Espresso Enthusiasts

[Scepticalscribe]

We will see. I am interested in using it to replace the Porlex in my travel kit. Doubt I will be interested in using it in place of Mazzers at home.

Apparently Mrs. Kurwenal purchased me a La Marzocco GS/3 as a get well from treatment prsent, although though I have not seen it yet.

Thank you very much friend. I have one more round of treatment and then a break. So no posts for a couple of weeks then should be back to try the new toys. See you in a while.

What a lovely and thoughtful gift; I'm truly sorry to hear that you still require treatment, but may I wish you the very best of luck in making a speedy recovery and we look forward to welcoming you back as soon as feel up to the challenge of further endless coffee discussions. Meanwhile, take care of yourself.

 

[Shrink]

Step right up MH.



Good lord. I knew I should never have started those cupping logs. It's just coffee.......I still have that Starbucks metal gold card thingy laying around somewhere. Have to go pick up some Morning Blend Burnt Crap soon.

Yikes!

That is some piece of work.

The question for me is...into which group do you fit?

A suggestion for that for that Super Duper Starbucks Get Your Burnt Beans Here Card...sell it on the Marketplace sub forum here on MR. I have no doubt that you'll have many takers. Please don't tell me you're going to put those tiny charcoal briquettes into your Mazzer grinder. You will than have to have the grinder autoclaved to return it to usable condition!

Enjoy the new machine...automatic though it may be! (Some people are just sooo lazy!)

 

[Kurwenal]

As for my own espresso adventures...one day....perhaps....maybe...


Baby steps.

Well, I hope your home roasting adventures continue. It is never ending fun.

I'm truly sorry to hear that you still require treatment, but may I wish you the very best of luck in making a speedy recovery and we look forward to welcoming you back as soon as feel up to the challenge of further endless coffee discussions. Meanwhile, take care of yourself.

Thank you. My particular brand of Uninvited Guest is treated with surgery followed by alternating rounds of chemo and radiation. I start my final round this week; it was scheduled for today, now moved to tomorrow. It is a very odd process. I feel great today, tomorrow night I will wish for the end of the world.

But, I am doing great and responding well to treatment, and all indicators are good.

I have not had much coffee recently. I feel pretty good today and for the first time in a long time I made myself a ristretto which was very nice. I had to use purchased beans, since I have not roasted for a few months. Soon.

The question for me is...into which group do you fit?

....snip

Enjoy the new machine...automatic though it may be! (Some people are just sooo lazy!)

Well, which group is the question and something I have been pondering myself. I think I straddle the first two groups. Using home roasting as a predictor, I will spend many hours tweaking the settings, but once I get "it" I will move on (from the first group into the second group). I spoke with my friend who owns the local roastery and he said that my penchant for writing down everything and still timing my shots, 30 years after I started down this path, suggests this is the machine for me.

I am a bit worried that I will be unable to produce coffee that is much better than my Rocket, though, which of course will make clear that the machine has nothing to do with it and it is all about operator error.

The machine has both auto and semi-auto modes. And, one review I read last night points out that there are more than 800 separate variables you can set for each shot (most of them relating to various temperature and pressure options at various points in the process), so he called the machine a "Repeatable Manual." I think I might drive myself crazy setting up the profiles......Liquid Amber has its own roasting profile on my HotTop, but that machine has only 30 variables per profile. This new one seems like going to 11 on the amplifier or ludicrous speed in Spaceballs. I will need separate brewing profiles for Liquid Amber, another for Donkey Blend, and then probably a general espresso profile for the commercially roasted stuff I buy as one offs just to try things.

Yet, I highly respect your penchant for manuality. I have this vision of you as the Professor, on your bike made from coconut trees pedaling like crazy so you are truly manual.

Happy coffee to all. I apologize for a long post all about me; I know I have some catching up to do on posts over the past few months about y'all and I will get to that in a few weeks.

Steve

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Well, I hope your home roasting adventures continue. It is never ending fun.




