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Espresso Enthusiasts

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Former Soviet influenced areas had terrible coffee practices when I was there for personal travel and during my time under government as observation for future aid packages. Tea was fantastic. I'm not particularly proud to admit this, but I sought out Muslim owned shops, homes or anyone who I presumed was, because they managed to make a decent strong Turkish esque coffee. Admittedly they did seem confused why I'd order such a thing instead of watered down swill they saw as Western coffee.

God, I hated that job.

Edit: I don't know if I ever mentioned this, but then and during the Soviet times, the people loved to listen to 70s and 80s Euro disco, I want to say. Jethro Tull was surprisingly popular through much of Europe. Admittedly, I had no idea who they were up until 2009 when I finally listened to an album. And even then, I didn't know they were British.
 
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Zenithal said:
Former Soviet influenced areas had terrible coffee practices when I was there for personal travel and during my time under government as observation for future aid packages. Tea was fantastic. I'm not particularly proud to admit this, but I sought out Muslim owned shops, homes or anyone who I presumed was, because they managed to make a decent strong Turkish esque coffee. Admittedly they did seem confused why I'd order such a thing instead of watered down swill they saw as Western coffee.

God, I hated that job.

Edit: I don't know if I ever mentioned this, but then and during the Soviet times, the people loved to listen to 70s and 80s Euro disco, I want to say. Jethro Tull was surprisingly popular through much of Europe. Admittedly, I had no idea who they were up until 2009 when I finally listened to an album. And even then, I didn't know they were British.
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An aside: Personally, I love Jethro Tull, as I love music with a medieval sensibility.

Yes, central Asia, Russia and the Soviet world "get" tea. Coffee, not so much, although it is improving hugely. Last year, I spect a few months in Russia, and I must say that it was possible to get extremely good coffee in some coffee shops in the cities and towns in the regions, something which couldn't have happened a quarter of a century earlier.

After the fall of communism, the unfortunates east of the wall were sold the idea that Nescafe was western coffee, and regrettably, fell for it, mistaking it for what coffee actually was. In the early days, you would be attending conferences and Nescafe would be proudly bought out by your hosts; yes, agreed - the tea was far better.

Muslim shops will make excellent tea and coffee both, that was true even in the Balkans an area which was a fanatical coffee drinking culture.
 
Scepticalscribe said:
After the fall of communism, the unfortunates east of the wall were sold the idea that Nescafe was western coffee, and regrettably, fell for it, mistaking it for what coffee actually was. In the early days, you would be attending conferences and Nescafe would be proudly bought out by your hosts; yes, agreed - the tea was far better.
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That explains a lot now. Nescafe was what they'd call coffee, albeit Western coffee when I was there. They'd ask if I wanted that and I'd reply with turtski. I never made the connection until just right now with your post. I had no idea. Granted, when I was in the UK the first time around, the idea of coffee was stale grounds or Nescafe, or some regional stuff like Jakub's.

The women wouldn't even touch the instant coffee we know of. It was some weird preparation of fake cream, sugar and bastardized coffee in a tin with a pop off lid.
 
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Zenithal said:
That explains a lot now. Nescafe was what they'd call coffee, albeit Western coffee when I was there. They'd ask if I wanted that and I'd reply with turtski. I never made the connection until just right now with your post. I had no idea. Granted, when I was in the UK the first time around, the idea of coffee was stale grounds or Nescafe, or some regional stuff like Jakub's.

The women wouldn't even touch the instant coffee we know of. It was some weird preparation of fake cream, sugar and bastardized coffee in a tin with a pop off lid.
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Oh, heaven's yes: Agreed.

The old communist world is not the only place where coffee has improved enormously over the past thirty years; the British Isles served some dire stuff in those days, agreed - I recall how, in my student days, I managed to locate the few decent coffee shops that existed at the time, but, of course, they were a good bit more expensive than the sort of spots likely to be frequented by penniless students.

Anyway, off for a decent coffee myself, shortly.
 
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Scepticalscribe said:
Have just had a most wonderful - and welcome - my first coffee in three days - mug of cappuccino made with tender loving care and close attention (though not by me).
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Three days with no coffee!
Good heavens! That must be a record for you.
Mind you, the taste must have been sublime. I always find that after a time away from tasting something — chocolate in my case — my taste buds just swoon with bliss. :)
 
arkitect said:
Three days with no coffee!
Good heavens! That must be a record for you.
Mind you, the taste must have been sublime. I always find that after a time away from tasting something — chocolate in my case — my taste buds just swoon with bliss. :)
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I was a little unwell for two days - but am now over it; Wednesday was a no-food day, as well as a no coffee or wine, or fruit juice day.

And agree, when you haven't tasted something you love in a while, taste buds just - you express it so eloquently - "swoon in bliss". They do. They do. Mine swooned this afternoon......

But, yes, agreed, those first few sips were sublime. Pure bliss.
 
Zenithal said:
Cappuccino.
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Hope you enjoyed it.

Had a meeting I couldn't escape attending, and subsequently, needed a coffee - a standard café au lait (lots of lait) - a beverage that nowadays - even in Europe - is all too often marketed as "an Americano".

Give me a café au lait any day; but - it was most welcome, and was consumed - actually, gulped - with greedy need.
 
