With the Single O cafés closed over the festive season, we’ve been brewing like demons at home (and in the campground, on the beach, you name it), and thought we’d share five coffee equipment recommendations from our crew, to help you really get your coffee game on in 2017. You know we can talk coffee ‘til the jersey cows come home, so for brew tips, hit us up at the roastworks on (02) 9693 2232, or see our guides here.
ANGUS
YOUR FAVOURITE PIECE OF COFFEE KIT?
WHY?
The grind quality is that of an electric grinder 5 times the price.
YOU WOULD RECOMMEND IT TO..?
Anyone without a grinder or a with cheap electric grinder (especially blade grinders!)
USAGE TIP?
Clean it! It comes with a little brush so it’s a good idea to give it a little once over every time you use it. Super quick and will stop old stale coffee getting into your brew.
ANYTHING ELSE?
It’s a big hand grinder so you need to put your back into it. My girlfriend has to sit down and put it in between her legs to get it going.
RECENT BREW WITH IT?
Every coffee I drink at home. I’ve had a lot of Kenyans.
2ND FAVOURITE COFFEE THING?
My goose neck kettle!
HUGH
YOUR FAVOURITE PIECE OF COFFEE KIT?
WHY?
Because they’re bloody awesome! I (literally) don’t leave the house without mine. They’re light, waterproof, fast & super accurate – pretty much the perfect scale.
YOU WOULD RECOMMEND IT TO..?
Anyone who’s serious about getting the best out of their coffee.
USAGE TIP?
Just make sure nothing’s touching the side and it’s good to go! These scales are super sensitive so you wanna use them out of the wind and on a nice stable surface … otherwise they’ll drive you crazy.
ANYTHING ELSE?
If you’re looking for a scale to weigh all your doses on, the larger Pearl is probably a better option.
RECENT BREW WITH IT?
Chelelektu Ethiopia Natural – yum.
2ND FAVOURITE COFFEE THING?
Baratza Vario w/steel burrs
WENDY
YOUR FAVOURITE PIECE OF COFFEE KIT?
WHY?
Because I like to travel light & the Porlex fits perfectly into the Aeropress so it makes a tidy little travel kit.
YOU WOULD RECOMMEND IT TO..?
Anyone regularly away from electricity
USAGE TIP?
I have a terrycloth wristband that I put over the grinder for a better grip.
ANYTHING ELSE?
If you are not paying attention it is easy for the bottom chamber to fly off while you’re grinding and spray ground coffee everywhere. It’s only funny if you have enough coffee for another batch!
RECENT BREW WITH IT?
Not the most recent, but on my buying trip to Indonesia last year I was brewing Sugarplum blend trials each morning for myself and my travel companions.
2ND FAVOURITE COFFEE THING?
Clever Coffee Dripper
DECLAN
YOUR FAVOURITE PIECE OF COFFEE KIT?
The Brewista Gooseneck kettle.
WHY?
It allows you to control the flow rate & temperature of your water, which are both essential when it comes to brewing the best filter coffee.
YOU WOULD RECOMMEND IT TO..?
Anyone who wants to make filter at home.
USAGE TIP?
My advice would be to test what temperature your coffee is best brewed at and then save a few temperature presets depending on what coffee you’re using (or even for brewing tea).
RECENT BREW WITH IT?
The Single O Ethiopia Dumerso both at work and at home. Without the kettle I wouldn’t be able to control the flow rate of the water. If I used a normal kettle, the coffee would most likely under extract due to no flow control.
2ND FAVOURITE COFFEE THING?
The Fetco! So much more control over your batch brewing.
DION
YOUR FAVOURITE PIECE OF COFFEE KIT?
WHY?
Easy to use, loads of different recipes give you different tastes, easy to clean.
YOU WOULD RECOMMEND IT TO:
1 cup brewers that love filter coffee & single origins.
USAGE TIP?:
15g in 200ml water stir 3 times and push down 1.45 secs.
ANYTHING ELSE?
I entered in our internal knockout Aeropress competition, which we hold to see who to enter in the NSW Aeropress Championships. I thought I would show these kids how to brew the best brew;)
So I went and got myself deminirealised water from Coles and filled up a bottle, labelled it 78c soft 14 C, walked into the comp and followed this recipe:
16.5g coffee, 250ml soft mineral water at 78c, EK43 Grind at 9.5
Rinse normal paper filter, Aeropress in regular position. 40g of blooming water for 25 seconds, stir 5 times. Add 210g of water, stir once. Press very slowly for 75 seconds. Leave 45g in the Aeropress and discard. Well I came second. That’s what I call making brew that fucks your crew.
RECENT BREW WITH IT:
La Playa Ecuador.
Check it all out a shop.singleo.com.au.
