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HB: First reviews of espresso blend #3 in Favorite Espresso Blends 2012.
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cannonfodder: Cleaning out my seconds and 'changed my mind' custom wood parts. Portafilter handles, a complete espresso machine set in Ironwood burl, Versalab grinder covers, etc...
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Quotable Quote:
"Regardless of the importance of tamping, everyone - or just about - is convinced that distribution is far more critical to the result. More than anything else in fact, the tamping problem comes down to not screwing it up." --Antony, Baskets and tampers
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HB: Over the last year, a growing number of members have expressed interest in discussions of coffee preparation beyond espresso. Pourover. Vacuum brewing. Presspot. Aeropress. Clever Coffee Dripper. All are welcome in the Coffee Brewing forum!
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Quotable Quote:
"To me, a bad espresso at a coffee shop is like a burnt steak at a steak house, or an oil change where they almost tightened the oil filter enough. Either they know how to do their job or they don't. There's no excuse." --Randy Glass, Terrible technique, great results
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Quotable Quote:
"A decade ago, I would have considered my commercial espresso equipment purchases sheer absurdity. Words alone would never have convinced me to go this route. I had to try lesser gear and find out for myself. Nothing wrong with that." --John Weiss, I don't understand why grinders cost so much
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HB: Are you interested in being a guest reviewer for this year's espresso blend evaluations? If so, see this post for how to volunteer.
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HB: The nominees have been chosen and voting has begun for "Favorite Espresso Blends 2012" review. Please pick up to six from the list. Thanks!
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OlywaDave: Espresso Parts is now offering FREE SHIPPING ON PARTS. Use this coupon code during checkout: PARTSSHIPFREE. Click here for details.
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Quotable Quote:
"From that list of national brand coffees, I would choose either none, or to drink tea. If I gave one piece of advice, it is this: If a roasted coffee is sold in a supermarket, don't buy it. Not a hard and fast rule, but generally it is good advice." --Randy Glass, Mountain Grown Beans, anyone used them before?
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HB: New home page poll: How do you rate this site's mobile interface?
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Quotable Quote:
"We would have wasted a lot less time if we had learned and started out with standard Italian commercial practices and setups rather than our own careful considered but falsely premised ideas." --Jim Schulman, Microfoam for fast vs. slow milk steaming espresso machines
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Quotable Quote:
"It's a well-documented fact. Anyone whose cleaning routine is less rigorous than mine is a dirty chimpanzee who serves rancid-oil-infused sludge. And anyone who's more rigorous than me is an over-fastidious nitpicker with a penchant for wasting time and detergent." --Nicholas Lundgaard, Problem with new La Marzocco GS/3
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Quotable Quote:
"If I'd bought a good grinder years ago instead of using pods, I would have been way ahead. I'm strongly convinced that buying a basic espresso machine and a high-end grinder is the most cost-effective combination and the fastest way up the learning curve." --Curtis Ide, ESE Pods are NOT Evil
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HB: Read about the new hybrid lever/pump espresso machine in Jim Schulman's Bezzera Strega - Second Look.
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Quotable Quote:
"In the U.S., companies only do this implicitly and only after they've improved the product." --Marshall Fuss, McDonald's Australia Apologizes for Their Coffee
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Quotable Quote:
"Everyone just seems like a coffee snob stuck in their own little bubble," chides Jason. "Some of us live in ENORMOUS coffee bubbles! Coffee Geodomes that would make Buckminster Fuller say, 'That is one freakishly big dome!'" Randy jokes in Everyone started out as a newbie
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Quotable Quote:
"It's something of a zero-sum game -- you can learn to pull an occasional good shot on very inexpensive equipment, however, it will take a long, long, long time. On the other end of the scale, I could teach you to pull a decent shot on a La Marzocco and Super Jolly in just a few minutes." --Jeff, Is home espresso better?
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HB: Please welcome Sherman Chong to Team HB!
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Quotable Quote:
"A blind taste test is an excellent way of determining whether your results are real or imagined. I don't advocate them solely to convince others my results have merit (though it may help); I advocate them to avoid accumulating useless barnacles on my barista routine." --Dan Kehn, E61 shower screen stays clean
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Quotable Quote:
"Learning how to use inferior equipment does little to improve one's ability as a barista. It only gets in the way. What you learn are the idiosyncrasies of the equipment and how to compensate for them." --Dick Green, Does struggling with unforgiving equipment make a better barista?
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Quotable Quote:
"You can't strive for consistency with inconsistent equipment." --Randy Glass; "Want to be a better barista faster on a low budget? Buy a hand grinder and press pot, learn about coffee, and save up for good gear." --Jim Schulman, Does struggling with unforgiving equipment make a better barista?
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Quotable Quote:
"Evidently you have never experienced the infamous portafilter sneeze? Here's an easy test: Quickly remove the portafilter after pulling a shot; if your crotch doesn't get sprayed with steaming hot coffee grounds, the three-way solenoid is working." --Dan Kehn, Wet pucks
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HB: PT's Coffee has been absent from HB, but they're back! Read about their new Southpaw espresso blend and some equipment specials for cafe owners here.
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Quotable Quote:
"The pros need to play an active role in educating the customer about how to taste coffee. Until that happens, the BS will fly fast and free in the market, the customer will have no idea, and HBers will be the whackos that pros get a chuckle over." --Mark Podolsky, Is there a new disconnect?
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Marketplace
Read about current and future offerings from the site sponsors.
- 83 Topics
- 1796 Posts
- Tue May 15, 2012 2:28 pm

Last postby cannonfodder
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Tips and Techniques
Beginner or pro barista, all are invited to share.
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- Wed May 16, 2012 9:53 pm

Last postby pacificmanitou
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Espresso Machines
Need help with equipment usage or want to share your latest discovery?
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Lever Espresso Machines
A haven dedicated to manual espresso machine aficionados.
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- Wed May 16, 2012 9:32 pm

Last postby SlowRain
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Grinders
Grinders are one of the keys to exceptional espresso. Discuss them here.
- 1401 Topics
- 19278 Posts
- Wed May 16, 2012 8:01 pm

Last postby michael1103
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Coffees
Discuss flavors, brew temperatures, blending, and cupping notes.
- 1075 Topics
- 11841 Posts
- Wed May 16, 2012 8:37 pm

Last postby Chert
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Coffee Brewing
Coffee preparation techniques besides espresso like pourover.
- 212 Topics
- 2464 Posts
- Wed May 16, 2012 1:26 pm

Last postby jbviau
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Cafes and Get-togethers
Talk about your favorite cafes, local barista events, or plan your own get-together.
- 529 Topics
- 6322 Posts
- Wed May 16, 2012 6:49 am

Last postby Alan
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Buying Advice
Recommendations for espresso equipment buyers and upgraders.
- 1745 Topics
- 22296 Posts
- Wed May 16, 2012 9:55 pm

Last postby yakster
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Home Roasting
Discuss roast levels and profiles for espresso, equipment for roasting coffee.
- 888 Topics
- 12674 Posts
- Wed May 16, 2012 10:00 pm

Last postby yakster
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Knockbox
Want to talk espresso but not sure which forum? If so, this is the right one.
- 1158 Topics
- 16042 Posts
- Wed May 16, 2012 8:32 pm

Last postby Chert
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The Bench
Behind the scenes of the site's upcoming equipment reviews.
- 35 Topics
- 3606 Posts
- Tue May 15, 2012 11:16 am

Last postby cannonfodder
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