What’s on your coffee bench?

[flydhest]

Originally Posted by crankles

I'm pretty sure that when the Diva dies, a Linea will replace it (unless I win the lotto, then it's a single group slayer!). It's such a workhorse machine.



I've been married 17 years, and almost without fail, I pull two doubles before the kids wake up and steam some milk for dry caps. Some mornings, I do the math, hand her the coffee and say, "that makes No. 6204 ;-) Happy wife, Happy life.



When the Diva has needed servicing, my wife counts the days til it's return. If it dies, I'm certain my wife will hand me a blank check and say "replace it...TODAY!"

Same situation. I had had an ECM Giotto that predated my wife. It started to give up the ghost after 15 years of service. When I got a new job 2-1/2 years ago and started day dreaming about machines, my wife said “clearly the slayer is ridiculous, but think about how many cappuccino you make for me, get the la marzocco”.

Cheers to our wives!

[livingminimal]

I’m totally in the same boat as you guys. My wife has never once asked me to spare an expense when it comes to making coffee at home. She used to be a Starbucks/sugary drink fan. As soon as I started pulling shots at home on good gear...man we’ve planned entire family outings multiple times around a local roaster or bar. She wants me to get an upgraded second grinder for those rare days when I want pourover just so I don’t dare even consider screwing up grind settings on whatever I’m working with.

[Louis]

You guys crack me up. I'm not sure who's more obsessed, coffee fanatics or tubular tire aficionados.

(although I bet there's a huge overlap in the two populations' Venn diagram)

[flydhest]

Originally Posted by Louis

You guys crack me up. I'm not sure who's more obsessed, coffee fanatics or tubular tire aficionados.



(although I bet there's a huge overlap in the two populations' Venn diagram)

Guilty. I am both. And I have a roaster and have built several sets of my own wheels.

[echappist]

Originally Posted by crankles

We can Hang. An aeropress and a Porlex are always in my luggage;-)

I too had a PID'd Silvia+Rocky that lived in my office. The PID made all the difference. Pulled great shots with that setup.

another one with PID Silvia

btw, I think i asked this before, any of you Silvia owner been able to do decent latte arts?

[sfscott]

Do your wives give lessons?

Mine prefers regular American coffee (even loves flavored Dunkin’s dreck.).

Oh, also doesn’t understand why anyone would need more than one bike. And don’t get her started on how dumb an idea a Ferrari is.

[flydhest]

Originally Posted by sfscott

Do your wives give lessons?



Mine prefers regular American coffee (even loves flavored Dunkin’s dreck.).



Oh, also doesn’t understand why anyone would need more than one bike. And don’t get her started on how dumb an idea a Ferrari is.

Baby steps.

When we first started dating. I bought her a bike. A hybrid. A Giant Liv pink thing. She started riding more and more and now loves riding and has two road bikes (including a custom steel lugged Goodrich).

When we started living together, she was massively unpersuaded that my espresso machine was anything other than a nuisance. Cappuccino with latte art delivered while she was still in bed got her to give it a chance. Now she is asking me if I don’t need a new grinder for my birthday.

She has become more of a coffee snob while away from home than I am.

[rwsaunders]

Originally Posted by Louis

You guys crack me up. I'm not sure who's more obsessed, coffee fanatics or tubular tire aficionados.

(although I bet there's a huge overlap in the two populations' Venn diagram)

I'm like Fly...in the "tubulars and coffee are one in the same subject" category. My wife surprised me a few years with a gift of an espresso machine and then a nice grinder. She did her homework on the gear and appreciates a good shot as well as anyone now. Home roasting might end our marriage though, as I know how far that I can push the envelope.

[Jef58]

For all the Campy lovers, these are of pretty nice quality and look good. There are a few Tampa based Cuban style grinds here for a change from Lavazza. Currently using a Gaggia Classic, (pretty good little machine), and a Moccamaster for drip. The Alex machine looks very nice indeed...!! We need a "should I upgrade my machine" thread.

[livingminimal]

Originally Posted by Jef58

For all the Campy lovers, these are of pretty nice quality and look good.

I want those but dont like the price (or really need them, I have the Rocket set and others)

Originally Posted by Jef58

We need a "should I upgrade my machine" thread.

Hahah answer 9 of 10 times will be yes!

Someone asked about the Sette 270Wi I think? I like that thing, Ive seen the weighting off by .5 gram in reviews, but it was consistent so you could adjust for it.

My bag of coffee ran out earlier than anticipated today...wife is still asleep...I may have to walk down to the roaster when they open in an hour...

[oldpotatoe]

Originally Posted by Louis

You guys crack me up. I'm not sure who's more obsessed, coffee fanatics or tubular tire aficionados.

(although I bet there's a huge overlap in the two populations' Venn diagram)

Maybe we need a Yuge Venn diagram for all the subjects we are ‘fanatics’ of?

Bikes(many sub-groups) to obscure things like coffee, motorcycles, fly fishing and yeegads, guns.

My coffee bench? Car keys or bicycle to get to Vic’s down the street.

[oldguy00]

Originally Posted by echappist

another one with PID Silvia

btw, I think i asked this before, any of you Silvia owner been able to do decent latte arts?

I did have a Silvia/Rocky combo in the past. To be honest, it drove me nuts. Could never get consistent shot nor good 'paint' like milk.

I eventually upgraded to a Rocket Giotto and vario grinder, was like night and day. Perfect consistent tiger striped shots, and steaming was incredibly easy to get perfect milk. But $$$

[ptourkin]

Has anyone else been following the Decent Espresso project on Facebook?

Really interesting stuff and totally transparent. John has been sharing every step of the development and is already shipping product.

https://decentespresso.com/

[Tim Porter]

I'm by no means whatsover a coffee guy but we have had a cultish espresso machine for 31 years. Until lately I've just been the espresso machine admin at our house but have now started having a cappuccino occasionally. Our old machine is now at our second home and has been rebuilt and is going strong. When my wife retired in late March I bought her a new red one to celebrate. Olympia Express Cremina:

[IMG][/IMG]

Old fashioned, molto pricey, etc., but dang easy to make a great cappuccino or espresso.

[echappist]

Originally Posted by oldguy00

I did have a Silvia/Rocky combo in the past. To be honest, it drove me nuts. Could never get consistent shot nor good 'paint' like milk.

I eventually upgraded to a Rocket Giotto and vario grinder, was like night and day. Perfect consistent tiger striped shots, and steaming was incredibly easy to get perfect milk. But $$$

gotcha. and by incredibly easy to get perfect milk, i presume that it was almost "second nature" and didn't require too steep a learning curve.

the other thing i'm considering is to pay for lessons on steaming and latte art

i mean, eff it, i'm already paying lessons on how to ride a MTB properly; surely doing a latte art would have greater utility




------------------------------------------

speaking of buying used, any particularly good machines to get, where i can buy at say 3-5 years used, skip the depreciation, and still get 20 years out of it?