Scepticalscribe said:
Hope you enjoyed it.

Had a meeting I couldn't escape attending, and subsequently, needed a coffee - a standard café au lait (lots of lait) - a beverage that nowadays - even in Europe - is all too often marketed as "an Americano".

Give me a café au lait any day; but - it was most welcome, and was consumed - actually, gulped - with greedy need.
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Reminds me of a stupid story I was told some time ago while waiting in line at my roasters. That an Americano was invented by US troops during the second World War, because they couldn't handle the taste of espresso. Pretty sure it was invented long before then. Even the name didn't come into play until about 50 years ago.

The incident reminded me why I don't enjoy striking up conversation with absolute strangers. They'll either talk non-stop or go on and on.
 
Zenithal said:
Reminds me of a stupid story I was told some time ago while waiting in line at my roasters. That an Americano was invented by US troops during the second World War, because they couldn't handle the taste of espresso. Pretty sure it was invented long before then. Even the name didn't come into play until about 50 years ago.
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Agree with you that this tale sounds like self-serving tosh from the US.

I have only come across the name in the past twenty years, and when I have served with international (or supranational) organisations; those who travelled to the US (a place where I have never ventured thus far) also came across the term, and some - seeking to replicate the American experience - or attract an American clientele - introduced it to a European setting where it supplanted "café au lait" (to my regret).

Prior to that, every coffee shop anywhere in Europe - including our Anglophone British Isles - served what they called a "café au lait" - a term that meets a lot more with my wholehearted approval and approbation.
 
It's rather silly when you think about it. When I'm in Europe, I don't want to drink American drip coffee or anything similar. Speaking of odd strangers, I just recalled an incident at the farmer's market probably 14 years ago where a woman and her husband spent an hour discussing hummus out loud. I know I can go on long tangents, I'm self-aware in that regard, but I don't go on tangents in public. I'm not POTUS.
 
Double Turkish.

Picked the children up from their grandparents. They fell asleep after I'd gotten them home and changed into comfortable clothes.

Cafe au lait in a short while.

I won't be buying that 50/50 decaf blend anymore. Had awful side effects.
 
A delicious cappuccino with ethically sourced 75% dark chocolate and a side of toasted almonds.
 
Assam/EG blend with chopped/smashed cinnamon stick. 3 oz to 1 oz blend of teas. Speaking of teas, went to the store today and they finally had their seasonal. Organic apricot and raspberry preserves, non-gmo Maine blueberry preserve, and organic strawberry. Also picked up a large jar of orange marmalade.

I shall be heading back in a few days to buy multiple jars of each. I did see a woman and her husband load about a case of jars into their trolley. About 30 jars worth, I think. Asked management and they have no plans on bringing back a delicious passion-fruit, citrus and mango chutney style preserve they had last year. It did not sell well. :(
 
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Zenithal said:
Assam/EG blend with chopped/smashed cinnamon stick. 3 oz to 1 oz blend of teas. Speaking of teas, went to the store today and they finally had their seasonal. Organic apricot and raspberry preserves, non-gmo Maine blueberry preserve, and organic strawberry. Also picked up a large jar of orange marmalade.

I shall be heading back in a few days to buy multiple jars of each. I did see a woman and her husband load about a case of jars into their trolley. About 30 jars worth, I think. Asked management and they have no plans on bringing back a delicious passion-fruit, citrus and mango chutney style preserve they had last year. It did not sell well. :(
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Passion fruit, mango and citrus style preserve sounds delicious; the others also sound lovely; when I am home, I buy organic preserves - usually in the farmers' market from the people who actually make it.
 
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Yes. It was good stuff. I may end up making a fruit chutney with leftover fruit from the garden, before the fall/winter fruit arrives.

Currently enjoying a cappuccino using a blend of Kenya AA and Yirgacheffe beans, and a little mortar and pestel'd cardamom. Not bad.
 
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Zenithal said:
Yes. It was good stuff. I may end up making a fruit chutney with leftover fruit from the garden, before the fall/winter fruit arrives.

Currently enjoying a cappuccino using a blend of Kenya AA and Yirgacheffe beans, and a little mortar and pestel'd cardamom. Not bad.
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What ratio did you use?

Personally, I love blends of Yirgacheffe and Kenyan AA.
 
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Scepticalscribe said:
What ratio did you use?

Personally, I love blends of Yirgacheffe and Kenyan AA.
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60/40. Kenyan AA/Yirgacheffe.

I mixed about a third of a kilo. If I had to redo it, I would swap the values around to be more Yirgacheffe than Kenyan AA. The brightness of the Yirgacheffe and the bold roundness of a Kenyan AA go together very well.

Anyway, I made an error when cleaning out my portafilter basket and used a vinegar solution. I was a bit sleepy. They're now soaking in water with a light solution of citric acid and vodka to loosen the oils and get rid of the stench. I'll be using the other espresso machine for a few days.

I believe your post from a while back inspired me to try my own blends out on a smaller scale before doing a thorough mixing.
 
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Had a nice Turkish just now with some mango sponge. Going to try and make it to the roasters before they close in the next hour and buy some green beans. @mobilehaathi's posts on roasting have inspired me to try my hand at it. I'll most likely fail, but failing is learning.
 
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