Phuket - Jungceylon

whuakito · #**106** 13-01-2007, 01:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by LivinLOS

I have one of those cafe style automated machines that grinds per serving, makes espresso and cappacino etc.. I think I have a hand grinder in a drawer also.. I used to have different beans for different servings (after dinner.. Breakfast.. Etc).

Coffee is another one of my addictions..

I have always wanted one of those real 'italian stye' espesso machines... Not cheap to own or run tho..

have you haver tried to make a coffee with the italian MOKA or so called Caffettiera.its a manual machine

there are several sizes from 1 shot to 12. need ground coffee though.

let me know

LivinLOS · #**107** 13-01-2007, 09:35

Yes I have a small Moka that makes good after dinner coffee, I only have a small (4 small shots) almost personal style one my brother picked up in Trieste, I used to have one big enough for a dinner group and they do make nice robust after dinner coffee.. Not quite espresso good tho. I find I can increase the potency by tamping the grounds and using finer grounds, I think this increases the pressure needed to push water / steam into the puck of grounds.

Another advantage that if you live in a home with a Rayburn or aga style oven that runs constantly, you can sit it on the low end of the hot plate and it keeps the coffee at a good temp without burning the brew like a drip press will.

Thailand has its own coffee culture (pre starbucks and western chains) and grows arabica beans up north quite well.. Older Thai places (dim sums I have noticed) often do a coffee brewed in a sock like material filter. They add that condensed sweetened milk which is a bit sweet for me but tasted very much like a Turkish coffee style and one I find 1000x time more pleasant than that instant coffee like substitute. Somehow nescafe and nestle etc managed to convince the whole country that granules and 3 in one sachets was an improvement and that brewed in a sock coffee is not commonly seen.

ATMwalking · #**108** 13-01-2007, 15:50

So when is the LivinLOS Coffee House opening?

Great tips. Will have to track down the machines you mentioned.

Where can you get the best ungrounded espresso beans?

LivinLOS · #**109** 13-01-2007, 16:40

Best ?? Not sure. But theres usually few types of unground beans (arabica, robusta, blue mountain, lavazza, etc) available in Deli. Starbucks has a selection but at typical starbucks style prices.

Some people have mentioned buying green beans from farmers and strong.. Would actually like to try home roasting just for kicks..

whuakito · #**110** 14-01-2007, 05:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by LivinLOS

Yes I have a small Moka that makes good after dinner coffee, I only have a small (4 small shots) almost personal style one my brother picked up in Trieste, I used to have one big enough for a dinner group and they do make nice robust after dinner coffee.. Not quite espresso good tho. I find I can increase the potency by tamping the grounds and using finer grounds, I think this increases the pressure needed to push water / steam into the puck of grounds.

Another advantage that if you live in a home with a Rayburn or aga style oven that runs constantly, you can sit it on the low end of the hot plate and it keeps the coffee at a good temp without burning the brew like a drip press will.

Thailand has its own coffee culture (pre starbucks and western chains) and grows arabica beans up north quite well.. Older Thai places (dim sums I have noticed) often do a coffee brewed in a sock like material filter. They add that condensed sweetened milk which is a bit sweet for me but tasted very much like a Turkish coffee style and one I find 1000x time more pleasant than that instant coffee like substitute. Somehow nescafe and nestle etc managed to convince the whole country that granules and 3 in one sachets was an improvement and that brewed in a sock coffee is not commonly seen.

very well livin' there is no field you are not in the know,as always, to tamp the grounds is not the best idea for a good coffee the more you tamp it the stonger it tastes,and also tastes like burnet coffee. the finer is the grounds the higher is the chance to get it burnet,trik is, ground the beans little by little trying to adjust the coffee powder with the climate,ie, dry climate,needs finer powder,humid climate needs rougher powder, do not increase the pressure by tamping it, it should be a coffee at the end not a bomb, the lower is the flame the better it is,just give it the time needed.

Lavazza has a promotion,for 120 euros it gives you an automatic machine plus 100 shots of any taste,but you have to buy 50 shots per month per two years after that the machine is yours,all the home machines in italy now come with the shots made into a filter like tea bag easier to use.

Nicke · #**111** 14-01-2007, 05:25

I am not an coffee expert, but have been thinking of buying a saeco to get decent coffee from the shop in Phuket Town. As I am aware of they also sell a decent selections of coffee beans.

