espresso machine

**gage0921** · 08-20-2005, 11:31 PM

Any one have experience with these?..............

**mark the shoeshine boy** · 08-21-2005, 05:18 AM

my wife is one....if she has an opinion she will expresso herself....and she always has an opinion....

I never have tried one of these, but I do like a great cup of coffee in the morning.....

I take mine "black" like kiwi shoe polish....

mark tssb

when you post in "the barbershop" you may get all kinds of off the wall comments, in jest.....

**HlSheppard** · 08-21-2005, 05:22 AM

Have you noticed my avatar? LOL

I roast my own coffee and am just about to go downstairs and have a double!

Here's my setup (the pic was taken at our old house, though)

Here's what espresso SHOULD look like. This is the end of a shot of MAlabar Gold (that I roasted) pulled on a Rancilio Silvia (my old machine). See that "stuff" on the top? That's called crema. You can't get that without freshness and proper prep. The bitter black water that Starbux sells should be outlawed! :9898:

That's it - I'm thirsty!!

Here's what I drink every morning. Although my latte art has gotten quite a bit better since this pic. This is a "heart." It's done strictly with pouring the steamed and textured milk in the proper way. It's NOT done with toothpicks, spoons, paintbrushes or what have you...

**AACJ** · 08-21-2005, 05:31 AM

I picked one up about 12 years ago new and still use it. I don't know the name of it righ now as I am at work, but can find out tonight when I get home and post it later, but I LOVE it.

It's as simple as can be, a metal tank with metal screw on lid, a glass carafe and a simple steam tube with a knob to control the steam volume, that's it. We keep breaking the carafe but easily find replacements at Bed Bath and Beyond, they retail for 15 bucks but if you go in there with a coupon from another retailer, they will honor it, so we go in with a JCPenney 10.00 off coupon and pick it up for 5.00.

We have purchased a few others that had coffee makers attached but they ended up breaking down after a year or so, either the switch to start the machines breaks or the tank for the steam ends up leaking, they are usually plastic with a heating element in side of them.

My suggestion is to get one with a metal tank and a manual switch like a toggle or a throw swith, the ones that have a bubble that you push wear our very fast and once it breaks, you have to throw it away. And if you don't need all that extra stuff on it, don't get on with it, just means more stuff to break. The cost on most of them have come down so much that if one breaks, its easy to go buy another, so they are cheaply made.

**mark the shoeshine boy** · 08-21-2005, 07:59 AM

That is one wicked looking machine...wasn't that used in the movie "back to the future" ???

your "coffee" looks great, too....

mark tssb

**AACJ** · 08-21-2005, 08:04 AM

Dang Howard, we must have been posting at the same time, I did not see it.

What a beautiful set up! How much does something like that run you? Are you in the coffee business? (Not a columbian drug lord)

**HlSheppard** · 08-21-2005, 08:14 AM

Originally Posted by AACJ

Dang Howard, we must have been posting at the same time, I did not see it.

What a beautiful set up! How much does something like that run you? Are you in the coffee business? (Not a columbian drug lord)

Yeah - we were posting at exactly the same time (I noticed that too).

No - I'm not in the coffee business. However, I've been SERIOUSLY considering opening a part-time coffee roastery. It's been an idea of mine for a number of years. Just haven't had the stones to "take the plunge."

Honestly guys - the espresso hobby is no different from shaving. If you're into it, then you're into it...

I've put in a ton of studying and learning and practice, etc. All in the name of the best cup of espresso you can get. This is AFTER spending years perfecting my "normal" coffee skills. That got old in a hurry. There are many more parameters and details that have to be spot on to pull a good shot of espresso.

This machine (when I bought it) was $1200. They can be had for about $1000 now, but I've got several "coffee geek" upgrades to mine. The grinder was another $500. For good espresso the grinder is at LEAST as important as the machine. I won't even go in to the geek elements of THAT statement. You'll have to trust me... LOL

With equipment like this: They are made to basically last forever. You can repair or replace virtually everything yourself. The espresso machine is made to run 24/7 as well (although I have it on a heavy-duty timer to not waste energy and unecessarily heat up the kitchen).

check out www.coffeegeek.com or http://www.home-barista.com/

This will give you a glimpse into my "other life."