Sweet! I wish I could hang things on my walls, but the landlord gets angry if I put holes in the wall....
Really? They won't let you put anything at all on them?
Sweet! I wish I could hang things on my walls, but the landlord gets angry if I put holes in the wall....
As previously mentioned in another thread some time ago and with the knowledge that Scepticalscribe is quite fond of, old world style maps and such, I finally got around to ordering a second frame to hold the remaining map I had purchased a while back.
He is a photo of them together on my wall, albeit not a very good photo, but a photo nonetheless.
The one on the right, which is a modern day map is the one I hung today.
View attachment 496031
(oh yeah, and I like coffee)
Sweet! I wish I could hang things on my walls, but the landlord gets angry if I put holes in the wall....
Really? They won't let you put anything at all on them?
Is there no other way which will allow you to hang something nice on your walls other than by putting a hole in the wall? In any case, you have my sympathy.
Well I could use sticky hooks, but those don't bear much weight. I'll have to re-read my lease on the matter, but (somewhat related) I explicitly remember that I am forbidden to allow anything to touch the ceiling.
At least I can roast coffee.
This evening, I have had the most interesting email exchange with Sweet Maria's over an order I had placed.
However, I think our misunderstandings have been cleared up, and it looks as though I will have a few treats in store in the near future ...
This evening, I have had the most interesting email exchange with Sweet Maria's over an order I had placed.
However, I think our misunderstandings have been cleared up, and it looks as though I will have a few treats in store in the near future…...
What happened?
What happened?
I'm rather curious myself.
My guess is that they were concerned the beans wouldn't be fresh by the time they arrived...
Yes, I had a feeling that my online correspondence this evening would be of interest to my compadres here on MR.
Oh, some time ago, I placed an order, and they replied quivering with (legitimate) concern over the proposed astronomical cost of shipping one pound of Liquid Amber coffee to western Europe (not, note central Asia; there are only so many cardiac arrests any one company can endure in any given exchange of emails).
As I was travelling back and forth, and as it concerned only one pound of coffee, and, - as it occurred to me I didn't have a grinder, (and it looked as though it would take another age before I got wind of what had might have happened with the grinder), I forgot about it, and let it go, and, indeed, and never actually replied to SM, so that order didn't go through.
Moreover, as denizens of this thread well know, I only followed up the matter of the grinder a few weeks ago (and posted about it, here), as that too had slipped my mind.
Other matters ..preoccupied me. Stuff to do with elections, and so on. Anyway.
Tonight I received a puzzling and puzzled email from Sweet Maria's; they wished me to confirm whether I still wished for this order to go through, and queried my address stating that it differed from that on my credit card address.
Initially, I'll admit I was a bit suspicious, and pointed out that the address in both should be more or less identical, (the unworthy thought occurred that it might have been an attempt to obtain a genuine address for nefarious proposes), although the organisation I work for was mentioned in the address (SM's website had demanded a company name when I registered). Cue discussion on where I work. In passing, I also mentioned the high regard in which their products are held by some of my good friends here.
A further discussion followed over the astronomical cost of transporting one pound of Liquid Amber roasted beans to western Europe, at which point I decided to chance my arm and politely ask for two packets of one pound each of Liquid Amber (they agreed that this was possible).
Then, I was reminded of the discussion on this thread of their recently roasted Ethiopian coffee, and wondered about that. Next up, they asked whether October 1 (the next date when roasting is scheduled) might suit me better as it will offer 'the freshest possible roast', and that they could delay sending the order so that I would be able to have the 'freshest possible beans' (but not, it was pointed out, the single origin Ethiopian, as other single origin coffees will be offered instead), and send them immediately after Oct 1. I requested guidance from them, as they - coffee experts that they are - know best.
The discussion, amiable, and interesting, continues ...
Well, you're in for quite a nice package once it makes it out there! I can imagine their confusion, even they must wonder who is so coffee-mad as to pay such exorbitant shipping.
I placed all of the blame - squarely - on the ample shoulders of the enthusiasts who dwell here and admitted to being easily led (misled?) by them .
However, I did get the impression that they were quite chuffed that their reputation was such that enthusiasts were willing to recommend their wares so that other enthusiasts (such as myself) could sample their wares, and thus, pay so handsomely in order to be able to do so.
And, an addendum to tonight's lengthy email correspondence.
Sweet Maria's felt that it might be better if an order for the more freshly ground (most freshly ground) coffee was placed on October 1 (the date when the next roasting is scheduled to take place), and we agreed that they would send me an email to remind me that 1) roasting was taking place and 2) that, therefore, it was time to place an - the - order.
(One part of my mind is looking on from a distance, detached, and stupefied, and asking [me]: 'Have you taken complete leave of your senses, that you are discussing a perfectly ludicrously expensive coffee order - in detail - with a company you have never met and relating these details, in turn, to a bunch of other coffee nut cases who have themselves recommended this company and who are following this exchange with the fervour of the truly committed'?).
Objectively, this thread is crazy, but wonderfully so. And, as our absent friend Dr Shrink would remind us, no expense is too great in pursuit of coffee perfection.
If you do go through with the order, you would find your beans at their peak within two weeks of roasting. I'd highly recommend ordering such that you're able to use them on arrival (instead of waiting until you're home). It would be the best practice if you're going to pay such an outrageous shipping fee.
Well, sometimes, this cannot be helped, as one does not always know travel dates long in advance.
Indeed, requests that I travel to strange somewheres are sometimes made at very short notice (as happened this morning when I received a phone call). Such is life, or rather, my life, or, to be even more precise, - as a colleague from the Balkans expressed it in a conversation we had a few months ago, "this is the life we have chosen".
