Bri and Katee

We have the stove top type and while its good it just does not hold enough water. We prefer our coffee in 'normal' sized mugs not the dinky cups to be found in cafe bars. So there is never enough in the stove top jug to do two mugs. Then anyone with one will know they are too hot to seperate for ages afterwards, they need to cool down.

Our electric one does ok, it boils the water and it then passes by gravity through the strainer of coffee into the glass jug underneath. But our must have is a real machine like you see in the restaurants.

steviedeluxe

Ah - but there's a trick - you make it far stronger than normal, and add further hot water to your cup to taste... Doubles your gas bill though

betris

dont foget you have to boil the milk before you add it to the coffe.

jackytoo

I think the water could make a difference. Taste can vary from street to street.

Jur

I can´t believe you just wrote that.

steviedeluxe

I remember now, there always seemed to be a debate between coffee drinkers as to whether they wanted it con leche caliente or con leche templado...in fact there may have been a 3rd option

As to whether you wanted it in a cup or a glass....

In summer - cafe con hielo - fantastic!

megmet

I'll drink to that!

lynnxa

yes...........but here they just call it a cafetera - a coffee maker

the plunger one you were talking about I have always called a cafetière - as in french

agoreira

"Diccionario Espasa Grand: español-francés français-espagnol © 2000 Espasa-Calpe:

cafetera
ƒ
1 (aparato) cafetière ƒ.
2 fig & fam (aparato viejo) vieux machin m;
(coche) guimbarde ƒ"

cricketman

What is that meant to prove?

A dictionary helps you translate things, but it does not necessarily give a like-for-like translation. For that you have to take cultural habits in consideration.

The cafeteras used in Spain and Italy I have never seen in the UK. When people talk about a cafetiere in the UK most people think of the French device which is different from the Spanish/Italian ones.

angiescarr

Don't boil the milk! Just heat it to between 150 and 170 degrees. Get a coffee thermometer.
And yes Johna & Kath. Get your own coffee machine
http://coffeegeek.com/reviews/consum...bucks_barista- My recommendation having used some cheaper types and just looked at the prices of the more expensive! If they still sell it it should cost just a little over 200. Buy the milk thermometer too. Don't bother with using the milk heater/ frother. Just microwave your milk if you don't want the "faff". If you want a really Spanish coffee taste, use UHT entero milk!

jackytoo

Years ago the spanish always used those tins of carnation milk for their coffee. I think that is what started me drinking black coffee

agoreira

And me. Just throw some coffee in a cup and put some boiling water on it, that'll do me fine. Never mind all this mumbo jumbo, it's sounds easier to put a man in space than make a cup of coffeee.

EsuriJohn

We haven't joined this debate since we think that personal taste is just that personal. However I did treat myself to a rather nice grind and brew machine and a coffee frother for Christmas because I think its the fresh grind that gives it the taste. The frother recommends full milk and I buy a box of UHT for just that purpose. Got to have fresh on the corn flakes.

Kath likes the Dowe Egberts decaf freeze dried granules and I don't blame her when I have spent 1/2 an hour cleaning my new pride and joy!

lynnxa

exactly what I was about to say - just for once I thought I read ahead & see if someone had beaten me to it

it really doesn't matter what a dictionary says - it is local usage that counts