Knowledge Base
Alan’s accumulation of wisdom
Choosing a Grinder
This is NOT a grinder review. It is an overview of the most common domestic grinders available to the Australian market as of January 2007…
Plunger (French Press) Brewing
There’s a very good reason that plunger brewing has stood the test of time as a fantastic way to make yourself coffee at home. You can find plungers in most big box stores for less than you’d pay for a 6-pack of beer…
Tasting Coffee
The taste of the coffee is ultimately what it’s all about. Everything which goes before the moment you savour the first sip of your cup should be designed to give you the best possible flavour experience.
Roasting Coffee
If there is any area of the "coffee culture" filled with as many myths, superstitions, half truths and holy grail searches as espresso perfection, it's got to be coffee roasting.
Grinding Coffee
Why grind coffee at all? Couldn't you just boil the whole beans until you've extracted all the flavour from them? Well, the answer is you can…
Vacuum (Syphon) Brewing
The coffee from a syphon can best be described as "crystal clear", with great purity of flavour and aroma and no bitterness added by the brewing process…
Rancilio Silvia (Pre-2006) Repair
An in-depth guide (with photos!) to servicing & repairing a Rancilio Silvia domestic espresso machine
Repair & Clean a Combi Machine
This is both a "how-to" and a "why you should" article. The "why you should" is easy: it took a trained technician an hour (at $120.00 per hour) simply to clean up the group and showerscreen!
Lelit Boiler Replacement Guide
A photo guide to replacing the boiler element in the Lelit PL series Espresso Machines.
Filter Coffee
The fundamental principle of filter coffee is simple: a basket, usually conical, lined with a porous filter…
Moka/Espresso Pots
These all work on the same basic principle, which can be stretched a bit to steamer type "espresso" machines as well…
Coffee History
In the beginning, coffee was a shrub or tree growing in the mountainous forests of Ethiopia…
Middle Eastern Coffee
"Middle Eastern" Coffee is the oldest of the established brewing processes, although these days the rest of the world tends to call it Turkish Coffee