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Espresso Enthusiasts
- Thread starter eric/
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One of my friends paid me a visit yesterday and he was eager to have me make him some coffee since he learned of my newfound 'hobby.'
He first called me for my opinions on buying coffee. Who'd have thunk that? Now people are seeking my advice on this stuff. I couldn't have done it without all of you fine coffee folks here in this thread.
He was at the local supermarket and asked what he should buy and if I had heard of any particular brands he rattled off. All I really told him was to stay away from the hoppers full of beans that you pour out into a bag yourself. I told him how careless people are and put flavored coffee through the non-flavored coffee designated grinders. How you don't know how long a particular bean flavor or blend has been sitting in the non-airtight hoppers and how stale they probably are. I advised him, since he doesn't have any specialty equipment, to look for something in the pre-packaged aisle, to look for roast date and find the latest one to ensure the freshest possible coffee available.
After his shopping he came by for the visit. I first brewed a pot of the Silver Bridge coffee I recently bought. I set up the grinder for these beans and when they were done he took a nice breath of the *freshly* ground *fresh* beans! He enjoyed the coffee very much. Normally he says he pollutes (my word) his coffee with creamer and sugar. I drink my coffee black with nothing in it and that's how he drank the coffee I made for him.
Later on while we were chatting I went back to the kitchen and pulled some espresso and made latte's. Again I pulled two fantastic double-shots of espresso! They were beautiful I tell you, beautiful. Having a grinder and finding the proper grind setting is amazing. It's almost like having a new espresso machine because now I am able to pull properly extracted shots from it. Whereas before I was dependent on the stores grinder and most of the time it was the wrong settings for my espresso machine and shots rarely pulled well.
He thoroughly enjoyed his latte. Plus he commented on my espresso and latte cups and how they kept his drinks not only warm but hot for a very long time. This was in direct comparison to the normal coffee cups he uses at home where he said his drinks go cold quickly. I told my friend that he knows, when I do something, I do it right!
He first called me for my opinions on buying coffee. Who'd have thunk that? Now people are seeking my advice on this stuff. I couldn't have done it without all of you fine coffee folks here in this thread.
He was at the local supermarket and asked what he should buy and if I had heard of any particular brands he rattled off. All I really told him was to stay away from the hoppers full of beans that you pour out into a bag yourself. I told him how careless people are and put flavored coffee through the non-flavored coffee designated grinders. How you don't know how long a particular bean flavor or blend has been sitting in the non-airtight hoppers and how stale they probably are. I advised him, since he doesn't have any specialty equipment, to look for something in the pre-packaged aisle, to look for roast date and find the latest one to ensure the freshest possible coffee available.
After his shopping he came by for the visit. I first brewed a pot of the Silver Bridge coffee I recently bought. I set up the grinder for these beans and when they were done he took a nice breath of the *freshly* ground *fresh* beans! He enjoyed the coffee very much. Normally he says he pollutes (my word) his coffee with creamer and sugar. I drink my coffee black with nothing in it and that's how he drank the coffee I made for him.
Later on while we were chatting I went back to the kitchen and pulled some espresso and made latte's. Again I pulled two fantastic double-shots of espresso! They were beautiful I tell you, beautiful. Having a grinder and finding the proper grind setting is amazing. It's almost like having a new espresso machine because now I am able to pull properly extracted shots from it. Whereas before I was dependent on the stores grinder and most of the time it was the wrong settings for my espresso machine and shots rarely pulled well.
He thoroughly enjoyed his latte. Plus he commented on my espresso and latte cups and how they kept his drinks not only warm but hot for a very long time. This was in direct comparison to the normal coffee cups he uses at home where he said his drinks go cold quickly. I told my friend that he knows, when I do something, I do it right!
Nice going...the best way to get a friend to expand their knowledge of good coffee is to serve them some!
It really sounds like those "beautiful" pulls are getting more and more frequent!
It is the rare person who can write super-quickly with a FP. It is doable, but not by me. I use a FP nearly always, except for something like a deposition or court hearing where I need to write notes very quickly without worrying about pen angle, etc. That said, FP's are one of the few things I obsess about more than coffee (actually, it's the paper I obsess about, the FP's just go with that).
Effect.....and cause.
Nice going.
Um. As it happens, I am one of those people.....when taking notes at meetings (which is quite frequently), I use a fountain pen, and write at speed.......Actually, I have been writing with a fountain pen since I was at school and absolutely love the idea that one can be equally proficient with both a fountain pen and an Apple computer....
SBG - what a wonderful post; I thoroughly enjoyed reading your terrific description of pulling an excellent shot of espresso for a friend.....
Only if the guy on the UPS bicycle can peddle really fast!
Haha... Not UPS but the USPS.
Starts at 25 seconds in...
Sorry...USPS uses folks on roller skates.
Good luck!
I worked in the Main Post Office in NY for a year. And the stories I could tell...
I'm crossing my fingers!
You're a good man...because after about three hours that REALLY hurts!
A Teddy bear?
A new refrigerator?
A case of Hostess Twinkies?
C'mon...tell us!
Hmmm. Twinkies sound good right now.
Hmmm. Twinkies sound good right now.
It does, doesn't it!?
I'm awaiting eagerly your report on your new coffee...if you decide to make some now.
It does, doesn't it!?
I'm awaiting eagerly your report on your new coffee...if you decide to make some now.
I've opened the outer package now.
The beans have been removed from their original packaging and moved into they're final resting place inside the Friis container.
This beats an iPad unboxing video all to hell!
It sure does!
I pulled 3 double-shots so far working on finding the proper grind setting for these beans. I don't quite have it yet after only three pulls, but this one was acceptable for now. Sorry the cup has a bit of condensation on it, so it doesn't look very well.
That definitely looks yummy.
Can't control myself...gotta go make myself an espresso!
That definitely looks yummy.
Can't control myself...gotta go make myself an espresso!
I drank that pictured espresso straight up! Despite not being a big fan of straight espresso, I do drink at least one cup of it any time I get a new blend of beans.
The biting bitterness of espresso is what I don't like so much and why I don't drink it on a regular basis. But it's great for the latte's and cappuccinos I make.
This brand had that bitter taste, but it was easier for me to drink than other brands I've tried.
The beans smell great. They actually remind me of the smell of a certain type of cookie, but I can't quite place it.
This beats an iPad unboxing video all to hell!
Absolutely!
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Mmm, shot looks nice! I think I'm going to have to take a break and go find an espresso around town.
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I don't think I've ever drank a SO Yirgacheffe shot, but those beans make a magnificent drip!