Espresso Enthusiasts

[Scepticalscribe]

Fascinating. Thank you for that, as it's something I've never come across before. I may have to try that someday as it does sound delicious.

As mentioned in the amended version of my post, Nigel Slater - my favourite food writer - describes these 'toast soldiers' in some detail in some of his writings.

A slice of toast, buttered and further sliced into thick sticks, - that is your 'soldier'.

Terrific for dipping into soft boiled eggs.

For me, when boiling, or frying (the posh verb is 'sautéing') eggs, they must be organic.

This is not just because of fashionable reasons (which is not my concern), or even ethical reasons (though the latter will have some bearing on my choices), but also taste reasons - organic eggs simply taste far better, and, when you are preparing them simply (fried, or boiled, or poached) they taste much better if the eggs are organic, and, in turn, the "soldiers" will then taste a lot better, too.

 

[0388631]

I like my egg in a cup to be very soft boiled, so that only the white has set and the yolk has just become to thicken up. I often put in salt, pepper and room temperature butter. Sometimes I have two eggs. And if I'm really wanting eggs, I'll do 3-4 of them, scoop them out and mash them lightly with the mentioned ingredients, and have them with buttered toast. Preferably with the eggs in a heated bowl or one atop another with the bottom bowl containing very hot water.

 

[mobilehaathi]

Fascinating. Thank you for that, as it's something I've never come across before. I may have to try that someday as it does sound delicious.

As mentioned in the amended version of my post, Nigel Slater - my favourite food writer - describes these 'toast soldiers' in some detail in some of his writings.

A slice of toast, buttered and further sliced into thick sticks, - that is your 'soldier'.

Terrific for dipping into soft boiled eggs.

For me, when boiling, or frying (the posh verb is 'sautéing') eggs, they must be organic.

This is not just because of fashionable reasons (which is not my concern), or even ethical reasons (though the latter will have some bearing on my choices), but also taste reasons - organic eggs simply taste far better, and, when you are preparing them simply (fried, or boiled, or poached) they taste much better if the eggs are organic, and, in turn, the "soldiers" will then taste a lot better, too.

I recommend a bread like ciabatta, sliced thin, brushed with butter and rubbed with garlic, put under a broiler until toasted golden. Dipped into a soft-boiled egg..... sprinkled with chives and fleur de sel. Oh my!

 

[0388631]

I'm quite partial to a fresh, homemade rosemary loaf. Left overnight to cool off inside. Having a lovely kirsch macchiato soon.

 

[Alexander.Of.Oz]

Just had my first cup of a new (to me) blend of double roast beans, with a strong and smooth dark chocolate finish to it and it was sublime! Not bitter in the slightest and well balanced overall. It extracted perfectly, with a very nice crema made of super-fine bubbles. Can't wait for the next one now.

 

[0388631]

Double roast beans? I know I've come across this recently. Roasted to first crack, cooled off then roasted again to second crack? I have to pick up giant containers of sauces and syrups soon. With holiday season around the corner. Despite last year's warm and novel-length conversation with @Scepticalscribe about the joys of having all these people around, it does get tiring. I found a lovely place that's offering me a $1.50 discount on Monin bottles provided I order two cases. Which isn't bad as that'll go quickly. Especially if I can grab fruit flavors and used those in alcoholic drinks to imbibe family members who talk too much. For the younger generation who can't appreciate coffee, I've ordered some flavorings that I know their favorite coffee shops use.

I need to get them polished off by the time the first holiday is done with (Thanksgiving). As many of these are naturally flavored and preservative free, I'm looking at a week's shelf life outside of a fridge and 2-3 weeks tops inside one. I'll have older brother bring one of his espresso machines over so I can deal with the demand. A Los Angeles based espresso rental company quoted me $400 for a week. Get lost!

In this order, I shall be getting two fine bottles of syrup made from lavender flowers and that will be my secret, guilty syrup. I love the taste of lavender with sparkling water and a few sprigs of mint chopped and shaken about with ice. Maybe some fresh tarragon too.

 

[Alexander.Of.Oz]

Double roast beans? I know I've come across this recently. Roasted to first crack, cooled off then roasted again to second crack?

Absolutely! The process creates a sweeter taste than just taking the roast straight to French.

 

[0388631]

Absolutely! The process creates a sweeter taste than just taking the roast straight to French.

Interesting. I wonder if it has anything to do with how difficult it is to attain a good French roast, roast level. I'll have to keep an eye out for double roasted beans.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Sipping a coffee, Ethiopian, naturally enough. And quite lovely it is, too.

Actually, I made two mugs of coffee, one for myself, and the other for the substitute carer, who has now taken herself and her mug of Ethiopian coffee upstairs to Mother.

 

[AVBeatMan]

For those in the U.K., TK Max often have Le Creuset at low prices. Just back from my local store.

 

[0388631]

What were those 18/10 pots like? I'm off to bed myself, but I'll be having a lovely cappuccino in the morning with caramel lattice on the foam. The reason being I made caramel sauce for no apparent reason earlier this evening. I need a new book to read.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Yep, that's the color. I do like purple quite a lot...

It is a very difficult colour to match, if one wears it.

Personally, as - when I am home - I live in a climate where the sky is that colour all too frequently, and the natives, by contrast, are a pallid hue in winter, so it is not a colour I much care for in clothing as it serves to drain you of whatever little natural colour you have remaining.

Having said that, it is a colour that looks simply stunning on people with darker skin tones.

 

[S.B.G]

Hello folks, today is International Coffee Day, so enjoy your favorite cup if you can.