Thank you. My particular brand of Uninvited Guest is treated with surgery followed by alternating rounds of chemo and radiation. I start my final round this week; it was scheduled for today, now moved to tomorrow. It is a very odd process. I feel great today, tomorrow night I will wish for the end of the world.

But, I am doing great and responding well to treatment, and all indicators are good.

I have not had much coffee recently. I feel pretty good today and for the first time in a long time I made myself a ristretto which was very nice. I had to use purchased beans, since I have not roasted for a few months. Soon.



Well, which group is the question and something I have been pondering myself. I think I straddle the first two groups. Using home roasting as a predictor, I will spend many hours tweaking the settings, but once I get "it" I will move on (from the first group into the second group). I spoke with my friend who owns the local roastery and he said that my penchant for writing down everything and still timing my shots, 30 years after I started down this path, suggests this is the machine for me.

I am a bit worried that I will be unable to produce coffee that is much better than my Rocket, though, which of course will make clear that the machine has nothing to do with it and it is all about operator error.

The machine has both auto and semi-auto modes. And, one review I read last night points out that there are more than 800 separate variables you can set for each shot (most of them relating to various temperature and pressure options at various points in the process), so he called the machine a "Repeatable Manual." I think I might drive myself crazy setting up the profiles......Liquid Amber has its own roasting profile on my HotTop, but that machine has only 30 variables per profile. This new one seems like going to 11 on the amplifier or ludicrous speed in Spaceballs. I will need separate brewing profiles for Liquid Amber, another for Donkey Blend, and then probably a general espresso profile for the commercially roasted stuff I buy as one offs just to try things.

Yet, I highly respect your penchant for manuality. I have this vision of you as the Professor, on your bike made from coconut trees pedaling like crazy so you are truly manual.

Happy coffee to all. I apologize for a long post all about me; I know I have some catching up to do on posts over the past few months about y'all and I will get to that in a few weeks.

Steve

Good luck in your battle with the Uninvited Guest and the very best of luck, too, with what we hope may be your final round of chemo & radiation.

I suppose that the only way to try to cope with that is to focus on how it is able to deal with the Uninvited Guest, rather than on how rotten you feel that day or evening, when a day of such treatment leaves you absolutely wrung out.

In any case, I look forward to warmly welcoming you back to advise and counsel on coffee related matters whenever you feel up to it.

While I can never see myself roasting my own, (although I greatly admire those who can and do), a grinder might indeed lie in my future…….burr of course, and, quite possibly, completely ludicrously, and utterly insanely expensive.

After all, I am one of those who are very easy to please; only the best will suffice………..

 

[Shrink]

Well, I hope your home roasting adventures continue. It is never ending fun.




Thank you. My particular brand of Uninvited Guest is treated with surgery followed by alternating rounds of chemo and radiation. I start my final round this week; it was scheduled for today, now moved to tomorrow. It is a very odd process. I feel great today, tomorrow night I will wish for the end of the world.

But, I am doing great and responding well to treatment, and all indicators are good.

I have not had much coffee recently. I feel pretty good today and for the first time in a long time I made myself a ristretto which was very nice. I had to use purchased beans, since I have not roasted for a few months. Soon.



Well, which group is the question and something I have been pondering myself. I think I straddle the first two groups. Using home roasting as a predictor, I will spend many hours tweaking the settings, but once I get "it" I will move on (from the first group into the second group). I spoke with my friend who owns the local roastery and he said that my penchant for writing down everything and still timing my shots, 30 years after I started down this path, suggests this is the machine for me.

I am a bit worried that I will be unable to produce coffee that is much better than my Rocket, though, which of course will make clear that the machine has nothing to do with it and it is all about operator error.

The machine has both auto and semi-auto modes. And, one review I read last night points out that there are more than 800 separate variables you can set for each shot (most of them relating to various temperature and pressure options at various points in the process), so he called the machine a "Repeatable Manual." I think I might drive myself crazy setting up the profiles......Liquid Amber has its own roasting profile on my HotTop, but that machine has only 30 variables per profile. This new one seems like going to 11 on the amplifier or ludicrous speed in Spaceballs. I will need separate brewing profiles for Liquid Amber, another for Donkey Blend, and then probably a general espresso profile for the commercially roasted stuff I buy as one offs just to try things.

