Like most, I was really impressed with the design of the new Speedster, and after Andy Schecter got one, I really started to take notice. Andy was kind enough to give me some further information, including dimensions, so I finally decided to take the plunge! What's a few thousand Euros among friends, after all?

Now that I've got it set up and functioning in my kitchen, I thought I'd post a few pictures so you all can oogle it and otherwise eat your hearts out.
Here's a back view to give you some idea of how it looks in my kitchen
This is a frontal view taken from a slight angle


And another frontal view from a different angle.



Actually, I decided not to buy the Speedster since it is too wide for my kitchen plus I'm reasonably happy with what I already have. The lights came from an IKEA store. I don't get into IKEA stores very often since there aren't any located anywhere near I live.

The astute reader will notice that this is a blatant rip off of a modification that Mark Prince did years ago on his Linea (which he is now hoping to sell since he wants to replace it with a Speedster). Rick Knowlan and I ran into Mark P. at a cafe in Vancouver 2 weeks ago, and Mark offered to show us his modified Linea in his new apartment, which is not far away from this particular cafe (the Elysian Room on Broadway, near Ash).

There is actually a functional benefit to this mod, which costs around $45 for the LED light set, in that it allows you to better see the extraction coming out of the bottom of the PF. If you wire it in a convenient way, you can have the on-off switch somewhere that you can turn it off when you don't want it lit up. There are 4 light strips, of which I am using 3. You can choose between 5 different solid colors (including white), or have them cycle every couple of seconds through all of them. I personally find all the colors except white and blue to be very garish; cycling through the colors is very much over the top unless you want your kitchen to look like a traveling circus.

ken

Sorry, Ken. Time has passed you by. Speedsters, Cyncras, GS/3's and (shortly) Slayers are the entry level machines for serious discussion on HB now. Even boiling water in something less than the Uberboiler is declasse. You might consider moving your future comments over to Facebook.

ROTFLMAO!!!
(Actually still on my chair.)
-Ed

Marshall wrote:Sorry, Ken. Time has passed you by. Speedsters, Cyncras, GS/3's and (shortly) Slayers are the entry level machines for serious discussion on HB now. Even boiling water in something less than the Uberboiler is declasse. You might consider moving your future comments over to Facebook.

My motivation in contacting Andy about his Speedster was primarily that my stock portfolio had recovered somewhat, after our great stock market swoon. I was contemplating the fact that my greatest fears would probably not be realized, e.g. that I would not need to eat dog kibble during my retirement, after all. And for those of you who know that I enjoy collecting wine, the dog kibble part is just the start of it; how on earth can you do a good wine-food pairing with Kirkland Signature Lamb and Rice Kibble?

With the great relief that comes only when you started out thinking you had lost your shirt to the stock market, then later realizing it was only your underpants, I started to think, hey, Ken, things are looking up!! Time to upgrade your espresso machine.

So, I gave the whole thing some thought and after a while I decided that what I really deserved was a $45 LED light set from IKEA, rather than a Speedster. So, that is what I got.

ken

Ken Fox wrote:And for those of you who know that I enjoy collecting wine, the dog kibble part is just the start of it; how on earth can you do a good wine-food pairing with Kirkland Signature Lamb and Rice Kibble?

Hi Ken,

Always happy to help out.

Best,
David

this is not an endorsement of the coffee inside, with which I am unfamiliar

I really like the looks of that Ken. What I'd love is some sort of mirror so I could watch the underside of the portafilter from a standing position. But then one would have to deal with spray, steam ETC.

Still, a very nice a practical lighting solution.

Lights are always nice, as older eyesight really benefits, but would the glare from them be distracting?

My machine is an E-61 box and unlike the LM's they are located underneath an overhang like kitchen cab lights at home .

I hold a mirror (3" bike mirror head) off to the side for viewing the basket, and lately a handheld mirror that's 5" and magnified fell apart so I use that now to view. With lighting it would be even better. - Dennis

Ken Fox wrote: how on earth can you do a good wine-food pairing with Kirkland Signature Lamb and Rice Kibble?

Simple. Boone's Farm, Melon Ball Flavor.

https://www.wegmans.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=664342&storeId=10052&catalogId=10002&langId=-1

TimEggers wrote:What I'd love is some sort of mirror so I could watch the underside of the portafilter from a standing position. But then one would have to deal with spray, steam ETC.

For years now, I've had a mirror that a local glass person made for me. It's 3/16" glass, 4"x4", and has a good heavy coating on the back so that the stainless drip tray doesn't scratch through. I do have to wash it occasionally, but other than that it's been no problem and a great help. I tried to talk Sebastian at Great Infusions into having a bunch made and offering them, but I don't know whether he did or not.

Best,
David

Great look, Ken. Very disco.

Here's my new Speedster. Eat yer heart out, Andy!

That's right, $15 for a new vibe pump espresso machine with 58mm unpressurized portafilter. How could I resist?

Paired with a Robur, it makes drinkable swill espresso. Brew temp is on the low side, guess I'll have to relearn temp surfing.

First pour, not too shabby.

Next time I'll remove the froth aider.

But hey, it's microfoam.

John that's the finest example of "grinder before machine" I've ever seen. Thanks for sharing.