tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23775994264398127872024-03-13T09:20:49.001-07:00The Amateur BaristaThis is a journey of discovering coffee. From instant coffee to roasting beans and preparing espressos on a semi-professional espresso machineluisgtz2http://www.blogger.com/profile/01667368579237802698noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2377599426439812787.post-31972255090311875532017-08-28T22:19:00.000-07:002017-08-29T07:54:34.335-07:00Cafe de Olla - Mexican Spiced Coffee<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QBzRGshkOe4/WaSpL3BS2nI/AAAAAAAADII/3Gzmz8PKWXEcdk1ygn5FPh5W8VdBDgZxQCLcBGAs/s1600/cafe%2Bde%2Bolla.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" data-original-height="264" data-original-width="191" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QBzRGshkOe4/WaSpL3BS2nI/AAAAAAAADII/3Gzmz8PKWXEcdk1ygn5FPh5W8VdBDgZxQCLcBGAs/s320/cafe%2Bde%2Bolla.jpg" width="227" /></a></h3>
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September in Mexico is a Month of National celebrations and the most important one of them is Independence Day, which is celebrated the night of September 15th.<br />
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Let's celebrate this month by taking a look at a very traditional and savory Mexican way to prepare coffee: Cafe de Olla. Its literal translation is "Coffee from the Pot", this is due to the traditional recipe where coffee was prepared on a clay pot.<br />
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This preparation is very famous, not only for its flavor but also for its characteristic aroma that makes Mexicans feel at home. It is so popular that Nestle created an <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00MPK04PE/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=moztro-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B00MPK04PE&linkId=a93f9107cd982f7f230afac4722fbf3d" target="_blank">instant coffee version</a><br />
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If you enjoy Turkish or Greek coffee, you will like this recipe since the result is a lightly spiced, hot, sweet coffee beverage.<br />
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History</h3>
There are no exact records on when was the first time it was prepared but it is believed it was around the time of the Mexican Revolution (1910 - 1921). The women of the Revolution (also known as Adelitas) used to prepared this aromatic beverage to the soldiers to keep them warm and to give them comfort and strength.<br />
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<b>The clay mug</b></h3>
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You might have seen the traditional clay mugs used to drink it, and although it is not a must to have one to enjoy a Cafe de Olla, it certainly adds pleasure to the experience and makes it more authentic. If you have read my blog before, you know that I believe that "the cup is as important as the Coffee." You can probably find these mugs at your local Mexican Supermarket, but just in case, here is an option available at Amazon( Click on the picture to follow the link):</div>
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<a href="https://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&MarketPlace=US&ASIN=B0193LYXX6&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL250_&tag=moztro-20" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&MarketPlace=US&ASIN=B0193LYXX6&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL250_&tag=moztro-20" /></a></div>
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Ingredients</h3>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UCcvnjoQcUQ/WaTqlGAissI/AAAAAAAADIo/ZicZaOnmW8YCs38wKjbkMqf53FfwmrmeACLcBGAs/s1600/cafedeollados-1024x1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UCcvnjoQcUQ/WaTqlGAissI/AAAAAAAADIo/ZicZaOnmW8YCs38wKjbkMqf53FfwmrmeACLcBGAs/s400/cafedeollados-1024x1024.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<ul>
<li>6 Cups of water</li>
<li>1/3 Cup of <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00PE1T0EM/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=moztro-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B00PE1T0EM&linkId=fcffe6231e388efcd30a12cca1612b41" target="_blank">Piloncillo</a> (Brown Sugar Cane)</li>
<li>2 sticks of <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01668FT3M/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=moztro-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B01668FT3M&linkId=337834a217a094ddd6d066926c46de41" target="_blank">Cinnamon</a></li>
<li>6 tablespoons of dark coarse ground coffee (think on the same coarse ground as for French Press, see picture at the end of the post)</li>
<li>1 whole clove (optional)</li>
<li>1 tablespoon of orange zest (optional) </li>
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You will need:<br />
<ul>
<li>1 medium pot (clay if you have one)</li>
<li>1 tablespoon</li>
<li>1 wire-mesh-strainer</li>
<li>1 clay mug</li>
</ul>
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Preparation (15 minutes)</h3>
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<ol>
<li>In a medium pot add the the water, piloncillo, cinnamon, clove and orange zest</li>
<li>Bring the water to boil on high heat while stirring the content for the piloncillo to dissolve.</li>
<li>Once it is boiling reduce to medium heat and let it simmer for 5 minutes</li>
<li>Add the ground coffee, stir the content and let it simmer for another 5 minutes (without letting it boil)</li>
<li>Strain the coffee into your clay (preferable) mug</li>
<li>Enjoy!</li>
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Let me know if you try it or if you have another way to prepare it.<br />
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How coarse should the grounds be?</h3>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H0yfcJyggcg/WaT2kts0I2I/AAAAAAAADI4/vooYBbC_uswyCY_Vq1eeX4zxONls7jg3ACLcBGAs/s1600/f465f89a3ac5683ac93c572fe2813497e5539bfd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H0yfcJyggcg/WaT2kts0I2I/AAAAAAAADI4/vooYBbC_uswyCY_Vq1eeX4zxONls7jg3ACLcBGAs/s640/f465f89a3ac5683ac93c572fe2813497e5539bfd.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Sources:</h3>
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<ul>
<li>http://foodandtravel.mx/cafe-olla-tradicionalmente-mexicano/</li>
<li>http://www.pizcadesabor.com/cafe-de-olla/</li>
<li>http://www.mexican-authentic-recipes.com/bebidas-cafe_de_olla.html</li>
</ul>
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luisgtz2http://www.blogger.com/profile/01667368579237802698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2377599426439812787.post-84580553040142019622016-08-19T15:18:00.000-07:002016-08-22T22:08:18.845-07:00The perfect coffee for this Summer: Cold Amaretto-Vanilla Latte<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vjwiB6s1RAo/V7eCe5jwrVI/AAAAAAAADBU/jyf6ZvvyRc0VoigJZ5hO7VttWUPkDG1EgCEw/s1600/IMG_9147.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="337" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vjwiB6s1RAo/V7eCe5jwrVI/AAAAAAAADBU/jyf6ZvvyRc0VoigJZ5hO7VttWUPkDG1EgCEw/s640/IMG_9147.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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I don't know about you, but this summer it has been unusually hot in California with temperatures on the high 80's and 90's. I regularly drink a couple of double shot lattes or cappuccinos during the day, but lately, I have been replacing my evening Cappuccino with a refreshing creation of my own: <b>A Cold Amaretto-Vanilla Latte</b>.<br />
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What I love about it, is that it is not only refreshing, but it also has the right balance between coffee, sweetness, and booze. You will be able to enjoy a drink that could easily be offered at $12-15 at a bar, at only a fraction of the cost.<br />
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The preparation is as important as the ingredients. I am using a cocktail shaker to mix it and to get it cold. The shaker is important, because it allows you to get it nice and cold really fast, and it reduces the dilution of your coffee. Have you ever ordered an Iced Latte from Starbucks, just to find a bunch of watery coffee and tasteless ice at the bottom of the cup? That doesn't happen with this preparation.</div>
