What's on your holiday espresso list?

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chas
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What's on your holiday espresso list?

Post by chas »

Have you asked your SO for any particular espresso items for the holidays? Alternately, what espresso related items are your planning to purchase for yourself? :roll:

I am pretty well set for espresso hardware at this time so I have asked for beans, beans, and more beans - both roasted and green.
Chas
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GDK
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Re: What's on your holiday espresso list?

Post by GDK »

There will be beans in my case too. I am going to Montreal this weekend and will pick up a couple of roasts.

I have been debating shelling $200 for the Vivaldi timer. I can afford it but price is just ridiculous for what it does.
oton

Re: What's on your holiday espresso list?

Post by oton »

Whisky! Does it count?

Smokehead Extra Black 18 Years
Bruichladdich Port Charlotte PC9
Longrow CV
Laphroaig Cask Strength 55,3% Batch 3
Adelphi Breath of Islay 12 Years 1999


Whish me merry christmas! :drunken:
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chas
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Re: What's on your holiday espresso list?

Post by chas »

Oton: It only counts if you're putting it in your coffee! :drunken:
Chas
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Louis

Re: What's on your holiday espresso list?

Post by Louis »

GDK wrote:I have been debating shelling $200 for the Vivaldi timer. I can afford it but price is just ridiculous for what it does.
It depends on how you look at it! How are worth 45 minutes a day of additional sleep time? ;-)
Or: Is a price increase of 8% too much to get a timer option on your Vivaldi?

Seriously, I'm glad I bought the timer. The machine is ready when I need it and I don't have to keep it on at all time to achieve this. The timer can also be programmed for three different on/off cycles per day, for each day of the week.
Endo

Re: What's on your holiday espresso list?

Post by Endo »

Louis wrote:
GDK wrote:I have been debating shelling $200 for the Vivaldi timer. I can afford it but price is just ridiculous for what it does.
It depends on how you look at it! How are worth 45 minutes a day of additional sleep time? ;-)
Or: Is a price increase of 8% too much to get a timer option on your Vivaldi?

Seriously, I'm glad I bought the timer. The machine is ready when I need it and I don't have to keep it on at all time to achieve this. The timer can also be programmed for three different on/off cycles per day, for each day of the week.
I too held off for a long time, but I must say, the timer is just great. It kinda completes the whole double boiler / convenience thing.

As far as presents go, my wife gave up on me a long time ago. So I just bought myself this nice new scale from Amazon (after my cheap $11 Chinese E-bay special start drifting wildly).

http://www.amazon.com/American-Weigh-SC ... 50&sr=1-18
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Re: What's on your holiday espresso list?

Post by michael »

the timer is great, particularly if youre operating in the 15 amp mode

when you wake up the machine is happening 8)
Endo

Re: What's on your holiday espresso list?

Post by Endo »

On my Mini, I let the timer turn on my brew boiler 1 hour before I get up (for temp stability). But I only turn on my steam boiler manually. Since the brew boiler always has priority in 15A mode, I just brew my 2 shots (one espresso for me and one for my wife's Latte), and by the time I'm finished the shots, the steam is ready for the Latte. I then turn the machine off manually right afterward.

By doing this, my steam boiler (which cannot be manually descaled on the Mini), sees only about 5 minutes "on time" each day. So it still looks pristine inside after 3 years of use.

I my opinion, the "steam only when needed" feature is one of the GREAT parts of the Mini, that you cannot find on any other machine.
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GDK
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Re: What's on your holiday espresso list?

Post by GDK »

I am doing the same as you, only turning the stem boiler 4-5 mins before I need it and then turn it off immediately after use. During these 5 mins I pull the shots, no limit there as I upgraded the circuit to 20A and thus brew boiler always tracks the temperature. Perhaps a 20A circuit breaker is a potential wish list entry ;) This thing ain't cheap...
JohnB

Re: What's on your holiday espresso list?

Post by JohnB »

I'm not taking chances this year, I told both my kids to forget the "surprises" & get me Gift Certificates for GoCoffeeGo. As for espresso related equipment my Strega should arrive by early Jan. :grin:
oton

Re: What's on your holiday espresso list?

