Espresso Enthusiasts

[Shrink]

The machine is about 18 months old and I probably pull five or six shots a day.
Perhaps with regular maintenance it might have lasted longer but as you said a consumable which is very reasonable.

Just a suggestion that might extend the life of the gasket a bit...

When the machine is off, do not put the portafilter in the machine. This allows the gasket to return to it's uncompressed state. When the machine is on, then leave the portafilter in place in the machine.

 

[Shrink]

To our dear friend and fellow coffee crazy...


..........................................................SBG

................................................HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

I lift a toast (a Liquid Amber double espresso, of course) wishing many more happy and healthy birthdays, and thanks for your wonderful contribution to this thread!

 

[Scepticalscribe]

To our dear friend and fellow coffee crazy...


..........................................................SBG

................................................HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

I lift a toast (a Liquid Amber double espresso, of course) wishing many more happy and healthy birthdays, and thanks for your wonderful contribution to this thread!

Well, if today is SBG's birthday, please allow me to join in your wonderfully warm birthday greetings.

So, A Very Happy Birthday, SBG: may you enjoy the day, sip and savour many an excellent espresso, (all I can offer here is Illy, LavAzza and a few offerings from Intelligentsia….); above all, may you long enjoy and amply celebrate many more of them.

 

[S.B.G]

To our dear friend and fellow coffee crazy...


..........................................................SBG

................................................HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

I lift a toast (a Liquid Amber double espresso, of course) wishing many more happy and healthy birthdays, and thanks for your wonderful contribution to this thread!

Well, if today is SBG's birthday, please allow me to join in your wonderfully warm birthday greetings.

So, A Very Happy Birthday, SBG: may you enjoy the day, sip and savour many an excellent espresso, (all I can offer here is Illy, LavAzza and a few offerings from Intelligentsia….); above all, may you long enjoy and amply celebrate many more of them.

Thank you very much my dear friends. It is appreciated. Even some crazy head-shrinker from Boston sent me a card sealed with wax for my birthday! That was some personal correspondence that I hadn't expected and was very happy to receive.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Thank you very much my dear friends. It is appreciated. Even some crazy head-shrinker from Boston sent me a card sealed with wax for my birthday! That was some personal correspondence that I hadn't expected and was very happy to receive.

Yes, I am aware of your (entirely healthy) preference for receiving hand-written missives delivered by the postal service (what a wonderful and cultured invention, such a lark of a civilised society). It is a preference that I admit to sharing.

But to receive a card personally selected and privately uniquely sealed with wax,prior to its onward dispatch via the postal service……now, this is a very special card, indeed.

In any case, once again, have a vert happy birthday and may you enjoy many more of them…….sipping coffee…..and chatting to Puma.

 

[mobilehaathi]

Ahh, forgive the belated wishes (I was off in the wilderness all weekend), but Happy Birthday SBG!

Hope you had a few killer cups!

 

[S.B.G]

Ahh, forgive the belated wishes (I was off in the wilderness all weekend), but Happy Birthday SBG!

Hope you had a few killer cups!

Thanks man, much appreciated!

Actually, I didn't have any yesterday, but maybe later today after work I will.

 

[mobilehaathi]

Thanks man, much appreciated!

Actually, I didn't have any yesterday, but maybe later today after work I will.

What!!!!! A day without coffee!?

 

[S.B.G]

What!!!!! A day without coffee!?

I did have a coffee, drip, just no espresso!

 

[Scepticalscribe]

What!!!!! A day without coffee!?

Inexplicable, to be sure. What, a full day without once having a cup of coffee? How did you possibly hope to survive the day? And then, of equal importance, what did you sip and savour when you finally did manage to reach the happy nirvana of coffee heaven?

Unless I am very unwell, I cannot conceive of a day without coffee. Today, my intake was a mere three double espressos, followed, in the late afternoon, by a single, solitary, espresso (and I was asked whether that a 'normal' or 'below average' daily intake…)

----------

I did have a coffee, drip, just no espresso!

Ah; so, was the trusted French Press called into service? Or was it drip coffee - which is a perfectly acceptable alternative in times of great need?

 

[silvetti]

I'm lucky enough (or I was, as I'm living abroad) to be Portuguese

And espresso in Portugal is CHEAP, at least compared to anywhere else I've visited...

Coffee next to my apartment in Lisbon costs 50 cents of EUR, which is roughly 0.68 dollars

At home, where I live (Poland), I have a Siemens eq5 automatic machine, not the best but surely not the worst

 

[S.B.G]

Ah; so, was the trusted French Press called into service? Or was it drip coffee - which is a perfectly acceptable alternative in times of great need?

Yes, it was the French Press. My apologies for saying drip - it was a force of habit and being distracted at work. Shrink just calls it being "groggy" when he slips up.

Truth be told, there are days where I won't have coffee in any form! Today, so far, is one of them. I've had an iced tea already this morning and that was about it.

 

[mobilehaathi]

I did have a coffee, drip, just no espresso!

Ahh ok, I was worried there for a moment.

 

[Shrink]

I'm lucky enough (or I was, as I'm living abroad) to be Portuguese

And espresso in Portugal is CHEAP, at least compared to anywhere else I've visited...

Coffee next to my apartment in Lisbon costs 50 cents of EUR, which is roughly 0.68 dollars

At home, where I live (Poland), I have a Siemens eq5 automatic machine, not the best but surely not the worst

Welcome to the thread of the coffee lunatics!