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Ingredients</h2>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Gzq46f5mAE8/V7eDFI97cRI/AAAAAAAADBw/nDWXgzsKLIgJg-sA_fmtrXWD1TFG0XsLQCLcB/s1600/IMG_9137.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="337" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Gzq46f5mAE8/V7eDFI97cRI/AAAAAAAADBw/nDWXgzsKLIgJg-sA_fmtrXWD1TFG0XsLQCLcB/s640/IMG_9137.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<ul>
<li>1 double shot of your favorite espresso</li>
<li>1 cup of milk (I use whole milk)</li>
<li>4 drops of good quality <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000GAWH4G/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B000GAWH4G&linkCode=as2&tag=moztro-20&linkId=d518c869ec29728c4704e46161bc8238" target="_blank">vanilla extract</a></li>
<li>1/3 shot of Amaretto Disaronno. You can find this available in most Supermarkets</li>
<li>1 teaspoon of sugar</li>
<li>1 cup of ice cubes</li>
<li>1 pinch of <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000WS1KHM/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B000WS1KHM&linkCode=as2&tag=moztro-20&linkId=f897cedbc43c99a7c584c61ef7a76054">ground cinnamon</a></li>
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Materials</h2>
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<ul>
<li>1 500ml <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00C6VB6KO/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00C6VB6KO&linkCode=as2&tag=moztro-20&linkId=fa0fdb4efe2ac70ac3e2616026a67132" target="_blank">cocktail shaker</a></li>
<li>1 <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000H7VF64/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B000H7VF64&linkCode=as2&tag=moztro-20&linkId=d98d0254c370c5e940838632b8406902" target="_blank">bar strainer</a> (if you want to be fancy, otherwise you can use a fork)</li>
<li>Your favorite transparent glass</li>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00C6VB6KO/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00C6VB6KO&linkCode={{linkCode}}&tag=moztro-20&linkId={{link_id}}"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&MarketPlace=US&ASIN=B00C6VB6KO&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL250_&tag=moztro-20" width="138" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=moztro-20&l=am2&o=1&a=B00C6VB6KO" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000H7VF64/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B000H7VF64&linkCode=as2&tag=moztro-20&linkId=b61c21b723d108f22b75a8762006c010"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&MarketPlace=US&ASIN=B000H7VF64&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL250_&tag=moztro-20" width="200" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=moztro-20&l=am2&o=1&a=B000H7VF64" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
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Preparation</h2>
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1) In the cocktail shaker add the <b>ice cubes</b>, <b>milk</b>, <b>vanilla extract</b>, <b>Amaretto Disaronno</b>, and <b>sugar. </b>Add more sugar if you want it sweeter, but keep on mind that the Amaretto is sweet.<br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FmGFhDA8PT8/V7eCcfuifLI/AAAAAAAADBs/hTD1pn0tk9MfBSBnHiM1Y3BjxgT-QD9NgCEw/s1600/IMG_9139.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FmGFhDA8PT8/V7eCcfuifLI/AAAAAAAADBs/hTD1pn0tk9MfBSBnHiM1Y3BjxgT-QD9NgCEw/s200/IMG_9139.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lrvVTDcJNYM/V7eCcQxUOSI/AAAAAAAADBs/1Qce1LbXTjI4Cdnw8mt11vxmO1OjQNflwCEw/s1600/IMG_9140.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lrvVTDcJNYM/V7eCcQxUOSI/AAAAAAAADBs/1Qce1LbXTjI4Cdnw8mt11vxmO1OjQNflwCEw/s200/IMG_9140.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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2) Prepare a double shot of your favorite <b>espresso</b></div>
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<b><br /></b>3) Add the espresso into the shaker</div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2K1niIx3dOk/V7eCd9uVrtI/AAAAAAAADB0/8EDzWiAEm0ELS8PJJNmaDOHYsJy12T-hACEw/s1600/IMG_9144.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="288" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2K1niIx3dOk/V7eCd9uVrtI/AAAAAAAADB0/8EDzWiAEm0ELS8PJJNmaDOHYsJy12T-hACEw/s320/IMG_9144.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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4) Close the shaker and shake for one or two minutes. Note how cold and frosty the shaker is going to get</div>
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5) Using the bar strainer (or fork) pour into your favorite glass</div>
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6) Garnish with <b>ground cinnamon</b></div>
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Final Notes</h2>
<i>Like anything else in life. The better the ingredients are going in, the better the final result</i><br />
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If you use low-quality ingredients, don't expect a high-quality beverage. I know there are Amaretto essences, but I strongly advise on using Amaretto Disaronno, since it provides a nice touch and with the amount suggested the alcohol level will be very low.<br />
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The presentation is also important and affects your senses. Try not to use a plastic cup or mug for this drink. If you have one, use a tall transparent glass. It will improve your experience, and it will make it more enjoyable.<br />
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Let me know if you try it and if you think there are ways to make a better recipe.<br />
Cheers!</div>
luisgtz2http://www.blogger.com/profile/01667368579237802698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2377599426439812787.post-80273809856434646462016-05-27T10:38:00.003-07:002016-06-01T08:42:38.222-07:003 Reasons why you should be roasting your own coffee beans<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-S8Q13D_uxmE/Vz-kTZvscjI/AAAAAAAAC-k/OAO_JSxC0PUQoikQp-r12Cvw3SdbpTo_ACLcB/s1600/roasting%2Bcoffee.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-S8Q13D_uxmE/Vz-kTZvscjI/AAAAAAAAC-k/OAO_JSxC0PUQoikQp-r12Cvw3SdbpTo_ACLcB/s400/roasting%2Bcoffee.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Three months ago I started an experiment to find out if it was cost savvy and efficient to roast green coffee beans at home instead of buying roasted coffee. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After <a href="http://baristaamateur.blogspot.com/2016/02/does-it-make-sense-to-roast-your-own.html">crushing the numbers</a> and several weeks of roasting, m</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">y conclusion is that I should have </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">started several years ago! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Reason 1: It is easy!</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When I started my research, I was intimidated by the amount of information that is out there. I found tons of recommendations for specific temperature profiles, multiple temperature levels, cycles, timing, etc. It seemed that a Ph.D. was required in order to get it right.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So, why it seems to be so complicated to roast coffee? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Let's remember that coffee green beans are a commodity. What this means is that there are many substitutes for a particular product, you can easily substitute beans from Costa Rica with beans from Tanzania and still make coffee; therefore, it is difficult to justify a higher price tag. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">To be able to charge a higher price for the product, Coffee Roasters, i.e. Starbucks, Pete's Coffee, and others, try to find ways to differentiate from each other and make their product "less common." Having specific blends, selected by expert connoisseurs and roasted to perfection are part of the marketing message.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For most of us, mere mortals, we can live with slight variations in our roasts. What I have discovered is that, for me, the window of acceptable roast levels is quite wide. In three months I haven't ruined and wasted a single batch. Beans that were darker than what I normally like were greatly appreciated by an Italian friend who is used to those roasts.