Post by oton »

Well, besides whisky, I ordered a Chemex with a Coava Cone.
Endo wrote:I my opinion, the "steam only when needed" feature is one of the GREAT parts of the Mini, that you cannot find on any other machine.
Don't forget the Duetto and the Brewtus IV. :smile:
expy98

Re: What's on your holiday espresso list?

Post by expy98 »

an open boiler lever but it's likely that Santa will be late to my house...
JonF

Re: What's on your holiday espresso list?

Post by JonF »

Some brown/white cappucino cups from Espresso Parts!
(by the way, regarding the previous discussion on the timer--it's great!)
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GDK
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Re: What's on your holiday espresso list?

Post by GDK »

Timer is on the way... peer pressure worked ;)
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chas
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Re: What's on your holiday espresso list?

Post by chas »

GDK wrote:Timer is on the way... peer pressure worked ;)
Just put the price out of your mind and you'll never regret it.
Chas
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JohnB

Re: What's on your holiday espresso list?

Post by JohnB »

Santa came early!!
Strega Arrives.JPG
Strega Arrives.JPG (111.4 KiB) Viewed 23662 times
Sleigh broke down so he rented a truck. :lol:
oton

Re: What's on your holiday espresso list?

Post by oton »

wowowwow! Me like it. Will it pull better shots than the speedster?
JohnB

Re: What's on your holiday espresso list?

Post by JohnB »

I'm hoping that it will become my home roasted S/O machine of choice if what Jim S. has said about it is true. Just pulled a half dozen different African DP greens out of my freezer for roasting tomorrow. Hopefully by the time they are ready for use I'll have some idea of how to properly use the Strega. Today's project is to find a 60mm hole saw & make a bottomless p/f so I can run some Scace temp tests & better dial in the grind. The other p/f will get the parts off my pressure gauge rig. I pulled 2 shots of Moka Kadir late yesterday. First was a gushing sink shot; second was better but still too fast & not even remotely close to what I get effortlessly from the Speedster everyday.
maxcr

Re: What's on your holiday espresso list?

Post by maxcr »

Very jealous JohnB! Enjoy it and keep us posted.

Merry christmas to all
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chas
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Re: What's on your holiday espresso list?

Post by chas »

JohnB wrote:I'm hoping that it will become my home roasted S/O machine of choice if what Jim S. has said about it is true. Just pulled a half dozen different African DP greens out of my freezer for roasting tomorrow. Hopefully by the time they are ready for use I'll have some idea of how to properly use the Strega. Today's project is to find a 60mm hole saw & make a bottomless p/f so I can run some Scace temp tests & better dial in the grind. The other p/f will get the parts off my pressure gauge rig. I pulled 2 shots of Moka Kadir late yesterday. First was a gushing sink shot; second was better but still too fast & not even remotely close to what I get effortlessly from the Speedster everyday.
Uh oh, are you telling me you're part of a new trend to pair types of beans with specific espresso machines? And I thought this hobby was already expensive enough. :dontknow:
Chas
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Endo

Re: What's on your holiday espresso list?

Post by Endo »

chas wrote:Uh oh, are you telling me you're part of a new trend to pair types of beans with specific espresso machines? And I thought this hobby was already expensive enough. :dontknow:
I must say, some blends taste much different on my lever than on my S1. Some of the SOs are fantastic when dosed low on the Cremina. Higher dosed chocolate blends are better on the S1. In fact, I was surprised how big a difference the lever machine made (though I'm sure some is temperature related). Much bigger than grinder influences IMO (which is contrary to popular belief).
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GDK
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Re: What's on your holiday espresso list?

Post by GDK »

My new 7-day timer is now up and running. Do you keep the timer on the side of the machine or did you invent some sort of a holder? Wire is not very long and limits options it seems.

I noticed a very weird thing. While doing time adjustments, up arrow decrement time while down arrow increments. Very counter intuitive I find :-?
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Re: What's on your holiday espresso list?

Post by zedex »

Yea. The timer is backwards in terms of arrows but no real problem. It is worth the money as far as im concerned,very easy to program and seamless integration. I just tuck the timer behind the machine,no need to look at it. Chris of CCS was kind enough to throw a timer in to my purchase.:) Whay a guy.:) Customs bent me over pretty bad though i must confess. :blackeye:
BobUSN

Re: What's on your holiday espresso list?

Post by BobUSN »

Hmph. Still waiting for my Speedster...

:)
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