Espresso Enthusiasts

[S.B.G]

Being my friend requires that one be willing to suffer!

Your post was made at 2146 EST, isn't it past your bed time by about 6 minutes?

Speaking of suffering. I went out with several friends this evening to ummm, Starbucks. Not because I wanted to, but because they begged me to. I bought a caramel latte like I used to get a few months ago, but haven't had since then.

As I now grind my own beans and brew my own coffee and pull my own espresso shots, I have forgotten, delightfully so, how bad Starbucks "coffee" tastes. It was horrible, terrible and disgusting and horrible. Neither the milk nor the caramel could cover up the bad coffee taste. It left an abominable aftertaste in my mouth that even at this moment is still there.

As I was chatting with one of them, he was telling me how despite him using creamer in his coffee of various origins, one being *cough* instant coffee *cough*, among others from chain restaurants to specialty coffees at times, that he is beginning to taste the differences in them.

At this point he said now that he can taste the difference in coffee it may be time for him to cut back. I said no, you're at the cusp of the beginning of knowledge of what being a coffee connoisseur is, the brink of enlightenment, or knocking on the door of an insane asylum!

I went on to explain my own sickness and how I've transformed over the course of this year to being only a few steps behind Shrink as I meander around the bend of insanity. I spoke about my recently acquired grinder and how I've learned about the differences in them from burrs to blades and doser to doserless and what grind adjustments do and so forth.

I tried to impress upon him the supreme importance of how drastic a difference in freshness is and why it's important to have it. I imparted my experiences with less-than-fresh coffee in my life prior to owning a grinder and that coffee at chain restaurants just doesn't compare.

All in all, a good time was had with friends and in a coffee shop I was able to imbue the nuances of coffee preparation and surmise why their coffee wasn't the best stuff available. I suffer for my friends benefit.

 

[Kurwenal]

For over-roasted, stale, bad cups made by people who have never tasted real coffee, Starbucks isn't too bad. It's a good opportunity to hand your friends a small bag of fresh roasted beans. And, I get a kick out of saying "large" and being immediately corrected with "venti." Uh, yah.

I rarely visit SB, but it does have one virtue, especially when I travel outside the US to places that are not known for coffee or where I don't have time to explore: it is consistent. Sometimes consistently bad is better than mystery coffee. And, I do like those ginormous city mugs they sell only locally. My Chongqing mug gets a lot of use.

 

[mobilehaathi]

snip

I had quite a similar experience as I started 'getting into coffee.' Of course, my coffee setup is still modest, consisting of a ceramic drip cone and the tastiest beans I can grind (and a mini press at the office). Admittedly though, when my budget can absorb it, I fear I might descend into the deepest bowels of the asylum in search of our friend Shrink.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

I had quite a similar experience as I started 'getting into coffee.' Of course, my coffee setup is still modest, consisting of a ceramic drip cone and the tastiest beans I can grind (and a mini press at the office). Admittedly though, when my budget can absorb it, I fear I might descend into the deepest bowels of the asylum in search of our friend Shrink.

As, indubitably, will I........in due course. Inevitably. But not just yet....

 

[Shrink]

I fear I might descend into the deepest bowels of the asylum in search of our friend Shrink.

HELP!

Stop me before I pull shots again!

Stop me before I pull shots again! (***echo from the deepest bowels of the asylum***)

 

[Kurwenal]

HELP!

Stop me before I pull shots again!

Stop me before I pull shots again! (***echo from the deepest bowels of the asylum***)

You say that like it's a bad thing.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Being my friend requires that one be willing to suffer!

This is a whole new dimension of the concept of friendship that one suspects may require further exploration......... the Jesuits and, indeed, Karl Marx had nothing on this......

I had quite a similar experience as I started 'getting into coffee.' Of course, my coffee setup is still modest, consisting of a ceramic drip cone and the tastiest beans I can grind (and a mini press at the office). Admittedly though, when my budget can absorb it, I fear I might descend into the deepest bowels of the asylum in search of our friend Shrink.

A ceramic drip cone? Excellent. Such is the esoteric nature of this thread, that, as a coffee lover, I find that topics such as - ceramic drip cones - are irresistibly interesting.

Indeed, thanks entirely to this thread, the site of Intelligentsia Coffee (Black Cat etc) has been perused, and, um, a ceramic drip cone had already been ordered and is merrily winging its way to me, as I write......

 

[Kurwenal]

Good morning.

 

[S.B.G]

Good morning.

Image

Wow, very nice photo!

 

[mobilehaathi]

Good morning.

Image

Sure looks like it!

 

[Kissaragi]

I get a kick out of saying "large" and being immediately corrected with "venti." Uh, yah.

I always refuse to use their silly names for sizes. They are from Seattle not Italy!

 

[Shrink]

And to all....good afternoon!

 

[mobilehaathi]

And to all....good afternoon!

Double walled espresso cups are absolutely on my wish list!

I think MR needs a drooling emoticon.

 

[Shrink]

Double walled espresso cups are absolutely on my wish list!

I think MR needs a drooling emoticon.

This is where I bought mine. When properly pre-heated, they really keep your drink hot for a good period of time.

When the time comes that you go for the purchase, take care when ordering because they come in a number of sizes...4.7 (linked), 10 ounce, and 15 ounce.

The larger sizes are great for drinks like latte and cappuccino. I know SBG has the larger cup (15ounce, I believe), and he makes his larger drinks in those cups...and they look just fantastic!

And I completely agree that MR should have a "drooling" smilie...for this thread at the very least!

