Many recommendations few pages back. We don't buy from supermarket. ymeng85 diy roasts n sells.

For now no. Get fresh beans first. Find a way to weigh your dose. Buy from the shop ask them to weight out say 15 g "sample" so you know how much it looks like.

I have a digital scale. I weight when I start on a fresh bag to tune grind and dose settings, then I note down how big/small "scoop" I need. I finish the rest of the bag adjusting grind and dose by "experience". I'd advocate getting a scale if you are serious.

This post has been edited by dwRK: Dec 6 2015, 12:01 PM

I edited my post above....

Not entirely true, at the "proper" grind coffee will still come/flow out nicely, will not choke the machine. I have done this with my friend's Poemia, using grinds tuned to my HX. The flow profile about the same as my HX, the latte tastes about the same. I didn't do much more tuning as I just wanted to see how it flows and taste. It flows very different to her store bought powder.

The crema is more oily emulsion slightly more "bitter". The sweetness of sugar is more in the water part of the coffee.

good...if you don't have a proper and consistent espresso grinder and tamper, forget about depressurizing your filter for now...

pressurized basket destroys good crema...creates fake crema...

good crema is velvety smooth...bad fake crema is big bubbly mess

for now don't worry about it...with fresh coffee, proper grind, dose and tamp, the crema will not be too bad.

2+ week old beans this morning...what nice colour still

This post has been edited by dwRK: Dec 7 2015, 10:24 AM


Attached thumbnail(s)

...still sucks at art



Attached thumbnail(s)

you should see the swan with the snake head

the whole family ROTFL

yes a bit thin...2-1/2 weeks beans...plus I swirl the cup a bit. golden rust color was there...pic taken under FL light and after white balance not showing up...also this is a medium dark before 2nd crack...

Non P

Latte means 1 part espresso to 3~9 parts milk.

"Latte Art" is formed by crema and microfoam milk.

Your espresso looks too weak/watery...usual causes stale beans, bad grind, low dose, too much water.

Your milk looks too foamy...too much air. Microfoam looks like wall paint or whipping cream. You don't actually get any bubbles when you froth it well, and it stays that way until you finish the cup. The microfoam does not come together to form bubbles.

Get fresh beans!

Where do you work / stay?

Perhaps some of the folks can help. Afraid I don't know any places in Klang.

Just got back from Antipodean @ Tan & Tan. Bought 2 bags of beans, one roasted 30/11, the other 5/12. Very nice timing! Will start one bag tomorrow and the other on the weekend.

Kfchan's MyEspresso @ Subang is another place and their beans are usually between 2-4 weeks old.

I usually buy according to roast dates, which means I don't know in advance what beans I'm going to get.

If buy online, you have more control.

Stop worrying about ppf and getting thick crema for art...I had no problems with the Poemia as-is.

250g for RM26.5

I junk them after 3rd week, if any left.

Go read up & watch intro articles & videos at http://www.home-barista.com

That espresso lab sells 2 blends, darker espresso and milder moka. Both are OK, suggest you get the espresso blend. RM40+gst.

Of the espresso blends, I prefer Kfchan's Quartro, more aromatic medium roast very well balanced. RM33 per 250g bag.

5-10 is what I'd typically consider optimum, especially for light-medium to medium roasts, especially for espresso. Some beans as you know peaks later. This period is where the light floral and fruity flavors are at its Max. These are lost as the beans ages. In a latte, you can smell them but difficult to taste them. The heavier "base" notes of nuts, caramel, coco/choc stay behind and don't get lost. You can still make a decent latte with older beans but the smell is not as nice.

I had a hard time deciding should I get the 30/11 bag. It was either that or no coffee today. I chose the latter. Half the bag is done by this weekend to make way for the 5/12, the other half is frozen

Desperate bro....really desperate

ps: Kfchan's Quattro sometimes can get within 1 week old...

This post has been edited by dwRK: Dec 9 2015, 09:45 AM

New beans...medium roast...9 days old...


Attached thumbnail(s)

Perfect microfoam if I do say so myself...right after frothing...no bubbles...no need to tap tap tap...


Attached thumbnail(s)