Search found 330 matches

by drdna
November 28th, 2015, 5:44 pm
Forum: Coffee Roasting
Replies: 20
Views: 2533

Behmor bean temperature kit?

I roast on a Behmor and I would love to measure the bean temperature. I don't have a metal lathe though, so I can't drill the spindle to accommodate the probe. I wonder if more folks are in my shoes. Honestly, if I had room for a metal lathe in my place, I probably would have got a HotTop or
by drdna
September 20th, 2010, 10:59 am
Forum: Cafes and Get-togethers
Replies: 15
Views: 954

Back in Canada and oh God... the swill...

And Cafe Myriade if you are in Montreal. They pulled some awesome shots for me on their MIRAGE
Advertisement
by drdna
July 4th, 2010, 4:38 pm
Forum: Knockbox
Replies: 4
Views: 262

Tried "Truvia" as a sweetener?

I have tried a lot of artificial sweeteners. While Truvia includes a Stevia extract, it also has erythritol, a sugar compound. There is really no comparison to stevia. The components of Truvia complement each other nicely, and this comes as close as anything I have found to the taste of real sugar. ...
by drdna
April 17th, 2010, 1:44 am
Forum: Knockbox
Replies: 47
Views: 1660

How honest are you about espresso you're served?

Indeed. I am frequently asked: "How was your shot?" If I am asked I will answer openly and honestly. I will usually comment superficially on an obvious defect if there is one. Most of the time I am met with a blasé attitude, and it is clear that my comments are not going to be utilized in any way. T...
by drdna
March 22nd, 2010, 8:30 pm
Forum: Tips and Techniques
Replies: 8
Views: 911

The 150 seconds shot

Also don't forget that certain Grinder machine combinations are going to demand brew dwell parameters that might seem extreme to those who own more standard configurations. With my old espresso setup, I would routinely run 45 seconds for a particular blend which demanded a fine grind. With the new e...
by drdna
March 19th, 2010, 7:20 pm
Forum: Knockbox
Replies: 16
Views: 2572

Name brand espresso vs. locally roasted coffee

There are several good references, but a nice easy starting point would be "Blending Basics."
by drdna
March 19th, 2010, 7:14 pm
Forum: Coffees
Replies: 59
Views: 21966

Mason jars versus zip lock bags for storage of roasted coffee

The more careful you are with your freezing technique, the less the flavor will degrade. Naturally, some people will be more forgiving of faults in coffee than others. Likewise, for enthusiasts in a situation where fresh roasted coffee is not readily available, freezing is the best choice, and certa...
by drdna
March 14th, 2010, 3:48 am
Forum: Tips and Techniques
Replies: 8
Views: 815

Espresso going blonde very quickly

When using a crema enhancer in the portafilter, you will be limited to grinds that are essentially too coarse to get you into the "sweet spot." To work around this you can do two things: 1. do a manual "pre-infusion" by starting your water pump and then stopping it for a nominal period of time while...
by drdna
March 7th, 2010, 10:51 pm
Forum: Coffee Roasting
Replies: 8
Views: 600

Culling: Before or After Roasting?

Also, less commonly, don't forget that it is important to cull beforehand to eliminate rocks, stones, and foreign material
by drdna
March 7th, 2010, 10:48 pm
Forum: Tips and Techniques
Replies: 7
Views: 2104

Alternatives to cow milk

Regarding hemp milk, I have so far tried the brands "Hemp Dream" (made by the same company that makes "Rice Dream" ice cream substitute) and Pacifica Brand hemp milk with similar results. It had not occurred to me to try almond milk because of the very poor protein to carbohydrate ratio. I might do ...