If your smallest ring on the lowest setting is still too wide for it, then a diffuser sort of plate thing (I'm sure there's a more technical term for this) would work. You don't really need a great deal of heat from the ring, or have it on for a long time. You pour very-hot-to-boiling water in the bottom and just need a little bump of heat to brew, which tends to be just a minute or so. If it starts spitting and sputtering you've left it too long.
What no-one seems to have mentioned here is: If you're wanting latte's then you'll need a machine with a steam wand or something to do the same job. The aerocinnos are quite good for a 0 skill press and go option. I've looked around and there don't seem to be any nespresso machines with affordable steam wands anymore. Otherwise I'm 100% with the guys saying french press/aeropress and a hario grinder. Thats what I use.
True, though I didn't necessarily think that specifically lattes were the objective. The aeroccinos give more of a warm foamy milk than a proper smooth and sweet froth, but outside the presence of a steam wand (and a fair bit of practice), you're quite right that they're probably the only option for a latte.
I am not concerned with the froth Lance just the overall flavour though it was served lukewarm if I remember correctly.
BOOM! Yeah I'm starting beef! But on a serious note: I 100% agree that you the aerocinnos give too much foam, when I use my parents I tend to: a) add a dash of water. b) stop it a little early Prevents it being too dry, but I'd rather use a wand like I do at work. Edit: NINJA Kronos Too much heat will kill the flavour you want to make your coffee a little cooler for you mouth to be able to taste what is going on. I think that the nice thing about warm frothed milk is the texture and temperature which compliments the coffee's bitterness, but that's personal. I like a french press with some frothed milk on top to finish it off.
Lost me there Lance. Hot or cold I have discovered that there is an optimum temperature when I am able to get more flavour. Oddly each kind of instant is different as far as temps go. Aeropress and a Hario grinder looks the way to go.
And the most important bit, fresh beans. As a general rule, if there's not a "roasted date" on them, they're not fresh. Most roasters will roast on the day of dispatch for online orders. Try not to order more than you can consume in ~3 weeks. I didn't necessarily mean they don't serve a purpose. Without a steam wand, it certainly beats microwaving milk and dumping it in, just not like the foam you get in a cafe. Well... they're precisely like the foam you get in Starbucks, Costa et al, but they're not like the foam you should get in a cafe
I've used Hasbean for ages, but recently have started to do the rounds again - http://www.hasbean.co.uk/ They have great tasting notes, so worth having a snoop round and pick ones you like the sound of. I've bought Fazenda Cahoeira and Finca la Fany for years and love it and a recent major highlight for me has been the "Here's Johnny" blend and have just finished a bag of a pacamara blend ("ooh aah", seriously, that's what it's called) that was very good, which is saying something as it's normally well outside my comfort zone. They do some good subscriptions as well, which can make it quite a bit cheaper than ordering as and when. Rave is pretty popular, and well priced - http://ravecoffee.co.uk/ Foundry is next on my list, after a few recommendations for espresso from the chap that runs it - http://www.foundrycoffeeroasters.com/ Note: I drink espresso though, and what works well with espresso doesn't always work well with brewed. Also note that like a single malt whisky, single origin coffees can be very different things to different people. What works for me might not work for you. It would definitely be worth picking three to start with that sound good to you, maybe one on the bright/fruity side, one on the chocolatey/nutty side and one squarely in the middle.
Trivet? Along with my Aeropress, I've got that exact Moka Pot over the page, it's good for 2 Latte's in mugs. I usually use the Aeropress on a workday as it takes less time, and the pot on a day off as I have a lazy morning and a few cups of coffee. I might get a starter pack from Hasbean too, I've just been using Lavazza.
One of these perhaps? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SIMMER-RI...TER-21cm-/121188777727?_trksid=p2054897.l4275
Simples: don't use instant. That's it. That's all. Get decent beans and grind them yourself in a £20,-- Hario Skerton grinder and brew in a £15,-- French press. All you need to complete the set is an electric kettle, and presumably you already have one of those. The best coffee in my limited experience is also hard to get your hands on unless you live in Bristol or Birmingham: Feral Trade coffee. Else you could try the Algerian Coffee Company in Soho, London (also do mail order) or Imperial Teas in Lincoln (also mail order). There are no simple inexpensive machines that will get you good coffee. A £100,-- Nespresso pod machine makes a reasonable espresso using the Ristretto pod but that's all it does.
This Aeropress comes with free coffee but which one should I choose for my first? http://yorkcoffeeemporium.co.uk/aer...Ls49HwxY0DbGbTLYZr54MtAq4GeGyG-q14aAmHw8P8HAQ
My preference would be the Rwandan AA as I like s coffee with berry notes. The other two (not decafe or roasters choice) are chocolaty so will be more bitter or nutty which I'm not so sure about.
