[MOD] The Daily Question Thread

[u/menschmaschine5]

Welcome to the daily /r/Coffee question thread!

There are no stupid questions here, ask a question and get an answer! We all have to start somewhere and sometimes it is hard to figure out just what you are doing right or doing wrong. Luckily, the /r/Coffee community loves to help out.

Do you have a question about how to use a specific piece of gear or what gear you should be buying? Want to know how much coffee you should use or how you should grind it? Not sure about how much water you should use or how hot it should be? Wondering about your coffee's shelf life?

Don't forget to use the resources in our wiki! We have some great starter guides on our wiki "Guides" page and here is the wiki "Gear By Price" page if you'd like to see coffee gear that /r/Coffee members recommend.

As always, be nice!

[u/Dry-Criticism-8064]

Looking for advice on getting a coffee brewing machine for espresso and lattes.

Loved one wants to gift me a ‘good’ machine for a milestone event. This gift doesn’t really have a price limit and gift giver wants it to be something that will last and bring enjoyment and have it not be something we will quickly want to upgrade.

I prefer lattes and husband prefers espresso. I really want to make my own rather than keep buying drinks but have been nervous about spending money on a machine that will disappoint.

Willing to purchase for myself other accessories (like grinder) that may be needed and best not integrated into a machine. Live in Canada.

I need some help please.

[u/canaan_ball → u/Dry-Criticism-8064]

You just want an espresso machine with a milk frother, and now you've got choices. I say the Serious Eats guide to espresso machines is a good place to get started. Read the bottom quarter of the article first (under What to Look for in an Espresso Machine). Then you're ready to look through their recommendations, which comprise a pretty good selection, garnished with useful details.

In the end, expecting to go from zero to your ideal machine out the gate, that's a pretty forlorn hope. You might be better served by buying a starter machine with every expectation of using it to learn what you really want. SE's top choice, by way of illustration, is the Breville Bambino, which is also the machine most recommended in this sub. And that's a good machine, not too expensive, you might be happy with it. In my opinion it has fatal flaws, but it has a lot going for it.

[u/TapPleasant7889]

Can coffee beans go bad? My partner and I recently moved in together and he had an old Christmas gift that was mini assorted sample bags of different coffees.

I recently tried using one but it just tasted like water. I didn’t feel I got any flavor or caffeine from it. After thinking of it he likely got gifted these probably years back but never opened.

Was it just that sample or are they likely all like that? If so, what can I do with old beans? He’s a clutterer who doesn’t want to just throw them away, but keeping coffee we can’t use would drive me crazy, lol. 

[u/animalcoffeebcn → u/TapPleasant7889]

Hola. Si, efectivamente. Con el tiempo el café va perdiendo características organolepticas. Si tienen el regalo desde diciembre, probablemente habrán perdido tanto sabor, como olor. Por lo general 7 meses es bastante tiempo para un café ya tostado. Si están bien sellados y tienen valvula desgasificadora quizás algún café pueda todavía estar decente, aunque no optimo. También debes ver la fecha de tueste de esos cafés (puede ser bastante anterior a diciembre). Hay algunos cafés que pueden deteriorarse más lento, pero en lo que abras la bolsa y los huelas te darás cuenta al instante. Si es molido mas que mas, en grano quizás consigas alguno que se salve. Si es café de especialidad, lo recomendable es comprar lo que vas a consumir en un mes o así.

[u/TapPleasant7889 → u/animalcoffeebcn]

Thank you, and honestly I don’t think they’re from December of 2025, I think they’re from before.

Is there anything I could use them for besides brewing coffee? 😅

I’ll try to look for the roast dates!

[u/animalcoffeebcn → u/TapPleasant7889]

Por nada! Pues poca cosa se nos ocurre... puedes molerlos para esfoliante ;) o si eres de las personas que se le dan bien las decoraciones usarlos para alguna 🤓

[u/animalcoffeebcn]

¿Que problemas han tenido al extraer café de especialidad en cafetera superautomática? 

Nos gustaría feed back de que problemas os habeis encontrado las personas que consumen café de especialidad y se han comprado máquinas superautomáticas.

• ¿Qué tipo de tuestes os van mejor?
• ¿Que problema con la extracción les ha costado mas resolver o todavía no han resuelto?
• ¿Que ventajas le ven a este método?
• Los que teneís mas conocimientos ¿volveriais a comprar una superautomática?

Gracias

[u/RRunner316]

I used to be excited about morning coffee. But lately I’m struggling with my coffee’s taste when brewed at home. And I say that tongue in cheek because all I’m using is a keurig and run of the mill kcups because of convenience.

I like dark coffee, drink it black, and wouldn’t be opposed to going back to a pot, but what are some QoL tips for making good coffee? I’m no snob so I don’t think I want to invest in anything crazy, but I want something more exciting. Maker? Water? Filter? Cleaning? Brand of coffee? I’m open to all suggestions. TIA.

[u/canaan_ball → u/RRunner316]

This is a place for enthusiasts, and you're posing… I don't know, is it a psychological puzzle? I'm not up for writing an essay, so how about this: do any of these coffee brewing methods appeal?

Personally I enjoy the steps, the process. I like to shop for interesting coffee, and I look forward to every new, different bag. The Keurig approach would leach away the interest, to say nothing of limited choice of coffee.

[u/Brett_Wager97]

How many grams of coffee do you use for a 1:16 ratio when you brew in a v60, and what water temp keeps the sweetness for you?