Loco, your coffee guidance.
Did you know that coffee is the second most traded commodity in the world after oil?
Its grown in over 70 Countries worldwide with its top producers being, Brazil, Colombia and Vietnam.
Check out some of our most recent blogs …
The Dark Side of Coffee Production: The role modern slavery plays in Coffee production, and what is being done to tackle it.
Our Personal Recomendations
V60
Loco’s Choice: https://amzn.to/4h2n8J1
The V60 is a popular manual pour-over coffee maker known for its simplicity, precision, and versatility. Developed by the Japanese company Hario in 2004, the V60 quickly became a favourite among coffee enthusiasts due to its ability to produce a clean, flavorful cup with excellent control over brewing variables. The name "V60" refers to the 60-degree angle of the cone-shaped design, which plays a significant role in the brewing process.
Key Features of the V60:
Design & Materials:
The V60 is characterized by its conical shape, which promotes even extraction of the coffee. The spiral ribs on the inside of the cone allow air to escape during brewing, preventing the filter from sticking to the walls, which helps water flow through evenly.
The V60 is available in various materials, including ceramic, glass, plastic, and metal. Each material offers different heat retention properties, with ceramic being a popular choice for those seeking consistent brewing temperatures.
Its simple, minimalistic design is easy to use and visually appealing, making it a favourite both at home and in speciality coffee shops.
Brewing Process:
To brew coffee with the V60, you first place a paper filter into the cone and wet it with hot water to remove any paper taste and preheat the brewer. After adding ground coffee to the filter, you slowly pour hot water over the coffee in a controlled, circular motion, allowing the water to evenly saturate the grounds.
The V60’s conical shape and the pour-over method provide excellent control over extraction time, flow rate, and water distribution, giving you the ability to fine-tune each brew. You can adjust factors like grind size, pouring technique, and water temperature to customize your coffee.
Coffee Flavor:
The V60 is renowned for producing a clean, balanced cup with a bright and nuanced flavour profile. The even extraction provided by the cone shape allows for a more uniform coffee brew, highlighting the coffee’s natural acidity and intricate tasting notes.
The result is often a cup with crisp clarity and a smooth mouthfeel, ideal for showcasing high-quality single-origin beans, especially those with fruity, floral, or complex flavours.
Capacity:
The V60 is typically available in three sizes: 01 (1-2 cups), 02 (1-4 cups), and 03 (1-6 cups). The most commonly used size for home brewing is the V60-02, which strikes a balance between single-cup brewing and larger batches.
Brewing Control:
One of the key reasons coffee aficionados love the V60 is the control it offers. Unlike automatic machines, the V60 allows you to experiment with every element of the brewing process. Whether you're dialling in your grind size, adjusting the pour rate, or fine-tuning the water temperature, the V60 lets you shape the flavour of your coffee to your exact preferences.
Ease of Use:
While it requires more involvement than an automatic coffee maker, the V60 is relatively easy to use once you get the hang of it. The process is more hands-on and takes a bit longer than drip coffee machines, but it’s perfect for those who enjoy the art of brewing and want to take their coffee to the next level.
Aesthetic Appeal:
The V60's clean lines and functional design have made it a favourite among coffee professionals and hobbyists alike. It's often considered a piece of coffee gear that’s both utilitarian and visually pleasing, making it a popular choice for those who appreciate coffee culture and design.
Why Use a V60?
Customizable Brewing: The V60 gives you full control over the brewing process, allowing you to adjust grind size, pouring technique, and brewing time to produce the ideal cup of coffee.
Clean, Balanced Cup: The result is a bright and clear cup that showcases the full range of flavours in the coffee, particularly when brewed with high-quality, speciality beans.
Versatility: Whether you're brewing a single cup for yourself or a larger batch for friends, the V60 can handle a variety of coffee-to-water ratios. You can experiment with different brewing methods and techniques to find the one that suits your taste.
Portable & Easy to Clean: The V60 is lightweight, compact, and easy to clean, making it ideal for home use, travel, or even taking to coffee competitions.