@Shrink being a man of enormous courage will no doubt have already had his first cup by now and will have more throughout the day.

I have to go to the Post Office this morning and pick up my new coffee beans from Whole Latte Love. I'll post my thoughts, maybe pictures or even a video of them later today.

 

[Shrink]

Hello folks, today is International Coffee Day, so enjoy your favorite cup if you can.

@Shrink being a man of enormous courage will no doubt have already had his first cup by now and will have more throughout the day.

I have to go to the Post Office this morning and pick up my new coffee beans from Whole Latte Love. I'll post my thoughts, maybe pictures or even a video of them later today.

I courageously made a cup of coffee already, and will soon heroically make my second cup in a few minutes.

It is good to see my pluck and daring recognized.

Especially from one whose grit and intrepidity is...well...questionable!

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Hello folks, today is International Coffee Day, so enjoy your favorite cup if you can.

@Shrink being a man of enormous courage will no doubt have already had his first cup by now and will have more throughout the day.

I have to go to the Post Office this morning and pick up my new coffee beans from Whole Latte Love. I'll post my thoughts, maybe pictures or even a video of them later today.

Enjoy International Coffee Day, and enjoy the anticipation of your trip to the Post Office to pick up your beans from Whole Latte Love (I like that name, I must say, very apt for what they sell).

I courageously made a cup of coffee already, and will soon heroically make my second cup in a few minutes.

It is good to see my pluck and daring recognized.

Especially from one whose grit and intrepidity is...well...questionable!

Well, @Shrink, my friend, lest you feel your daring and courage go unremarked, let us take the opportunity presented to us by International Coffee Day to salute your intrepid and stalwart character while you have a second cup of coffee today.

 

[Shrink]

Well, @Shrink, my friend, lest you feel your daring and courage go unremarked, let us take the opportunity presented to us by International Coffee Day to salute your intrepid and stalwart character while you have a second cup of coffee today.

(***he blushes, modestly***)

 

[Scepticalscribe]

(***he blushes, modestly***)

"Modestly" or "most becomingly"?

 

[AVBeatMan]

I've just got some new beans from "Pact". Can I ask, is it better to let the beans "rest" for a while (from roasting) before using or is it ok to use straight away? I think I read somewhere about letting the beans rest for 10 days somewhere?

 

[mobilehaathi]

I've just got some new beans from "Pact". Can I ask, is it better to let the beans "rest" for a while (from roasting) before using or is it ok to use straight away? I think I read somewhere about letting the beans rest for 10 days somewhere?

I usually let my freshly roasted beans rest for 1-3 days. One is usually a bit early, but I frequently can't wait. Ten days seems a bit long, though.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

I usually let my freshly roasted beans rest for 1-3 days. One is usually a bit early, but I frequently can't wait. Ten days seems a bit long, though.

Yes, agreed, I'd have thought a day or two more than quite sufficient in this context.

 

[S.B.G]

Here is the extraction of the Maromas Orphae Italian blend beans from Whole Latte Love.

The taste was very chocolatey, as was described to be and nutty too. Not my favorite combination of taste, but if that is what one likes, they might really enjoy this blend. It came in a 2 pound bag so I have a lot of them to use. I'll use some of them for practicing technique and dosages and won't be drinking all of them.

But they do produce an astoundingly insane amount of crema.... Be sure to make the video full screen.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Here is the extraction of the Maromas Orphae Italian blend beans from Whole Latte Love.

The taste was very chocolatey, as was described to be and nutty too. Not my favorite combination of taste, but if that is what one likes, they might really enjoy this blend. It came in a 2 pound bag so I have a lot of them to use. I'll use some of them for practicing technique and dosages and won't be drinking all of them.

But they do produce an astoundingly insane amount of crema.... Be sure to make the video full screen.

Perhaps this is the sort of coffee that would make a good cappuccino, or latte, - or even, a café au lait - rather than for its fate to be served up as espresso.

Certainly, the tasting notes you have described would suggest some sort of milky accompaniment might work extremely well with these beans, especially as you have quite a few of them to use up.

Your Expobar can easily froth - and heat - milk, too, if needed.

 

[0388631]

I've used one day old beans before. The result is not very pretty. I had a very large, hot and lingering mess that I spent a few hours cleaning. Never underestimate the mess that can happen with new beans. This was during a time when 56K modems were still common. To put it bluntly, no one was going to waste their time spending a half hour loading a text page with a few instructional photos. There was that incident and me using a glass container for roasted beans around the same time. You can imagine my shock to hear a loud bang in the middle of the night.

If one can accommodate it, using a tightly sealed heavy-duty plastic container is great to keep excess off gassing at bay and keep in aromatics. I personally recommend 6-8 mm thick heavy-duty plastic containers with a twist on-off lid. You can extend bean life about a week using this method. Keep in a cool, dry and dark place.

 

[AVBeatMan]

Here is the extraction of the Maromas Orphae Italian blend beans from Whole Latte Love.

The taste was very chocolatey, as was described to be and nutty too. Not my favorite combination of taste, but if that is what one likes, they might really enjoy this blend. It came in a 2 pound bag so I have a lot of them to use. I'll use some of them for practicing technique and dosages and won't be drinking all of them.

But they do produce an astoundingly insane amount of crema.... Be sure to make the video full screen.

Can I ask where you got that glass/measure from?

 

[S.B.G]

Can I ask where you got that glass/measure from?

It's a Rattleware Espresso Shot Pitcher. Here's a link to the UK Amazon Store