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Today, I can turn on my roaster and do a couple of batches with almost any effort or supervision other than pouring green beans on it, removing them once they are roasted, and discarding the chaff. A batch takes me around 8 minutes, and in the meantime, I can keep writing this post.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Reason 2: Freshness</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Since my roaster is very small, I need to do three batches of coffee every week (which takes me around 30 minutes total). What is great about this process is that every week I have freshly roasted beans. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When I was buying roasted coffee, a bag could last anything between two to four weeks. By the third week, as most of you probably know, the coffee had lost a lot of its aroma, and there was a noticeable degradation in flavor.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">By roasting green beans every week, I get the freshest possible coffee beans. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Reason 3: Money Savings!!!!!</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The <b>main </b>reason why you should be roasting your own coffee beans is that it is cheap. Cheaper than any decent roasted coffee you could buy. On my two previous posts (<a href="http://baristaamateur.blogspot.com/2016/02/does-it-make-sense-to-roast-your-own.html">Does it makes sense to Roast your own coffee</a> and <a href="http://baristaamateur.blogspot.com/2016/03/roasting-coffee-at-home-can-anyone-do-it.html">Roasting Coffee at Home: can anyone do it?</a>) I ran some numbers on how much cheaper it was to buy green beans versus roasted ones. In average it is 75% to 80% cheaper to roast your own beans.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Are there any cons?</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The main one is that if you don't plan accordingly, by the end of the week you might run out of coffee, and you will not be able to roast more and consume it immediately since the recommendation is to let them rest for 24 hours. A couple of times I was about to get to this point, and I had to decide whether I go out and buy some roasted beans or do a batch on Thursday night. In every occasion, I chose to roast some more beans, since it represented a $0 additional cost.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I have been roasting my beans in the patio since I am pretty sure that the smell it generates will trigger the smoke alarm if I do it inside. If you don't have a balcony or patio, it will be challenging to roast your beans without a couple of visits from the fire department. Even if you manage to avoid triggering the alarm, most likely the smell will stay in your apartment for a couple of days. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Conclusion</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Pros of roasting beans significantly surpass the cons. There are other ones that we didn't discuss, like the ability to try single origin beans and compare the differences in taste and aroma among different regions. It is simple enough that almost everyone can do it with a very low investment. I think that the companies that offer roasted beans have done an incredibly good marketing job on convincing people to pay high prices for their product.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Considering how simple it is to have freshly roasted coffee at a fraction of the cost at home, I am surprised that no more people are doing it. I am starting to wonder what other things I could do at home by myself: brewing beer, pickling and stuffing olives, curing prosciutto? This seems like a great topic for a new post...</span><br />
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luisgtz2http://www.blogger.com/profile/01667368579237802698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2377599426439812787.post-46482685072927777092016-03-11T06:00:00.000-08:002016-05-28T23:18:14.151-07:00Roasting Coffee at home: Can anyone do it?<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">n theory, it makes economic sense to roast your coffee. In theory, you could save a lot of money and have the freshest coffee possible; however, is it practical and is it worth to do it?Let's get our hands dirty and roast some coffee!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In my previous <a href="http://baristaamateur.blogspot.com/2016/02/does-it-make-sense-to-roast-your-own.html">post</a>, we got to the conclusion that investing on a coffee roaster could pay for itself within the first year. To test this, I bought a Fresh Roast Coffee Roaster <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0034D9ONO/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B0034D9ONO&linkCode=as2&tag=moztro-20&linkId=BJGH6LAJXO4YTSYL" target="_blank">SR500 </a>and plenty of green coffee beans from <a href="http://www.sweetmarias.com/">Sweet Maria's</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For me, it would be worth it to roast my beans if, in addition to the cost savings, I could reliably produce good coffee, with no waste, and I could make enough for two weeks in less than 30 minutes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Initial Investment</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">At $200, buying the Air Roasting Starter Kit was no brainer because it turned out to be a lot cheaper than buying things separately. With the kit I received:</span><br />
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<li>The Hot Air Roaster: Fresh Roast SR500 </li>
<li>8 Lbs Green Coffee Sampler </li>
<li>10 valve bags for storing </li>
<li>1 Roast Log </li>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Let's forget about the bags and the roast log; getting the roaster and the green beans by $200 was a great deal, considering that buying the roaster by itself is $179. At this price, I just bought 8Lbs of coffee at only $21, or <b>$2.625 per pound</b>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In my previous post, <a href="http://baristaamateur.blogspot.com/2016/02/does-it-make-sense-to-roast-your-own.html">Does it makes sense to roast your coffee</a>, we established that the average pound of green coffee beans was ~$7 if you buy individual bags. With this sampler, each ounce of green coffee is $0.164, which is <b>11.6 times cheaper than buying roasted coffee!!!</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />By purchasing the sampler, you lose the ability to select particular coffee beans, but we are just getting started, at this point we don't even know what coffee beans we want. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The roaster is super simple, setting it up and reading the instructions is a matter of a couple of minutes. We are ready for our first batch.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">First Batch</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For the first trials, I am using Ethiopian green beans, which are supposed to be good for espresso.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Since I was afraid of burning the beans or creating a lot of smoke inside the house, I did this batch in the patio. I don't think this is required, but to avoid the smell inside of the house, I will continue doing it this way. The hot air roaster is small and portable.<br /><br />I followed the instructions on the tips sheet included by Sweet Maria's and used less green beans than what the instructions manual indicated (two scoops of green beans instead of four). I know <a href="http://baristaamateur.blogspot.com/2013/12/dark-and-caramelly-roast-not-for-me.html">I don't like very dark roasts</a>; I prefer medium roasts which are sweeter and less bitter. On</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> my first batch, my primary concern was not to burn the beans and end up with waste and lots of smoke. Therefore, I was very conservative with the times and heat.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ready to start the First batch</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Based on what I read, I set up my timer for 7 minutes. Unfortunately, I was too excited to see the results, and I interrupted the cooling cycle by mistake( I didn't know there was a cooling cycle). The final result was a very light roast, with beans that didn't increase much in size, and with a lot of chaff left on them.