Yet, I highly respect your penchant for manuality. I have this vision of you as the Professor, on your bike made from coconut trees pedaling like crazy so you are truly manual.

Happy coffee to all. I apologize for a long post all about me; I know I have some catching up to do on posts over the past few months about y'all and I will get to that in a few weeks.

Steve

You've got an incredibly crappy deal going there. My wishes for complete and never-come-back recovery, good friend.

As far as bicycling goes...that's much too much like actual exercise. I'm one of those who, when the urge to exercise comes upon me, lie down until it passes.

The closest thing "manual" about my transportation is a six speed stick...with your actual clutch and everything.

Let me echo SS above...come back when you are able and you will be welcomed with open arms!

 

[S.B.G]

Well, I hope your home roasting adventures continue. It is never ending fun.

Thank you. My particular brand of Uninvited Guest is treated with surgery followed by alternating rounds of chemo and radiation. I start my final round this week; it was scheduled for today, now moved to tomorrow. It is a very odd process. I feel great today, tomorrow night I will wish for the end of the world.

But, I am doing great and responding well to treatment, and all indicators are good.

I have not had much coffee recently. I feel pretty good today and for the first time in a long time I made myself a ristretto which was very nice. I had to use purchased beans, since I have not roasted for a few months. Soon.

Well, which group is the question and something I have been pondering myself. I think I straddle the first two groups. Using home roasting as a predictor, I will spend many hours tweaking the settings, but once I get "it" I will move on (from the first group into the second group). I spoke with my friend who owns the local roastery and he said that my penchant for writing down everything and still timing my shots, 30 years after I started down this path, suggests this is the machine for me.

I am a bit worried that I will be unable to produce coffee that is much better than my Rocket, though, which of course will make clear that the machine has nothing to do with it and it is all about operator error.

The machine has both auto and semi-auto modes. And, one review I read last night points out that there are more than 800 separate variables you can set for each shot (most of them relating to various temperature and pressure options at various points in the process), so he called the machine a "Repeatable Manual." I think I might drive myself crazy setting up the profiles......Liquid Amber has its own roasting profile on my HotTop, but that machine has only 30 variables per profile. This new one seems like going to 11 on the amplifier or ludicrous speed in Spaceballs. I will need separate brewing profiles for Liquid Amber, another for Donkey Blend, and then probably a general espresso profile for the commercially roasted stuff I buy as one offs just to try things.

Yet, I highly respect your penchant for manuality. I have this vision of you as the Professor, on your bike made from coconut trees pedaling like crazy so you are truly manual.

Happy coffee to all. I apologize for a long post all about me; I know I have some catching up to do on posts over the past few months about y'all and I will get to that in a few weeks.

Steve

Steve, I'm glad to hear you're down to one last treatment. That's great news. I can't even begin to imagine what you're going through, but I do know it's severely unpleasant and that, no doubt, probably doesn't begin to accurately describe how you feel. I'm very happy to know that things are looking really well and you're nearly done.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

You've got an incredibly crappy deal going there. My wishes for complete and never-come-back recovery, good friend.

As far as bicycling goes...that's much too much like actual exercise. I'm one of those who, when the urge to exercise comes upon me, lie down until it passes.

The closest thing "manual" about my transportation is a six speed stick...with your actual clutch and everything.

Let me echo SS above...come back when you are able and you will be welcomed with open arms!

Oh, how beautifully expressed that is; moreover, it fully echoes my thoughts (both to Kurwenal - take very good and tender care of yourself, mate) and those reverberating around in my mind on the vexed topic of exercise, and excesses suffered as a consequence...…..

Two of my (female) colleagues - actually three - recently invited me to join them in the (overwhelmingly male dominated) gym in our work environment. Although I have been here for well over a year, I still have absolutely no idea exactly where the gym is; indeed, it could be said that it occupies the place that used to be described on medieval maps thus: "Here Be Dragons." I politely (yet emphatically declined their kind offer).

