richard_smith237

6 minutes ago, connda said:

Drip coffee is drip coffee whether it drips out of a 20,000 THB machine or the 350 THB machine I have at home. It's hot water pouring though coffee grounds and dripping out. It's not rocket science.  You could buy the 350 THB machine I have and make three cups of coffee on demand as it doesn't seem like there IS a high demand for plain drip coffee.  Heck, just a filter cone will do the job.

Some machines have a more consistent and even distribution of water over the coffee bed, but many tend to "channel" or "wash out" specific areas of the grinds. This leads to uneven extraction - some parts of the coffee are over-extracted while others remain under-extracted, resulting in a flat or unbalanced cup.

This is one reason why manual pour-over has become more popular than traditional filter coffee machines in specialty coffee settings. Filter Coffee machines are convenient, but they often lack the control and finesse required for optimal flavour extraction - they were more a thing of the 70's with an alarm, or in an office setting where the manager is not into coffee and the put just stews all morning  !!!...

Your point is quite valid, though - there's limited demand for automatic drip or filter coffee these days, especially in cafés focused on quality. As such, it often makes more sense to skip the filter coffee machine entirely and prepare pour-over manually when someone orders a filter-style coffee.

In that case, the most critical factor becomes how the hot water distributed during brewing.

The pour technique - including speed, pattern, and consistency - is key to ensuring the coffee bed is evenly saturated, promoting balanced extraction and a more refined cup.

Thus a set up as below is perhaps more idea for individual cups.

Not the Pot with a long spout so the pour can be controlled.

But, if in a 'high footfall area' where lots of coffee is being ordered and customers want speed - this may not be idea as the method is a bit slower and takes server attention.

9 minutes ago, tomster said:

So how about the medium roasted version of this:

 

https://th.shp.ee/RaQu4Mo

Its an Double A Grade Arabica Bean

Grown at 1200-1400 MASL in Doi Pang Khon  (in Huai Chomphu, Chiang Rai).

I reckon a Medium Roast will be fine for pour over or filter coffee....

If you order the bean - then you can see the roast level yourself.

You can then also grind yourself to specified grind level - usually going for a medium grind for Filter Coffee (so its not over extracted and too bitter).

Looks like a decent bean - I might give it a try myself.

Just now, scubascuba3 said:

3 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

Just make sure its a light roast Arabica bean from a higher altitude area...    thats should be good enough for most people.

Light roast isn't great, most shops i go to seem to serve dark roast as standard

Medium-Dark and Dark roasts are ideal for many coffees, such as that pressed in an expresso machine especially when mixed with Milk for a Cappuccino or Latte... or coffee made in Moka Pot.

Ideally, for a pour over coffee, or 'filter coffee' - a lighter roast will be better...  i.e. light roast / light-medium roast..

And of course, the bean...  an Arabica not a Robusta.

A lighter roast is better for pour-over or filter coffee because of how the flavours and chemical compounds behave during roasting and extraction.

A few reasons why... 

Flavour Clarity and Complexity

Light roasts preserve the bean's origin characteristics; floral, fruity, acidic, and subtle notes.

The more complex flavours are best extracted slowly, which is exactly what filter methods are designed for.

We get a cleaner cup of coffee with defined tasting notes – its not muddy or bitter which we can get from dark roasts.

Solubility and Extraction

Light roasts are less soluble than darker roasts – they still retain many of their natural acids and sugars.

Filter brewing takes longer and at low (atmospheric) pressure, which gently extracts those flavours without overdoing bitterness or body.

Darker roasts extract very quickly, often too much for a slow brew, which leads to an over-extracted, bitter tasting cup of coffee.

Acidity and Aroma

Filter brewing highlights acidity in a good way.. i.e. think citrus, apple, berry flavours come through.

Light roasts show up as they still have lively organic acids (like citric, malic, or tartaric acids), giving the coffee brightness and freshness.

With Dark roasts most of those acids are roasted off leaving a flatter, smokier flavour (with pour over / filter).

Body and Mouthfeel

Filter coffee with light roast is typically tea-like, with a cleaner mouthfeel.

If you use a dark roast, you get more body and bitterness, which might be better suited to espresso or French press, not filter.

If we use Darker Roasts in Filter brewing we get

Overpowering smoky, ashy notes.

Loss of origin character.

The coffee tends to taste flat, bitter, or one-dimensional.

Feels heavy, especially in pour-over where clarity is key.

