Espresso Enthusiasts

[Scepticalscribe]

My preference is to not have any "coffee" if all that is available is that stuff that starts with the letter i.

I am in complete agreement with you on this.

Ooh...you almost said a bad word.

Take care. I think that there may be an Official from MR lurking here.

You mean the bad word that begins with the letter 'i'?

Sure, free coffee is always nice and subject to some wiggle room in terms of quality. But I'm pretty sure Folgers is just freeze dried caffeinated boot scrapings, so it can't figure into such a calculus.

Agreed that Folger's or its equivalents do not qualify under the name of what is considered to be 'free' coffee. Or any sort of coffee.......

 

[S.B.G]

The Diesel blend from the Atomic Coffee Roasters arrived today. I made a cup with 16 grams and allowed the Expobar to warm up for 45 minutes first.

It tastes great too! It's rich and full bodied with a tinge of sweetness to it. I'm already looking forward to having more in the morning.

Now on to reading more of my book (not my book, but a book).

 

[mobilehaathi]

The Diesel blend from the Atomic Coffee Roasters arrived today. I made a cup with 16 grams and allowed the Expobar to warm up for 45 minutes first.

It tastes great too! It's rich and full bodied with a tinge of sweetness to it. I'm already looking forward to having more in the morning.

Now on to reading more of my book (not my book, but a book).

View attachment 645346

Looks like a great way to spend the evening!

 

[Shrink]

The Diesel blend from the Atomic Coffee Roasters arrived today. I made a cup with 16 grams and allowed the Expobar to warm up for 45 minutes first.

It tastes great too! It's rich and full bodied with a tinge of sweetness to it. I'm already looking forward to having more in the morning.

Now on to reading more of my book (not my book, but a book).

View attachment 645346

Hey Mate! So glad that you like the Diesel blend. Whenever anyone tries, or buys, something on my recommendation I always worry that it will be a bust...and I'll feel really bad about the recommendation.

I was concerned that as the Diesel is not an "espresso intended" blend, it might not be good as espresso. But this stuff even appears to have come out with a decent head of crema. (Always partially a function of the beans, partially a function of the espresso machine).

Enjoy...

 

[Scepticalscribe]

The Diesel blend from the Atomic Coffee Roasters arrived today. I made a cup with 16 grams and allowed the Expobar to warm up for 45 minutes first.

It tastes great too! It's rich and full bodied with a tinge of sweetness to it. I'm already looking forward to having more in the morning.

Now on to reading more of my book (not my book, but a book).

View attachment 645346

Delighted to hear that the Diesel blend works so well.

Moreover, I just love the picture you have posted, as it updates very nicely a concept I have always thought a most agreeable expression of urban civilisation. The coffee house, where one went to drink coffee, and read papers, periodicals, magazines, and maybe think, and write, and debate, too.

Actually, I have long thought that coffee, coffee shops, newspapers, and books all go terribly well together.

Your picture is a beautifully composed modern interpretation of an old 18th century concept - the 18th century coffee house, but reimagined in a modern setting. And the colour of that Le Creuset espresso cup is simply gorgeous.......none other would capture that idea in such an attractive and striking manner....

 

[Shrink]

Delighted to hear that the Diesel blend works so well.

Moreover, I just love the picture you have posted, as it updates very nicely a concept I have always thought a most agreeable expression of urban civilisation. The coffee house, where one went to drink coffee, and read papers, periodicals, magazines, and maybe think, and write, and debate, too.

Actually, I have long thought that coffee, coffee shops, newspapers, and books all go terribly well together.

Your picture is a beautifully composed modern interpretation of an old 18th century concept - the 18th century coffee house, but reimagined in a modern setting. And the colour of that Le Creuset espresso cup is simply gorgeous.......none other would capture that idea in such an attractive and striking manner....

Geez...another Le Creuset orangey shmorangey post.

We all know that a simple down-to-earth, regular guy cup is so much better. The coffee tastes better. That orangey, fancy shmancy thingy makes the coffee taste terrible.

Friends, don't be drawn in by this attempt to get everyone to drink out of some weird, orangey cup. The next thing you know, they'll be telling you how great it is to drink out of this...

 

[0388631]

Friends don't let friends buy that hideous mug.

 

[mobilehaathi]

Geez...another Le Creuset orangey shmorangey post.

We all know that a simple down-to-earth, regular guy cup is so much better. The coffee tastes better. That orangey, fancy shmancy thingy makes the coffee taste terrible.

Friends, don't be drawn in by this attempt to get everyone to drink out of some weird, orangey cup. The next thing you know, they'll be telling you how great it is to drink out of this...

View attachment 645359

heh, maybe I won't show you the mug I typically drink out of....

Although it isn't nearly as busy as that one, it is a hand-made ceramic mug with a partial yellow glaze and a stylized coquí etched onto the side.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Geez...another Le Creuset orangey shmorangey post.

We all know that a simple down-to-earth, regular guy cup is so much better. The coffee tastes better. That orangey, fancy shmancy thingy makes the coffee taste terrible.

Friends, don't be drawn in by this attempt to get everyone to drink out of some weird, orangey cup. The next thing you know, they'll be telling you how great it is to drink out of this...

View attachment 645359

Deep down, you know that you just need an excuse to invest in one.

Friends don't let friends buy that hideous mug.

That is, if they truly like (admire, respect) the friend.....

heh, maybe I won't show you the mug I typically drink out of....

