Hi Folks:

I'm reviving this old thread because I'm really pleased with my now completed office setup and wanted to share some solutions I'd found to creating high quality coffee with a small footprint while keeping messiness manageable. I'm sharing photos of the tools and accessories for anyone trying to check off supplies they may need.

Here's a photo of my setup:

AeroPress for good coffee in a hurry, Rattleware knock box with splash guard, Le'Lit PL53 grinder with replacement hopper from 1st-Line, '83 Olympia Express Coffex (rebadged Maximatic) for addictive espresso and cappuccinos! The espresso machine and grinder sit in their own, slidable non-stick pans to prevent floods, and the whole setup is backed by acrylic splash guards surrounding the corner.

Here are some accessories to make this functional:

Accessories include a stapler (haven't figured out how to apply that yet -- any ideas?); rubber tamp mat; Brita water pitcher (uses reverse osmosis for water softening); Pallo tool (barely visible), 49mm Orphan Espresso dosing funnel; miniature dust pan and trim brush for loose grounds; analog food thermometer; acid brush to clear the grinder chute; lcd light for checking inside of boiler for cleaning; very high tech Weiss Distribution Technique (WDT) grounds stirring paperclip, condiment saucer for resting wet portafilter, etc.

Essential for any office without a sink is a dish pan for cleanup. This sits under the desk along with a cleanup rag. New entries for those gathering supplies are JoeGlo for backflush and descaling, a backflush disk, non-stick scouring pad and bottle brush (no, that's not a toilet brush!).

I can't overstate the quality of espressos and cappuccinos that come out of this Maximatic and grinder, both of which outperform my home setup of a PID'd Isomac Amica with doserless Rio Super Jolly grinder. The Maximatic reaches full heat in 20 minutes and is very easy to use. A cooling flush prepares it for each shot. Steaming outperforms the Amica (itself a good steaming machine) in power and immediate steam availability.



For the AeroPress, I heat the water in a Pyrex measuring cup in a microwave and use the same grind I use for espresso and keep beans in a small freezer compartment until ready for use. Accessories shown but not otherwise listed include a 49mm rosewood tamper from eBay, a small steaming pitcher, miniature pitcher to catch grounds for the AeroPress; and a shot glass and Gibralter glass.