Update to my update. Egg coffee on my face?

There was one minor cleaning thing I did with my espresso machine and it's working as well as before, including crema.

As I've said before some funky things have already happened with this quite new Rok machine so I don't expect it to last as long as it should otherwise last.

But maybe it's still good for another year or two.

So obviously no rush now to buy a Moka pot to replace it.

I do like crema and no crema with Moka pots.

Yeah I could buy a new standard electric espresso machine but I just don't want to. 

Also I just do shots without milk so don't need milk steaming.

 

 

2 hours ago, shdmn said:

Where does everyone get their paper filters in Thailand?  Seems the best place is Lazada since it doesn't seem to be as common in grocery stores compared to the west.  I managed to find the flat bottom ones in Foodland but I couldn't find the pointy-tip v shaped ones anywhere.

Daiso, and 'Daiso' branded, nature paper, 50pc @ 60 baht

 

I pour about 450ml of already brewed coffee (no grounds) into the filter.  Not all at once, but quick enough.  Get a 425 yield of coffee, from 500ml of water in a French Press, before filter pour.

 

I have a 2nd cup standing buy as they only hold 300 ml.

 

27 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

Update to my update. Egg coffee on my face?

There was one minor cleaning thing I did with my espresso machine and it's working as well as before, including crema.

As I've said before some funky things have already happened with this quite new Rok machine so I don't expect it to last as long as it should otherwise last.

But maybe it's still good for another year or two.

So obviously no rush now to buy a Moka pot to replace it.

I do like crema and no crema with Moka pots.

Yeah I could buy a new standard electric espresso machine but I just don't want to. 

Also I just do shots without milk so don't need milk steaming.

If you do decide to upgrade to espresso machine, I've researched the DeLonghi 230BK (EC 230.BK) @ 5500 baht, and best reviews of inexpensive machine.  

 

Was actually going to buy for wife, as hate the machine we have, but she didn't want it.  All the YT'er like it and best of at that price point.   And 'EC230BK' is important as 2 other models out there, and wouldn't bother with them.

I've been using one of these for years.  Cheap as dirt drip coffee maker just like the ones I used in the US.  This one will set you back a whopping ฿369.  Lazada and Shopee, or I've also have found them at Big C.  

 

3 minutes ago, connda said:

I've been using one of these for years.  Cheap as dirt drip coffee maker just like the ones I used in the US.  This one will set you back a whopping ฿369.  Lazada and Shopee, or I've also have found them at Big C.  

 

To me a bit too boring but of course I've used them.

#6 Melitta filter and cone with ~60 grams ground with a burr grinder  ground fine on #8 on a scale of 40 water temp @~90c in a 1.5L can that lasts two or three days, yep, drink it cold. And reuse the filter once.

 

On 7/28/2025 at 8:14 PM, Jingthing said:

I guess I'm saying, if you haven't tried a Clever Dripper, I would suggest that you do.

Thanks for this - I ordered one from Lazada a couple months ago and really like it. It's easy to make a drinkable cup of coffee.

4 hours ago, shdmn said:

Where does everyone get their paper filters in Thailand?  Seems the best place is Lazada since it doesn't seem to be as common in grocery stores compared to the west.  I managed to find the flat bottom ones in Foodland but I couldn't find the pointy-tip v shaped ones anywhere.

I buy from Jario Coffee on Lazada, a pack of 100 filter papers is Bht135, they sell all shapes and sizes as well as every sort of coffee or tea making paraphernalia you could ever imagine.

2 hours ago, Jingthing said:

Well some issues with that.

Based on limited research, I've learned that the Moka pots are designed so that it's OPTIMAL to fill the water to the top of whatever size pot you've got.

So I wouldn't want to mess with that.

So I would want to buy the size pot that works best for me.

I noticed the 4 cup. That might be OK but I think a good chance it won't be enough and I wouldn't want to need to do a second round..

The 6 cup is almost certainly enough but possibly too much.

Between those two choices, risking too much is a no brainer decision.

I will ask you though -- for you how many shots of espresso is enough?
I only do coffee in the morning and one or two didn't cut it.

That means with my current espresso machine, running water through it FOUR times!

The first to warm it up. Then the three shots.

That's not horrible as it goes fast, but it is a bit of a pain in the butt.