Having a source for good espresso right near your home, and so amazingly cheap, is to be envied!

And I think we all agree...the machine is far less important in making great coffee than the beans/blend. When you are home, and using your Sieman's machine, if you have access to really good beans...you're all good!

I don't know too much about the Sieman's machine, but I took a quick look and it certainly seems like a really nice super automatic machine.

And if it it produces coffee that pleases you...that's all that matters!

 

[Shrink]

I've been using the Baratza virtuoso coffee grinder for about 6 months now. We bought it online on Daily Cuppa Coffee after a LOT of looking around. I need a nice cup of latte at the end of a long day and this machine really does the trick. You should check it out. I think it's well worth the investment!

Welcome...and thanks for the suggestion on a grinder. I'm sure that it will be helpful information for those looking at grinders.

It looks like a nice, reasonably priced, grinder. It has 40 grind adjustments, which allows you to make some fairly fine adjustments when dialing in a new bean or blend for your machine. I checked the specs, and unless I missed it, do you know what the rpm rate is?

Just curious...what kind of espresso machine are you using?

 

[emdotdee]

Just saying. I got onto this thread after searching for types of coffee, (I've just got an aeropress) I've managed to read all the way upto page 44 !! And still going.
I can't afford all the gear now but it's definitely something I'll be interested in the future thanks to this thread. Ha. I just wish we had an independent coffee shop in my town, I'll have to make do with Costa or cafe nero for my espresso needs.
Back to page 44 for me....

 

[mobilehaathi]

Just saying. I got onto this thread after searching for types of coffee, (I've just got an aeropress) I've managed to read all the way upto page 44 !! And still going.
I can't afford all the gear now but it's definitely something I'll be interested in the future thanks to this thread. Ha. I just wish we had an independent coffee shop in my town, I'll have to make do with Costa or cafe nero for my espresso needs.
Back to page 44 for me....

Hmmmmmm, this doesn't bode well for your pocket book....

Welcome!

 

[Shrink]

Just saying. I got onto this thread after searching for types of coffee, (I've just got an aeropress) I've managed to read all the way upto page 44 !! And still going.
I can't afford all the gear now but it's definitely something I'll be interested in the future thanks to this thread. Ha. I just wish we had an independent coffee shop in my town, I'll have to make do with Costa or cafe nero for my espresso needs.
Back to page 44 for me....

Let me add my welcome! And my admiration for your determination and patience in reading the insanity on this thread!

Take care...this thread is addictive and, as our friend mobilehaathi has pointed out...it can be murder on your wallet!

I'm sure in reading the thread you will find some wonderful suggestions for excellent coffee to use with your aeropress. Remember, the beans are the key...great beans make a modest espresso maker produce good coffee for you. As you'll read in the thread...your most important purchase, after the beans, is the grinder. Great beans, properly ground, will make fine espresso in a modest espresso machine.

And I certainly would be happy, as I'm sure other posters here, will be glad to offer any information or suggestions if, or more likely when p), you decide to make equipment purchases.

Your level of interest (exemplified by your willingness to read all the craziness on this thread) suggests you are, I'm afraid, another soul lost to the delights of making good coffee!

So again...welcome, and abandon hope all ye who enter here...

 

[S.B.G]

Just saying. I got onto this thread after searching for types of coffee, (I've just got an aeropress) I've managed to read all the way upto page 44 !! And still going.
I can't afford all the gear now but it's definitely something I'll be interested in the future thanks to this thread. Ha. I just wish we had an independent coffee shop in my town, I'll have to make do with Costa or cafe nero for my espresso needs.
Back to page 44 for me....

Welcome aboard!

As Shrink points out, mobilehaathi loves to spend my money on new gear!

 

[mobilehaathi]

Welcome aboard!

As Shrink points out, mobilehaathi loves to spend my money on new gear!

It has worked out pretty well from my perspective.

 

[S.B.G]

It has worked out pretty well from my perspective.

I won't argue with you there. I am making some great coffee and espresso's!

 

[Shrink]

It has worked out pretty well from my perspective.

Sure...it's that hypnotic control that you have over all of us...making us spend outrageous amounts of money of gear. I mean...under your evil control I've spent a fortune on stuff!

 

[mobilehaathi]

Sure...it's that hypnotic control that you have over all of us...making us spend outrageous amounts of money of gear. I mean...under your evil control I've spent a fortune on stuff!

Image

Shhhh, I don't like I broadcast my powers too widely. Gotta keep a low profile.

 

[Shrink]

For a change, I've ordered another espresso accessory...quelle surprise!

It's a Londinium button tamper. In reading the Londinium Owner's forum, I discovered that a gentle tamp works best...and this reminds me not to lean on the tamper as a "normal" shaped tamper does.

Also...the Wenge wood "handle" matches the wood handles on the L1 espresso machine...aesthetics count! The base is solid brass.

So much for all my excuses for buying it...

 

[mobilehaathi]

For a change, I've ordered another espresso accessory...quelle surprise!

It's a Londinium button tamper. In reading the Londinium Owner's forum, I discovered that a gentle tamp works best...and this reminds me not to lean on the tamper as a "normal" shaped tamper does.

Also...the Wenge wood "handle" matches the wood handles on the L1 espresso machine...aesthetics count! The base is solid brass.

So much for all my excuses for buying it...

Image

Mighty fine! Although aren't you concerned that the brass may clash with the sleek silver Londinium?