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Color</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I believe that I should have waited longer, the color of the beans seemed to be on the light side. I also expected them to grow more in size, but they were almost the same size as the green beans, which tells me they probably didn't go through what they call "The second crack".</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Batch Size</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I was disappointed by the final amount of coffee, it was not even enough for one day at our home, it was over after two double and one single shot (3 Shots). I believe I can increase the batch size a little more, but I don't think I will be able to make enough coffee for one week on a single roast. With this type of roaster, if you make the batch too big, the air will not be able to move the coffee around, and it will burn some beans (continue reading since I tried this).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Taste</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Although it tasted good, it was too mild. We prepared a couple of lattes and the coffee flavor almost got lost. I believe I can correct this by roasting it a little bit more.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Second Batch</span></h4>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This time, I added one extra scoop of green beans for a total of 3 to try to get enough coffee for at least a couple of days. I also waited 1 minute longer (8 minutes) while roasting and let it run its 3-minute cooling cycle.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Color</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The coffee beans look darker than the first batch, but they are still within the parameters I like; however, there is a notorious increase in the size of the bean. I believe this is due to "The second crack," which it didn't happen on my first batch.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From left to right: Green Beans -> First Batch -> Second Batch</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Batch Size</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Since this time the beans increased in size, the extra spoon of green beans is more notorious, and the batch is considerably bigger; However, it only lasted three days (around eight shots of coffee). On the 4th day, I was almost tempted to go out and buy some roasted beans.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Taste</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The coffee is stronger, still sweet, but even in a latte, you can taste it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Third Batch</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It was midweek, and I was out of coffee, this was a disaster! I had to roast some more. This time, I used the amount recommended on the manual, but not on Sweet Maria's tips sheet, which is four scoops. The batch obviously was bigger, and it gave me a total of twelve shots, which should be enough for four to five days (almost a week).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">However, the roasting was inconsistent. Since there's a greater amount of coffee, the hot air (which was set to max) is not able to adequately move the coffee around, and some of the beans got burnt while others were not roasted enough. Fortunately, it was only a minor portion of the beans, most of the batch was acceptable. There are ways you can control this by manually moving the beans or playing with the cooling cycles; however, I want an automated process, and I'll reduce the batch size next time.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Too many beans could produce inconsistent roasting: These come from the same batch</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Preliminary Conclusions</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After these initial batches, I believe anyone can roast coffee at home; however, i</span>t is too early to reach a conclusion on whether it is worth it. The roasting process is very smooth. I was initially afraid of burning the beans, but you can easily control it if you are paying attention.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Quality wise, once I find the right settings I am pretty sure I will be able to make consistent good batches, comparable to some of the best ones I can buy, but at a 10th of the cost. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My primary concern is the batch size. Their documentation indicates it should give enough for 20 cups, but they might be talking about very light brewed coffee. For espressos, I don't think I will be able to get more than 12 single shots or 6 double shots in one batch; however, the total process takes around 11 minutes per batch, it takes me more time to go to the store and buy roasted coffee. I believe that making a couple of batches over one weekend should give me enough for two weeks, but we will see...</span></div>
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luisgtz2http://www.blogger.com/profile/01667368579237802698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2377599426439812787.post-43219444849794342002016-02-23T16:12:00.002-08:002016-05-28T23:17:57.173-07:00Does it make sense to roast your own coffee?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3J2dCh7U5XI/VsdYm-GVNiI/AAAAAAAAC5A/5U74XHrK2b8/s1600/gallery-full-roaster.jpg" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="336" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3J2dCh7U5XI/VsdYm-GVNiI/AAAAAAAAC5A/5U74XHrK2b8/s640/gallery-full-roaster.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">f you are buying freshly roasted coffee beans from your local roasters you probably already know that it can get very expensive. Is it worth to roast your coffee? </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I have been buying my coffee beans from Slight Glass, Blue Bottle, and other similar local roasters; the price for an 8oz to 12oz bag could go anywhere between $12 to $18. We </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> (my wife and </span>I<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">)</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> typically go over a bag in around two weeks. In other words, we spend $30 per month on coffee beans; that 's <b>$360 a year!!</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In this post, we are not going to discuss the qualitative advantages people claim over roasting your beans, such as getting them to the exact point you want, knowing exactly when your beans were roasted or the satisfaction of doing it yourself. Today </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">we are just going to check if it makes economic sense to do it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>How much does it cost to buy freshly roasted beans?</b></span></h4>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We already established that an 8oz bag of locally roasted coffee could be in average $15, with two bags per month this adds up to $360 per year.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>So, how much does it cost to roast your beans?</b></span></h4>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Two components need to be considered to answer this question: the ongoing cost of the green beans and the initial investment on a roaster.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For all of us, who are getting started on roasting coffee, <a href="https://www.sweetmarias.com/">Sweet Marias</a> is going to be the site to go for everything you need: information, green beans, roasters, etc. All the equipment and prices discussed here will be based on this site.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">By looking at the cost of the green beans, we can see their prices can go from $6 to $8 <b><u>per pound</u></b> for beans they consider good for <a href="https://www.sweetmarias.com/category/good-for-espresso">espresso</a>. There are 16oz in one pound, double the size of an average roasted coffee bag; this means I would spend $84 per year on coffee beans. In other words, savings of $276.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Comparison Table (without investment)</b></span></h4>