Think prices started from 19k and up for a coffee bean machine. (Was a few years ago I checked the prices)

whuakito · #**112** 14-01-2007, 05:32

every brand of coffee in italy is selling machines at a low cost, only thing is that you have to buy their coffee for an agreed time. cost per shot 30 cents +,-

whuakito · #**113** 14-01-2007, 05:40

Macchina per il caffè espresso Lavazza Blue, nuovo sistema a cialde di caffe monodose in casa e fuoricasa. Servizio clienti caffe espresso Lavazza Blue

for livin' and nicke

LivinLOS · #**114** 14-01-2007, 08:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by whuakito

very well livin' there is no field you are not in the know,as always, to tamp the grounds is not the best idea for a good coffee the more you tamp it the stonger it tastes,and also tastes like burnet coffee. the finer is the grounds the higher is the chance to get it burnet,trik is, ground the beans little by little trying to adjust the coffee powder with the climate,ie, dry climate,needs finer powder,humid climate needs rougher powder, do not increase the pressure by tamping it, it should be a coffee at the end not a bomb, the lower is the flame the better it is,just give it the time needed.

Lavazza has a promotion,for 120 euros it gives you an automatic machine plus 100 shots of any taste,but you have to buy 50 shots per month per two years after that the machine is yours,all the home machines in italy now come with the shots made into a filter like tea bag easier to use.

Ohh theres plenty of fields I am a totally ignorant off.. But coffee is one I have a real addiction to.. My day is wrecked without a good few strong cups in the morning.. I travel with a french press for emergencies etc..

I tend to tamp the grounds exactly to increase the strength of the coffee through a moka and make it more espresso like.. I didnt know that climate and humidity changed how grinds should be preppared.

As to the pod machines.. They actually turn out idiot proof coffee very reliably and I think they are great as it makes more gourmet coffee lovers.. In turn increasing the expectations of what coffee should be. Though I dont like the pod sales aspect as its like gillette, sell you the item cheap but hook you into a supply system. On the upside is its allowing many small roasters to supply speciality coffees in small direct to consumer ways over the net. I also read a guide how to 'roll your own' pods..

LivinLOS · #**115** 14-01-2007, 09:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nicke

I am not an coffee expert, but have been thinking of buying a saeco to get decent coffee from the shop in Phuket Town. As I am aware of they also sell a decent selections of coffee beans.

Think prices started from 19k and up for a coffee bean machine. (Was a few years ago I checked the prices)

I wonder if this is same place ?? The road that joins Cho Fa east with the road over to Panwa ?? Or said another way the road that passes Jammin (leaving town) and continue past the traffic lights.. Will look next time if they have any beans that tempt me.

Whatever you look at bear in mind the big names can be serviced and put in years and years of use.. Something like a Rancilio Silva is an investment but also be aware that they can draw a fair bit of power.. Sitting pulling 120w to keep a heating element running is OK in a cafe but less so in a home.

Its also dependant on do you want espresso or mixed / hot milk drinks to be the main.. I can live happily on only espresso and lattes all produced from an espresso style machine but for many people 'regular coffee' (Americano) is the simple goal.. The complexity and mess is then a drawback.

I am also a sucker for beautiful things.. And with so much coffee culture coming from Italy and the wonderful design flair of some of the stuff I can see the appeal as also classy kitchen art..

Something like this is a joy for years.

Home-Barista.com - Gaggia Achille Espresso Machine Review

And the best coffee I have ever drunk has come from lever press machines.. But then the mess, the process, the time, these are machines for someone who wants to be involved in the process and not perhaps so wife friendly.

My housemate is in BKK at the moment and I told him to go to that shop I linked and check out the smaller espresso machine.. If it looks good I said to buy it but that depends on his free time and a few factors.

ATMwalking · #**116** 14-01-2007, 12:16

The first Verasu is very similar to a DeLonghi for sale at Central for the same price point (around 20K if I remember correctly).

DeLonghi EC701 Stainless Steel Espresso Machine

Any reason not to go for the DeLonghi? Just back from BKK so running over to Central is a little easier. Phuket options are limited.

LivinLOS · #**117** 14-01-2007, 14:58

That DeLonghi looks good for Thailand prices.. Often many non porta filter style machines (often not great espresso) at that price point..