And, yes, this means that one is constantly playing guessing games - on the lines of 'if I order this then, to arrive on or around another 'then', will this actually be feasible?"
Yes, I had a feeling that my online correspondence this evening would be of interest to my compadres here on MR.
Oh, some time ago, I placed an order, and they replied quivering with (legitimate) concern over the proposed astronomical cost of shipping one pound of Liquid Amber coffee to western Europe (not, note central Asia; there are only so many cardiac arrests any one company can endure in any given exchange of emails).
As I was travelling back and forth, and as it concerned only one pound of coffee, and, - as it occurred to me I didn't have a grinder, (and it looked as though it would take another age before I got wind of what had might have happened with the grinder), I forgot about it, and let it go, and, indeed, and never actually replied to SM, so that order didn't go through.
Moreover, as denizens of this thread well know, I only followed up the matter of the grinder a few weeks ago (and posted about it, here), as that too had slipped my mind.
Other matters ..preoccupied me. Stuff to do with elections, and so on. Anyway.
Tonight I received a puzzling and puzzled email from Sweet Maria's; they wished me to confirm whether I still wished for this order to go through, and queried my address stating that it differed from that on my credit card address.
Initially, I'll admit I was a bit suspicious, and pointed out that the address in both should be more or less identical, (the unworthy thought occurred that it might have been an attempt to obtain a genuine address for nefarious proposes), although the organisation I work for was mentioned in the address (SM's website had demanded a company name when I registered). Cue discussion on where I work. In passing, I also mentioned the high regard in which their products are held by some of my good friends here.
A further discussion followed over the astronomical cost of transporting one pound of Liquid Amber roasted beans to western Europe, at which point I decided to chance my arm and politely ask for two packets of one pound each of Liquid Amber (they agreed that this was possible).
Then, I was reminded of the discussion on this thread of their recently roasted Ethiopian coffee, and wondered about that. Next up, they asked whether October 1 (the next date when roasting is scheduled) might suit me better as it will offer 'the freshest possible roast', and that they could delay sending the order so that I would be able to have the 'freshest possible beans' (but not, it was pointed out, the single origin Ethiopian, as other single origin coffees will be offered instead), and send them immediately after Oct 1. I requested guidance from them, as they - coffee experts that they are - know best.
The discussion, amiable, and interesting, continues ...
It sounds like you've gotten some arrangements worked out. I sure hope the beans arrive to you safely and at the expected time.
I'm very confident that you'll be pleased with them.
Doubtless, the beans will meet the standards that everyone here has already written about when they do eventually arrive. However, as is the crazy way of things, I may not be there to meet them for a few weeks ..
Never mind. The road taken in the pursuit of perfection is a long, well trodden one, with many detours and delays. Meanwhile, I have several coffees from Intelligentsia (thank you, fellow forum members and coffee aficionados) to console me.
For, I have finished my supply of the lovely "Los Delirios" from Nicaragua, and have started on the quite delightful - rich, yet smooth and sweet - "Los Inmortales" from El Salvador, both courtesy of Intelligentsia.
Which only whets the appetite!
Indeed it does .
However, it is not all deprivation and self-denial. This is because there are some (formerly) troubled spots where they pride themselves on their coffee culture and on the quality of the coffee they serve (the various countries of the Balkans come to mind) ..
Quite right. There is nothing quite like enjoying coffee (or beer, or Armangac, etc.) crafted by passionate and prideful people.
I could really use some help please guys. Having spent a small fortune on my Gaggia Classic, Iberital MC2 burr grinder and all the trimmings, Im not always getting consistent results. Ive gone through nearly a kilo of beans trying to get it right. In the end, I end up using any poor extractions to make lattes and adding flavoured syrup just to get it to taste nice!!
Ive done loads of reading, watched loads of youtube videos, but I'm still struggling a little. So, below is a write up of what I've been doing, please feel free to pull me up on any aspect...
Im currently getting my beans directly from a small local producer, North Star.
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Im working to the formula of 18/20 grammes of coffee in the basket, whilst trying to get a total extraction of 1.6 to 2 x the weight of coffee.
18 x 1.6 = 28g total extraction from the porafilter into the shot glass. This equates to about 1oz in volume.
Im then trying to achieve the above with an extraction time of 30 seconds, but this is where I'm struggling as I'm achieving this in about 15 seconds. Is 28g/1oz the correct amount of extraction?
1) I pre warm the Gaggis for 10-20 mins.
2) Ive set the grinder to as fine as I dare, I don't want to adjust it any finer incase the teeth start to cut against each other.
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3) Ive adjusted the grinders timer so that I'm producing 18g of coffee (after deducting weight of basket).
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4) Im tamping quite hard to try and increase the extraction time.
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5) Before inserting the portafilter, I pull some hot water through until the light goes off, allowing the water to start getting back up to temperature.
6) After inserting the portafilter, I allow about 3 seconds worth of water into the portafilter to dampen it.
7) After a short pause, and once the light has come back on, I turn the water back on and time the extraction. After about only 10/15 seconds I'm already achieving 28g extraction.
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Which usually looks like this..
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At 30 seconds I'm achieving twice this extraction (2oz).
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So, am I doing anything wrong? Am I correct in trying to achieve a 1oz extraction in 30 seconds, or have I got this wrong? I don't feel I want to tamp any harder, and Im worried if I adjust the grinder any finer then the teeth will grind against each other. Also, 18g of ground coffee doesn't quite fill the basket, and videos I've watched shows folk over filling and then levelling the coffee.
Thanks
Im not always getting consistent results.
Im working to the formula of 18/20 grammes of coffee in the basket, whilst trying to get a total extraction of 1.6 to 2 x the weight of coffee.