Espresso Enthusiasts

[Scepticalscribe]

It's now Sunday morning here in the eastern United States and I've just finished a great tasting cup of espresso. Just espresso, no sugar, no milk, no butter - just espresso, and it was divine. Today I used the Atomic Café Diesel blend and experimented slightly in that I used a high 17 gram, almost 18 gram dosage instead of the usual 16 grams. With the extra weight it still tasted wonderful and not bitter as I might have anticipated as other beans sometimes will.

Tomorrow my newest order from Atomic Coffee is the French Roast, a slightly darker roast than the Diesel blend, is due to arrive as recommended by @Shrink. I'm looking forward to tasting this for the first time probably either Monday evening or Tuesday morning.

Glad you enjoyed your belated (but doubtless delicious) espresso, sans milk, cream, sugar.........and, er, butter.

Which cup was used?

And, have we yet convinced the Curmudgeonly One, Our Mentor, of the merits of investing in one (or two) of the Le Creuset 'orangey schmorangey' espresso cups?

I have found myself perusing the Intelligentsia site with a degree of becoming curiosity.

 

[S.B.G]

Which cup was used?

Ahh, this morning was the fancy schmancy orangy schmorngy Le Cresuet cup and saucer. Perhaps in a few hours from now when I go for my second cup I'll use the Intelligentsia cup, or maybe even the normal guy el Shrinko glass double walled Bodum cup.... we'll see what happens. The excitement and anticipation builds!

 

[Shrink]

It's now Sunday morning here in the eastern United States and I've just finished a great tasting cup of espresso. Just espresso, no sugar, no milk, no butter - just espresso, and it was divine. Today I used the Atomic Café Diesel blend and experimented slightly in that I used a high 17 gram, almost 18 gram dosage instead of the usual 16 grams. With the extra weight it still tasted wonderful and not bitter as I might have anticipated as other beans sometimes will.

Tomorrow my newest order from Atomic Coffee is the French Roast, a slightly darker roast than the Diesel blend, is due to arrive as recommended by @Shrink. I'm looking forward to tasting this for the first time probably either Monday evening or Tuesday morning.

My general impression of the Atomic Roast blends is that they are smooth,bold, and deep...but never bitter even though they are dark roasts.

You didn't put any sugar, milk, or butter in the espresso...but you neglected to mention the pureed chicken tongues that you add for flavor.

Please...honesty is the best whatever, @SandboxGeneral sir.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Ahh, this morning was the fancy schmancy orangy schmorngy Le Cresuet cup and saucer. Perhaps in a few hours from now when I go for my second cup I'll use the Intelligentsia cup, or maybe even the normal guy el Shrinko glass double walled Bodum cup.... we'll see what happens. The excitement and anticipation builds!

Ah, you used the 'fancy schmancey orangey schmorangey' Le Creuset cup; excellent.

The thing is, that cup is actually designed to be used, as much as admired....

When using the exquisite cups, I prefer to have some extra time, which, of course, serves to reinforce the idea that they are 'special occasion' or 'day off' cups, to be treated with more care than their brethren.

Well, on a lazy August Sunday, you do have plenty of time to summon the Intelligentsia cup to do coffee duty......should the urge strike you to do so, later on.

 

[S.B.G]

My general impression of the Atomic Roast blends is that they are smooth,bold, and deep...but never bitter even though they are dark roasts.

Yes indeed you are correct. Even their Intensi blend, though probably more of a medium roast, I never found to be bitter. The Atomic Café shop has rocketed to the top of my favorites list, and quite quickly I might add. I certainly have high expectations of the French Roast and am confident that I will enjoy it immensely.

You didn't put any sugar, milk, or butter in the espresso...but you neglected to mention the pureed chicken tongues that you add for flavor.

Please...honesty is the best whatever, @SandboxGeneral sir.

Here and I thought that was our little secret.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Only those educated and experienced at the very highest level might participate in the project.

I believe there are already some cups out there designed specifically for you.




Or this one maybe?