The issue with coffee of course - is that most don't know so it doesn't really matter too much.

I suspect those who like a cup of decent coffee would more than likely go for an Espresso based coffee (lengthened as a long black of American - even with milk) over a Filter Coffee...   

Personally - I wouldn't bother with a filter coffee at all... But the Op asked.

17 minutes ago, tomster said:

Something from Makro would be great, as long as they consistently have it in stock.

Just make sure its a light roast Arabica bean from a higher altitude area...    thats should be good enough for most people.

31 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

Try a cardless withdrawal, see if it works

This...   

First thing to check to see if your account is open is to try a cardless withdrawal.

Then you can also try a conventional ATM withdrawal.

Also, as you suggested OP, give your Wireless Payment (Tap-n-go) at try - only you have the answer to that.

The message you received was that your 'mobile banking services have been temporarily blocked' - so that just means mobile banking service, you should still have functional Online Banking Services etc.

Wow...

....  Finally online outrage has been sparked against someone other than foreigners !!!

... Are we 100% sure they were Thai ?  

On 7/5/2025 at 2:53 PM, Burma Bill said:

 So what's wrong with that?

When I drove in Thailand, I regularly stopped to urinate alongside the road, with the hazard lights flashing on my Nissan Pick-up. When you suffer from an enlarged benign prostate gland, one has to quickly pee almost anywhere if one does not want to soak one's lower clothing! 

Lovin’ the way one refers to oneself while discussing pishing ‘almost anywhere’ !!! 😅

1 hour ago, scubascuba3 said:

Are you able to select a date and time for the appointment? I'm trying to coincide it with a planned trip to Bangkok

yep…  email VFS & give them 3 date options. 

2 hours ago, garygooner said:

Any idea why? 

I’d used exactly the same photo for my other UK passport renewal earlier on in the year so HMPO knew it was older than 6 months… 

8 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

3 hours ago, Will B Good said:

 

I drive about 10 mins a day and have four near misses a week.

Take a driving course, then, appears that you need it.

No he doesn't....  It just appears that he drives on roads where there are plenty of other vehicles which are ridden or driven recklessly.

Every time I drive down my soi I can say I have a near-miss....  (narrow soi, one lane in each direction), cars are sometimes caught up in traffic... motorcycles trying to overtake....   When I'm heading out in the opposite direction the motorcycles will just drive straight towards me - almost as if they are playing chicken, forcing me to brake so the can slot back.... almost each time, if I haven't applied the brakes and come to a near stop to give them space, I would have clipped them with my front right side... (while they are on my side of the road).....  they really don't care - but I would call each one of those a near miss.

While riding on the sub-soi...  I ride down the middle of my lane...  so I have an option to move left or right, as needed, when there are drains etc... or protect myself if a vehicle appears as though it will pull out from the left... 

But...  Some fool will always pull out from a side street right next to me and nearly hit me, as they think two bikes riding next to each other per one lane is perfectly fine....  (its not when one needs to take evasive action).

Another, while I was turning right (from a T-junction) a kid on a bike tried to time it so he could pull out, turning right behind me (from the road I was turning into).

He timed it poorly and hit my numberplate.  He stopped, apologised, he was about 12 or 13...  no real damage to my my bike, just a bent number plate that he caught his foot on (I could bend the number plate back).

Very doubtful he would have learned a think from the minor incident. 

I learned that riders here will just pull out into you - but I knew that anyway !.

3 hours ago, watgate said:

My question is what experience or situation did anyone have which required drastic evasive measures or skill to avoid becoming another victim or statistic because of a blooming idiot who had no business being behind the  wheel of a vehicle?

I was minding my own business the other day driving about... and this crazy foreigner came speeding up the street and tried to drive into me... 

.... Then he followed for a bit while belting his horn...        utter loon !!! 

I've no idea what was wrong with him.....  

1 hour ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

Thanks mate. 

 

I was joking, I have several down thumb emoji stalkers, you're obviously not one of them. 👊

 

There's handfull of the 'Thumbs-down' stalkers...   juvenile fools who'll post against the poster themself rather than the individual topic... 

Its also fairly obvious to see who they are...  even when they are stalking someone else.

6 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

How long does it take to get an appointment with VFS? I'm wondering how long in advance of the date i want to go to apply

I think allow 2 weeks to make a VFS appointment. 

Allow at least 3 months ahead of Passport Expiry...  renewal should take about a month, but they are notorious for delays due to payment or photo issues (mine took 2 Month Oct to Nov '24).

