Bumnut, tell me more about the Presso…looks interesting, but wouldn’t the water be too hot?
With the Presso, apparently by the time you pour the boiing water on top and press it through, it has cooled to 93degrees which is the correct temp (from memory, don’t quot me!). Also it is the most environmentally friendly coffee maker as it only uses the power from a kettle to boil a small amount of water. An interesting point but not exactly why I want one. It got good reviews, havent sampled one yet though.
And Coffee, I’d like to swing by for a look at the collection and a coffee some day for sure.
And also about the Atomic, its value is more based upon the significance it holds from a design/art perspective. A perfect example of the period it came from, rather than a reflection of how good a coffee it actually makes. Thats why you’ll see Atomics on peoples shelves rather than on the stovetop.
just picked up an aeropress and brother espresso house blend for work. so far so good. just need to buy a kyocera. will be taking this combo on my summer road trips.
Bumnut - I’m assuming you can still get a good coffee out of it? Or, in terms of getting a quality brew, is it a poor option and genuinely more of an art piece than worth getting to use daily??
I just tried getting in touch with the Australian distributor of Atomics through the email on their website but got bounced back…
Ha ha! There are some funny stories on the net about people dealing with her. The common theme is going on a waiting list then getting a call from nowhere seven years later!
When I first went in there a number of years ago to ask where I could get one, she laughed at me and told me I was never going to get an AE now. Another time I was living in Perth and needed a new jug so I called to see if I could get one and she said that was fine.
When I arrived at the shop and asked for a new AE jug she told me she had no idea why I would think I could buy one there.
When I told her I’d spoken to her on the phone about it only a few days before she smiled slyly and went and got a new jug.
She’s awesome.
Do you still use the pressurised (dual-wall “crema enhancing”) basket on that machine? If so, it’s probably got all sorts of horrible gunge caught between the walls and every coffee you make get pushed through it… Go and buy an unpressurised single-wall basket. I got one for the Breville I had before i upgraded to the Lelit.
Always aim for a 20-25 second pour. Too fast = sour and watery, too slow = over-extracted and bitter. Not sure where fish scales fall into that…
Also - do you clean and descale your machine? It’s worth doing…
Finally a thread where I think I have knowledge to contribute instead of just to absorb. Maybe I can sub in for Coffee on occasion.
^ Yeah - commercial descaler is good, but make sure you’re doing it right. Plus a normal backflush with detergent (if your machine can do it) about once a week is good too.
I started with a breville cafe roma - Feel free to ask questions about that if you have one or are looking to get one. I got a decent cup out of it toward the end.
Best investment I ever made was a sunbeam grinder. EM0450 (i think) - Its the plastic version of the EM0480 and has the exact same internals, and cheaper, just no nice stainless.
Since then I’ve upgraded to a BFC machine and a better grinder. The BFC is plumbed in, rotary pump, 1-group, and a 4L boiler.
I can’t see myself upgrading soon… Ok, so maybe a Kony or Robur would be nice.
I only say reproduction because almost every Atomic site I have been to has something along these lines.
First designed in 1947 by the Italian Giordano Robbiati, the machines were produced in his Milanese workshop up to 1986 when, rumour has it his factory was destroyed by fire. But the Atomic rose Phoenix like from the ashes after an Australian entrepreneur began to manufacture a premium reproduction of the Atomic, since when it has become a best seller in Oz.
don’t know if they sell reproductions at Bon Trading Co. The originals usually have this stamp on them
I think the silver ones were imported up to the early seventies? then there were other finishes on the metal.
Didn’t know the factory had been gutted, hence their value I guess
I don’t think a hipster would fork out money for a coffee machine and in doing so reduce opportunities to push his/her (hipsterette?) down to the nearest sufficiently hip coffee shop