Overall, the V60 is a versatile, high-quality pour-over coffee maker that excels in offering precise control and producing a clean, flavorful cup of coffee. While it requires a little more attention than an automatic machine, it's a favourite for those who appreciate the craft of coffee brewing and want to explore the nuances of their favourite beans.
This is the model we would advise, and also the model we use at Loco Coffee: https://amzn.to/4h2n8J1
Chemex
Loco’s Choice: https://amzn.to/3DFrBTH
The Chemex is a beautifully designed, manual pour-over coffee maker that combines aesthetics with functionality to brew clean, flavorful coffee. Invented in 1941 by German chemist Peter Schlumbohm, the Chemex is renowned for its elegant hourglass shape, made from non-porous borosilicate glass, and its unique brewing process that emphasizes clarity and smoothness in the cup.
Key Features of the Chemex:
Design & Materials:
The Chemex is made from high-quality borosilicate glass, which is durable, resistant to thermal shock, and transparent, allowing you to see the brewing process.
It features a wooden collar or leather strap around the neck, which not only adds to its visual appeal but also makes it easier to handle when hot.
Brewing Process:
The Chemex utilizes a pour-over method, where hot water is poured over coffee grounds in a filter. The water slowly extracts the coffee’s flavors as it passes through the grounds and drips into the bottom of the vessel.
The Chemex’s signature is its specially designed, thick paper filters, which are significantly thicker than typical filters used in pour-over brewing. This thickness removes more oils and micro-particles, resulting in a clean, crisp cup with a smooth mouthfeel and a bright flavor profile.
Coffee Flavor:
The result of brewing with a Chemex is a coffee that tends to be more vibrant and cleaner compared to other brewing methods. The thicker filters allow the coffee to retain less of the oils and fines (tiny particles), which means the brew has a clear, tea-like quality with delicate flavors and pronounced acidity.
Many coffee enthusiasts appreciate the Chemex for its ability to highlight subtle tasting notes, especially in high-quality, single-origin coffees.
Capacity:
The Chemex comes in various sizes, from a 3-cup version to a 10-cup model, making it versatile for both single cups and larger brews.
Ease of Use:
While the Chemex brewing process is a bit slower than other methods, it’s simple and intuitive, making it ideal for those who enjoy the ritual of coffee brewing. You just need to add ground coffee to the filter, pour in hot water in a circular motion, and wait for the brew to filter through.
Aesthetic Appeal:
The Chemex’s elegant design has earned it a spot in the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), thanks to its timeless beauty and innovative functionality. It’s often considered a conversation piece as much as a coffee maker, blending form and function seamlessly.
Why Use a Chemex?
Clean and Crisp Brew: Thanks to the thick filters, the Chemex produces coffee with minimal bitterness and a well-defined taste, which is ideal for those who prefer a more refined, lighter cup of coffee.
Visual Appeal: It’s an elegant addition to any kitchen or coffee bar, with its minimalist design that doubles as a work of art.
Versatility: It works well with a variety of coffee beans, especially those that showcase nuanced, fruity, or floral notes.
Overall, the Chemex is ideal for those who appreciate slow, deliberate brewing and a clear, vibrant cup of coffee. While it may require a little more time and attention than other methods, the results are well worth the effort for those seeking a refined coffee experience.
This is the model we would advise, and also the model we use at Loco Coffee: https://amzn.to/3DFrBTH
Sage - Barista Express Coffee Machine
Loco’s Choice: https://amzn.to/4h27z47
The Sage Barista Express (also known as the Breville Barista Express in some regions) is a highly regarded, all-in-one espresso machine designed for home baristas who want to create café-quality espresso and espresso-based drinks with ease. Offering a perfect balance of automation and customization, the Barista Express is known for its intuitive controls, built-in burr grinder, and user-friendly features, making it ideal for both beginners and more experienced coffee enthusiasts.
Key Features of the Sage Barista Express:
Built-In Burr Grinder:
One of the standout features of the Barista Express is its integrated conical burr grinder, allowing you to grind fresh coffee beans directly before brewing. This ensures maximum freshness, flavor, and aroma with every shot of espresso.