Though you might noctice the one from Verasu comes with a built in burr grinder.. Fresh ground helps

!! On the plus side it takes both pods and grounds. I would be inclined to think that the verasu linked one would be a more serious machine as DeLonghi does the home consumer market more than the serious side.. Probably irrelevant for 99% of coffee drinkers.. Only those kind of coffee junkies that rave about how thick creama floats on shots etc would mind.

ATMwalking · #**118** 14-01-2007, 18:34

I can grind on the side. Not a big deal for me. Not a pod fan...too easy.

The quality of the shot is important. The BAR rating is nearly the same. I was told before that you need good pressure to get the best out of the espresso.

I will give Verasu a call and see if they ship down to phuket.

LivinLOS · #**119** 14-01-2007, 19:38

Pressure, temp, grouphead, water, coffee bean and roast.. All part of the magic recipe

!!

I would say the important thing is if your happy with the result..

I dont have a grinder here and a good burr grinder would be another item I would need to purchase.. Hence I liked the one linked..

Maybe check the phuket town places for a refurb or second hand unit also..

urtheman · #**120** 14-01-2007, 22:36

I use a german machine that's semi automatic and wouldn't be useful for a home (too large) you grind the coffee then fill the one of the two ground holders, lock it in place then puch a button for what size coffee. You do have to put some pressure to get the grounds packed just right.
You can tell if it's ok when you test the expresso and see that little cream on top.
The Italian machine are considered much better but I didn't want to spend 200,000. baht so I spent 71,000. and it's never given me a problem in a year and a half.
We use Illy coffee, I'm not a fan of the pod machines as the coffee has to pass through paper. The pods from a profit stand point run about 27-30 baht a piece for a case that runs almost 6000. baht. so you make much more profit on beans and grind them your self.

I like my coffee like my women...... light brown and not too sweet

The G.M. of my hotel actually like the three in one instant packs....he's Thai

LivinLOS · #**121** 15-01-2007, 09:15

Your right that good espresso will have a nice layer of crema adding some creamyness to even the sharp (not always bitter) espresso..

Black as Hell, Strong as Death, Sweet as Love.

Simbo · #**122** 19-01-2007, 17:54

Carrefour now open every day

steve w · #**123** 19-01-2007, 20:03

good .......wednesday.........shopping!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Simbo · #**124** 22-01-2007, 15:32

10 am to 10 pm shopping in Carrefour every day now

landofsmiles · #**125** 22-01-2007, 22:18

Had a wander round yesterday afternoon. Apart from Carrefour the place was fairly deserted and this is in the middle of high season.

Already the outdoor restaurants in the piazza area have disappeared?! There are shopgirls looking bored rigid like they haven't had a customer for 2 or 3 days. There's a massive Sportsworld store open on 2 floors now...must be 200 sets of golf clubs in one section!!...but no customers.

There needs to be more entertainment in the place to draw people in on a regular basis. The cinema opening will help but there needs to be some bars and other entertainment in there otherwise it will end up being the Thai equivalent of the Millenium Dome.

It's beginning to look like someone may have got their sums wrong. When another 50 shops open where are all the customers going to come from?

It's a fabulous place but it's too big for Patong. Nobody who has to pass Big C/Central/Tescos to get here will bother.

Let's hope when the SFX Cinema opens they'll keep the same prices as the one in central...but I wouldn't be surprised to see an inflated price.

ATMwalking · #**126** 22-01-2007, 22:26

It will work great. Just needs critical mass in shops to get enough traffic. Not enough reason to walk around yet.

jezza171 · #**127** 27-01-2007, 14:20

Hi can anyone tell me if there is a "swensens" in jungceylon...thanx

LivinLOS · #**128** 27-01-2007, 14:39

Theres a ice cream stall (I think its a swensons) at the front entrance next to the BK and a few dairy queen stalls inside..

To be honest.. Almost all of my Carrefore grumbles have been fixed.. The crappy veg they had at first is now all much better and looks great.. Loads of fruit perfect nectarines and peaches (cost a bomb but not had a good peach in years.. Pure delight)..

Also they now allow bikes into the underground so you can park down near escalators making the entrance and tills facing back into the building all a moot point..

Loads of stalls down under the main section full of overpriced knick knacks.. Nice area tho and spotted a massage place under there too.. You go look at the shops love I will wait here..