I'm with Shrink (and not for the first time) in that regard; I informed my colleagues that my hand gets quite sufficient exercise lifting a coffee cup to my lips……and my fingers, well, they spend much of their day dancing around a keyboard or writing with a fountain pen…...

 

[S.B.G]

You've got an incredibly crappy deal going there. My wishes for complete and never-come-back recovery, good friend.

As far as bicycling goes...that's much too much like actual exercise. I'm one of those who, when the urge to exercise comes upon me, lie down until it passes.

The closest thing "manual" about my transportation is a six speed stick...with your actual clutch and everything.

Let me echo SS above...come back when you are able and you will be welcomed with open arms!

That made me laugh quite good!

I enjoy recreational cycling on occasion. Heck, i might even get my bike out this week... maybe. But I don't do any of that racing, competitive stuff. Like you said, that's too much like exercise.

 

[S.B.G]

The Sweet Maria's Liquid Amber arrived late yesterday. I didn't open the vacuum sealed bag until this morning. The seal was so good that I could not smell the beans at all until I broke it. Other vendors packages usually allow me to smell them a little bit. Sweet Maria's really takes good care to package their beans properly.

This morning I decided to make an Espresso Macchiato with it and it tasted very good too!

Attached are some scans of the Sweet Maria's 'Tiny Joy' newsletter and a card with the photo of the farmers where they source their beans, which they included in the shipment to me. I thought you all would be interested in reading them.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

The Sweet Maria's Liquid Amber arrived late yesterday. I didn't open the vacuum sealed bag until this morning. The seal was so good that I could not smell the beans at all until I broke it. Other vendors packages usually allow me to smell them a little bit. Sweet Maria's really takes good care to package their beans properly.

This morning I decided to make an Espresso Macchiato with it and it tasted very good too!

Attached are some scans of the Sweet Maria's 'Tiny Joy' newsletter and a card with the photo of the farmers where they source their beans, which they included in the shipment to me. I thought you all would be interested in reading them.

That sounds simply wonderful, and I hope that you really enjoy it.

As you know, I also ordered one bag (they would not accept an order for a greater quantity). As I am in central Asia, - and exceedingly busy just now, I expect to find that the Sweet Maria's will be waiting for me when I return to Europe on leave, probably sometime in early July……therefore, clearly, a treat is in store for me, if the comments on this thread about the Sweet Maria's 'Liquid Amber' are anything to go by.

I mentioned a few pages - or posts - ago, that one of my own favourite coffees - a seasonal variety - is back on offer. Not for the first time - I am in debt to the denizens who dwell here for directing me to another outstanding supplier of excellent coffee.

The supplier in question is Intelligentsia and this particular coffee comes from El Salvador and goes by the name of 'Los Inmortales'. As it is seasonal, it is only available for a few months each year.

Anyway, I loved it when I bought some last year - I tried out several, having opened an account with Intelligentsia, but this was my personal favourite.

 

[S.B.G]

I was browsing the [iOS] App Store last week for coffee and espresso related apps and came across the Great Coffee App. Here is their direct website with more useful information about the app and the development of it.

This is a superbly, yet simply designed app which gives short instructions and descriptions on how to make the various types of espresso and espresso based drinks. It offers high quality images and videos and absolutely exquisite piano music to listen to while you browse through the app. On some of the screens there are delightful little animations of steam emanating from the cups, giving you that warm feeling of almost having one in front of you.

You can 'favorite' drinks which puts a little star over it on the main menu page, allowing you to more quickly spot your favorite drink visually.

The videos are very well made and show, quickly, the process of how the drink is made from grinding, to tamping to extracting and finally what a good pull looks like.

The 'coffee menu' offers details on the following drinks.

• Espresso
• Espresso Ristretto
• Espresso Lungo
• Espresso Macchiato
• Espresso Con Panna
• Espresso Romano
• Espresso Doppio
• Latte
• Americano
• Cappuccino
• Flat White
• Marocchino
• Latte Macchiato
• Caffe Mocha
• Irish Coffee
• Cafeccino
• Vienna Coffee
• Crappa

There are options for sharing these fine drink variations via Messages, email, Twitter, Facebook, and AirDrop. You can also send things to the Reading List as well. A variety of languages are also available to read the app with.