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<b>Beans</b></div>
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Average Price per bag</div>
</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Quantity Oz"]" style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"><div style="text-align: center;">
Quantity Oz</div>
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Price per Oz</div>
</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Oz per year"]" style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"><div style="text-align: center;">
Oz per year</div>
</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Cost per Year"]" style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"><div style="text-align: center;">
Cost per Year</div>
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<tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Roasted Beans"]" style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"><div style="text-align: left;">
Roasted</div>
</td><td data-sheets-numberformat="[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0",1]" data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,15]" style="font-family: Arial; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;"><div style="text-align: center;">
$15</div>
</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,8]" style="font-family: Arial; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;"><div style="text-align: center;">
8</div>
</td><td data-sheets-formula="=R[0]C[-2]/R[0]C[-1]" data-sheets-numberformat="[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0.00",1]" data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1.875]" style="font-family: Arial; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;"><div style="text-align: center;">
$1.88</div>
</td><td data-sheets-formula="=8*2*12" data-sheets-numberformat="[null,0]" data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,192]" style="font-family: Arial; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;"><div style="text-align: center;">
192</div>
</td><td data-sheets-formula="=R[0]C[-1]*R[0]C[-2]" data-sheets-numberformat="[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0.00",1]" data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,360]" style="font-family: Arial; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;"><div style="text-align: center;">
$360</div>
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<tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Green Beans"]" style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; padding: 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"><div style="text-align: left;">
Green</div>
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$7</div>
</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,16]" style="font-family: Arial; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;"><div style="text-align: center;">
16</div>
</td><td data-sheets-formula="=R[0]C[-2]/R[0]C[-1]" data-sheets-numberformat="[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0.00",1]" data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,0.4375]" style="font-family: Arial; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;"><div style="text-align: center;">
$0.44</div>
</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,192]" style="font-family: Arial; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;"><div style="text-align: center;">
192</div>
</td><td data-sheets-formula="=R[0]C[-1]*R[0]C[-2]" data-sheets-numberformat="[null,4,"\"$\"#,##0.00",1]" data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,84]" style="font-family: Arial; padding: 2px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;"><div style="text-align: center;">
$84</div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Just based on this information, it seems that buying roasted coffee beans is 4.25 times more expensive than buying green beans. However, note that these numbers are not considering utility costs, time, weight reduction and waste due to the learning curve.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Investment cost</b></span></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> There are different types of roasters for coffee: hot air roasters, drum roasters, and stovetop. Although <b>stovetop</b> is the cheapest method and the one where you can make the biggest batches, we are not considering it, since it requires a lot of manual intervention, something I don't have time to do, and I am assuming it is similar to you.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Drum Roaster</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The cheapest <b>drum roaster</b> is $369, and it can roast batches of up to 16oz, which is slightly greater than what I need based on our current consumption. Even with $276 on savings per year on beans, </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">once we include some utility costs and waste, </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I believe it would take two years to justify the investment; t</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">his seems too long to me. Not to mention, what happens if I find that coffee roasting is not for me?</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-erh0nV-2cp4/VsvJB3RVizI/AAAAAAAAC5g/jT8_z9ac8Dg/s1600/FreshRoastSR500_557b503f14755_746xauto-jpg-keep-ratio.jpeg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-erh0nV-2cp4/VsvJB3RVizI/AAAAAAAAC5g/jT8_z9ac8Dg/s200/FreshRoastSR500_557b503f14755_746xauto-jpg-keep-ratio.jpeg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hot Air Roaster</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There are a couple of different types of <b>Hot Air Roasters</b>, and the prices go from $20 to $179. However, the $20 one is really a popcorn popper which makes me doubt it will create a consistently good quality product. On the other hand, the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0034D9ONO/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B0034D9ONO&linkCode=as2&tag=moztro-20&linkId=BJGH6LAJXO4YTSYL" target="_blank">SR500 </a>which costs $179, although similar to the popcorn popper, was created to roast coffee. With this model, in the first year, I could recover the investment, even considering the additional costs and waste.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Here is a nice video about the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0034D9ONO/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B0034D9ONO&linkCode=as2&tag=moztro-20&linkId=BJGH6LAJXO4YTSYL" target="_blank">SR500 </a>in action</span></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/75dOEmAqZAc/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/75dOEmAqZAc?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Conclusion</span></h4>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I believe that the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0034D9ONO/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B0034D9ONO&linkCode=as2&tag=moztro-20&linkId=BJGH6LAJXO4YTSYL" target="_blank">SR500 Hot Air Roaster</a> is the way to go to get introduced into the coffee roasting experience. If you normally finish a 12 oz bag of roasted coffee every two weeks, you could recover your investment in less than a year, and you could potentially save a couple hundred dollars per year after that. It seems it gives you enough consistency on small batches, and even if you decide that coffee roasting is not for you, the investment is not as significant as with other types of roasters.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Do you have any experience roasting coffee? Leave your comments and recommendations</span></div>
