The Bellman Espresso and Steamer range allows you to brew rich and delicious espresso and steamed milk from your stove top.
How to Videos
How to Use the Bellman CX25P Espresso Maker
How to Use the Bellman Milk Steamer
The Bellman espresso maker is also the creme de la creme of campsite coffee brewers - allowing you to create flat whites, latte's and cappuccino's on your travels.
Compatible with most stove tops (and camping stoves), it's the only truly portable brewer with a cafe style steam wand, and can rival commercial espresso machines when it comes to both brewing and steaming.
Even better, brewing coffee with the Bellman Espresso & Steamer CX 25P is easy. With practice and know how you'll have this stovetop espresso maker mastered in no time. Below we've included brewing instructions, recipes, and answered some of the most common questions we hear about the Bellman, to give you a running start.
The Bellman Espresso Steamer CX 25P - Overview
The Bellman is perfect to create espresso style coffee on the stove, but it can also be used to brew less concentrated coffee. When you open it up, you'll notice there are three gauges on the inside of the water chamber - "Three", "Six", and "Nine". The coffee basket comes with an attachment which allows you to vary the volume of coffee you use, with 15g, 30g and 50g options.
By balancing the amount of water against the amount of coffee, you can make rich espresso style coffee, of milder, percolator style brews. Roughly speaking, for a slightly weaker brew (to be drank without milk) you can match these sizing's as such:
- Full basket - 50gs of coffee - water gauge 9.
- Basket with reducer face up - 30g of coffee - water gauge 6.
- Basket with reducer face down - 15g of coffee - water gauge 3.
However much you are brewing, the pressure should be between 2/3 bars. Using the higher volumes it is that easy to brew delicious campsite coffee for the whole gang!
How Does The Bellman Work?
When you place the loaded Bellman on the heat, the water is forced through the coffee grounds under pressure, much like an espresso machine. When the pressure is right, release the tap, and your coffee will pour out. It can be used on ceramic, electrical, gas and induction stove tops (if compatible with 303 grade stainless steel).
Getting it right however can be a little more complicated. Below we've included instructions for brewing an Espresso - as this is the most common use for the Bellman.
Brewing Espresso With The Bellman Espresso Steamer CX 25P
To brew espresso you want to use the maximum amount of coffee and the minimum amount of water.
- Grind your coffee. For the best results, use a fine, espresso grind. If you use a coarser grind, the steam will pass through the coffee too quickly and under extract.
- Fill the coffee basket with 50gs ground coffee. Cover the hole in the centre of the basket with your finger as you dose. As you are using the full basket, you can use the reducer to tamp the grounds - or invest in a Bellman tamp.
- Place the paper filter on top of the tamped coffee. The filter gives you a smoother, cleaner shot.
- Fill the water chamber to just below the "Three" mark. We recommend using hot water to speed up the build of pressure.
- Place the coffee basket on top.
- Place the brew tap on and screw it on tight, with the tap facing away from the handle (as you'll need to place your espresso cup under the tap).
- Place on stove on a medium heat and watch the pressure build – make sure all taps are closed (or pressure won’t build).
- At between 2 – 2.5 bars pressure, place the cup under the brew tap, and gently open the tap.
- You should soon hear water passing through the coffee. It should take 10-15 secs for coffee to pass through. Slowly open the tap until you get a steady, gentle flow of coffee. This should generate about 150ml of espresso.
- When it begins to bubble or steam, you’ve reached the bottom of your water gauge. Remove from the heat, allow the last of the espresso to flow out, and close the tap.
Using The Steam Wand On The Bellman Espresso Steamer
Instruction:
- Remove the unit from the stove, and purge to remove any wet steam. Wet steam will ruin your milk, so don't skip this step!
- Activate the steam wand, fill your jug, and dip the steam wand just into the milk. Angle the wand into the jug so the milk begins to spin in a circular motion as you steam.
- After a few moments, lower the wand - this will alter the amount of froth created, so for flat white or latte only dip in a cm or so - but for cappuccino you can go a little deeper, for a deeper layer of froth.
- Keep an eye on the temperature - at about 60 degrees, your milk should be steamed, frothed and ready to go.
Recipes
Americano
Brew your espresso shot using the instructions above. Once done, pour over hot (but not boiling) water. If you wish, steam a little milk and add this for a silkier cup.
Latte
Steam 250ml milk following the instructions above, aiming for 2-3cm of foam. Add your espresso shot to a latte cup and pour steadily with the milk jug 3-4 cm above the cup, moving it slowly closer as the cup fills.
Flat White
Exactly as above, but this time pour 100ml of milk over a shot in a 150ml cup.
Cappuccino
Steam 150ml of milk as above, plunging the wand a little deeper to create 4-6cm of foam on top. Add your shot to your cup, and pour the milk gently, using the technique above, but slowly, allowing the foam to sit atop the milk. Dust with cocoa to taste.
FAQs
Does The Bellman Work On Any Stove Top?
The Bellman is compatible with gas, electric and ceramic stove tops, and any induction stove which works with 303 grade stainless steel.
Are Paper Filters Included With The Espresso Maker?
50 paper filters are included with the brewer, so you can try them out. If you appreciate a smoother, cleaner shot, you can buy filters packs direct from Bellman and Bellman stockists.
Can I Brew Without Paper Filters?
Yes, you can use the Bellman without the paper filters. Although the filters do give a boost to the smoothness of your shot, they are not actively removing grounds - the permanent, steal filter takes care of that. You can still make great espresso without paper filters.
Should There Be Water In The Bottom After Brewing?
Yes, the Bellman is designed to retain a small amount of water during brewing to prevent the brewer from boiling dry. The steam spout is designed to leave around 250ml of water in the bottom.
Do I need To Add Water After Brewing To Use The Steam Wand?
No, there is always a reserve of water after brewing which means you don't need to add water - just fire up the wand and steam away.
Do I Need A Bellman Tamp?
If you're brewing with the full 50ml basket, you can get away with using the included basket reducer for this - however, you will attain a better quality tamp using the custom designed bellman tamp, which also had a better handle and grip. For 15ml and 30ml baskets, a tamp is not necessary, but will definitely improve your brew.
