What are the Latte drinkers going to do? Caps lock me with their sharp wit via the interweb?
They will come after you with their pointy latte art etching sticks!
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Espresso Enthusiasts
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They will come after you with their pointy latte art etching sticks!
I have been browsing coffee makers online in recent weeks, a sort of teasing torture that I am sure many on this thread will readily appreciate. A part of the wonderful insanity of this world which I thought I'd share with you all.
Looking through a diary, in which I have made notes over the past few weeks, (of meetings, various wines I have tried to order, and coffee pots and coffee makers), I came across the innocuous heading 'Bialetti' (yes, the famous Italian moka/espresso pot makers) who have recently designed a French press (called 'Preziola Original French Press'). A rather nice product, and I really like this company.
The very next word, in what seems to be a new paragraph, is written in a clear script with a fountain pen, (mine) and it simply says 'madness'. It is followed by dash, and a description in my own copper-plate handwriting, inscribed with a disturbing attention to the detail of the letter formation, which reads as follows: 'La Pavoni PRH Professional Coffee Machine copper/brass/wood'. There is another machine from the same company which is described - also in navy blue ink immediately below the former - as 'La Pavoni SPL Stradivari Professional Coffee Machine'.
Google them, and whimper. Helplessly. Sigh. But, admit that they are, oh, ever so beautiful, an example of that inimitable Italian design mastery, that exquisite fusion of form and function......(and they have received great reviews.....from some who have used them.....)
Looking through a diary, in which I have made notes over the past few weeks, (of meetings, various wines I have tried to order, and coffee pots and coffee makers), I came across the innocuous heading 'Bialetti' (yes, the famous Italian moka/espresso pot makers) who have recently designed a French press (called 'Preziola Original French Press'). A rather nice product, and I really like this company.
The very next word, in what seems to be a new paragraph, is written in a clear script with a fountain pen, (mine) and it simply says 'madness'. It is followed by dash, and a description in my own copper-plate handwriting, inscribed with a disturbing attention to the detail of the letter formation, which reads as follows: 'La Pavoni PRH Professional Coffee Machine copper/brass/wood'. There is another machine from the same company which is described - also in navy blue ink immediately below the former - as 'La Pavoni SPL Stradivari Professional Coffee Machine'.
Google them, and whimper. Helplessly. Sigh. But, admit that they are, oh, ever so beautiful, an example of that inimitable Italian design mastery, that exquisite fusion of form and function......(and they have received great reviews.....from some who have used them.....)
That is, indeed, a gorgeous machine.
Listen, when you buy one...pick one up for me,too.
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Hmm. I had a feeling that some of the denizens who dwell here would respond with benign approval to my (utterly sober, might I add) contemplation of design perfection.
While I have no intention of purchasing such a thing just now (I shudder to think of having to leave anything of the sort behind in the event of a rapid exit), it will sit, teasing and tantalising, and whispering beseechingly, in a dark corner of my mind, where it shall be visited occasionally. And may be succumbed to, on my eventual return to a more normal existence......
Edit: And I have only now re-read the sentence that begins 'Listen, when you buy one....'; it seems to suggest a preordained future......
While I have no intention of purchasing such a thing just now (I shudder to think of having to leave anything of the sort behind in the event of a rapid exit), it will sit, teasing and tantalising, and whispering beseechingly, in a dark corner of my mind, where it shall be visited occasionally. And may be succumbed to, on my eventual return to a more normal existence......
Edit: And I have only now re-read the sentence that begins 'Listen, when you buy one....'; it seems to suggest a preordained future......
So, I take that to mean you won't be buying one for me...
No, alas. My purse will not stretch that far. Nonetheless, in a spirit of comradeship and mutual enjoyment of the rich and varied world of espresso makers, I am entirely open to advice and suggestions as to which of the models, the La Pavoni PRH (Professional Coffee Machine) in copper/brass/wood, - an exquisitely beautiful machine, or, the La Pavoni SPL Stradivari (Stradivari? I'm almost weeping with happiness, what a name!) Professional Coffee Machine, I should contemplate purchasing whenever (a preordained date with espresso destiny?) I do decide to um, invest in my espresso future.