Which makes a 6 cup Moka pot tempting as that'll be just one run.

Another interesting thing I read about Moka pots is that for optimal brewing and reduced bitterness (which is a common complaint with them) you should heat up the water FIRST before putting it in the pot! Never did that before when I used the pots. Of course that would mean the pot would have it's trademark coffee orgasm quicker. 

you can have the water below the valve, it means stronger coffee, but i also prefer to the valve, too strong ruins it for me. I like strong but not too strong.I have the ground coffee near the top, but all depends on how strong you want it, grind finer and you only need half / two thirds full. It's all trial and error, let us know how the 6 cup moka pot goes, I've never tried one. I buy dark french roast, a lesser roast is a bit weak for me

2 hours ago, Jingthing said:

and no crema with Moka pots

as i said before there is if you buy the little device as per YouTube 

1 hour ago, KhunLA said:

If you do decide to upgrade to espresso machine, I've researched the DeLonghi 230BK (EC 230.BK) @ 5500 baht, and best reviews of inexpensive machine.  

 

Was actually going to buy for wife, as hate the machine we have, but she didn't want it.  All the YT'er like it and best of at that price point.   And 'EC230BK' is important as 2 other models out there, and wouldn't bother with them.

4,420 baht on Shopee, i think you should buy it and report back

A lot of the cheaper espresso machines use a pressurised basket with a single hole at the bottom so it's not real espresso.

 

And if you grind too fine they start to choke. The restricted opening creates the flow resistance rather than the coffee puck.

45 minutes ago, matchar said:

A lot of the cheaper espresso machines use a pressurised basket with a single hole at the bottom so it's not real espresso.

 

And if you grind too fine they start to choke. The restricted opening creates the flow resistance rather than the coffee puck.

 

Pressurized basket is fine, especially if you prefer crema.  I actually got decent results from our crappy machine, though does take some tweaking.  I don't care about the crema, though visually and texturally, it is nice.  

 

I prefer using a naked, bottomless portafilter ... Who's you daddy ...

 

 

 

Damn you @Jingthing ... 

 

39 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

Damn you @Jingthing ... 

 

 

My understanding is the v60 drippers can take the pointy tip filters and the flat bottom ones. Is that correct?  As opposed to the flat bottom drippers which can only take flat bottom filters. 

2 minutes ago, shdmn said:

 

My understanding is the v60 drippers can take the pointy tip filters and the flat bottom ones. Is that correct?  As opposed to the flat bottom drippers which can only take flat bottom filters.  I would probably go with flat bottom filters either way since they seem to be more forgiving on results based on what I have read.

The ones I've seen listed, seem to take the pointed one, even selling filters in the listing.  

6 hours ago, Jingthing said:

To me a bit too boring but of course I've used them.

I like my coffee to be boring.  Don't get me wrong, I like expresso (Lattes), but at home?  Just boring coffee in the morning is fine.

On 12/17/2025 at 7:08 PM, KhunLA said:

Damn you @Jingthing ... 

 

Arrived, looks quality enough, and tested it out.  Half my French Press recipe 10gr fine ground + 250ml water, steep for 4 minutes.   Took Hoffman's advice, and water first, then grounds, with a stir.

 

Taste just fine, same as FP.  That's one inexpensive coffee maker, and way too cool.  Easier to clean than the FP, and less space in our O&A coffee bag.  👍👍

 

https://www.lazada.co.th/products/i4977708825-s20970559476.html?urlFlag=true&mp=1&tradePath=omItm&tradeOrderId=1062248843569891&tradeOrderLineId=1062248843669891&spm=spm%3Da2o42.order_details.item_title.1

 

Check out James Hoffman on Youtube for different methods of using the smart dripper or pour over method (smart dripper does both, just keep valve open for pour over).

I find immersion and percolation gives a more balanced favour and I use a larger grind size than for pure pour over, but sometimes, especially for a light roast doing a nice pour over technique can really bring out some different flavours.

I use the glass Hario V60 smart dripper, 15g of coffee on a medium to fine grind and 250ml of water, water in first then coffee, let rest until all grounds soaked then a little stir so the grounds start to sink, leave for 2 or 3 minutes and open the valve. The joy of seeing it drain down, none sticking to the filter and a nice flat bed once drained is one of life's little pleasures.

