Sage coffee machine

[JohnD]

Mine recommends a Lactic Acid descaler, they have their own brand but you can get others.

It's just a commodity chemical

But not the same as the ones sold for kettles

 

[Deleted member 294929]

Mine recommends a Lactic Acid descaler, they have their own brand but you can get others.

It's just a commodity chemical

But not the same as the ones sold for kettles

They all do that. And they charge an arm for it.

As long as it works ill buy any brand

 

[ajohn]

We do not have hard water in Glasgow so limescale is not an issue.

Famous last words. B'ham has very soft water. Steam is worst.

 

[DP]

Famous last words. B'ham has very soft water. Steam is worst.

Neutral pH here

 

[Mottie]

How’s the coffee making coming along Bodd?

Not knowing what to have for Christmas, I asked Mrs Mottie for a coffee machine. Not a bean to cup, I'm not ready for that yet. I bought some ground beans in preparation. Only Lidl own brand, Italian blend, strength 4. Anyway, the machine arrived today so I thought I’d try it out. Not a success. Tried several times but it was either too weak or too strong. Was on the point of giving up when our daughter came in. She used to do a bit of baristaring (if that’s the word) nearly 20 years ago so she took over. Didn’t come out half bad so I had a go myself and it was nearly as good. Much more practice and experimenting with different coffee's needed. I looked up one video on YT but he went into actually weighing out the beans before grinding them. I’m beginning to wish I hadn’t asked for one now! It’s a present so I can’t just chuck it aside and I’ve been told I can only have one machine on the worktop at any one time. I’m suffering coffee machine overload at the moment.

What I do know though is that after half a dozen double shots, I’m buzzing!

 

[motorbiking]

If my sage broke tomorrow, I’d have no hesitation in replacing it. It’s been great and well worth the money. I have a cheaper procook version in my holiday place and while it was 1/3rd of the price it’s not even close to the sage.

I tend fo use a mix of 3 and 4 strength beans mostly from LIdl

 

[Mottie]

My best looking coffee art so far - a spine and some ribs!

Our family have a secret Santa each year, there's an app where you draw names and you get allocated one person to buy for and I’ve put down a bean grinder on my wish list this year. If I get that, I’m going to have a go at grinding some beans myself.

 

[Elsa TLC]

How’s the coffee making coming along Bodd?

Not knowing what to have for Christmas, I asked Mrs Mottie for a coffee machine. Not a bean to cup, I'm not ready for that yet. I bought some ground beans in preparation. Only Lidl own brand, Italian blend, strength 4. Anyway, the machine arrived today so I thought I’d try it out. Not a success. Tried several times but it was either too weak or too strong. Was on the point of giving up when our daughter came in. She used to do a bit of baristaring (if that’s the word) nearly 20 years ago so she took over. Didn’t come out half bad so I had a go myself and it was nearly as good. Much more practice and experimenting with different coffee's needed. I looked up one video on YT but he went into actually weighing out the beans before grinding them. I’m beginning to wish I hadn’t asked for one now! It’s a present so I can’t just chuck it aside and I’ve been told I can only have one machine on the worktop at any one time. I’m suffering coffee machine overload at the moment.

View attachment 401271

What I do know though is that after half a dozen double shots, I’m buzzing!

I still enjoy making good coffee ️ the novelty hasn't worn off because I do like a good coffee.

Finding the right beans was trial and error but I have beans that I buy from Sainsbury's that I like.

It needs care and attention in which im doing more so now than I was. Ive not done the calculations but I think £600 well spent , so yes go for it.

 

[Elsa TLC]

Famous last words. B'ham has very soft water. Steam is worst.

Neutral pH here

Took the machine with me to Northumberland in August. The water up there made for a good cup of coffee ️.

I bought a Brita filter to protect thr machine against hard water. However coffee ️ is far better with water straight from the tap.

 

[Notch7]

I went for the Profitec Go machine over the Sage in the end - given as I already have a Mazzer grinder it didn’t much point buying a machine with a grinder.

I’ve tried various supermarket beans, but not had much luck really, they don’t have a ‘roasted on date’ and I’ve found them to be rather old and needing a really fine grind to get anywhere near decent extraction.

I’m currently enjoying the chocolate brownie blend from cworks.co.uk
I ordered on Friday, they arrived Saturday and had a roasted date of 19th Dec

Free delivery over £10 and I think a discount on first order

For those interested in the detail it’s a blend of:
Brazilian Santo Arabica
Ethiopian Djmmah Arabica
Indian cherry robusta

I also like Redber.Co.U.K. Coffee roaster - they roast within a day or so of despatch and they have quite a range of blends and single origin, some with a choice of different roast levels

 

[motorbiking]

I'm happy to be flamed, but the Lidl XXL bags are pretty good, especially if you blend the strength 3 and 5.

 

[motorbiking]

My best looking coffee art so far - a spine and some ribs!

View attachment 402734

Our family have a secret Santa each year, there's an app where you draw names and you get allocated one person to buy for and I’ve put down a bean grinder on my wish list this year. If I get that, I’m going to have a go at grinding some beans myself.

Milk has to be fairly hot and you have to tap the jug. You have to swirl the coffee and bit before you add the milk and use a jug with a sharp spout. The goal is to get the milk to fall down the nearside and rise up the opposite side. Mine don't turn out much better mind,