Author Topic: coffee, french press and espresso  (Read 1819 times)

Gary

  • 6+ Year Member
  • 1000 Posts
  • ******
  • Posts: 2590
  • Location: Rochester, NY
Re: coffee, french press and espresso
« Reply #30 on: May 15, 2008, 09:37:11 am »
Holy crapola brew mister....what ya do...buy a Starbucks franchise?

Now....how ya getting that pretty little thing to Steamboat?

Man...that's some serious high tech gear......any gortex?

Congrats,
G

Ron

  • 6+ Year Member
  • 1000 Posts
  • ******
  • Posts: 2992
Re: coffee, french press and espresso
« Reply #31 on: May 15, 2008, 09:41:24 am »
no charbucks here bud! As we have discussed, it's really worthwhile. The taste is so much better and it's a lot of fun.

Svend

  • 4-6 Year Member
  • 1000 Posts
  • ****
  • Posts: 1107
Re: coffee, french press and espresso
« Reply #32 on: May 15, 2008, 10:38:03 am »
Hear, Hear! Second that motion!  It is a lot of fun, and once you have an espresso, cappucino or latte from one of these machines, you realize how bad Starbucks coffee actually is.  One of their lattes has almost no coffee flavour to it.  Drink one from Ron's machine, though, and all you taste is that incredible coffee...the milk is just a complement, not the main event.

And, hey, nice rig, Ron! You've gone all out...thermometer in the brew head, timer, the works.  Sweet!

Here's a pic of my setup (note, new grinder coming soon...probably one like Ron's):


[attachment deleted by admin]
« Last Edit: May 15, 2008, 10:39:42 am by Viking »

Ron

  • 6+ Year Member
  • 1000 Posts
  • ******
  • Posts: 2992
Re: coffee, french press and espresso
« Reply #33 on: May 15, 2008, 11:10:55 am »
Sweet dude, which model is that? It looks like a E61 Grouphead?  Nice.  I'm sure your rig does just as well. Remember this has a lot to do with the pilot (barista). Go for the Mazzer mini, it is really a nice grinder.

Svend

  • 4-6 Year Member
  • 1000 Posts
  • ****
  • Posts: 1107
Re: coffee, french press and espresso
« Reply #34 on: May 15, 2008, 11:59:08 am »
It's an ECM Giotto (now called Rocket Espresso), and yes, it's an E61 group.  Very nice results.  I've done some basic temp testing (foam cup test), and there is very little drop from the 1st shot to the 4th, with both 30 sec. or 1 min. intervals between.  Very stable.

The grinder actually works great, and gives very even, consistent grinds -- with fresh beans, the shots are near perfect...gobs of crema, nice mid-brown colour, tiger flecking...awesome, sweet flavour.  But once the beans get a bit older and you have to tweak the grind a bit, it just doesn't have the fine adjustment to get the shots back to perfection.  So it's either get a new grinder, or get a roaster, or buy fresh beans every week.  I guess the latter two are always preferable...but then I'd be talking myself out of a new toy.  :-\ That, and a proper doser would be great.

Gary

  • 6+ Year Member
  • 1000 Posts
  • ******
  • Posts: 2590
  • Location: Rochester, NY
Re: coffee, french press and espresso
« Reply #35 on: May 15, 2008, 12:08:30 pm »
Geez...you guys are some serious "bean heads"...or "grind nerds"  >:D

But if ya could just figure out a way to slap the thing on your back on the mountain....you could make gazillions selling the stuff to cold sliders and gliders!

Very cool guys....it's nice to you know both take SOMETHING ELSE as seriously as you do great ski gear! KUDOS~

G    ;D

Svend

  • 4-6 Year Member
  • 1000 Posts
  • ****
  • Posts: 1107
Re: coffee, french press and espresso
« Reply #36 on: May 15, 2008, 12:36:25 pm »
Gee, thanks Gary, for the kind words.  If I didn't know you better, I'd think you were schmoozing for some free shots.  You're not usually so complimentary in your posts....  :D  Just kidding!!!

Actually, the espresso, skis, etc., just fit into an overall rich life (and I don't mean in a monetary sense), and a philosophy that if you're going to do something, then do it well and get good tools to do it with.  And along with the good tools, comes learning, inquisitiveness, and becoming knowledgeable on the subject, so that you can do it well.  Good food, good wine, sports, art, literature, hobbies, crafts....they all fit into a full life.  That, and an unwillingness to compromise and settle for poor quality stuff, whatever that may be.

Holy moly....look at me getting all philosophical here...OK - enough of that...back to being loopy!

