Lol Sean. Lockdown has absolutely fucked me.

      Along_the_Wire - If you’re thinking bean to cup route - I’d recommend going with a manufacturer like Delonghi.

      https://www.delonghi.com/en-gb/esam4200-s-ex%3A1-magnifica-automatic-coffee-maker/p/ESAM4200.S%20EX%3A1?gclid=CjwKCAjw6fCCBhBNEiwAem5SO_c19pWI51PZJYDpI7uJl5-WxpAmKrBdR6XbZIWC9XqNBwMljPPpshoCd2QQAvD_BwE

      This looks like a pretty good deal - fairly sure these were about £400 or so back in June when I was looking at what to get. IIRC I think @Millsy has one.

          Old-Dutch I do indeed. Makes a nice cup of coffee with very little hassle and makes loads of noise so can be tactically turned on when the duchess is about to blether on about covid, the weather, her shit mates, her shit family or the latest BBC paint by numbers detective drama.

              Millsy I do indeed. Makes a nice cup of coffee with very little hassle and makes loads of noise so can be tactically turned on when the duchess is about to blether on about covid, the weather, her shit mates, her shit family or the latest BBC paint by numbers detective drama.

              Take it you’re having about 28 cups of day then?

              Oi oi etc etc.

                  Old-Dutch

                  Had one for about 12 months, is OK, but nothing special.

                  A definite step up from Nespresso, but will be getting the boot in the next couple of months - in favour of something more Sagey I’d expect

                      Mad_Cyril

                      Yeah it’s down to how much you want convenice and coffee at the press of a button over something more like a hobby.

                          Old-Dutch
                          I’m not one for fucking about too much.

                          The Delonghi is inconsistent though.

                          Figure pay a bit more, get a better cup more often

                            With a Sage you need to do the grinding, tamping etc. So defo more to do in terms of fucking around. I wasn’t sure it would be for me at the time and was considering a bean to cup on that basis. Glad I didn’t now. Takes a bit of practice but I actually enjoy the process of making it. Keeps me away from the computer screen for 5 minutes

                              When I need to close the Peterson account I just want to press a button and in less than 45 seconds have a hot, jet black and frothing Colombian in my hand. I simply don’t have the bandwidth for anything else, capische?

                                Old-Dutch With a Sage you need to do the grinding, tamping etc. So defo more to do in terms of fucking around.

                                Can probably live with if the results are better

                                    Millsy I just want to press a button and in less than 45 seconds have a hot, jet black and frothing Colombian in my hand

                                    ?

                                        RichM

                                        Grind the beans fresh every time. Coffee starts to go stale very quickly as soon as you grind it so don’t be doing it in batches one at a time us the way to go. I clean the basket every time I do a coffee too

                                        Puck preparation is everything mate. Using the cocktail stick to break up the grinds helps. . I’ve got a naked portafilter which the basket pops out of very easily and is good to help you sort out your prep for consistency as it shows signs of channeling / spurting which you won’t see in a normal portafilter.

                                        I’ve gone balls deep with accessories lol. I’ve got a distributor which I find helps. One side you spin on the top of the basket to evenly distribute the grinds and then you flip it over and it works as a palm tamper. You van manually adjust the height of both sides so it helps give consistency with your puck prep.
                                        Essentially this (presume your portafilter us 58mm):

                                            I won’t be getting a bean to cup coffee machine for a little while. The missus went fucking radio literally just a couple of moments ago - it’s too big and it’s not going in the kitchen - the kitchen is a perfectly reasonable sized room. It’s 6cm wider than the current machine.

                                            I’ll have to GRIND her down. As fucking per

                                            Lol thing is it will be a massive improvement on a pod machine. I find it helps to win these arguments when you grow a pair. Give it a go