Here was my latest timeline:

02-Oct: Submitted application at VFS

18-Oct: Received HMPO e-mail - unable to process payment (given link to government portal for payment)

23-Oct: Received HMPO e-mail - Confirmed Payment 

24-Oct: Received HMPO e-mail - Request to Post new photos (current photos unacceptable)

02-Dec: Received HMPO e-mail - Collect Passport from VFS.

But also consider it you might have to travel to any country that insists on 6 months validity in the Passport while you have a renewal application underway.

6 minutes ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

Keep up mate, I'm always doing outstanding stuff. 

 

BTW, I only have 2 thumbs down emoji's, one from you and a definite one from my thumbs down stalker guy... Ha ha, his name is oops not allowed to talk about other members.

Mt Fr_____:

Au contraire SF....    No thumbs down emojis from me...    

Most just scroll past your farang-bashing now and just ignore your comments...  I'm still amused by how desperate you are to use any opportunity to 'bash-a-foreigner'...  that'll wear off at some point.

40 minutes ago, NorthernRyland said:

On 7/3/2025 at 1:18 PM, richard_smith237 said:

Yet again, we witness another pedestrian failing to look, seemingly operating under the assumption that it’s safe to cross with disregard for their own wellbeing....

 

Before she got hit you can just barely make out she bowed her head a little suggesting she thought the bus saw her and would stop.

Yep... I saw that...  but it seems she just 'went through the motions' rather than actually looked properly and paid attention... 

5 minutes ago, JBChiangRai said:

You want a 22Kw 3 phase charger, that will charge single phase at 7Kw too.

 

Don't be tempted to buy an 11Kw 3 phase charger as it will only charge at 3.6Kw on single phase.

 

Is it going to be in a place where a neighbour might come and charge his car whilst you're away?  If so, get one with an RFID card to begin charging.

 

If you're getting an electrician to fit it and there's any chance you might want to move house and take it with you, then I would also install a red industrial 32 amp plug and socket where you're putting the charger and put the plug on the charger.

 

There are loads of 22Kw wall boxes on Lazada.

Ours is a 22kW Wall Box...     (Type 2 plug)

Which actually works on a 15/45 3x Phase...    (i.e. each phase provides 15amps) 

I believe this charges at 10.4kW 

Thus: Mathematically it would take approximately 8.4 hours to fully charge our 88 kWh battery (from zero to 100% - with 100% charging efficiency).

Real word charging efficiency is approx 90-95% - so we're looking at 9.5 hrs for a full charge.

Real Real world charging: we rarely get below 50% running around BKK... so the charge is only ever a few hours to top up... i.e. Plugged in every 3rd night or so....

Location of the wall box to where the car is parked is obviously a key point.

3 minutes ago, JBChiangRai said:

Is it going to be in a place where a neighbour might come and charge his car whilst you're away?  If so, get one with an RFID card to begin charging.

Our is routed from a mains-breaker in the house, it can be isolated (to off) if we wished to do so.

But really, is that something that happens ?.... Neighbours parking in your drive and using your 'charging station' ???

5 minutes ago, parallelman said:

1 hour ago, Bday Prang said:

does anybody actually do that ?

Easy enough on todays technology. My phone gives UV index, Humidity, Wind, Sunrise & Sunset in addition to the weather in general.

Easy enough - but the question was quite realistic...  "does anybody actually do that ?"   [check the UV index]

2 minutes ago, KannikaP said:

4 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

Fair enough...    I'm sure your standards of poof reading are up there with the best...   

Yep, always read it through before hitting Sumbit Relpy.  555

oh.. no...  I did it again...    that should have read pRoof reading... honest mistake... 555

11 minutes ago, KannikaP said:

22 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

The famous saying on this forum, something I've been hearing since arriving here...

 

"Always look both ways when crossing a one day street"....

And the other is to proof read what you are sending. 555

Fair enough...    I'm sure your standards of poof reading are up there with the best...   

23 minutes ago, MalcolmB said:

The way you squeal and carry on I suspect you of having high estrogen levels.

And I am not the only one.

You are not the only one who has high estrogen levels...    Makes sense again... 

Male menopause, non-existent testosterone levels, baldness, onset of Alzheimers and high estrogen... your openness to identify your issues is a huge step in your journey towards self improvement.... 

Your emotional development is impressive Malcy......   well done...