end, but the best coffee ive found so far is african beans get them from a local importer of coffee

[bonkfrog]

Dehne

√

That's nothing! I can remember giving away Alfas several times (installing guibos without the compressor).
Davidm1750, yes, the Bialetti - simple and it works; elegance in design.

[pep105]

Yeah Im a Coffee Pervert amongst pervin at other things so also have a Rancilio 'Signora' Silvia with the Rocky grinder, its a great combo and I love it. Basically a scaled down industrial coffee machine so the internals are rock solid, with features like a brass boiler and copper fittings that opens up a can of whooparse on the old Saeco Magic Comfort it replaced.

The Saeco was great in the first 2 years then started to break down (sounds like my 147), in the end it was about as reliable and expensive to service as a 1980's Maserati BiTurbo......

The Silvia has been faultless although it went back under warranty once due to the chrome plating flaking on the cover where the portafilter goes, yet most of the other parts are stainless

Ive sampled various brands & blends but usually buy my beans from a local roaster in Moonee Ponds, I usually get two blends a stronger richer one for me (short blacks) and a smoother less bitter one for the Latte set that tends to visit all to often.

Heres a few photos of the Ranci with my 1965 Giulia Sprint GTA parked out the front......

[pep105]

Yes +1 for the Bialetti fantastic, works well with Kimbo coffee

Please post photos of your coffee machine(s)   

[lombardi]

Un buon caffe vale la vita.

I share your passion for coffee,have 2 machines,one in the garage,a GACCIA Classic with 17bar pressure,perfect for espresso and a gaccia grinder,grinding is nearly as important as the coffee quality.

In the SPAM theres a DELONGHI fully automatic new generation with burr grinder,a little beauty,makes awesome espresso with good crema as long as the caffe is freshly roasted.

I also had a SAECO FULLY auto in the past,unfortunately it spent more time getting fixed than making caffe.

My passion is collecting those great little works of art BIALETTI moca machines,have probably about 12 on display,in italia this is still the housewifes and nonnas favourite way of making caffe.

As for coffee quality and crema-have noticed that brand name doesnt count as much as x how freshly roasted the beans are as to the amount of a good crema. In sydney i go to the factory of BRASILERO where they wood fire the beans and the result is the most abundant thickest crema,but the segret is the freshness-- alla salute

[Miss Alfa Sprint]

Heres a few photos of the Ranci with my 1965 Guilia Sprint GTA parked out the front......

very cute photos ! If i may ask where did you get your scale model of the 1965 Guilia Sprint GTA?