The [coffee snobs'] espresso thread
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steve williams
Site Founder, Site Owner, Administrator
Sorry
I only take mine leaded
Believe me I want to... At this point I'd be happy to indulge in alcohol in small by tasty varieties as a less healthy alternative, but I can't do that either - at all.
Let me explain the problem. A few months back I was at a coffee shop. I ordered a decaf americano. I was tasting it and I told them it taste leaded (like regular). They were like "na, we must be making it wrong." So they remade it several times. I had 2-2.5 cups total. Then the one who also roasts opens up the grinder hopper and looks at the beans and says, "oh shit these aren't decaf." He showed me how to tell the difference. I was sick for 2 days, unable to sleep the entire first night and just in general sick feeling. Miserable, unable to work or do anything.
I use to be able to get drunk, and be sober by bed time if it was red wine and I didn't have too much. (like a bottle, not two+) And no hangovers. Now it might keep me awake the entire night... even though there is no caffeine. And I'm less than half your age. I don't get it. I just know life can be very boring when you can't engage with so many things.
I recently got a chance to try a friend's new "Decent" machine: https://decentespresso.com/overview
This, I believe is a unique approach in consumer machines, in that the temperature and pressure trajectories are precisely controlled via customizable software. The machine comes with a library of pre-set profiles.
In a side-by-side comparison with my Rancilio Silvia the results were impressive: a consistent production of really exceptional shots, of a quality I only typically achieve maybe once out of every five attempts, even with 15+ years of experience with my machine.
Once set up, brewing was really simple.
The Decent is a contender for my next machine, once the Silvia gives up its ghost.
I can't really process alcohol if I drink too often, my body filters it out very quickly, leaving me with an instant hangover which can also kill a nights sleep. But tbh alcohol just doesn't effect me the same way as most so it's appeal is limited anyways. Probably a blessing...
Look on the bright side, you can always join Gregadd in his ascetic cult!
Yes. it is all in the cup. I cannot abide Styrofoam. Many people stare at me as poor my coffee into a real cup or mug,
To answer Steve's question on espresso beans, yes, I would try anything that's a medium roast, as I believe what makes an espresso blend/bean is up in the air. I would not use dark roasts - e.g. "French" - as they are typically burnt and taste bitter, especially the ones that are so mutilated that their oils are belching out.
Next, regarding Greek/Turkish coffee, the right way to brew it is slowly in heated sand. Finally, regarding Arabic coffee, I find it extra-ordinary when they put cardamom in it.
Next, regarding Greek/Turkish coffee, the right way to brew it is slowly in heated sand. Finally, regarding Arabic coffee, I find it extra-ordinary when they put cardamom in it.
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steve williams
Site Founder, Site Owner, Administrator
steve williams
Site Founder, Site Owner, Administrator
Interesting idea Steve.
You can buy a sand heater for not very much (especially compared to espresso machine).
You can buy a sand heater for not very much (especially compared to espresso machine).
Regarding Steve's question about how do we determine grind granularity... always an interesting and tough question, and I reach out to the roasters for optimal dosing weight first, and then, I adjust grind granularity to get the optimal brewing pressure, according to the gauge in my machines, while still aiming for a dry coffee puck at the end, and as long as brewing time is around 25-30 seconds for a double. For example, Hair Bender is prescribed at 19.5g by Stumptown, and that's where I settled for best taste as well, after experimenting between 18 and 21 grams. Black Cat tastes best at 18g. Other blends may work better at a more typical 17-18g per dose. I pull a shot in under 30 seconds, and the crema can linger for at least 5 minutes.
One day, I hope to see this from my machine (pulled off the net):
One day, I hope to see this from my machine (pulled off the net):