Although it isn't nearly as busy as that one, it is a hand-made ceramic mug with a partial yellow glaze and a stylized coquí etched onto the side.

That begs the inevitable question.........

This morning, what emerged from a Gaggia machine can only - charitably - be described as something sharing some sort of distant DNA with what we understand by the word "coffee".

Remedial action may need to be undertaken.

 

[0388631]

Stale coffee or something wrong with the machine? I had stale coffee and it resulted in the most revolting espresso I'd ever had. It's why I chose to make the JMB in the French press. I must have mis-dated my beans or something happened.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Stale coffee or something wrong with the machine? I had stale coffee and it resulted in the most revolting espresso I'd ever had. It's why I chose to make the JMB in the French press. I must have mis-dated my beans or something happened.

I cannot say as the machine is not mine.

We will undertake further investigation of the matter......

 

[AVBeatMan]

Might give "Pact" a try. Anything for a freebie!

 

[mobilehaathi]

That begs the inevitable question.........

Well, I'm traveling right now, but if I remember I might post a picture when I'm back home.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Happiness is a relative thing.

Very relative. Context is everything when one tries to define happiness, the state of bliss, that of contentment and the absence of unhappiness.

But, on a coffee thread, availability of coffee - especially in places not known for their coffee culture - must rank as something approaching some sort of happiness.

Today, I bought a French Press. A nice one.

And - to my stunned and delighted surprise - I was able to lay hands on freshly roasted Ethiopian coffee......

And was directed to where I could obtain a decent espresso...

And so, this evening, I am quite happy.

 

[mobilehaathi]

Happiness is a relative thing.

Very relative. Context is everything when one tries to define happiness, the state of bliss, that of contentment and the absence of unhappiness.

But, on a coffee thread, availability of coffee - especially in places not known for their coffee culture - must rank as something approaching some sort of happiness.

Today, I bought a French Press. A nice one.

And - to my stunned and delighted surprise - I was able to lay hands on freshly roasted Ethiopian coffee......

And was directed to where I could obtain a decent espresso...

And so, this evening, I am quite happy.

That's good, otherwise you might have to settle for black tea and conserve.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

That's good, otherwise you might have to settle for black tea and conserve.

Things have improved. There is green tea, as well as black tea.

And when a vendor proudly mentions a recent roasting date for coffee - (rather than simply selling me a tin of Lavazza - which would have been perfectly acceptable) well, my cup of joy runneth over.

Though, it depends how one measures 'improvement'. Does the ubiquitous presence of McDonald's, KFC and Starbuck's count as progress?

Personally, I'd prefer an outbreak of a range of Italian (or Balkan) coffee shops.

 

[mobilehaathi]

Does the ubiquitous presence of McDonald's, KFC and Starbuck's count as progress?

Yeeesh. Insidious...

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Yeeesh. Insidious...

Isn't it just?

 

[Shrink]

Though, it depends how one measures 'improvement'. Does the ubiquitous presence of McDonald's, KFC and Starbuck's count as progress?

Progress down the road to the horrors of sub-mediocrity.

And to be avoided...nay, ignored, at all costs.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Might give "Pact" a try. Anything for a freebie!
View attachment 645416

Freebies? That peaked my interest!
Dripper verses French press though? Which would give a novice a better cup?

 

[mobilehaathi]

Freebies? That peaked my interest!
Dripper verses French press though? Which would give a novice a better cup?

They're both quite easy, but I might give the edge to FP. It's pretty hard to mess up.

 

[AVBeatMan]

Freebies? That peaked my interest!
Dripper verses French press though? Which would give a novice a better cup?

My first order, the first their recommendation, the second a colleagues.

edit; sorry, the other way round, their recommendation is the fruit and nut.

 

[0388631]

No coffee for about a week, maybe more. No hot or extremely cold liquids. No alcohol. This morning I sat down to breakfast and began eating. I had toasted my slices of bread a bit too much and bit down too hard. I ended up biting down very hard on a portion of my inner cheek. It's swollen up. Minimal blood, but it aches and it hurts. I later made the mistake of having freshly squeezed orange juice. A fit of cursing ensued. I'm quite thankful my kids aren't capable of repeating that yet!

I ordered vegetable and chicken soup for lunch, and let it cool down to warm before consuming it. I had a bottle of Freemark Abbey Napa Cab set to drink this weekend. Awful timing. If it were a 2-3 mm bite, I wouldn't mind. Larger than a dime I tell you. I should be more careful when chewing.

Happiness is a relative thing.

Very relative. Context is everything when one tries to define happiness, the state of bliss, that of contentment and the absence of unhappiness.

But, on a coffee thread, availability of coffee - especially in places not known for their coffee culture - must rank as something approaching some sort of happiness.

Today, I bought a French Press. A nice one.

And - to my stunned and delighted surprise - I was able to lay hands on freshly roasted Ethiopian coffee......

And was directed to where I could obtain a decent espresso...

And so, this evening, I am quite happy.

Glad you had a wonderful day. I truly love days where everything works out and then more great things happen.

 

[Shrink]

My first order, the first their recommendation, the second a colleagues. View attachment 645521 edit; sorry, the other way round, their recommendation is the fruit and nut.

Not to appear ignorant, but what the heck is "Fruit and Nut Espresso"? What kind of beans, and from what location, comes "Fruit and Nut Espresso"?

And just one cynical point...when you pay nothing for coffee, that is often exactly what it is worth.

 

[0388631]

I can think of ground banana chips mixed in with ground espresso. shudder