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luisgtz2http://www.blogger.com/profile/01667368579237802698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2377599426439812787.post-28362983075466926562016-02-09T16:56:00.000-08:002017-03-26T13:40:34.379-07:005 Coffee Mugs Every Geek Should Have<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The right cup is as important as the coffee you pour on it. For coffee purists, there is one perfect cup for every type of coffee. For the rest of the people, the coffee mug where you drink your coffee is often a display of who you are, of your personality. Unfortunately, most of the time we end up drinking in paper cups or simple plain ones. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Today, we will break up with this, and we are going to check the 5 coolest Coffee mugs you could buy right now. After all, coffee should be fun!! These are the "shut-up and take my money" finalists for the Geekiest Coffee mugs</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">5) The Classic Camera Lens mug</span></h3>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00GONOALC/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00GONOALC&linkCode=as2&tag=moztro-20&linkId=TGCRFHLTFC7ZTUDL" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uxoDVNBxYwc/VrFZPF8Q6JI/AAAAAAAAC10/deIDXc3i1c0/s320/camera_lens_mug2.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"You just ruined a $200 lens!, oh no wait, is that a mug?". </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If you or someone you know is a </span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photography Geek</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, this is a perfect gift. This model has been out there for several years and it has become a classic. A very clever design.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You can find it <a href="https://www.moztro.com/store/" target="_blank">here</a></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">4) The self stirring mug</span></h3>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00NX1O5JK/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00NX1O5JK&linkCode=as2&tag=moztro-20&linkId=O5LE4WQWU5MQIZJU" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-k98ecwUkvxE/V0p-hRbAiDI/AAAAAAAADAA/nOU7j62W4CQdRVRxjK85zixdTHYXVxjDQCLcB/s200/814KVhJ9GGL._SL1500_.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: left;">For all the lovers of swagways, roomba and "easy six packs in seconds" there are good news: The self stirring mug: "just add coffee, cream and sugar, and press one button". However, the best part is that it is self-cleaning! Just add water, soap and press the button. Perfect for the <b>Gadget Geek.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: left;">By using this mug, you would also become eco-friendly since you would save tons of plastic spoons and plastic stirrers... mmmm... wait a second... are batteries eco-friendly? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/paWbGU-pb8c/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/paWbGU-pb8c?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You can find it available in <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00NX1O5JK/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00NX1O5JK&linkCode=as2&tag=moztro-20&linkId=IRY6ISXYYIBCL3PE" target="_blank">Amazon</a></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">3) The Lego mug</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B014VCOVRU/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B014VCOVRU&linkCode=as2&tag=moztro-20&linkId=3A7N6FW6XQ7NRI4V" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-koZjWXBzW4I/VrpuEIguWSI/AAAAAAAAC3g/KMnmGQpgr0s/s200/Lego%2BMug.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"Lets run the financial projections for the next quarter, just let me give a sip on my completely ordinary cup of joe". </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Make every drinking experience unique by creating your own mug every time. Are you an Star Wars fan, do you like Batman or do you want to look at a City on every sip, this is the cup for you. All your Geek friends will be jealous. This could be a perfect gift for the <b>Star Wars Geek</b> or <b>Comic Book Geek</b>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You can get this at <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B014VCOVRU/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B014VCOVRU&linkCode=as2&tag=moztro-20&linkId=3A7N6FW6XQ7NRI4V" target="_blank">Amazon </a>or ThinkGeek</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2) The Floating Coffee mug</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CBUJ5KI/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00CBUJ5KI&linkCode=as2&tag=moztro-20&linkId=SK4FWYVI3VDHR7T2" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0wkEeyKNuYU/VrF6zTZvJ7I/AAAAAAAAC2U/IXVgCVqBZNg/s320/71%252Bzb44wBQL._SL1500_.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I know what you are thinking: "this is not a fun cup", and you are right; however, it is a cool one. It is not colorful, self stirring, or deceiving, BUT the air isolation between the coffee and the outer glass is perfect to maintain the coffee temperature. Besides, its simple and clean design make it perfect for the <b>Chic Geek </b>who always like what is cool and trendy.<b> </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You can get this one on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CBUJ5KI/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00CBUJ5KI&linkCode=as2&tag=moztro-20&linkId=SK4FWYVI3VDHR7T2" target="_blank">Amazon</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1) The Not for the Geek with OCD mug</span></h3>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0015MU8T0/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B0015MU8T0&linkCode=as2&tag=moztro-20&linkId=MBHMUDBAWNGIPYBZ" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2t0dPFr2tzA/Vrp3RkXwwhI/AAAAAAAAC38/ynFv_df0n9E/s400/stacked_mug.jpg" width="315" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This cup (or is it cups?) is (are?) not recommended for the people with OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder). My brain hurts when I look at it and I just want to unstack the cups. It is not natural for cups to be like that, something needs to be done... what were we talking about? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You can find it in <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0015MU8T0/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B0015MU8T0&linkCode=as2&tag=moztro-20&linkId=MBHMUDBAWNGIPYBZ" target="_blank">Amazon</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Bonus) The Hi-Tech mug</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The honor position and the one you should get right now is The Ember Mug, that is assuming you have $144 to spare. It comes with an LED display, bluetooth chip, adjustable temperature dial, and battery; more importantly, it keeps your coffee at the exact temperature you like. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Their video is probably the best coffee mug video I have ever seen. Although, I think it is the only coffee mug video I have seen. As I have mentioned before, coffee should never be drunk from a paper cup. Take a look:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/F_7eua7As0I/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/F_7eua7As0I?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You can order yours at the company's website <a href="http://www.embertech.com/design/" target="_blank">here</a>. Now you know what to give me for an early Christmas present.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Do you agree with the list? Have you seen cooler cups? Add a comment with other cups you think are really cool.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">By the way, you can check the Sacred Order of Geeks on this <a href="http://wildammo.com/2012/05/18/sacred-order-of-geeks-16-most-common-types/#16" target="_blank">website</a>, although they missed one: <b>The Coffee Geek</b></span></div>
luisgtz2http://www.blogger.com/profile/01667368579237802698noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2377599426439812787.post-18679994997773934482016-02-03T18:56:00.001-08:002016-05-30T08:09:15.547-07:004 Great Cafes to visit in the San Francisco South Bay - San Jose, Santa Clara Area<span style="text-align: justify;">These are my top 4 Cafes in the Santa Clara area. Please note that none of them are in San </span>Francisco <span style="text-align: justify;">since all of them are within 8 miles of the Levi's Stadium.</span><br />
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1) Roy's Station</h4>