Lastly, there is a button to tap which will show you the different swipe options available in the app.

It's a universal app for both iPhone and iPad and costs $2.99.

 

[Shrink]

I was browsing the [iOS] App Store last week for coffee and espresso related apps and came across the Great Coffee App. Here is their direct website with more useful information about the app and the development of it.

This is a superbly, yet simply designed app which gives short instructions and descriptions on how to make the various types of espresso and espresso based drinks. It offers high quality images and videos and absolutely exquisite piano music to listen to while you browse through the app. On some of the screens there are delightful little animations of steam emanating from the cups, giving you that warm feeling of almost having one in front of you.

You can 'favorite' drinks which puts a little star over it on the main menu page, allowing you to more quickly spot your favorite drink visually.

The videos are very well made and show, quickly, the process of how the drink is made from grinding, to tamping to extracting and finally what a good pull looks like.

The 'coffee menu' offers details on the following drinks.

• Espresso
• Espresso Ristretto
• Espresso Lungo
• Espresso Macchiato
• Espresso Con Panna
• Espresso Romano
• Espresso Doppio
• Latte
• Americano
• Cappuccino
• Flat White
• Marocchino
• Latte Macchiato
• Caffe Mocha
• Irish Coffee
• Cafeccino
• Vienna Coffee
• Crappa

There are options for sharing these fine drink variations via Messages, email, Twitter, Facebook, and AirDrop. You can also send things to the Reading List as well. A variety of languages are also available to read the app with.

Lastly, there is a button to tap which will show you the different swipe options available in the app.

It's a universal app for both iPhone and iPad and costs $2.99.

Hey...really neat little app!

I think that would be useful for anyone making espresso based drinks. I knew some of them, but hadn't realized that there were so many types of espresso and espresso based preparations.

Thanks for the find!

 

[Scepticalscribe]

I was browsing the [iOS] App Store last week for coffee and espresso related apps and came across the Great Coffee App. Here is their direct website with more useful information about the app and the development of it.

This is a superbly, yet simply designed app which gives short instructions and descriptions on how to make the various types of espresso and espresso based drinks. It offers high quality images and videos and absolutely exquisite piano music to listen to while you browse through the app. On some of the screens there are delightful little animations of steam emanating from the cups, giving you that warm feeling of almost having one in front of you.

You can 'favorite' drinks which puts a little star over it on the main menu page, allowing you to more quickly spot your favorite drink visually.

The videos are very well made and show, quickly, the process of how the drink is made from grinding, to tamping to extracting and finally what a good pull looks like.

The 'coffee menu' offers details on the following drinks.

• Espresso
• Espresso Ristretto
• Espresso Lungo
• Espresso Macchiato
• Espresso Con Panna
• Espresso Romano
• Espresso Doppio
• Latte
• Americano
• Cappuccino
• Flat White
• Marocchino
• Latte Macchiato
• Caffe Mocha
• Irish Coffee
• Cafeccino
• Vienna Coffee
• Crappa

There are options for sharing these fine drink variations via Messages, email, Twitter, Facebook, and AirDrop. You can also send things to the Reading List as well. A variety of languages are also available to read the app with.

Lastly, there is a button to tap which will show you the different swipe options available in the app.

It's a universal app for both iPhone and iPad and costs $2.99.

Wow. As our good mutual friend Shrink has already observed, I had no idea that there are so many variations of espresso available. Indeed, I had to seek recourse to Mr Google to enlighten me as to what exactly some of them are…….all to the good, as my knowledge of matters espresso seems to be increasing exponentially…..

As my iPad is in western Europe - and I don't have an iPhone - it seems that I may have to wait before contemplating downloading this application.

But it does sound extremely interesting; and I look forward to your tasting notes, whenever you have time to post some….

