I personally prefer Delirium from Compass over their Handlebar, so I suppose that I prefer a somewhat lighter roast. I'm currently really enjoying Intelligentsia Black Cat in cappas and lattes. I recently mentioned in another post that Black Cat has a unique and defining taste that really stands out...

At around $700 for a 'new' grinder, given that space is not an issue and you don't mind a doser, my money would be on the doser Super Jolly. It's more than fast enough for home use, built like a tank and very serviceable, has a very good and consistent grind, and has excellent resale value. Vario ha...

If you are looking for Cuban style coffee, just pick up some pre-ground Bustelo from your local supermarket. Once you add the amount of sugar necessary for Cuban coffee, it won't matter what type of beans you use or how fresh they are. I don't know of any coffee that can mimic the flavor of Cuban co...

I meant that the importance of the grinder is equal to or greater than that of the machine, but by no means less important. Again, just my opinion as to the ranking of these 2 pieces of equipment. It sounds like TomC and I are pretty much in agreement on this, but perhaps just understood my comment as

Congrats on your first espresso setup!! Both are quality 'beginner' machines with a proven track record and good reviews. It should keep you satisfied for a while, but if you are like many of us here, you may eventually get the urge to upgrade. My Rancilio Silvia/Rocky duo kept me quite happy for se...

I've actually ordered both Delirium and Handlebar from Compass before, and I prefer the lighter roasted Delirium for my tastes. Although Handlebar is a little darker than I usually like, it still smelled great after being run thru the grinder and had a pleasant taste for what it was. On one order fr...

I'm with the OP on this one. Just received a couple pounds of Liquid Amber, roasted by Sweet Maria's on 7/10. It smells "OK" as whole bean, but immediately upon grinding it gives off a strong odor of burnt rubber and rotten garbage that permeates the entire house. I find the smell utterly repulsive....

As in, the humidity in Sydney is higher than in London? I wouldn't think so right now, given that it is currently winter in Syndey. When I lived in Sydney, I don't recall the winter humidity being all that bad, unlike the humidity of a London summer (or ANY time of year in South Florida!). Even with

Haven't seen this one before, but I like it. Some good cafe recommendations to visit (and ones to avoid) on one of my many upcoming NYC trips. It also taught me a new new serving method: "bro-spro style" = a shot served with no spoon/saucer

Very true. A more apples to apples comparison would be between the K30 Vario and the K8 Fresh (rather than the K10 fresh). Both the K30 and the K8 are large flat burr doserless grinders. As Tom C. mentioned, both are considered top of the line in terms of build and grind quality, as well