Update on my coffee adventures.

Well, sooner than I thought it would, my very cool looking manual espresso machine transformed into a hunk of garbage, so back to backup plan to replace it with a Moka pot.

As I said I like having two different methods available to have some variety.

I'm not down on the cleaver dripper at all. I just want another method that is more espresso-like without actually buying a new classically electric literal espresso machine.

So moka pot it is!

I was seduced by the design of the Bialetti Moka Express DECO.

It's a 6 cup baby as I wanted.

Yeah I know I know you can get a perfectly functional moka pot for much less, but I don't care.

Anyway so it arrived, read the tiny print instructions, followed the suggestion to run one cycle all water, then three with coffee to make the factory nasties go bye bye, and used it for real for the first time today.

My very long ago experiences in my bohemian youth with moka pots was before the age of youtube so as you might guess, the results were bitter coffee, but I drank it stoically anyway.

Well now in our golden age of way too much information to ever hope to process, I started to play with hack suggestions to improve the experience (which are not in the instructions).

So what I did --

Heated up the water in a microwave instead of using cold water or room temp water.

This wasn't as hot as from a kettle and then cooled off a bit which I will try later.

Ground the beans a bit finer than medium grind which is usually suggested for Moka, You don't want to go as fine as for espresso though to prevent clogging

My current beans are bargain priced medium-dark roast Arabica.

So filled the unit to under the valve, put in the coffee, leveled not tamped, then started it on MEDIUM heat.

Another suggestion I've seen is to start with the same hot water, but put it on high heat, but lower or even take off heat the moment anything comes out. I will try that option later.

Using medium heat even with hot water, it takes longer than I'd like to start happening.

A suggestion which I forgot to do but will do later, is to stir the resulting brew to even out the stronger and weaker parts of the results.

Anyway, even without stirring -- WOW -- my first large serving from my Moka was way better than anything I used to make.

Strong of course, yet smooth, not bitter, brought out flavors in the beans I didn't notice from the dripper, and no sediment.

There was a wee bit of crema visible when brewing but gone when poured into the serving cup.

I don't intend to try the crema valve, but I am going to try Moka Pot paper filters which I just learned about and also learned that sometimes result in significant amounts of crema.

I'm curious about taste differences as well.

Remember I had been debating whether a 4 or 6 cup Moka Pot was equivalent to the 4 shots of espresso I had been drinking before 3 was never enough but 4 hit the spot.

Now I feel I made the right choice with a 6 cup Moka. It was a slightly bigger dose than the 4 shots of espresso, but I think 4 would have been short. 5 would be perfect but 5 cup models aren't sold.

So now I'm at a very happy place with my coffee rituals.

15 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

Update on my coffee adventures.

Well, sooner than I thought it would, my very cool looking manual espresso machine transformed into a hunk of garbage, so back to backup plan to replace it with a Moka pot.

As I said I like having two different methods available to have some variety.

I'm not down on the cleaver dripper at all. I just want another method that is more espresso-like without actually buying a new classically electric literal espresso machine.

So moka pot it is!

I was seduced by the design of the Bialetti Moka Express DECO.

It's a 6 cup baby as I wanted.

Yeah I know I know you can get a perfectly functional moka pot for much less, but I don't care.

Anyway so it arrived, read the tiny print instructions, followed the suggestion to run one cycle all water, then three with coffee to make the factory nasties go bye bye, and used it for real for the first time today.

My very long ago experiences in my bohemian youth with moka pots was before the age of youtube so as you might guess, the results were bitter coffee, but I drank it stoically anyway.

Well now in our golden age to way too much information to ever hope to process, I started to play with suggestions to improve the experience (which are not in the instructions).

So what I did --

Heated up the water in a microwave instead of using cold water or room temp water.

This wasn't as hot as from a kettle and then cooled off a bit which I will try later.

Ground the beans a bit finer than medium grind which is usually suggested for Moka, You don't want to go as fine as for espresso though to prevent clogging

My current beans are bargain priced medium-dark roast Arabica.

So filled the unit to under the valve, put in the coffee, leveled not tamped, then started it on MEDIUM heat.

Another suggestion I've seen is to start with the same hot water, but put it on high heat, but lower or even take off heat the moment anything comes out. I will try that option later.

Using medium heat even with hot water, it takes longer than I'd like to start happening.

