Antonio’s Coffee Journey

My Coffee Setup

The tools I currently use to explore espresso, moka, slow brewing, grinders and daily coffee rituals.

A Setup in Progress

My coffee setup is not a fixed or definitive collection of tools. It is the current state of my personal journey through espresso, moka, slow brewing, grinders, mistakes, tests and small improvements.

Some parts of this setup are simple and accessible. Others are more technical and reflect my curiosity for extraction, grind quality, temperature control and repeatability. I do not see this page as a list of “perfect” equipment, but rather as a snapshot of what I currently use, what I am learning from it, and what I may improve in the future.

This setup is not final. It evolves with my curiosity, my mistakes, and every coffee I brew.

Espresso Setup

Daily Espresso Machine

Silvercrest SEM 1050 B1

At home, my main espresso machine is a Silvercrest SEM 1050 B1. It is not an advanced espresso machine, and I currently use it only with pressurized baskets, but it has helped me understand many of the basic principles behind espresso.

Dose, grind size, flow, taste balance, puck preparation and consistency are all things I started to explore with this machine.

It is still a learning machine for me, but I can also feel its limits. In the future, I would like to move toward a more capable espresso machine, especially now that my grinder setup is becoming more serious.

Manual Lever Experience

La Pavoni Professional Pre-Mill

At my parents’ place, I also have the possibility to use a La Pavoni Professional pre-millennium. This machine gives me a very different espresso experience: manual, more demanding, and much more sensitive to the way each shot is prepared.

On the La Pavoni, I use non-pressurized IMS competition baskets. This makes the extraction more direct and revealing. Every detail matters more: grind size, dose, temperature, pre-infusion and lever pressure.

To improve the thermal behaviour of the machine, I installed a Bong Isolator between the boiler and the grouphead. The goal is to improve thermal insulation and obtain more consistent coffees.

My Grinders

Manual Grinder

Kingrinder K6

The Kingrinder K6 is, in my opinion, one of the best manual grinders available. It is precise, versatile and capable of producing an impressive grind quality for different brewing methods.

I currently use it for the La Pavoni, where it allows me to obtain very good espresso results, especially with Neapolitan-style coffees.

At the same time, I also use the K6 for V60 and other slow brewing methods. For me, it is not just a backup grinder. It is one of the most important tools in my current setup.

Electric Grinder

Fiorenzato AllGround Sense

The Fiorenzato AllGround Sense is the new baby of the house, and probably one of the most important upgrades I have made so far.

I bought it with the idea of preparing my setup for a future espresso machine. What interested me most was the possibility to grind by weight directly into the portafilter, making the workflow more precise, repeatable and comfortable.

I also like its 64 mm flat burrs and the fine adjustment system, with very small adjustment steps that allow a more precise dial-in. Even if my current main machine is still limited, the Fiorenzato gives me room to grow.

Slow Brewing Setup

Slow brewing is another essential part of my coffee journey. It allows me to explore coffee in a different way compared to espresso: more clarity, more aroma, more delicacy and a slower ritual.

Pour-Over

Hario V60-02

I use an Hario V60-02 with its server. The V60 is one of the methods I enjoy the most because it is simple in appearance but very deep in practice.

Grind size, pouring structure, water temperature and agitation can completely change the result in the cup. If I had to choose one brewing method after espresso, it would probably be the V60.

Controlled Brewing

Pulsar Mini

The Pulsar Mini is also part of this slow brewing exploration. I see it together with the V60 as part of my search for cleaner, more aromatic and more controlled extractions.

Flexible Brewer

AeroPress

The AeroPress is another brewer I enjoy because of its flexibility. It can be used in many different ways, from short and intense cups to longer, cleaner and more delicate extractions.

It is one of those tools that makes experimentation easy. Changing grind size, steep time, water temperature or pressing technique can create very different results.

Italian Roots

Moka & Italian Coffee Rituals

The moka has a different meaning for me.

Before grinders, baskets, ratios and extraction theory, there was the moka. It is one of the first coffee rituals I experienced, and it remains deeply connected to my personal story, my family and my Italian roots.

Coming from Naples, coffee has never been just a drink. It is a ritual, a habit, a smell, a moment shared at home. The moka represents this part of my journey: simple, familiar and emotional.

Even if I am now exploring espresso, V60, AeroPress and more technical brewing methods, the moka remains one of the foundations of my relationship with coffee.

Accessories

Temperature & Pouring Control

Fellow Stagg EKG Pro

One of the most important accessories in my daily workflow is my Fellow Stagg EKG Pro kettle.

For slow brewing, it is an incredible tool. It gives me control over water temperature, pouring precision and consistency, which are all essential when brewing with the V60 or similar methods.

Pour-Over Base

V60-02 & Server

I also use an Hario V60-02 with its glass server, which is currently one of the central pieces of my pour-over setup.

What About Your Setup?

Are you using a similar machine, grinder or brewing method? Feel free to share your own setup, your experience, or your questions in the comments. Coffee is always more interesting when it becomes a conversation.

This page will evolve over time as my coffee journey continues.