Coffee - do you and how do you consume it?

[ryanosaur]

I don’t think so. Starbucks started out at a ‘third place’ but has since evolved into something different: little princes/princesses can make the most unreasonable orders and for 60 seconds their court, I mean the baristas, have to bow to their wishes and their subjects, the line behind them, has to wait. If a machine could make any order in 30 seconds with no interaction, a huge demographic would lose interest. $7 to feel power for a minute is part of what they are selling.

An independent cafe I worked at for awhile began considering Pumps to dose out our syrups because the ownership saw it as a way to increase speed and consistency over using SpeedPours as you would find in most Bars.

Of course, we didn't have people coming to us asking for 5 different syrups added to their mythic concoction, or items capable of 10-15+ modifiers.

That's why real cafes exist, and why skilled Baristas do to!

To that point, when confronted with a customer who wanted us to blend something for them (we had a blender for emulsifying bulletproof coffee), the answer was always no. Hard no. And we gave them directions to the nearest Starbucks.

 

[pseudoid]

And we gave them directions to the nearest Starbucks.

Aha! So, you are responsible for their success!

... and hope you were wise enough to invest...

 

[ryanosaur]

Aha! So, you are responsible for their success!
View attachment 387866
... and hope you were wise enough to invest...

No. Starbucks is a mess these days.

What’s Wrong With Starbucks? — The Wall Street Journal

Prices are up—and so are the wait times. But that’s just the tip of the iced-latte-berg. The coffee giant’s new CEO will have his work cut out for him.

apple.news

I’m no expert, but I don’t see them doing more than treading water. If they offer a dividend, it may be ok as a long term holding once they right ship, but I throw my very meager retirement savings in more hopeful locations…

 

[Somafunk]

An independent cafe I worked at for awhile began considering Pumps to dose out our syrups because the ownership saw it as a way to increase speed and consistency over using SpeedPours as you would find in most Bars.

Anyone who asks for syrups in their coffee needs a bloody good slap and a long sit on the naughty step

 

[Lux_ury]

Does anyone really know the lo-down on why 'peaberries' fetch higher market prices?

I lucked into some medium-roast Guatemalan peaberries ($15/lbs) and the shots are turning out delightfully delicious, lacking much bitterness.
Yey!
I had to dial down the turbinado (5.2gm to 4.5gm) and grind a slight-bit finer, to retain ~25second/41gm yield from each 16.5gm (quad shots) dose.

Was excessive water flooding in South America and specific African suppliers caused the up shifting in prices?
Guatermalan Peaberries sound worth a try!

 

[ryanosaur]

Anyone who asks for syrups in their coffee needs a bloody good slap and a long sit on the naughty step

Amen, Bruddah!

Though I wouldn't do it, I can understand something like Caramel Syrup, and of course just plain old Simple Syrup.

But Mint? Lavender?
Blech!

 

[pseudoid]

Guatermalan Peaberries sound worth a try!

In the early '80s, before coffee got to be the status symbol that it became; a buddy used to send me a pound-a-year of legit and locally-grown Kona peaberries.
Those beans were appreciably more delectable than most of what we could get state-side, at reasonable prices: Then and now!
In return, I would send him my left-over audio hardware.
That's what I knew as "Fair-Trade" coffee!

 

[Lux_ury]

I was in Tunisia once my wife and I ordered two Arabic coffees, now they drink espresso cups with ground beans at the bottom. I forgot to mention this to wifie and she drank it suddenly and spat out the coffee at me.
I was wearing white at the time.......!
That coffee though was one of the best I've ever had.
Trick was to let the beans settle for one minute and drink only half. (Laugh emoji)
Give it a try the beans were coarsely ground probably with a postal and mortar.

 

[KellenVancouver]

 

[KellenVancouver]

 

[pseudoid]

I lucked into some medium-roast Guatemalan peaberries ($15/lbs) and the shots are turning out delightfully delicious, lacking much bitterness.
Yey!