There is a gold-plated version, but that is for nouveau-riche vulgarians. Me, I'm into understated elegance and the classical look......
OK, side by side comparison. I go for the copper, etc.
Gold...tacky, tacky.
I thought it was a spring lever...if it's a plain lever...more skill than I have to use it. For a spring lever, I love the Londinium I.
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Ah, but that is part of the beauty of life. Eve if you don't know what you are doing at first, you can learn. Some of the reviewers mentioned watching YouTube videos, and practicing for around a week, until they managed to get what they described as 'the perfect cup of espresso'. As Shrink says, it is - or can become - a sort of ritual.......
Im afraid they have no clue what they are talking about. Perfect to them would be far from perfect for a top of the line barista. It takes years of training and practice to reliably make close to perfect espresso, even with the best equipment. Im not saying I can do it either btw, I'm a sucky barista.
A manual machine is for the theatre of the thing and will never be as good or as versatile as a semi auto. They are art pieces which is fine but you have to understand the limitations such as very small boilers, which means the temperature stability of the water will be low, they have relatively low steam power and of course the lever adds a dreaded new variable to learn.
I suppose its a bit like buying a classic car or buying new. The new car is going to be better in pretty much every way other than looks but if you want that classic soul, and all the trouble that comes with it then you get the classic car.
Sigh. Dreams dashed. But thank you. Sometimes, one needs a dose of cold realism. And here I was, lusting after a thing of beauty, doing my best to ignore (despite reading several detailed reviews) just exactly how demanding and high maintenance (in the psychological sense) this was going to be. And, the problem is, I don't do difficult and demanding and high maintenance first thing in the morning, which is when I really would like my first espresso. I do bad tempered and grouchy, instead.
So, I have spent most of the past hour perusing the same company's (La Pavoni) semi-automatic products, along with the semi-automatic products of Fiorenzato; I'll ask for opinions some other night.
And to Shrink: I agree that the copper objet d'art is a thing of rare beauty. Exquisite.
Sorry to dash your dreams! They are objects of beauty, I agree that the copper is just gorgeous.
While the copper/gold one looks nice, I have to admit that I prefer the polished stainless or chrome model (whichever it is). There's too much visual stuff going on with the one pictured while the chrome one has the elegant look of class and sophistication and not in that up in your face way about it.
Thanks!
Sorry. I only read the last message. I wasn't aware that he bought an espresso machine already.
First, thanks for joining out little island on insanity!
Eric/ has already bought an espresso machine...it was posted earlier in the thread.
But, again, stay with us if you enjoy exchanging ideas and information about coffee, and especially espresso. We are a small collection of totally demented coffee lovers...stay with us, but beware for your sanity!
Sorry. I only read the last message. I wasn't aware that he bought an espresso machine already.
Sorry. I only read the last message. I wasn't aware that he bought an espresso machine already.
Oh...no apologies, please. No one in their right mind would read all 890 posts!
And if they started out in their right mind, after reading all the posts they would be raving lunatics!
Oh...no apologies, please. No one in their right mind would read all 890 posts!
And if they started out in their right mind, after reading all the posts they would be raving lunatics!
Uh oh. I've read every one of them. Some even more than once. I'm doomed.
And, um, a few nights ago, I spent a few strangely enjoyable hours re-reading the most recent - ah - part for the thread (ah, from around page 15.....to the end), in search of.....information. And ideas. An obsessive's delight, and a bizarrely but thoroughly delightful way of passing time.
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Oh, I forgot to comment on this post and picture. What a fabulous machine - a bizarre cross between something dreamed up in a deranged scientist's laboratory and a true work of art. Gorgeous. Just gorgeous. I can imagine it in a kitchen of mine in the future......