 

[S.B.G]

I was just reading that article on the space cup and found a real, scientific explanation from NASA of what happens when espresso is extracted on Earth.

In a normal cup of espresso, carbon dioxide bubbles release and collect to form a crema. Some of the bubbles adhere to the walls of the cup, while the remainder rise and stratify due to their size in layers we refer to as foam. Steam rises above the surface of the crema in part condensing in an advancing front on the inside surfaces of the cup. The cup cools by natural convection and the aromatics waft at rates determined by buoyancy. These processes are completely induced by gravity!

Pretty neat stuff.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

I was just reading that article on the space cup and found a real, scientific explanation from NASA of what happens when espresso is extracted on Earth.


Pretty neat stuff.

The upshot of which is that - unless we are travelling with Captain Picard - and others in that world, where they have successfully replicated the specific standards of gravity as experienced on Earth on board a spacecraft, the possibility of preparing an espresso in space is, at present, close to zero.

 

[S.B.G]

the possibility of preparing an espresso in space is, at present, close to zero.

Quite actually, its close to 100%. The Italian Space Agency and LaVazza built a micro-gravity espresso machine and SpaceX delivered it to the ISS and it was installed and tested in 2015. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISSpresso

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Quite actually, its close to 100%. The Italian Space Agency and LaVazza built a micro-gravity espresso machine and SpaceX delivered it to the ISS and it was installed and tested in 2015. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISSpresso

Oh, gosh, yes, thank you for reminding me about this.

I had read about it at the time, but had forgotten it since. How extraordinary.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Quite actually, its close to 100%. The Italian Space Agency and LaVazza built a micro-gravity espresso machine and SpaceX delivered it to the ISS and it was installed and tested in 2015. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISSpresso

Did they warm the cups?

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Did they warm the cups?

Ooooooooh. Touché.

Somebody has been reading some of the recently made posts on the thread closely.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Ooooooooh. Touché.

Somebody has been reading some of the recently made posts on the thread closely.

Well sometimes I don't fancy a tea.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Well sometimes I don't fancy a tea.

Ah, so you have embraced the Dark Side, and allowed coffee to enter your life?

Or, you just cannot see why a thread now numbering an extraordinary seven thousand plus posts is dedicated to and devoted to discussion of all things to do with coffee and espresso, rather than tea?

 

[Apple fanboy]

Ah, so you have embraced the Dark Side, and allowed coffee to enter your life?

Oh, you just cannot see why a thread now numbering an extraordinary seven thousand plus posts is dedicated to and devoted to discussion of all things to do with coffee and espresso, rather than tea?

I have a coffee now and then. Usually when out though.
Mostly I just find the degree to which some of the devotees go to make the perfect shot fascinating.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

I have a coffee now and then. Usually when out though.
Mostly I just find the degree to which some of the devotees go to make the perfect shot fascinating.

Well, in truth, when measured beside their attention to detail and utter devotion to the art of coffee and the ambition to achieve perfection alongside the proverbial 'god shot', I must confess that I am but a mere dilettante in this world, as my aspirations are more mundane, being confined to being able to make myself a merely excellent (but not perfect) cup of coffee.

 

[mobilehaathi]

The upshot of which is that - unless we are travelling with Captain Picard - and others in that world, where they have successfully replicated the specific standards of gravity as experienced on Earth on board a spacecraft, the possibility of preparing an espresso in space is, at present, close to zero.

Surely Capt. Picard isn't concerned too much with his espresso; he clearly prefers Tea. Earl Grey. Hot.

 

[S.B.G]

Surely Capt. Picard isn't concerned too much with his espresso; he clearly prefers Tea. Earl Grey. Hot.

Indeed, however, Captain Janeway, of Star Trek Voyager, is very serious about her coffee. She once took the Voyager into a nebula for "coffee" LOL.