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<span style="text-align: justify;"> Located 6 miles away from Levi’s Stadium, in </span><span style="text-align: justify;">what used to be a Gas Station in the middle of San Jose’s Japantown. This is my favorite</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Gm6fiqM_Fik/VrK0C5JxaQI/AAAAAAAAC2o/zbzwkzJOwE8/s1600/roys.jpg" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Gm6fiqM_Fik/VrK0C5JxaQI/AAAAAAAAC2o/zbzwkzJOwE8/s320/roys.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: justify;"><b>Why I like it:</b> Its character. You can still see the structure of the gas station, which gives them a unique personality. It was beautifully designed, and it has a nice outdoor seating area (combine that with the great weather in San Jose). </span></div>
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<b>What I don’t Like:</b> If you are driving, you need to bring coins for the meters during the week (and between 9 am o 6 pm).</div>
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<b>Their coffee beans: </b>They serve Verve coffee from Santa Cruz</div>
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197 Jackson St, San Jose, CA 95112 | <a href="http://www.roys-station.com/" target="_blank">Website</a> | <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/roys-station-coffee-and-teas-san-jose" target="_blank">Yelp Reviews</a></div>
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2) Bellano Coffee at San Pedro Square</h4>
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<span style="text-align: justify;">Located in Downtown San Jose </span><span style="text-align: justify;">inside San Pedro Square. </span><span style="text-align: justify;">, 7 miles away from the Levi's Stadium.</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QxHFSltUFBE/VrK16DoNECI/AAAAAAAAC20/KMw05W3sK78/s1600/b2.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QxHFSltUFBE/VrK16DoNECI/AAAAAAAAC20/KMw05W3sK78/s320/b2.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: justify;"><b>Why I like it:</b> Since it is located inside of San Pedro Square, it is the perfect place for grabbing a coffee and then going into some of the other establishments for food, desserts or even drinks. If you park on the structure in front of it, you can validate your parking, and it is free.</span></div>
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<b>What I don’t like:</b> There’s a nice seating area outside, but you will need to walk around 100 feet to get there.</div>
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<b>Their Coffee beans:</b> They used to serve Verve from Santa Cruz, and Slight Glass from San Francisco, but they are now they are roasting their beans</div>
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87 N San Pedro St, San Jose, CA 95110 | <a href="http://www.sanpedrosquaremarket.com/San-Pedro-Square-Market-Tenants/b2-coffee" target="_blank">Website</a> | <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/b2-coffee-san-jose" target="_blank">Yelp Reviews</a></div>
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3) Red Rock Coffee </h4>
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Located in Mountain View Downtown, 7 miles north-west from the Levi’s Stadium. This is a not for profit that has multiple events (music, book reading, etc.) scheduled through the week.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mE7zS71mMf0/VrK4LFQybjI/AAAAAAAAC3E/9Wa-DuDtXV8/s1600/redrock.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mE7zS71mMf0/VrK4LFQybjI/AAAAAAAAC3E/9Wa-DuDtXV8/s320/redrock.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>Why I like it: </b>Being at the heart of Silicon Valley, you will feel energized on this place. You will be able to see bunches of young entrepreneurs discussing their business plans, pitching their ideas, or just focused on their laptop creating the next big thing (or maybe just playing online games). </div>
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<b>What I don’t like:</b> They don’t have outdoor seating, which is a shame. During peak times is hard to get a table. The free wifi (both from them and from Google) makes it a perfect place for people to camp for hours</div>
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<b>Coffee Beans: </b>They use Four Barrel from San Francisco, and they have a single origin bar where they prepare spectacular espressos</div>
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201 Castro St. Mountain View, CA 94041 | <a href="http://www.redrockcoffee.org/" target="_blank">Website</a> | <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/red-rock-coffee-co-mountain-view" target="_blank">Yelp</a></div>
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<br />4) Bellano Coffee, West San Jose</h4>
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Locate in West San Jose, 7 miles away from the Stadium; it belongs to the same group as the one in San Pedro Square</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gpBbAu0nhGc/VrK6Rbfl9hI/AAAAAAAAC3Q/We9g92_3MSI/s1600/bellano.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gpBbAu0nhGc/VrK6Rbfl9hI/AAAAAAAAC3Q/We9g92_3MSI/s320/bellano.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>Why I like it: </b>There is usually a small crowd, and it is easy to find parking and a table indoors or outside. It was a little surprise to find good coffee in this little strip mall.</div>
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<b>What I don’t Like:</b> They need to put more work into their decoration, both inside and outside. Outside they have some tables, but it is not inviting to sit down</div>
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<b>Their coffee beans: </b>They use to carry Slight Glass, but they recently started roasting their beans, but I still miss when they had Slight Glass; however, I think they are getting there.</div>
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3985 Stevens Creek Blvd. Santa Clara, CA 95051 | <a href="http://bellanocoffee.com/" target="_blank">Website</a> | <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/bellano-coffee-santa-clara" target="_blank">Yelp</a></div>
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Please leave a comment to let me know your opinion if you visited any of this places. If there are other great places you discovered, please let me know.</div>
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luisgtz2http://www.blogger.com/profile/01667368579237802698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2377599426439812787.post-64168406109199767782014-08-13T16:59:00.000-07:002014-08-13T17:06:34.466-07:00Latte Art... an ephemeral canvas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-63f3S2uHsSY/U-sdhS0mh1I/AAAAAAAACo8/jeUjfn_DJOY/s1600/Coffee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-63f3S2uHsSY/U-sdhS0mh1I/AAAAAAAACo8/jeUjfn_DJOY/s1600/Coffee.jpg" height="132" width="200" /></a></div>
If you read my <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2377599426439812787#editor/target=post;postID=7788835016139909545;onPublishedMenu=posts;onClosedMenu=posts;postNum=12;src=postname">Japan post</a>, you will know that I was greatly surprised the first time I saw someone drawing figures in coffee. It seemed unreal to me! I was not only intrigued on how he did it, but I also admired the effort of doing such a beautiful design on such a fragile and ephemeral canvas.<br />
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As soon as I got my first espresso machine I started trying to do the same and as some of you know, being half art and half science, it turned out not to be an easy task. I want to share with you the evolution of my designs. More often than not all I got was a white foamy stain, but I was still able to "find" something on them (in some cases with a lot of imagination).<br />