 

[Shrink]

I just related the event below to one our denizens (not to be named) and he has threatened to tell all here. Blackmail has ensued, so I'll tell on myself, and save some money!

I was expecting a package today to be delivered by the ever reliable USPS. I went to my mailbox, retrieved the key to the parcel boxes, and collected what I thought was my parcel. However, the ever reliable USPS system had put the wrong parcel in my box.

OK...not such a big deal, except...

...the parcel contained a KEURIG BREWING THINGY!

I mean, a mistake is a mistake...but no need to be insulting!

So, I called the Post Office and this is supposed to be rectified, but in the interim there is a KEURIG THINGY in my house.

My espresso machine is unaware of this situation.

And...so there, Mr. Blackmailer! (Whose name shall not be revealed, but his initials are SBG. I know that no one will figure out who you are!)

 

[S.B.G]

I just related the event below to one our denizens (not to be named) and he has threatened to tell all here. Blackmail has ensued, so I'll tell on myself, and save some money!

I was expecting a package today to be delivered by the ever reliable USPS. I went to my mailbox, retrieved the key to the parcel boxes, and collected what I thought was my parcel. However, the ever reliable USPS system had put the wrong parcel in my box.

OK...not such a big deal, except...

...the parcel contained a KEURIG BREWING THINGY!

I mean, a mistake is a mistake...but no need to be insulting!

So, I called the Post Office and this is supposed to be rectified, but in the interim there is a KEURIG THINGY in my house.

My espresso machine is unaware of this situation.

And...so there, Mr. Blackmailer! (Whose name shall not be revealed, but his initials are SBG. I know that no one will figure out who you are!)

My plan has backfired on me!

You are truly diabolical.

Now, if you don't tell your espresso machine of the situation, I may have to. You already have my PayPal account address.... Just start sending over the funds now.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

I just related the event below to one our denizens (not to be named) and he has threatened to tell all here. Blackmail has ensued, so I'll tell on myself, and save some money!

I was expecting a package today to be delivered by the ever reliable USPS. I went to my mailbox, retrieved the key to the parcel boxes, and collected what I thought was my parcel. However, the ever reliable USPS system had put the wrong parcel in my box.

OK...not such a big deal, except...

...the parcel contained a KEURIG BREWING THINGY!

I mean, a mistake is a mistake...but no need to be insulting!

So, I called the Post Office and this is supposed to be rectified, but in the interim there is a KEURIG THINGY in my house.

My espresso machine is unaware of this situation.

And...so there, Mr. Blackmailer! (Whose name shall not be revealed, but his initials are SBG. I know that no one will figure out who you are!)

Clearly, this is by far the most important sentence in this particular tale of woe, error, misdelivery and misplaced (and highly insultingly misdirected) packages….

Yes. The espresso machine (Master Londinium I) must be kept in utter ignorance about the unwanted, unwelcome, presence of this………interloper…

For, otherwise, who could tell what it might attempt by way of retribution? Or - worse, if it is as sensitive as your grinder, such emotional turmoil might wreak havoc on its capacity to produce exquisite espresso…..

My plan has backfired on me!

You are truly diabolical.

Now, if you don't tell your espresso machine of the situation, I may have to. You already have my PayPal account address.... Just start sending over the funds now.

I have long thought that solving the world's food shortages and analysing its many and myriad political problems an utter breeze when asked to mull over the many masked layers of that strange thing known as human friendship…..

But no; on this, I am with Shrink. The tender sensibilities of the Londinium I must be preserved and protected at all costs…...

 

[S.B.G]

But it does sound extremely interesting; and I look forward to your tasting notes, whenever you have time to post some….

This morning, I made a Espresso Macchiato. It was good and the dab of milk foam softened the biting taste of the espresso. I did have some issues with minimal crema and soupiness on the top of the puck. Mr. Shrink gave me some advice to reduce the amount of coffee in the portafilter to increase the headspace between the screen and the coffee. So I'll try that on the next shot I pull.

But no; on this, I am with Shrink. The tender sensibilities of the Londinium I must be preserved and protected at all costs…...

