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Just upped my coffee game again

#41
DigMe said:
Yeah, man. Still using it almost every morning.. Still going strong and making great espresso. :) So glad I got that deal on it! Although I am always looking to take it to that next level...maybe get a machine that does this or that a little better and whatnot... GAS basically.

bc
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If you ever get rid of it, drop me a line. I have a decent automatic machine, but I have been thinking of getting something better as mine sucks for steaming milk. I really should invest in a better grinder first though because that is more important.

lowsound
 
#45
Right on! Good to hear. Our anniversary is coming up on the 31st of December. I may go with a nice grinder this year.

I picked up a super old La Pavoni Europiccola about 10 years ago, and it is still going strong. I grabbed one of their grinders shortly after. It was a good grinder, but it's about time for something new.

-Mike
 
#47
DigMe said:
I think I recall what grinder you have. If you pick up a good one then you should notice a big improvement in your espresso.

bc
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It's the LP burr grinder. It's a great machine. I have replaced the burrs a couple times now. I'm just getting tired of looking at the same grinder. It's time for a new look on our counter. I'm not letting the Europiccola go, so it has to be the grinder.

-Mike
 
#48
How are the machines holding up? We bailed on the LP grinder and now have one from Baratza. Still using the same Europiccola though. I'm going to look into having it refinished and a nice custom made wooden grip for the handle.

Yes, I realize this thread is from 2008. :D

-Mike
 
#51

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#53
Oh my.. Please don't pollute my good coffee thread with talk of Illy and Lavazza!! :P

Mike,

Still running strong on the Mazzer/Expobar combo. Lately I have mostly not had time to roast my own coffee beans since our second kid came. In the meantime I have been ordering coffee from some great roasters: Invalid Link Removed, www.klatchroasting.com and then from a regional roaster in Dallas - white rock coffee. Lots of great variety of fresh-roasted Joe is being consumed here lately.

bc
 
#56
DigMe said:
Oh my.. Please don't pollute my good coffee thread with talk of Illy and Lavazza!! :P

Mike,

Still running strong on the Mazzer/Expobar combo. Lately I have mostly not had time to roast my own coffee beans since our second kid came. In the meantime I have been ordering coffee from some great roasters: Invalid Link Removed, www.klatchroasting.com and then from a regional roaster in Dallas - white rock coffee. Lots of great variety of fresh-roasted Joe is being consumed here lately.

bc
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Well I sure ain't going for some boutique stuff like Kopi Luwak !
 
#57
i_got_a_mohawk said:
I quite like Illy coffee, but I can only find the beans at the mo, so may need to get a burr-er at some point.

I don't think I've tried that one Skitch, will pick some up when I need a new pack :)
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That particular one due to the influx of Italians into my county of Wales during the 19th and 20th centuries, as a teenager we had loads of Italian cafe's here. Lavazza was the one they used, I suppose it's why I dig it, I reckon it though, nice taste.
 
#58
Oh yeah!! I finally found the other coffee people on TB!! Happy Day!

I've been a pro barista for almost ten years now, and coffee and music are my entire reason for being!!

I still haven't sprung for my own home rig, but I've done plenty of research (read: drooling) and that Expobar looks to be the best bang for the buck. By the way, I breifly worked the bar for a local large, swanky office building with its own in-house shop, and I used a Simonelli Oscar machine with a Simonelli Grinta grinder. The machine was junk to me, but the grinder wasn't half bad for a 'prosumer' esp. grinder. They run about $300. I think that's probably the one I would go with if I had my own rig.

As for my home brew, I brew stovetop 'cowboy' coffee using freshly ground fresh beans, 195 degree water, 4 minutes steep time, and strain it right into the cup through a fine mesh strainer. Add a healthy double dose of cream, and French Press - eat your heart out!!

Somebody (I think OP) mentioned coffeegeek.com - great website!!

Also, check out baristaexchange.com. It's more geared toward professional baristas and shop owners, but it's chock full of priceless coffee wisdom. It is the TB of the barista world.

Cheers, my friends!!
 
#59
DigMe said:
Tell me you got the Baratza Vario.
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We sure did. We found a shop in Seattle that sold them, so went up and bought one. After a couple months, we got a small pebble stuck in it and it chewed up the burr gears. We took it to the shop to be repaired, and they replaced the gears and burrs for free. The owner of the shop told us the Vario should have been able to stand up to the tiny pebble that was stuck in there.

In anticipation for a repair bill, I contacted the roaster about the pebble. He said they actually passed a large rock on their last roast which messed up the gears on their roasting machine. He apologized and sent us a free pound of beans.

I suggest Bergies Coffee in Gilbert, Arizona the next time you need some beans. They will even custom roast a blend for you. Batdorf & Bronson and Olympic Crest up my way are also both excellent. As is San Juan Coffee Roaster, and the Sumatra Blue Lintong roast. If you contact Bergies of Olympic Crest, let them know Big Mike sent you. :D

As for me, I am going to order a pound from White Rock Coffee right now.

-Mike
 

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