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Comment by reillyse | Hacker News Reader

This article is super strange. It just seems wrong on so many levels. First off, I’m a coffee nerd who owns a coffee company and I don’t have an espresso machine in my house. I use a chemex and am perfectly happy with it. I don’t even want an espresso machine. Second, I haven’t seen this mad Covid push to home espresso they speak about. I haven’t seen it in the market at all (and we sell exclusively to homes). Third, it seems unlikely that large espresso machines are forcing us to redesign kitchens and finally why go on about your big expensive setup only to put some medium roasted cheap ass beans in it. Spend your money on better coffee it’s the easiest and cheapest way to make your coffee better.

I hate these annoying articles about coffee which imply you need to be a rich snob to enjoy it.

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I agree with you in that I don't remember anyone I know buying one lately, since the pandemic. All the coffee nerds had gotten one earlier and they all seem to be happy enough.

I completely disagree on what I see as your main point. I'm very far from being a coffee snob or even aficionado, but even to me my morning coffee (with tons of milk) and a decent espresso are so far from each other... saying that it doesn't matter is a bit like "all beers taste the same". I don't drink espresso when I get up and I wouldn't make real cappuccino anyway either, and I drink my espresso usually after lunch. They just happen to both be labeled coffee. (Also for reference, I've been using a Hario for about a year now and I buy beans from local roasters and have no intention to ever roast myself)

I bought a Jura full-auto within a couple months of the start of the pandemic. Coworkers did likewise. So it's probably a real phenomena.

I live with the aeropress and chemex and french press combo myself, but I will say my sister loves her espresso machine. It's also a lot faster than even the aeropress.

But I also don't have the space for it and couldn't imagine having to pay that kind of money - like you, I'd rather spend it on beans. :)

> I hate these annoying articles about coffee which imply you need to be a rich snob to enjoy it

Well, it is a WSJ article. I used to be a regular reader of NYT, and this very much reminds me of NYT "lifestyle" reporting. Wealthy New Yorkers, amiright?

It's not so much that you need to be a rich snob, but it's an opportunity for people to show off that they're a rich snob. For some people, that's like catnip.

What's wrong with medium roast for an espresso?

he probably heard somewhere that 'espresso roast' is dark so figured that's what you have to use

I'm going to charitably assume that a self-described "coffee nerd who owns a coffee company" has slightly more expertise than this.

you may be right- i'll charitably give it a 50:50

What are some good ground coffees to try?

If you don’t grind it yourself, you lose the crema, and ideally you grind it within a short period of time if it being roasted.

I think we're talking past each other.

I'm thinking of a pour over in a chemex like the poster I'm replying to mentions.

I think you're speaking of an espresso?

No, fresh grinding is super important for pour over coffee as well. If what you're getting is pre-ground it's not going to be as good as it could have been if you'd gotten whole bean coffee and grinded it yourself.

A serviceable hand grinder(I used a Hario until I got a motorized grinder) can be bought for the price of a couple bags of good coffee. If you're interested it's not a huge investment.

As for beans, I'd look for a local roaster and talk with them about recommendations. I roast my own coffee and buy from Happy Mug, who also sell roasted beans. You might also look at Stumptown and Intelligentsia.

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