The grinder comes with 18 grind settings, enabling you to adjust the grind size to suit your preferred brew style—from a fine espresso grind to coarser grinds for other methods like French press.
A dose-control system ensures consistent, precise amounts of coffee grounds for each shot, leading to more reliable extraction and balanced flavor.
Powerful Espresso Extraction:
The Barista Express features a 15-bar Italian pump, which is the industry standard for espresso machines. This pressure is essential for producing rich, full-bodied espresso with a creamy, golden crema on top.
PID temperature control ensures water is heated to the optimal temperature for consistent extraction, helping you achieve the best flavor from your coffee beans. Temperature stability is key for avoiding over-extraction or under-extraction.
Manual & Automatic Operation:
For manual espresso-making, the Barista Express gives you full control over shot timing and the coffee-to-water ratio, allowing you to experiment with different brewing parameters for the perfect espresso.
The machine also has one-touch buttons for single and double shots, simplifying the process for those who prefer a more automated experience while still maintaining a high level of customization.
Integrated Steam Wand:
The steam wand on the Barista Express offers excellent milk frothing capabilities, giving you the ability to create silky microfoam for lattes, cappuccinos, and flat whites.
The wand is easy to use, and the manual control allows you to texture milk to your desired consistency for the perfect cup of espresso-based drinks.
The auto-purge function ensures the steam wand is automatically cleared of milk residue after every use, making cleanup easier and ensuring hygienic operation.
Compact and User-Friendly Design:
The Barista Express features a sleek, stainless steel and black designs that fits neatly into most kitchen setups, despite housing an integrated grinder and other high-end features.
It has an easy-to-read pressure gauge, which helps you monitor the pressure during extraction. This visual guide makes it easier to understand the espresso-making process and adjust your technique accordingly.
Removable Water Tank & Drip Tray:
The 2-liter water reservoir is easily accessible and removable, making refilling and cleaning convenient.
The removable drip tray collects excess water and coffee drips, helping to maintain a clean machine and preventing messes during brewing.
Dual-Stage Filtration:
The Barista Express comes with an integrated water filter to ensure the water used in brewing is clean, improving both the taste of your coffee and the longevity of the machine.
Why Choose the Sage Barista Express?
Freshness & Flavor: The built-in burr grinder ensures your coffee is always ground fresh before brewing, which is key to unlocking the full flavor potential of your beans.
Consistency: With its precise control over grind size, coffee dosage, water temperature, and pressure, the Barista Express delivers consistent, professional-level results every time you brew.
Versatility: Whether you’re pulling a straight espresso shot, creating intricate latte art, or frothing milk for a cappuccino, the Barista Express gives you all the tools you need to craft your favorite espresso-based drinks.
Ease of Use: The machine’s intuitive design and user-friendly features make it an excellent choice for beginners who are just starting their espresso journey, as well as experienced users who want more control over their coffee-making process.
Compact Design: Despite its all-in-one functionality, the Barista Express is compact enough to fit in most kitchens, making it a great option for those with limited counter space.
Ideal For:
Beginner to Intermediate Home Baristas: If you're new to espresso making but want a machine that offers room to grow, the Barista Express is a great choice. It combines automation with hands-on elements, allowing you to gradually refine your skills.
Espresso Lovers: If you’re serious about espresso and espresso-based drinks (lattes, cappuccinos, etc.), the Barista Express offers excellent quality and versatility at home.
Those with Limited Space: The Barista Express is compact, making it a good fit for small kitchens or spaces where a full-fledged espresso machine with separate grinders might be too large.
Conclusion:
The Sage Barista Express is an outstanding all-in-one espresso machine that provides a great balance of convenience, quality, and performance. Its built-in grinder, automatic espresso extraction, and steam wand for milk frothing make it a complete solution for anyone looking to create café-quality coffee at home. With features designed to enhance both beginner and expert barista skills, the Barista Express is a top choice for those seeking an affordable, high-performance espresso machine that delivers consistently great results.
Personally, this is the model we would advise, and also the model many of our friends have: https://amzn.to/4h27z47
