We are always trying to provide a great experience and deliver exceptional products in the fastest means possible, while sometimes speed isn’t possible, the story of the packages journey makes up for this. We are passing on Liz’s story, a Customer living in the Pacific and how her parcel went from Brisbane, Australia to her. This is her email & the journey of a coffee maker: Hello Team, Received my order from you all this afternoon! All perfect as ordered back in mid July. Truly lovely and raced out to get fresh beans at shop to grind for the HERO Aero press I’m using this year. So missing my espresso machine but too heavy to ship here. Your parcel has traveled the Pacific to get here. Whilst originally on a different vessel which broke down, was delayed by bad weather, oh and sent away as the wrong crane on board ship for off shore unloading, was unloaded from that ship in NZ and sent on the Norfolk Guardian a couple of weeks ago. Weather and sea conditions affect the opportunities to unload so this ship had a wait off shore. Finally unloaded in last few days and at post office this afternoon. Taking my new treasure to school to show my Hospitality class. We are just finishing our Prepare and serve espresso coffee unit. Super happy about receiving the mail from you, Liz ![]() ![]() The post Shipping Lengths for Great Coffee! appeared first on Alternative Brewing. from https://alternativebrewing.com.au/shipping-lengths-great-coffee/
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As home coffee brewing continues to be met with innovation, competition is heating up in the manual espresso maker space. There are two manual espresso makers we’re going to focus on in this article: the ROK Espresso Maker and the up-and-coming Flair Espresso Maker. It may go without saying, but neither of these devices relies on electricity. All it takes is some good old fashioned arm strength to pull great shots. This means there are no wires to fry, batteries to charge, and electrical boards to break. It also means they can be taken across town or the country – they travel well! Let’s take a good look at these rival devices so you can determine which one will more suit your lifestyle and brewing habits. The ROK Espresso MakerLaunched in 2012 by ROK Kitchen Tools, this espresso maker has been subject to years of scrutiny – and yet, it doesn’t seem to be losing steam. The consensus among testers and consumers is that this manual espresso maker is powerful, simple to use, and can pull a great shot. To brew your espresso, preheat the portafilter, fill it with grounds, attach it to the main body, and add hot water to the reservoir. Now, lift the arms completely and allow the water to pre infuse the grounds for about 5 seconds. When this phase is complete, press down on the arms forcefully to generate 5-10 bars of pressure. Watch as golden streams of rich espresso fall into your cup. This pressurized stage should take 20-30 seconds and may require a second lift and press. The ROK’s portafilter has room for about 7-8 grams of coffee grounds – only enough to pull single shots. Commercial espresso machines typically pull shots at 8-10 bars of pressure, so 5-10 bars with the ROK. This means you can pull true espresso shots – not just really concentrated coffee. The brewer is created primarily out of engine-grade aluminum that comes with a 10-year warranty by ROK. The few plastic parts are BPA-Free. The bundle includes a carrying tin and a milk frother as well. Read the complete ROK Espresso Maker description. Flair Espresso MakerThis manual espresso maker doesn’t have as much of a track record behind it, but the $50,000 it raised via Kickstarter quickly established it as a power player and key rival to the ROK. The Flair Espresso Maker brewing process is very similar to the ROK’s, but with a few key differences. Firstly, instead of two side arms, the Flair has one long arm that you press down towards you. For some, this may be a little more comfortable. Secondly, this process is designed to generate up to 16 bars of pressure. It’s more pressure than you need to pull a true espresso shot, so you won’t have any doubts about whether you’re reaching the right level of pressure or not. This brewer can use 16-22g of coffee to produce up to 50 ml of espresso – up to two shots. That’s twice the input and yield of the ROK. The Flair also packs down a little smaller than the ROK into an included carrying case. The detachable brewing head makes cleaning up a breeze. Built with premium grade aluminum and stainless steel, this brewer will pull shots for years to come. Read the complete Flair Espresso Maker description. -- While both of these manual espresso makers have earned the affection of home espresso lovers around the world, one may be more suited for your unique lifestyle than the other. It’s up to you to decide which. Does the double-armed, single-shot pulling ROK seem right for your kitchen; or does the single-armed, double-shot pulling Flair sound like a better fit? See both in Action below: The post Flair VS. ROK – Manual Espresso Makers appeared first on Alternative Brewing. from https://alternativebrewing.com.au/flair-vs-rok-manual-espresso-makers/
NanoPresso – Portable Espresso Improved The last decade has been great for portable espresso lovers. New technology has made espresso more travel-friendly and less hassle than ever – and it’s only getting better. In 2014 Wacaco release the MiniPresso, and we didn’t think portable espresso could get any better. However, the envelope has been pushed once again with the release of their new product: the NanoPresso. Wacaco could have let the MiniPresso define the company’s legacy, but it didn’t want to settle for great. It’s shooting for excellent. The NanoPresso, upon first glance, looks a lot like the company’s MiniPresso. Sure, you could consider it a highly improved version of the MiniPresso, but we feel like it deserves to be considered a device of its own. 95% of the manufactured parts are new, after all. Let’s take a good look at how the NanoPresso exceeds the standards set by the MiniPresso and why we’re so excited about this brewer. We think, once you’ve seen the innovation captured in this brewer, you’ll love it too. Shorter And Lighter Than Ever BeforeIf “shorter and lighter” sounds like “sacrificing durability to yield a greater profit”, we understand. Unfortunately, that’s how many businesses try to trick us into repurchasing items. However, Wacaco has always been a quality-forward company. It’s clear in their design that they’re not itching to cut a few cents off their cost here and there. They aim to create a product they’re proud of. In fact, the NanoPresso weighs 26 grams less than the MiniPresso, despite using a more durable and heavier material. How they accomplished that, we don’t know, but the device simply feels stronger while being less heavy. Wacaco also managed to shave off 2 cm from the total height of the NanoPresso, making it easier to fit into the smallest of bags.