BR,

Svend

Ron

  • 6+ Year Member
  • 1000 Posts
  • ******
  • Posts: 2992
Re: coffee, french press and espresso
« Reply #37 on: May 15, 2008, 12:45:24 pm »
well, since both machines weigh around 50 pounds, and the grinders are another 20-25, we'll let you schlep them around!

Some interesting banter on home barista about some folks now saying week old beans are better, Go figure. The anita will push water at around 235-245 after warm-up for 45 minutes, I flush for about 30 seconds the reading at the head is about 212-214, before the flush, then as you drop the lever, the temp spikes, then drops off. You can hear and see the water come from steam to boiling, then it goes to a trickle as it goes bellow 212, (for you coffee heathens) then a smooth trickle, you don't reall need the thermometer but it is helpful and as you prepare the PF (portafilter, the thing that holds the coffee) the Anita will build temps pretty qucikly. the thermometer at the head is very useful at this point, I will wait till it hits about 200 at the head and that's about 195-98 at the PF. If I take too long (I grind while I flush) then I can flush off a few degrees.

Gary

  • 6+ Year Member
  • 1000 Posts
  • ******
  • Posts: 2590
  • Location: Rochester, NY
Re: coffee, french press and espresso
« Reply #38 on: May 15, 2008, 01:03:37 pm »
Your welcome ....I think Svend..

And Ron...I grind before I flush....

Such technical jargon to take a simple bean, pulverize it, liquefy it, drink it then flush it!   ;D

Never knew one could get so sentimental and philosophical over Java!  Still, it's warm, gives you a rush, cost as much as a Vegas Hooker and keeps on giving with no give backs required.....hmmmm. ...sounds like the perfect house mate!

Drink up you Java junkies....pretties t bean gear I've ever seen!

Brew on dudes!   ;D

Gary


Ron

  • 6+ Year Member
  • 1000 Posts
  • ******
  • Posts: 2992
Re: coffee, french press and espresso
« Reply #39 on: May 15, 2008, 01:11:52 pm »
Bean-Gear?  I love it  ;D

vegas hooker, did you just violate the "what happens in vegas" mantra?  BTW- how was she?

If you ever get down to my place, I will gladly pull you a shot and even make you a cappi. You will understand, its like that green tea mixture, there's that bagged green tea and then there's that toasty, slightly sweet loose green and red tea that is sweet and citrusy, with an underlayer of vanilla. same thing, just one has a nice kick to it!


Svend

  • 4-6 Year Member
  • 1000 Posts
  • ****
  • Posts: 1107
Re: coffee, french press and espresso
« Reply #40 on: May 15, 2008, 01:31:35 pm »
Quote
You're not usually so complimentary in your posts....  Just kidding!!!
I was just kidding! Seriously.  You're not offended and hurt are you?

Ron

  • 6+ Year Member
  • 1000 Posts
  • ******
  • Posts: 2992
Re: coffee, french press and espresso
« Reply #41 on: May 15, 2008, 02:22:09 pm »
Are you talking to Gary? hurt? ahhhaaahhhhaaahhhhh a  omg, My sides  hurt , mr. cassara is fine, but he will accept a box of scharfenberger 70% cocoa www.scharfenberger. com I know that would make amends...... ;D

Svend

  • 4-6 Year Member
  • 1000 Posts
  • ****
  • Posts: 1107
Re: coffee, french press and espresso
« Reply #42 on: May 15, 2008, 02:45:33 pm »
OK - I should have put a winking smiley behind my query...as in, "this is a sarcastic, rhetorical question".  Didn't Gary just finish telling us a woeful tale of lifelong abuse and bullying, and the leather skin he's developed as a result? Of course he can take it.  Those who dole it out, shall receive in kind.  The Scharfenberger shall be routed to my abode....thanks for the idea - I deserve a treat this week!

Gary

  • 6+ Year Member
  • 1000 Posts
  • ******
  • Posts: 2590
  • Location: Rochester, NY
Re: coffee, french press and espresso
« Reply #43 on: May 15, 2008, 03:14:40 pm »
:'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'(
Woe is me.....I've been slayed....still, a good man turns the other check and blames the caffeine!

Now that my tears have settled, sigh..... :-\...I think of all the kind acts I can do for my good buddies  >:D when we arrive at the Boat...

Hey Viking...you got the treat of the week...your new skis...send the chocolate my way!

Best guys,
Gary

Svend

  • 4-6 Year Member
  • 1000 Posts
  • ****
  • Posts: 1107
Re: coffee, french press and espresso
« Reply #44 on: May 15, 2008, 03:19:39 pm »
Yeah, I know I got a major treat this week...the chocolate is to help me celebrate.  :P