Search found 32 matches

by Wescott
August 18th, 2009, 3:41 pm
Forum: Coffees
Replies: 50
Views: 5830

Do the fancy flavors used to describe coffee actually exist?

One more thing worth mentioning is that there are large individual differences in tastes and smells that people can discriminate. Some of these differences (not very useful ones) have proven to be outright genetic, and they are permanent abilities/disabilities. Others may be starting points from whi...
by Wescott
September 5th, 2008, 5:55 pm
Forum: Tips and Techniques
Replies: 26
Views: 58880

Learning latte art with steamed soapy water [video]

Very clear and straightforward instructions! I can hardly wait to try it. Many thanks
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by Wescott
January 12th, 2008, 5:36 pm
Forum: Tips and Techniques
Replies: 39
Views: 37371

When did this espresso extraction go blond? [video quiz]

Yes indeed. This is a valuable exercise. It points up something I have always felt about the blythe advice to "cut off the shot at the first sign of blonding." That blonding is also a variable among beans and among preceivers of the mouse tail. I'll have to admit that it has been hard--so hard
by Wescott
January 10th, 2008, 5:20 pm
Forum: Knockbox
Replies: 20
Views: 4131

Is your espresso habit unhealthy?

No. No problem at all. And what's more, I'm one of those who can take a double, or even two of them, before bedtime as a nightcap. Those are my favorite coffees of the day. I'd have to say that coffee is not addictive because overload makes one back off and not want even more.
by Wescott
January 10th, 2008, 5:06 pm
Forum: Buying Advice
Replies: 42
Views: 4210

La Marzocco GS3 or La Spaziale Vivaldi II or...

This is a tough one to help with. It's entwined with lots of individual differences. For example, even $4,500 was an out-of-the-question price for me barring any ridiculous windfalls. So, the GS3 was never in the running for me although I liked the idea of stainless steel paths for the coffee and th...
by Wescott
January 1st, 2008, 4:14 pm
Forum: Knockbox
Replies: 32
Views: 15882

Warning: Bodum double wall insulated glassware is potentially dangerous.

Same here. Impact did it to my two lost Assam espresso cups. Couldn't say what part failed while the cup was still in flight. The heat shock, or whatever, theory doesn't seem to cover my experience either after about a year of near daily use. I do preheat with blank shot, but there is no ramping
by Wescott
December 15th, 2007, 5:02 pm
Forum: Coffee Roasting
Replies: 4
Views: 533

How to change the heating element of the gene roaster

Thank you, blu. I may very well need to make a heating element change some day. Your pictures will be bound to help the job turn out well
by Wescott
September 7th, 2007, 5:01 pm
Forum: Grinders
Replies: 7
Views: 2967

Opinion of the Gaggia MDF?

Everybody has pretty much said it all already about the MDF. Yes, it will work but is a pain and has a fragile doser handle. (I gave up replacing them and spun the vanes with a finger.) It has the ability to make suitable ground coffee for espresso without the ability to adjust the grind to its
by Wescott
August 22nd, 2007, 5:11 pm
Forum: Tips and Techniques
Replies: 7
Views: 2136

Dosing and Solids Extraction: A Retraction

Thanks for keeping us current on this, Jim. Let me make sure that I understand properly. If I do, then all other things being equal (which, of course, they never are), one should either... 1) ...Use a conical grinder (easiest but costliest) 2) ...Aggressively de-clump the output of your flat blade g...
by Wescott
August 22nd, 2007, 4:56 pm
Forum: Coffees
Replies: 3
Views: 813

Recommendations for visit to Italy

I would say don't sweat it too much. It is easy to find agreeable espresso just about anywhere you are going. Extraordinary? Well, I never tried to hit the recommended high points (Tazza d'Oro and the like, which you can find by googling), but I was rarely disappointed. I would say that marginally b...