Great news, Jon, I've got La Peppina put back together and pulling great shots again. I think I'm getting a higher volume of water per pump with the new gaskets and washers... I still want to sand and paint over the rusted rim on the bottom of the kettle, but the hard part is over (I had to drill out one of the screws from the dispersion block and tap new threads).

Yeah, I'm pretty happy, but I quickly ran out of espresso, I had enough Moka Kadir left for two singles to celebrate getting her back together before the Wife called for a cappuccino... I think I only had eleven grams left for the double for her drink, but the shot looked good and from all reports it was a big hit. I came down to take a sip only to find an empty glass.

Shame on me for drinking the beans I roasted for espresso as coffee all week while rebuilding the machine. I was only getting coffee and bakers chocolate flavors from the Clever Coffee Dripper, but when I pulled this after nine days rest it was really nice with some brightness coming out that wasn't there in the CCD. Now I've got coffees resting that may or may not be great espressos, maybe a blend will amount to something:

• FC Panama Lerida Estate - Honey processed
• C+ Tanzanian Peaberry Songe
• C Ethiopian Sidamo Korate - Natural Processed
• FC Sumatra Mandheling - Dry Processed

I didn't get a chance this weekend to roast a Brazil, but I'm looking forward to pulling some commercially roasted Barefoot for a change.

<2/5 Update>
I got into some single SO espresso shots tonight with the Sumatra and Ethiopian beans after 5 days rest. The Sumatra was nice, the wife enjoyed her cappuccino enough that she asked for more coffee, so I made her another with a single shot I was getting ready to pull for myself and the rest of the soy. The Ethiopian was like a cup full of big, plump blueberries, nice but maybe just a little too much. I ended up blending the Sumatra, Ethiopian, and using the Panama as a base for my last shot (14 g double) that was pretty good.

Jon,

Sounds good, count me in with my La Peppina!



Any good tips for things to bring for a mobile session are appreciated... I'm used to pulling near a sink so I'll have to bring along some towels, etc. Should we bring our own water?