The MiniPresso was the standard-setter in 2014 for small and light espresso makers, but the NanoPresso has taken the top spot on the leaderboard. CleanabilityOne of the only frustrations with the MiniPresso was how the device was cleaned. Though it wasn’t hard, it didn’t seem as convenient as it could be – especially for as small as the device was. Wacaco listened: the NanoPresso is much easier to clean. The brewing head has been completely redesigned to make disassembling and cleaning each part much simpler. The main body inner surface, where you attach the portafilter, has also been redesigned with fewer grooves and crannies. This keep grounds from getting stuck (which could be so frustrating in the MiniPresso). Water Reservoir And Portafilter SizeSomehow, even with making the NanoPresso smaller, Wacaco managed to increase the water reservoir size to 80 ml. They’re also in the process of creating a portafilter adapter that will increase the amount of ground coffee you can use from 8 grams to 16. While the original MiniPresso was limited to single shots, the NanoPresso will soon be capable of pulling true double shots – and the brewer is smaller!
18 Bars Of PressureWacaco’s newly patented pump system allows you to achieve an astounding 18 bars of pressure (261 psi) to brew your espresso. Modern commercial espresso machines only need 8-10 bars to pull true espresso shots, so you’re not short of needed pressure. The seals have been improved to hold that level of pressure for a more consistent shot. Not only does the NanoPresso reach 18 bars of pressure, but it does so with less force required than the MiniPresso. Wacaco’s research indicates that it takes 15% less energy. Let’s talk practically. To achieve the max of 16 bars with the MiniPresso, it would take 13.6 kg of force via the pumping knob. To achieve the max of 18 bars with the NanoPresso, it takes only 11.6 kg. This 2 kg difference is quite noticeable and saves some energy for your fingers. A release valve will open if you somehow generate more than 18 bars of pressure, keeping you safe.
Getting The Best From Your NanoPressoWhile the NanoPresso can work with pre-ground coffee (thanks to that high 18 bars of pressure), it really thrives when you can grind your beans right before brewing. This preserves the best flavors of the coffee until you’re ready to use them and allows you to “dial in” your grind size to work perfectly with the brewer. We suggest aiming to grind your coffee so that it comes as close as possible to 18 bars of pressure without activating the release valve. From there, adjust by taste. Brewing A Single ShotGrind 8 grams of coffee beans at a very fine setting, pour into the portafilter, and tamp hard. Fill the reservoir with hot water and assemble the whole device. Hold it over the included cup. Begin pressing the pumping knob continually. Keep pressing until the included cup is full. You now have a rich, balanced single shot of espresso. Brewing A Double ShotGrind 16 grams of coffee beans at a very fine setting, pour into the extended portafilter (accessories sold separately), and tamp hard. Fill the reservoir with hot water and assemble the whole device. Hold it over the larger cup. Begin pressing the pumping knob continually. Keep pressing until the larger cup is full. You now have a rich, balanced double shot of espresso. Brewing With Cold WaterBelieve it or not, you can actually pull a cold water shot. Use the instructions from above with cold water and you’ll have a shot of espresso that moreso resembles cold brew concentrate. It may not exactly be a hot shot of espresso, but it opens the door to some creative iced drinks. The Wacaco NanoPresso isn’t a gimmick or marketing over promise – it’s the real deal. This portable espresso maker is small, light, easy to clean, and very powerful. Take it on your next mountaintop trek, your next valley camping trip, or just across town. No matter where you take it, you’ll love it. Check out the Wacaco NanoPresso.
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