Search found 16 matches

by shanghai*
May 2nd, 2009, 1:02 am
Forum: Cafes and Get-togethers
Replies: 10
Views: 1996

Training class at Counter Culture Coffee

Great review - thanks for posting. I'd almost consider flying out there for one of those classes. Their coffee is just .... it seems to defeat my vocab this evening. I love the stuff. Glad to know they're so happy and friendly - it sure seems to come across in their beans! Wayne, I'll second that
by shanghai*
April 3rd, 2009, 1:10 pm
Forum: Coffees
Replies: 3
Views: 551

Counter Culture's Toscano is amazing, & why that makes me sad

Well - i finally plunked down and tried CCC's Toscano blend. I've had my Alexia about a year now, and I've been more or less home roasting that whole time (SM). I LOVE home roasting, and while I acknowledge that it has likely hurt my learning curve in the world of espresso, I don't care. When you
Advertisement
by shanghai*
December 2nd, 2008, 12:04 pm
Forum: Tips and Techniques
Replies: 6
Views: 838

1st attempt at a Caffe Suisse

awesome repost, jb130 - funny, I'd seen pieces of that original post on alt.coffee when I first started researching this - never did trace it back to the full original thread. great information - gracias!
by shanghai*
December 1st, 2008, 8:17 pm
Forum: Tips and Techniques
Replies: 6
Views: 838

1st attempt at a Caffe Suisse

JohnB, it's not necessarily an espresso from what I've researched - certainly it's coffee extruded under pressure, but most of what I've read around a Caffe Suisse / Caffe Creme calls for a coarser grind in order to achieve 4 - 6 oz within 25-30 seconds. The coarser grind helps ensure that it won't ...
by shanghai*
December 1st, 2008, 5:02 pm
Forum: Tips and Techniques
Replies: 6
Views: 838

1st attempt at a Caffe Suisse

Just have to post this since I'm *stoked* with the results.... After having enjoyed my experimentations with espresso on my Alexia for the last couple of weeks, I thought I'd try something different today. When I was kicking around Germany a couple years ago, I was constantly served mugs of delightf...
by shanghai*
November 25th, 2008, 2:22 pm
Forum: Tips and Techniques
Replies: 21
Views: 638

Seeing through tinted hoppers

Cool thought, Marshall! My Compak K3 hopper is not tinted - I'd like to keep it full of beans, but I'm concerned that the light would negatively affect the cup. I've briefly thought about wrapping the hopper in something to keep the light out, but meh - it wouldn't look very good, and I'd have to re...
by shanghai*
November 25th, 2008, 11:51 am
Forum: Grinders
Replies: 5
Views: 1470

Whoa! Grindz stalls Compak K3 Touch - what happened?

Good points, all - I should've probably added in the Grindz while it was already running and with the burrs already @ medium. I'll try that next time. And GC7, yeah I used to use Minute Rice on my Virtuoso, but I figured I'd try Grindz to see how it did. Good to know it still works for
by shanghai*
November 24th, 2008, 11:25 pm
Forum: Grinders
Replies: 5
Views: 1470

Whoa! Grindz stalls Compak K3 Touch - what happened?

So I was cleaning out my K3 Touch tonight in anticipation of a new blend tomorrow - put in a capful of Grindz, started it up, went to adjust it to a coarser grind - and it stalled. I could hear the motor but the burrs seemed locked. I turned it off immediately - dumped out the Grindz
by shanghai*
November 14th, 2008, 2:54 pm
Forum: Espresso Machines
Replies: 11
Views: 674

Incoming Kit: Alexia + Compak K3 Touch

Great idea, DigMe and Sweaner - hadn't thought of that. Thanks!
by shanghai*
November 14th, 2008, 12:33 pm
Forum: Espresso Machines
Replies: 11
Views: 674

Incoming Kit: Alexia + Compak K3 Touch

Kind of on the same topic, but can anyone recommend a good place online to get a dissection needle similar to some of the ones I see in WDT pics? Don't have anything similar around the house - or could one use a semi-thick gauge of wire?