coffee – Shots of life

Here’s a quick post about my process of making latte’s at home using the Breville Barista Express. Please note that this is just my own workflow developed over 6 months of owning a BBE. I love this machine especially the color that we got. Good vibes all the way.

First we start with turning the machine on. This is important as you need to warm up the machine well to get the best out of it. Maybe 5 minutes will do. I usually lock the portafilter on to the grouphead while warming up and you’ll know when the machine is ready when the top is warm to touch and if the portafilter is warm too.

Second we prep all the materials needed. I have a scale, my foaming pitcher, of course the milk and coffee.

Third – measure the coffee dose that you need. In our case 20gms. I use the milk jug and tare it.

Fourth – off to the hopper the beans go!

Fifth – measure 200gms of milk using the same tare’d jug. Up to you how much milk you want, but for me and the Mrs., we’re happy with 100gms each.

Sixth – grind em’ beans well. This is the feature that I really love about the BBE – the built-in grinder. Note my dosing cup – locally made 3D printed thing. Just in case you’re wondering what my settings are – normal grind amount, and 4-5 grind fineness depending on age of my beans. Don’t forget to level your puck and tamp well.

Seventh – lock the portafilter and express! For a 20gm dose, we extract about 54gms (2 cups at 27gms each) and takes around 30 seconds from pressing the button to preinfusion and end of extraction.

Eighth – steam your milk. This is where I find the BBE a bit lacking. The steam power is a bit weak and the sound… omg the sound is just horrible. It takes me about a minute or so to fully warm the milk – not very fast considering the ear pain you get out of this. One minute takes me to around 60 degrees Celsius – perfect for a latte.

Last step – combine your steamed milk with your espresso. I have a confession to make: I am not a big fan of latte art so we just pour and drink. Better to get to the good stuff now than going fancy fancy with latte art – at least that’s how we think.

So there you have it! A ‘simple’ and repeatable 9 step workflow to get you started.

Is it easy? Not really.

Is it fast? No.

Is it instinctive? Not at all?

Is it worth the time, money and effort to have a new hobby like this? Absolutely!

Hope you had fun reading this as much as I had fun writing up this guide. What about you? What are your steps? Any paraphernalia that helps your work flow? Should I switch the order of some steps? Let me know and I’d love to hear your thoughts too. Cheers and stay safe!

A shot of espresso made using the Breville Barista Express

Ah the true nectar of the gods. Energy in a short shot of black liquid gold. No wonder coffee is one of the most consumed beverages in the world, and we are so lucky here in the Philippines, that we are a producer of high quality coffee.

The pandemic helped change my view of coffee – from an essential beverage that gives a boost of energy in the morning, afternoon, just before working out, or after lunch – to that of a lovely possibly life-long hobby that is steeped in curiosity, discovery and fun. In the one year since we’ve been locked-down here in lovely Manila, I’ve since acquired a few paraphernalia – like the Breville Barista Express, the Delonghi ECP 35.31, a Hario V60 set, a local Cuppa grinder, a Phin set, an Aeropress and countless other accessories, and I’ve probably gone through over 100 different kinds of coffee from dozens of online sellers.

Maybe we can start a series here. We can begin by listing some of my favorite espresso coffee that’s available right now in Metro Manila (circa Q2 2021.) So let’s go.

This list is in no particular order – just a listing of good ones that I find myself going back to for my ESPRESSO fix.

Yardstick – Golden Ticket – Php600 for 250gms or Php1,300 for a kilo – this is one of my go-to coffees specially for espresso. This is such an approachable one, a blend of two South American arabica beans, and expresses well for lattes. Extract this well and add steamed milk and you’ll be rewarded with a luscious, velvety drink that almost tastes like chocolate milk. mmmm. makes me want one right now!
Everyday Coffee – Aerin – Php480 for 200gms – another one of my go-to blends. This is a “seasonal blend” offered for some time, and I really hope they keep this as part of their standard offering. It is another South American blend, which gives it a familiar coffee profile that is accessible and likeable. If you’ve had good coffee icecream before, then you’ll find that profile here. It is similar to the Golden Ticket, but has a little more brightness that gives it a little more tang. I prefer the aroma of this one more than Yardstick’s offering. Takes 2-3 days from ordering to delivery, and sometimes they ask you to wait for a few days before opening the pack to let the coffee rest. Order via their website at http://www.everydaycoffee.ph
Freshbatch Coffee – Best Barako Blend – Php200 for 200gms – this is probably the best value for money coffee in my list here. Freshbatch Coffee believes that we should start brewing better coffee at home and this offering helps fulfil that vision. This is an interesting coffee that tastes amazing if you actually “break” the rules and over-extract it. It doesn’t “punish” you with a bitter over extracted espresso – but instead gives you a choc-nutty and well textured expression that makes for a mocha-tasting latte. The purveyor – Dennis – is a lovely chap. Easy to talk to, very knowledgable and can find ways if you badly need coffee. Look for his shop on IG/FB.
Arabica% Blend – Php350 for 200gms – Arabica% is a Japanese coffee shop and as amazing as the coffee is, the branding, architecture and merchandise is a feast for the eyes too. This is a medium-dark roast, so there is a little bit more brightness compared to the first three. This is good coffee – but you have to make sure you’re extracting well lest you end up with a slightly acidic shot.
Toby’s Estate – Woolloomooloo Blend – Php480 for 200gms – strong. earthy. spiced. chocolate and caramel. Another amazing coffee to try. I like the fact that you can order this via Boozy (of all places.) You do need some luck though if you get a fresh roasted one, or old stock. A freshly roasted bag is amazing – this is one bold espresso that rewards you if you extract well. And old bag will force you to grind finer and make extracting a bit harder.

That’s it for now. Am still trying to recall some earlier faves I’ve tried since last year, but this list is quite recent as I’ve had a bag or two of their offerings this 2021. We can expand this list as we go along.

You may have noticed that I talk about espresso and lattes, and this is how I prepare my usual morning coffee for me and the Mrs. But what about other coffee preparations? Fret not! Next up – my top coffees for pour overs!

Do you agree with my list? Have you tried the coffees listed here? Have I missed anything or a must-try? Please leave a comment below and I’d love to hear about your coffee experience too.

-chewy