With power reserves running low, the crew of Voyager alters course to enter a nebula in which there is a usable power source or "coffee" as Captain Janeway puts it. However, once they enter the nebula they encounter numerous problems including being attacked by an unknown substance which cripples every defense system on the ship. The crew discovers the nebula was not a real nebula, but was in fact, a life form, and Voyager returns to help the creature recover from the damage they caused whilst trying to escape from it.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Surely Capt. Picard isn't concerned too much with his espresso; he clearly prefers Tea. Earl Grey. Hot.

This is true.

While the instruction "Tea. Earl Grey. Hot." is indeed imprinted on my mind, I was referring (at least, I think I was) to the wonderful world of the Star Trek franchise in general.

Indeed, however, Captain Janeway, of Star Trek Voyager, is very serious about her coffee. She once took the Voyager into a nebula for "coffee" LOL.

This is very nice, necessary, useful, (and relevant) for us to know. Captain Janeway is clearly a woman of character, considerable taste, and no small refinement.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Oh, and I did manage to have a nice little cup of strong espresso this morning. Delicious and most welcome, it was, too.

 

[AVBeatMan]

Found a useful site that lists 348 coffee roasters in the UK and Ireland. Link here;

http://thecoffeeroasters.co.uk/pages/a-big-list-of-coffee-roasters-in-uk

 

[Shrink]

And another morning started for me at 5:30AM with my body in Barely Functional Mode (as it is every morning for about 40 minutes) but functional enough for me to prepare some Atomic Cafe French Roast blend.

What a wonderful pleasure to slowly, but greedily, sip this wonderful bold, deep, and smooth coffee.

And now to put the kettle on (so to speak...it's an electronic kettle) in preparation for the production of my second cup...Atomic Cafe Diesel blend.

So I wish you all a good day...the early part of the day for those in the States, and a bit later over the pond...but a good remainder of the day to you all.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

And another morning started for me at 5:30AM with my body in Barely Functional Mode (as it is every morning for about 40 minutes) but functional enough for me to prepare some Atomic Cafe French Roast blend.

What a wonderful pleasure to slowly, but greedily, sip this wonderful bold, deep, and smooth coffee.

And now to put the kettle on (so to speak...it's an electronic kettle) in preparation for the production of my second cup...Atomic Cafe Diesel blend.

So I wish you all a good day...the early part of the day for those in the States, and a bit later over the pond...but a good remainder of the day to you all.

Ah.

"Barely Functional Mode," eh?

Yes, I know that one.

It is my default setting until I have had an espresso, or two, or a coffee made from a French Press, or two....

Anyway, I am glad to learn that you have enjoyed your coffee......

And, even when the activity is confined to the simple act of flicking a single, solitary, switch, I think we can still feel justified when using the expression 'putting the kettle on'.

 

[Shrink]

Ah.

"Barely Functional Mode," eh?

Yes, I know that one.

It is my default setting until I have had an espresso, or two, or a coffee made from a French Press, or two....

Anyway, I am glad to learn that you have enjoyed your coffee......

And, even when the activity is confined to the simple act of flicking a single, solitary, switch, I think we can still feel justified when using the expression 'putting the kettle on'.

Aaah, dear friend @Scepticalscribe, believe me that my "Barely Functional Mode" is very different from your "Barely Functional Mode" . And nothing makes me happier than to know that the difference is in your favor as you do not want to experience my "Barely Functional Mode"...it is quite nasty. My beautifully executed swan dive down the stairs is something that I wish you, and my other friends here, never copy.

On the other hand, and to judiciously avoid sounding self pitying...the fact that I can function as well as I can is so much better than others who have pulled my clever trick, or something similar causing similar damage, that I must not, and will not, complain.

And I can have my coffee!

So thing are far from terrible.

 

[S.B.G]

My beautifully executed swan dive down the stairs

than others who have pulled my clever trick

You make it sound so, um, interesting and intriguing!

But yes, that is an experience I don't want to go through, nor do I wish it on anyone else and I'm sorry it had to happen to you, my good friend.

Later this afternoon the Atomic Coffee French Roast should be delivered and I'm eagerly awaiting to try them out.