annp wrote:Does anyone else miss their espresso machine when they go on vacation?

Psyd wrote:Nope.

LOL!!! This is a lot like one of my camping set-ups.

This Krupps has a 3 way valve/switch with the center position off/closed - the forward postion is on/steam - the rearward postion is on/brew. I "hotwired" it so that the element is one whenever it is plugged in. This way I just let it heat up really well BEFORE I pull the shot(s).


Also, she steams like a BANSHEE!



We have another Gaggia Espresso we also use for camping.


Len

After many years of drinking tea over coffee and thinking that there were only one or two "types" of coffee that I liked, it dawned on me that a lot of the coffee in Spain was considerably closer to good than the one or two elusive "types" that I so loved and rarely came across in the UK (my standards have since become more demanding). Of course, it was the preparation not the coffee type that had been the problem.

I went through the steam toy and blade grinder phase but hated the taste, a French press and ground Starbucks but hated the taste, a superauto which made nice coffee but was wounded in action, and on to a second hand Rancilio Audrey that to this day, even with a PID, is not quite right somehow. Around the superauto days, I aspired for a Silvia/Rocky combo after reading Randy Glass' adventures. That was eighteen months ago, and I thought that top end prosumer or small commercial kit was overkill and out of my budget.

Here I am now with an Iberital L'Anna commerical machine and various grinder options for the beans roasted in the Gene Cafe. My shame? Most of the early kit and the Starbucks beans would be the obvious answer, but in truth my shame is where I have got to in terms of kit in such a short time . Regrets? None

annp wrote:Sigh...

Does anyone else miss their espresso machine when they go on vacation?

Ann

Nope
For camping or off grid use,8) This is an in-box pic I swiped from the net. I use one of a different manufacturer.
If you don't mind fire. For open flame, place a metal plate or a pan on the grill and place one of these little beauties on it!
Don't burn the spout or handles. They make up to 3 American cups at whatever strength you want and have plenty of water left over and pressure for steaming
Now these little machine do about 4+BAR and are fairly cheap on ebay. They also have spare parts available. They have a stainless steel boiler and alum innards. New ones are also available. http://fantes.com/bellman_parts.htm
There are many variations on this theme and most use the same replacement parts.



Have fun!
Regards
Espressme

I thought I could supply all my coffee shops drip coffee with a Alpenrost, I thought I was the daddy until a week later I had one burnt out roaster, ahh the days the days

HasBean wrote:I thought I could supply all my coffee shops drip coffee with a Alpenrost, I thought I was the daddy until a week later I had one burnt out roaster, ahh the days the days

Now you are the daddy on our side of the water

CakeBoy wrote:Now you are the daddy on our side of the water

Just to make you feel at home ( TMC) CAKEY !!!and Hasbean!! Welcome- I have not caught any of your posts here before. I had to agree with the two conflicts of embarrassment
1. Where I started and what with

2. Where Rancilio ( Betsy) but I sold her to my boss /friend to lure him in to the black web!! It worked.

Take care , just wanted to be courteous

Hmm..good thread....I'm often embarrassed because the shot you make for a friend is never as good as the one you make for yourself. I got lucky in that I started with a local roaster (caffe pronto - annapolis, MD) and a krups drip that actually allowed some flavor through. However, when i upgraded from a blade to a $20 burr, i thought my grinder upgrade days were over. I guess advising my dad that whole beans were so much superior to ground coffee, and could be stored for 2 months, esp in the freezer, was pretty dumb. I guess coffee is still drinkable after 2 months, but ever since i started homeroasting, i get rid of it all by 7-14 days. On the other hand, I agree that if you like starbucks, or 7-11, or whatever, go drink it. Taste is subjective, ultimately. My dad likes battery acid (on the hotplate for 2 hrs). He grew up drinking it, and thats what good coffee should taste like - he even drinks it black!

mogogear wrote:Just to make you feel at home ( TMC) CAKEY !!!and Hasbean!! Welcome- I have not caught any of your posts here before. I had to agree with the two conflicts of embarrassment

Thanks for the welcome, just started to be honest, long time lurker

Krups "il Duomo", whole beans from the supermarket, whirlybird grinder, used included measuring scoop as a tamper. I KNEW I had a 'real' coffee/espresso machine!! I was going to make some awesome drinks!
And for all the trouble it took with that tiny tiny boiler.... tasted like crap. (ugh)
Did make a decent coffee though.

mogogear wrote:Just to make you feel at home ( TMC) CAKEY !!!and Hasbean!! Welcome- I have not caught any of your posts here before. I had to agree with the two conflicts of embarrassment
1. Where I started and what with

2. Where Rancilio ( Betsy) but I sold her to my boss /friend to lure him in to the black web!! It worked.

Take care , just wanted to be courteous

Hi Mo, and thank you kindly for the welcome. I've been lurking for ages too and thought it would finally be nice to visit over your way with a post or two. It's great to see you on here and on TMC.

You take care too