WAKE UP AND COFFEE

[Chap]

@goosehd:

Thank you!  They were good and Laura loves it…for once I'm not in trouble 

My wife always gets the first shot… in her Latte Macchiato 

Always run an empty shot through the basket in the morning. Warms up the whole system and the basket. Also moistens basket. Will make your first shot better and more similar to the second.

Of course

Anybody roasting here?

Nope, I already have a job…

[Jett129]

My brother in law is a home roaster and every now and then he’ll give me some of his freshly roasted coffee. A real treat.

[Alex]

Afternoon cafe Cubano

[Matt]

That mugs pretty badass.

[goosehd]

@Alex Do you put the sugar directly on your tamp/grounds?  The lighting makes it look lighter in your second picture.

[Alex]

First pic is coffee, second pic is coffee with sugar on top, Dennis

[Alex]

@Matt:

That mugs pretty badass.

Yeah, was a birthday gift from @Olly

They are a cool roaster in Hackney (where we live in London), who love Harleys and have a decent sense of humour. You may or may not see some collab stuff coming down the pipeline. The copy on their coffee is usually excellent, I'll stick a pack in your next order.

One of my fave recents ones…

[Chap]

@goosehd:

@Alex Do you put the sugar directly on your tamp/grounds?  The lighting makes it look lighter in your second picture.

Yes… need some more info about how you did it as well

[Alex]

@Chap I'm still working it out, but getting better…

This one was 15g coffee, into the basket and distributed then very lightly tamped. 4g sugar on top, distributed then tamped fully. Shot pulled as normal

[Alex]

@Alex:

I'll stick a pack in your next order.

Filter or Espresso, @Matt ?

[Chap]

@Alex:

First pic is coffee, second pic is coffee with sugar on top, Dennis

Can’t the sugar caramelize and plug the holes?

[goosehd]

My thought as well.

[goosehd]

…and followup.  How do you like using a naked portafilter?  Is it easier to use?

[Alex]

@goosehd:

Is it easier to use?

No, but you can see how badly you fucked up the last shot..

[Alex]

@Chap:

@Alex:

First pic is coffee, second pic is coffee with sugar on top, Dennis

Can’t the sugar caramelize and plug the holes?

Doesn't seem to in my experience thus far, but I'm no barista

[Chap]

@Alex:

@goosehd:

Is it easier to use?

No, but you can see how badly you fucked up the last shot..

Thought about getting one for my Olympia…

@Alex:

@Chap:

@Alex:

First pic is coffee, second pic is coffee with sugar on top, Dennis

Can’t the sugar caramelize and plug the holes?

Doesn't seem to in my experience thus far, but I'm no barista

OK will have to give it a try…

[goosehd]

Thanks Alex!  Something to try as I get better at this.

[weftyarn]

That sugar in the basket shot is something I have to try just because I’m curious how it’ll turn out

Bottomless portafilters are incredibly helpful to learn about tamping, channeling, etc…
Aaaand, I always use the bottomless when friends stop by to pretend I actually know what I’m doing

For everyday use I find them less versatile, as you can’t split shots
and a bad tamp coffee squirt is something I don’t want to have on my white tees

[Jens]

@Chap  and @goosehd - did you go for the Cremina original or the SL model? I think I am about to pull the trigger also 

/Jens

[goosehd]

@Jens I went for the Cremina Original.  It’s beautiful, very easy to use, and I like the feel of “pulling” my shot.  I don’t know if I would get the pressure gauge though as I pay more attention to the flow coming out of it than the pressure I’m pulling at.

I’m still very new with this machine so you should take the pressure thing cautiously as it may become more useful with time and experience.