A suggestion which I forgot to do but will do later, is to stir the resulting brew to even out the stronger and weaker parts of the results.

Anyway, even without stirring -- WOW -- my first large serving from my Moka was way better than anything I used to make.

Strong of course, yet smooth, not bitter, brought out flavors in the beans I didn't notice from the dripper, and no sediment.

There was a wee bit of crema visible when brewing but gone when poured into the serving cup.

I don't intend to try the crema valve, but I am going to try Moka Pot paper filters which I just learned about and also learned that sometimes result in significant amounts of crema.

I'm curious about taste differences as well.

Remember I had been debating whether a 4 or 6 cup Moka Pot was equivalent to the 4 shots of espresso I had been drinking before 3 was never enough but 4 hit the spot.

Now I feel I made the right choice with a 6 cup Moka. It was a slightly bigger dose than the 4 shots of espresso, but I think 4 would have been short. 5 would be perfect but 5 cup models aren't sold.

So now I'm at a very happy place with my coffee rituals.

I have just two months with their 3 cuppers. Experimented that ended me using Luc-warm bottled water and the high heat. I use a good electric frother for lattes.

Don'ts: include the coffee filter installed, stay below the vale's water mark. Tightly secure both units as it finds ways to leak.

The 6-cup seemed now to be the better choice

The posters here were good inputs, encouraged my changing from my French Press.

2 hours ago, Jingthing said:

Update on my coffee adventures.

Well, sooner than I thought it would, my very cool looking manual espresso machine transformed into a hunk of garbage, so back to backup plan to replace it with a Moka pot.

As I said I like having two different methods available to have some variety.

I'm not down on the cleaver dripper at all. I just want another method that is more espresso-like without actually buying a new classically electric literal espresso machine.

So moka pot it is!

I was seduced by the design of the Bialetti Moka Express DECO.

It's a 6 cup baby as I wanted.

Yeah I know I know you can get a perfectly functional moka pot for much less, but I don't care.

Anyway so it arrived, read the tiny print instructions, followed the suggestion to run one cycle all water, then three with coffee to make the factory nasties go bye bye, and used it for real for the first time today.

My very long ago experiences in my bohemian youth with moka pots was before the age of youtube so as you might guess, the results were bitter coffee, but I drank it stoically anyway.

Well now in our golden age of way too much information to ever hope to process, I started to play with hack suggestions to improve the experience (which are not in the instructions).

So what I did --

Heated up the water in a microwave instead of using cold water or room temp water.

This wasn't as hot as from a kettle and then cooled off a bit which I will try later.

Ground the beans a bit finer than medium grind which is usually suggested for Moka, You don't want to go as fine as for espresso though to prevent clogging

My current beans are bargain priced medium-dark roast Arabica.

So filled the unit to under the valve, put in the coffee, leveled not tamped, then started it on MEDIUM heat.

Another suggestion I've seen is to start with the same hot water, but put it on high heat, but lower or even take off heat the moment anything comes out. I will try that option later.

Using medium heat even with hot water, it takes longer than I'd like to start happening.

A suggestion which I forgot to do but will do later, is to stir the resulting brew to even out the stronger and weaker parts of the results.

Anyway, even without stirring -- WOW -- my first large serving from my Moka was way better than anything I used to make.

Strong of course, yet smooth, not bitter, brought out flavors in the beans I didn't notice from the dripper, and no sediment.

There was a wee bit of crema visible when brewing but gone when poured into the serving cup.

I don't intend to try the crema valve, but I am going to try Moka Pot paper filters which I just learned about and also learned that sometimes result in significant amounts of crema.

I'm curious about taste differences as well.

Remember I had been debating whether a 4 or 6 cup Moka Pot was equivalent to the 4 shots of espresso I had been drinking before 3 was never enough but 4 hit the spot.

Now I feel I made the right choice with a 6 cup Moka. It was a slightly bigger dose than the 4 shots of espresso, but I think 4 would have been short. 5 would be perfect but 5 cup models aren't sold.

So now I'm at a very happy place with my coffee rituals.

I've now perfected my 4 cup moka pot coffee:

4 Cup is perfect for one

11.5g of my favourite Dark French roast

shot of dairy milk, about 30ml.

Use boiled water, i use a saucepan