 

[S.B.G]

Good afternoon friends.

That turned into this....

 

[Scepticalscribe]

What lovely pictures, and beautifully taken. Wonderful posts, and thanks for sharing with us!

During the recent economic crash, my favourite Italian coffee shop (after slowly - and very painfully - struggling and suffering over the previous two years) finally succumbed to collapse to my inexpressible grief. (This was a place which had a warm welcome, amazing espresso, fantastic Italian opera, or classical, or medieval music on, great food, excellent conversation......oh, and exquisitely beautiful Italian crockery, plates, saucers, and, of course, cups.)

However. There was one small positive outcome, which was that when the place closed, (and I still cannot pass the building where it plied its trade without wincing), I offered to buy (and was allowed to), some of the most beautiful espresso cups (and saucers) I have ever seen; I also bought some of their larger cappuccino cups (and matching saucers), plates and so on......

So, when I have time to make a pot of espresso, and the time to slowly sit and think, when I am at home, in other words, I sometimes take the time to potter around, making a proper, slow, stove top espresso, (the sort which gurgles, satisfyingly, when it is ready) and then proceed to drink it from a small exquisite cup which reminds me of what used to be my favourite Italian coffee shop.....

 

[Shrink]

What lovely pictures, and beautifully taken. Wonderful posts, and thanks for sharing with us!

During the recent economic crash, my favourite Italian coffee shop (after slowly - and very painfully - struggling and suffering over the previous two years) finally succumbed to collapse to my inexpressible grief. (This was a place which had a warm welcome, amazing espresso, fantastic Italian opera, or classical, or medieval music on, great food, excellent conversation......oh, and exquisitely beautiful Italian crockery, plates, saucers, and, of course, cups.)

However. There was one small positive outcome, which was that when the place closed, (and I still cannot pass the building where it plied its trade without wincing), I offered to buy (and was allowed to), some of the most beautiful espresso cups (and saucers) I have ever seen; I also bought some of their larger cappuccino cups (and matching saucers), plates and so on......

So, when I have time to make a pot of espresso, and the time to slowly sit and think, when I am at home, in other words, I sometimes take the time to potter around, making a proper, slow, stove top espresso, (the sort which gurgles, satisfyingly, when it is ready) and then proceed to drink it from a small exquisite cup which reminds me of what used to be my favourite Italian coffee shop.....

How lucky you were to be able to buy some beautiful cups and saucers!

Wonderful cups...porcelain, glass..whatever...add to the aesthetic experience of consuming the drink. Just as the proper wine glass is an important part of enjoying wine, so it is with espresso and and espresso based drinks.

 

[S.B.G]

The larger sizes are great for drinks like latte and cappuccino. I know SBG has the larger cup (15ounce, I believe), and he makes his larger drinks in those cups...and they look just fantastic!

I have two sets of the Bodum cups, the espresso 5oz and the latte sized 15oz cups - both of which are pictured above.

I also concur with you that when pre-heated they keep the drinks hot for much longer than normal cups. I love them a lot.

What lovely pictures, and beautifully taken. Wonderful posts, and thanks for sharing with us!

During the recent economic crash, my favourite Italian coffee shop (after slowly - and very painfully - struggling and suffering over the previous two years) finally succumbed to collapse to my inexpressible grief. (This was a place which had a warm welcome, amazing espresso, fantastic Italian opera, or classical, or medieval music on, great food, excellent conversation......oh, and exquisitely beautiful Italian crockery, plates, saucers, and, of course, cups.)

However. There was one small positive outcome, which was that when the place closed, (and I still cannot pass the building where it plied its trade without wincing), I offered to buy (and was allowed to), some of the most beautiful espresso cups (and saucers) I have ever seen; I also bought some of their larger cappuccino cups (and matching saucers), plates and so on......

So, when I have time to make a pot of espresso, and the time to slowly sit and think, when I am at home, in other words, I sometimes take the time to potter around, making a proper, slow, stove top espresso, (the sort which gurgles, satisfyingly, when it is ready) and then proceed to drink it from a small exquisite cup which reminds me of what used to be my favourite Italian coffee shop.....

Wow. That sounds like it was a wonderful place to be. I wish I could have experienced it; it sounded so delightful.

I'm glad you were able to acquire some keepsakes from them. Those will aid your fond memories of the place for sure.

 

[Kurwenal]

Wonderful cups...porcelain, glass..whatever...add to the aesthetic experience of consuming the drink. Just as the proper wine glass is an important part of enjoying wine, so it is with espresso and and espresso based drinks.

Very true. But, about half the time, I just stick my mouth under the spout.

/burp

 

[Shrink]

Very true. But, about half the time, I just stick my mouth under the spout.

/burp

Sort of cutting out the middle man...go right to the source.



...and burn the heck out of your mouth... but any sacrifice necessary for getting your coffee NOW!

 

[GoCubsGo]

And to all....good afternoon!

Want in my mouth, now.

 

[Peace]

One word.

Frasier.

 

[Shrink]

Want in my mouth, now.

I'd send you some, but I fear it might lose just a bit in transit!

 

[musicjunky]

Nice shots of your shots! I am rolling with a single cup drip brew (whole beans freshly grinded) but I'd love to see photos of your coffee gear as well! Pulling espresso shots myself seems intimidating and hard to do at work..

 

[Shrink]

Nice shots of your shots! I am rolling with a single cup drip brew (whole beans freshly grinded) but I'd love to see photos of your coffee gear as well! Pulling espresso shots myself seems intimidating and hard to do at work..

Below is my set-up...