I am running out of these Guatemalan peaberries and our fling has had been very memorable!
I would rated them in the top of my list of 10Best Beans-for-the-Buck I've had in the last 3 years.

 

[pseudoid]

I flipped a coin; so, I'll first do the 'heads':

'Tails' will have to wait for the 4th installment.

 

[ryanosaur]

I think I'm going for the DF83V...

Turin DF83V Variable Speed Coffee / Espresso Grinder

SSP burrs are not pre-installed and ship un-installed in box or separate shipment Introducing the Turin DF83V, the next generation in coffee grinding excellence. This grinder epitomizes the perfect blend of aesthetic design and practical functionality, crafted through unwavering dedication. As...

www.turingrinders.com

My Lelit PL044MM Fred is starting to sound like the motor may be starting on going out.

Torn between the DF64V and the 83V, but really like everything reviewers had been saying about the 83. Not that the 64 is making folk unhappy, just that it seems they really got this iteration nailed pretty good. With the more powerful motor and the newer stock espresso burr set making people happy, the only thing I will need to do is look at alignment.

Everything else I look at still leaves me questioning, "why not?"

I know I asked before, but any further suggestions and discussion would be welcome!

Cheers!

 

[Spkrdctr]

Well, it is hard to beat my regular coffee (nothing fancy at all) Folgers instant with caramel and French Vanilla mixed in. The Caramel adds the sweetness and that is it. So, this is low brow coffee at its best. Years ago when I had more monty I would get Kona (100% Kona, not a blend with other beans) shipped from Hawaii. That was fantastic. But I can't afford that now and when I checked most (almost all) went to blending it with other beans for a lower cost or higher profit. I like it 100% kona.

 

[D!sco]

My Sette 270wi just broke last week. A tiny pebble ate my gearbox. I was very clear with Baratza about being the second owner and what happened. Their customer support is slow, but I now have a motor assembly and burr in the mail for free. I could have sent it in for repairs at a fee, but Big 7 is actually easier to repair than my old Baratza Encore.

I would recommend anything from them. It's a little surprising they haven't made a fancier single dose machine or an upgraded finish on the sette for the big spender types, but it's indicative of their philosophy-- slow, deliberate, thoughtful.

 

[TankTop]

So apparently, now there are coffee suppositories. Don’t tell the Army.

 

[Timmeon]

I think I'm going for the DF83V...

Turin DF83V Variable Speed Coffee / Espresso Grinder

SSP burrs are not pre-installed and ship un-installed in box or separate shipment Introducing the Turin DF83V, the next generation in coffee grinding excellence. This grinder epitomizes the perfect blend of aesthetic design and practical functionality, crafted through unwavering dedication. As...

www.turingrinders.com

My Lelit PL044MM Fred is starting to sound like the motor may be starting on going out.

Torn between the DF64V and the 83V, but really like everything reviewers had been saying about the 83. Not that the 64 is making folk unhappy, just that it seems they really got this iteration nailed pretty good. With the more powerful motor and the newer stock espresso burr set making people happy, the only thing I will need to do is look at alignment.

Everything else I look at still leaves me questioning, "why not?"

I know I asked before, but any further suggestions and discussion would be welcome!

Cheers!

Interesting, hadn't seen the Turin yet. Have to say I'm tempted by the Lagom P64 based on the simplicity of the workflow and aesthetics alone. I'm getting tired of unclogging the chute on my Specialita daily. Retention only seems to be getting worse.

Any others you're looking at? Nice price on the Turin but it looks a bit bulky on the countertop.

 

[Holmz]

…. Retention only seems to be getting worse.
…

I think I am seeing an anal retentive trend here.

So apparently, now there are coffee suppositories. Don’t tell the Army.

 

[Petrushka]

So apparently, now there are coffee suppositories. Don’t tell the Army.

I’ve been assured by experts on the internet, that coffee enemas cure cancer.

 

[Timmeon]

I think I am seeing an anal retentive trend here.

Nice Assessment