The Caffé Thread

[jmilliron]

Oh yeah, got a timer.  Have zero doubt I'll be using this on a daily basis.  Doing pour over now, and this doesn't look like any more work.

It's just that I spent more then strictly necessary. 

[ygduf]

As with bikes, functionally good is good enough for me. Aeropress is good for me, and cheap. Good grinders are nice to have, though.


My wife complained when I asked for an $80 grinder for Christmas (it's christmas, right?). We use it every day.

[jonesy]

Road-trip coffee quality is highly variable; ranging from decent to battery acid.
 
In 5000 miles of driving and over 3 gallons of coffee, on a recent road trip, the only battery acid cup I had was at a Speedway in Medina, OH.

[jmilliron]

Getting it dialed in.







Third pull was very drinkable.  Fourth I made a latte with.  No art, but it was already better then Starbucks!

[WhyFi]

Sweet - congrats! I remember cackling like a mad scientist when I unboxed my Anita, I can only imagine the fun you're having.

One suggestion to try out - the bottomless portafilters are great to get a handle on your grind and tamping technique, but when you're comfortable, try going back to the standard portafilter to pull some shots. The bottomless was really valuable in training myself, but my results are better with the standard. 

Nothing exciting on my coffee front, but I did just do something unusual - I threw away about 6oz of fresh beans. They were fuggin' horrible. I can usually adjust and get drinkable shots out of most beans, but nothing helped these - water just raced through the grounds like Montezuma's Revenge through a tourist. The good news is that they were promptly replace with some Blue Bottle beans, one of my current favorites.

[ygduf]

Third pull was very drinkable.  Fourth I made a latte with.  No art, but it was already better then Starbucks!

How many points towards your category upgrade was it?

[rando]

Cafe thread?  I'm being forced to forgo the one place that actually has passable coffee.  In the course of 24 hours the vacant patio and pleasant unrushed service turned.  At least 20 teeny bopping girls, plus a healthy sized group of older woman apparently hoping to be seen latched to them, have overrun the establishment.  This week has been unpleasantly debilitating to my decadent 10:30 cappuccinos.  I got half the coffee and twice the foam in triple the time.  You two forward thinkers better appreciate what you have.

[ygduf]

Cafe thread?  I'm being forced to forgo the one place that actually has passable coffee.  In the course of 24 hours the vacant patio and pleasant unrushed service turned.  At least 20 teeny bopping girls, plus a healthy sized group of older woman apparently hoping to be seen latched to them, have overrun the establishment.  This week has been unpleasantly debilitating to my decadent 10:30 cappuccinos.  I got half the coffee and twice the foam in triple the time.  You two forward thinkers better appreciate what you have.

The good news is that the place may stay in business now?

[WhyFi]

You two forward thinkers better appreciate what you have.

I appreciate it at least twice a day. 

[Vicelord]

I just foud this thread and I find it funny on page one you guys are saying 7 minutes is a waste of time to brew a cup, yet you'll spend the same amount of time watching the video about how to do it which is an even bigger waste. Lol.

As for coffee, I drink the stuff from the Jura at the bike shop or one of my two favorite coffee shops, one is a daily visit. I could save by brewin my own but I like seeing all the other regulars and occasionally someone I ride with.

[jonesy]

I like the coffee at Chloe's Corner in Kierland Commons. And it's 50 cents.

[rando]

The good news is that the place may stay in business now?

The beauty of it was their drive-thru was the only other business they got that late in the morning and it wasn't so bad as to interrupt.  5:30-9:00 the place is busy enough to carry them along.  I'd take a baby cooing on my lap as I read the paper in the solitude of my own home in a New York minute over the shock of pink and screeching there.

[makel]

I like the coffee at Chloe's Corner in Kierland Commons. And it's 50 cents.

What does $12/lb of beans come to per cup? I've decided to get a new espresso maker. I've got to start looking for something decent in my price range. I'm so excited I'll have my own kitchen again.

[WhyFi]

What does $12/lb of beans come to per cup? I've decided to get a new espresso maker. I've got to start looking for something decent in my price range. I'm so excited I'll have my own kitchen again.

Just look for something with a separate heating element and pump - if the machine relies on pressure built up from heating the water, it's a waste of money and you'd be better served to save just a little longer.

[Vicelord]

I like the coffee at Chloe's Corner in Kierland Commons. And it's 50 cents.

Never had it, though there is a Chloe's corner down the street from me downtown, maybe I'll check it after my ride this morning. I usually go to Lux or La Grande Orange.