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Oh, I forgot to comment on this post and picture. What a fabulous machine - a bizarre cross between something dreamed up in a deranged scientist's laboratory and a true work of art. Gorgeous. Just gorgeous. I can imagine it in a kitchen of mine in the future......
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Uh oh. I've read every one of them. Some even more than once. I'm doomed.
And I rest my case!
Interesting post about the history of espresso machines.
http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/design/?p=951
I love this comment from that page.
"I’ve just broghtr a modern E61 Faema. (looks old but has new bits inside) However I haven’t told my wife yet… and she needs to know before I get the sparkies in to upgrade my power supply. She won’t mind losing half the kitchen bench, will she? Yours worriedly"
I wonder if he's still alive....
http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/design/?p=951
I love this comment from that page.
"I’ve just broghtr a modern E61 Faema. (looks old but has new bits inside) However I haven’t told my wife yet… and she needs to know before I get the sparkies in to upgrade my power supply. She won’t mind losing half the kitchen bench, will she? Yours worriedly"
I wonder if he's still alive....
Thanks for the link. Interesting and enjoyable article.
The Comments by some of the posters are even more pedantically annoying than mine!
(and before anybody else say it...yes, who could have believed that possible!
)I think I will make a latté in a while and sip it slowly while enjoying the rainy weather outside, sitting next to my window.
I just got home from the grocery store and picked up a few items I needed. One of them was a refill on my drip coffee supply. I finally realized that the store does in fact have their own grinders there.
I was looking for weeks (not too hard though) for it but in the coffee/tea aisle and I never found it. Then I realized that I walked past it all the time in the bread aisle! Doh!
They of course had many different flavored and unflavored coffee beans in bins. - Shrink, lay off the freshness bit, I know, I know.
I picked out their Breakfast Blend and ground it for automatic drip. I'll give a try as soon as I finish my Tim Horton's coffee which will be probably tomorrow.
I just got home from the grocery store and picked up a few items I needed. One of them was a refill on my drip coffee supply. I finally realized that the store does in fact have their own grinders there.
I was looking for weeks (not too hard though) for it but in the coffee/tea aisle and I never found it. Then I realized that I walked past it all the time in the bread aisle! Doh!
They of course had many different flavored and unflavored coffee beans in bins. - Shrink, lay off the freshness bit, I know, I know.
I picked out their Breakfast Blend and ground it for automatic drip. I'll give a try as soon as I finish my Tim Horton's coffee which will be probably tomorrow.
I think I will make a latté in a while and sip it slowly while enjoying the rainy weather outside, sitting next to my window.
I just got home from the grocery store and picked up a few items I needed. One of them was a refill on my drip coffee supply. I finally realized that the store does in fact have their own grinders there.
I was looking for weeks (not too hard though) for it but in the coffee/tea aisle and I never found it. Then I realized that I walked past it all the time in the bread aisle! Doh!
They of course had many different flavored and unflavored coffee beans in bins. - Shrink, lay off the freshness bit, I know, I know.
I picked out their Breakfast Blend and ground it for automatic drip. I'll give a try as soon as I finish my Tim Horton's coffee which will be probably tomorrow.
It's great that your grocery store has a grinder. Does it allow you to make adjustments to the grind? If so, you have the ability to refine the grind so it works best in your drip machine and some greater control for your espresso grind
Enjoy the Breakfast Blend when you try it tomorrow. I might suggest avoiding the "flavored" coffees because very often coffees are flavored to cover up the fact that they are really awful beans. I you like flavored coffee, get the beans that you like, and I believe that you have some flavoring syrups at home (if I remember correctly). That way you know the beans are OK, you have some control over the grind, and you can control the amount and kind of flavorings to your own taste.
Yes the grinder is adjustable and when I need a new espresso grind, I will give it a try. I've never tried flavored coffee like what I saw in the store today and it's doubtful I will try it any time soon either. I do have carmel syrup and honey here at home and that's all I've used to flavor my latté's with. Maybe one of these days I'll get some vanilla syrup.