Hi Jeff,

Don't worry so much about upgrading your machine. The Carezza is an excellent entry machine. I used one for years. The single best upgrade you can make now is a better grinder. I used to have your exact setup and after a couple of years the wear on the Solis was noticeably causing a degrade in shot quality. I ended up with a retired Mazzer, but I'd suggest looking for a Cunill Tranquilo. It's commerical quality grinder at a very low price. (used to be just under $200). Honestly, if I had bought the Mazzer first, I might not have upgraded my espresso machine yet. Once you get used to their quirks, Gaggia makes a nice machine.

BTW, I sometimes haunt the Pizzamaking forum...I make a batch of Randy's American Style crust every week. Had to start limiting my time there once I noticed that I was getting obsessive about the details...Couldn't support two obsessions... :D

Mike

Before you give up on Wegmans....

The last Wegmans I was in (Ithaca) had its own roaster. You picked out the green beans you wanted, and they had them bagged and ready for you when you checked out. Anything like that in the Rochester shop? BTW, when I die and go to heaven, I hope it is only half as nice as a Wegmans. The closest thing I've seen to them are the Food Halls at Harrod's in London.

I think most knowledgeable people would point you to Gimme Coffee in Ithaca as the best of the Upstate roasters (and one of the best anywhere). They should be able to get your coffee to you in one day by UPS Ground.

Marshall--yeah, Wegmans began here in Rochester many moons ago. I figured when people heard I was getting my beans from a grocery store I'd get a lot of flack, but didn't want to get into a big long explanation of what Wegmans is, and how it's Mecca for foodies. When I die, I am asking to be embalmed and placed in the meat counter at Wegmans...is that wrong?

That said, I didn't know they did any roasting...I'll have to check that out this week. Thanks for the tip!

Jeff

gags22 wrote:Marshall--yeah, Wegmans began here in Rochester many moons ago. I figured when people heard I was getting my beans from a grocery store I'd get a lot of flack, but didn't want to get into a big long explanation of what Wegmans is, and how it's Mecca for foodies. When I die, I am asking to be embalmed and placed in the meat counter at Wegmans...is that wrong?

That said, I didn't know they did any roasting...I'll have to check that out this week. Thanks for the tip!

Jeff

One more thing. Read Randii's post on his personal training with Heather Perry in the "Hints from Heather Perry" thread. He mentions that one afternoon with Heather cured lots of useless habits picked up from the Internet or that he developed himself. I don't know if they have formal consumer classes, but why don't you ask if you could spend some time with the baristas at Gimme? Or call Chris DeFerio at Carriage House (also in Ithaca, formerly of Gimme). If he gives private lessons, he would be a great teacher (USBC finalist).

Marshall wrote:I don't know if they have formal consumer classes, but why don't you ask if you could spend some time with the baristas at Gimme?

I have contacted the Gimme before and was told that it is possible to arrange training sessions for small groups. I didn't really follow up and set up anything at that time, but if you (Jeff) or anyone else on the board is seriously interested in doing a training session there, maybe we can try to arrange something jointly to share the cost; after all, cost was the main reason I was hesitant to go ahead with the idea in the first place.

Navin