Despite my cunning attempt at blackmail and extortion of Mr. Shrink, I do have to admit that the Londinium should be protected from the debauchery of what landed upon his doorstep.

 

[mobilehaathi]

Well, friends, once you've mastered the art of pulling espresso on Earth, you'll have to start working on your technique in space.

 

[S.B.G]

Well, friends, once you've mastered the art of pulling espresso on Earth, you'll have to start working on your technique in space.

Wow, that's a 400bar machine!

 

[Shrink]

Well, friends, once you've mastered the art of pulling espresso on Earth, you'll have to start working on your technique in space.

Coffee Freaks In Space!

Slowly, quietly, with minimal fanfare...we're now taking over the Solar System!

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Coffee Freaks In Space!

Slowly, quietly, with minimal fanfare...we're now taking over the Solar System!

But can we be certain that the taste remained the same in space? Is taste not one of those senses altered in space, or will the caffeine hit and sheer exquisite pleasure of the taste of really good coffee, (smooth, strong,) suffer from the environment of zero gravity?

I really need to know this; actually, an answer in the affirmative will kill for ever more any lingering dreams I had (and I did have such dreams as a child) to engage in space exploration. This is because, like any true coffee freak, when faced with a choice of exploring the galaxy or being able to enjoy my cup of coffee, I will, of course, unhesitatingly choose the latter….every time. And content myself with reading about the former…..

 

[Shrink]

But can we be certain that the taste remind the same in space? Is taste not one of those senses altered in space, or will the caffeine hit and sheer exquisite pleasure of the taste of really good coffee, (smooth, strong,) suffer from the environment of zero gravity?

I really need to know this; actually, an answer in the affirmative will kill for ever more any lingering dreams I had (and I did have such dreams as a child) to engage in space exploration. This is because, like any true coffee freak, when faced with a choice of exploring the galaxy or being able to enjoy my cup of coffee, I will, of course, unhesitatingly choose the latter….every time. And content myself with reading about the former…..

Only a guess, mind you, as I've yet to spend any time out there. (On the other hand, I have been referred to as a "space shot"...so...).

My guess is the caffeine effect should hold. However, 400 BARS or not, whether the extraction will produce the desired taste is up for grabs. Also, the grinds are probably stale by now, and goodness knows what the water is like.

So...I, like you, would abjure space travel until the quality of the espresso can be absolutely guaranteed.

OMG! Earthbound by my coffee jones!

 

[S.B.G]

I would hope, at least, that the ISS espresso machine is a super-automatic where they can still carry whole beans up there and then put them into the machine for the *freshest* possible coffee they could get.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Well, friends, once you've mastered the art of pulling espresso on Earth, you'll have to start working on your technique in space.

What a fantastic machine (and yes, I have long loved Italian design - they get the importance of designing the everyday stuff exceptionally well which enhances one's quality of life so much).

However. What I still wish to know is 1) Not so much the taste of espresso made thus in space, although this is, granted, a vitally important piece of information for those of us planning next life careers in such areas, 2) Likewise the freshness of the beans; important but not quite as compelling as:

3) Which is: How does Shrink's Londinium I measure up against this behemoth designed by the wonderful Giuseppe LavAzza?

 

[Shrink]

What a fantastic machine (and yes, I have long loved Italian design - they get the importance of designing the everyday stuff exceptionally well which enhances one's quality of life so much).

However. What I still wish to know is 1) Not so much the taste of espresso made thus in space, although this is, granted, a vitally important piece of information for those of us planning next life careers in such areas, 2) Likewise the freshness of the beans; important but not quite as compelling as:

3) Which is: How does Shrink's Londinium I measure up against this behemoth designed by the wonderful Giuseppe LavAzza?

Just on your last point...my behemoth is heavier than their behemoth.

Lavazza will give you some lame excuse about "saving on weight" or some other justification for producing a light weight, weak kneed, sad excuse for a really good espresso machine.

Their behemoth is a mere 20KG, while my behemoth is 34.02KG.

As usual, L1 knocks out the competition! HAH!