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I added some names to each one of them. I hope you enjoy it<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1. The Halloween Pumpkin</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-45pE0B_-5yw/U-rYD2GlAvI/AAAAAAAACfY/8x0XjjzCap8/s1600/2012-12-07%2B07.44.58.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-45pE0B_-5yw/U-rYD2GlAvI/AAAAAAAACfY/8x0XjjzCap8/s1600/2012-12-07%2B07.44.58.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2. The Foamy (and crappy) Snowman</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">3. The Ying Yang "ish"</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-331O4qZN1K0/U-rYRIo-T4I/AAAAAAAACf4/7sPHuFeogw8/s1600/2013-12-12%2B08.22.30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-331O4qZN1K0/U-rYRIo-T4I/AAAAAAAACf4/7sPHuFeogw8/s1600/2013-12-12%2B08.22.30.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">4. The Carnivorous Plant</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">5. The Back of a seating poodle</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LfR8jvzkUms/U-rYS3FhQ3I/AAAAAAAACgA/ew-P8tgrNKA/s1600/2013-12-14%2B10.20.39.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LfR8jvzkUms/U-rYS3FhQ3I/AAAAAAAACgA/ew-P8tgrNKA/s1600/2013-12-14%2B10.20.39.jpg" height="221" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">6. The Aladdin </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IyTmcxOeUso/U-rYdk-0FiI/AAAAAAAACgY/YdctlhhHSVA/s1600/2013-12-15%2B14.59.08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IyTmcxOeUso/U-rYdk-0FiI/AAAAAAAACgY/YdctlhhHSVA/s1600/2013-12-15%2B14.59.08.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">8. The Boba Fett "ish" (with a lot of imagination)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yDp3BTdA2Jo/U-rYaLpajWI/AAAAAAAACgQ/C9eoC2SV6SA/s1600/2013-12-15%2B15.01.30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yDp3BTdA2Jo/U-rYaLpajWI/AAAAAAAACgQ/C9eoC2SV6SA/s1600/2013-12-15%2B15.01.30.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">7. The Peach</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wYOjf8IRW3o/U-rYhweLMjI/AAAAAAAACgg/5iCUNyUHHx8/s1600/2013-12-16%2B08.37.38.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wYOjf8IRW3o/U-rYhweLMjI/AAAAAAAACgg/5iCUNyUHHx8/s1600/2013-12-16%2B08.37.38.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">9. The Guitar Pick</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JEB1YDvxFQA/U-rYimDf1fI/AAAAAAAACgk/XilKdyjJ3fA/s1600/2013-12-21%2B11.48.30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JEB1YDvxFQA/U-rYimDf1fI/AAAAAAAACgk/XilKdyjJ3fA/s1600/2013-12-21%2B11.48.30.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">10. The Deformed Giant</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-beDvD97i4EA/U-rYlhfOJmI/AAAAAAAACgw/gEUKfmRKQmc/s1600/2013-12-21%2B16.37.59.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-beDvD97i4EA/U-rYlhfOJmI/AAAAAAAACgw/gEUKfmRKQmc/s1600/2013-12-21%2B16.37.59.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">11 The My first heart "ish"</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZntnRalXUEE/U-rYzcdIoII/AAAAAAAAChI/dld3v-T2D8k/s1600/2013-12-24%2B11.17.43.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZntnRalXUEE/U-rYzcdIoII/AAAAAAAAChI/dld3v-T2D8k/s1600/2013-12-24%2B11.17.43.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">11. Sauron's eye</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BiJq5ma6cq4/U-rY9iUGY2I/AAAAAAAAChQ/ljJNe7tW9bI/s1600/2014-01-10%2B08.12.10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BiJq5ma6cq4/U-rY9iUGY2I/AAAAAAAAChQ/ljJNe7tW9bI/s1600/2014-01-10%2B08.12.10.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">12. The Panda</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YTWr8KeYuwQ/U-rZJEuan0I/AAAAAAAACho/TSjGEN4SgNA/s1600/2014-01-14%2B08.14.15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YTWr8KeYuwQ/U-rZJEuan0I/AAAAAAAACho/TSjGEN4SgNA/s1600/2014-01-14%2B08.14.15.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">14. The Polar Bear</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZfWxm3h-vsw/U-rj-jnRttI/AAAAAAAACoQ/nGg-o9aUPqU/s1600/2014-01-11%2B10.41.01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZfWxm3h-vsw/U-rj-jnRttI/AAAAAAAACoQ/nGg-o9aUPqU/s1600/2014-01-11%2B10.41.01.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">13. The Puma</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BVWsBBE8XUQ/U-rZMokP-XI/AAAAAAAAChw/MbKMobmUd-k/s1600/2014-01-16%2B08.29.13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BVWsBBE8XUQ/U-rZMokP-XI/AAAAAAAAChw/MbKMobmUd-k/s1600/2014-01-16%2B08.29.13.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">15. The Dragon</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WWR__zaZ_jg/U-rZbyuna_I/AAAAAAAACiQ/Zqkedb2xj_k/s1600/2014-01-29%2B07.50.48.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WWR__zaZ_jg/U-rZbyuna_I/AAAAAAAACiQ/Zqkedb2xj_k/s1600/2014-01-29%2B07.50.48.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">16. The Dragon 2</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-k3hmPyNpb8A/U-rZVADMpwI/AAAAAAAACiA/UBxUgCzGphY/s1600/2014-01-28%2B08.58.52.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-k3hmPyNpb8A/U-rZVADMpwI/AAAAAAAACiA/UBxUgCzGphY/s1600/2014-01-28%2B08.58.52.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">17. The Beer goggles</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MGZ1oCk6Wb8/U-rZmeqKuhI/AAAAAAAACic/JiTf4HrImMo/s1600/2014-01-30%2B08.30.05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MGZ1oCk6Wb8/U-rZmeqKuhI/AAAAAAAACic/JiTf4HrImMo/s1600/2014-01-30%2B08.30.05.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">18. The Wrestler</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4T81mMkT5DY/U-rZVt_3x6I/AAAAAAAACiI/8Vuxxa3vVkQ/s1600/2014-01-30%2B08.26.08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4T81mMkT5DY/U-rZVt_3x6I/AAAAAAAACiI/8Vuxxa3vVkQ/s1600/2014-01-30%2B08.26.08.jpg" height="200" width="199" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">19. The Guitar</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QytUHknFfVA/U-rZ_mfgFQI/AAAAAAAACjM/s1imeEMa6k4/s1600/2014-02-06%2B08.36.41.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QytUHknFfVA/U-rZ_mfgFQI/AAAAAAAACjM/s1imeEMa6k4/s1600/2014-02-06%2B08.36.41.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">21. The Dentalicious</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_EHvxjQ1C7E/U-rZ0gQUYSI/AAAAAAAACi4/tilR2vHTHmg/s1600/2014-02-03%2B08.49.13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_EHvxjQ1C7E/U-rZ0gQUYSI/AAAAAAAACi4/tilR2vHTHmg/s1600/2014-02-03%2B08.49.13.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">20. The Tree</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0Cno7XEmomg/U-raMNDau3I/AAAAAAAACjw/0cDDBsC5PVQ/s1600/2014-02-09%2B11.33.35.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0Cno7XEmomg/U-raMNDau3I/AAAAAAAACjw/0cDDBsC5PVQ/s1600/2014-02-09%2B11.33.35.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">22. The little girl</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xkXomZWofXM/U-rlFcLCreI/AAAAAAAACoY/hws504ON3uM/s1600/2014-02-09%2B11.33.35%2B-%2BCopy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xkXomZWofXM/U-rlFcLCreI/AAAAAAAACoY/hws504ON3uM/s1600/2014-02-09%2B11.33.35%2B-%2BCopy.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">23. The Alien (or The little girl upside down)</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GGXiN7VOth0/U-raYZ6Z12I/AAAAAAAACj4/OUw_HPZWuSc/s1600/2014-02-09%2B11.37.51.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GGXiN7VOth0/U-raYZ6Z12I/AAAAAAAACj4/OUw_HPZWuSc/s1600/2014-02-09%2B11.37.51.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">24. The Whale</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XSoi0WmvDvo/U-rauUTwa1I/AAAAAAAACk4/cFX6oLklPH8/s1600/2014-02-21%2B15.31.31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XSoi0WmvDvo/U-rauUTwa1I/AAAAAAAACk4/cFX6oLklPH8/s1600/2014-02-21%2B15.31.31.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">25. The "This was supposed to be a rosetta"</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VbDUAY9PjCQ/U-rbD5NOC6I/AAAAAAAAClo/M9FKbCarE2I/s1600/2014-02-28%2B08.51.22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VbDUAY9PjCQ/U-rbD5NOC6I/AAAAAAAAClo/M9FKbCarE2I/s1600/2014-02-28%2B08.51.22.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">26. The fower with heart</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iORmpo8vXsg/U-sbQKOfCJI/AAAAAAAACoo/7RpDYaWf3lk/s1600/2014-02-13%2B08.35.36.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iORmpo8vXsg/U-sbQKOfCJI/AAAAAAAACoo/7RpDYaWf3lk/s1600/2014-02-13%2B08.35.36.jpg" height="200" width="192" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">28. The Naked Man</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2FTRgzEy5OA/U-rbhPt6jSI/AAAAAAAACmQ/zEDInDbCdVA/s1600/2014-03-11%2B18.03.46-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2FTRgzEy5OA/U-rbhPt6jSI/AAAAAAAACmQ/zEDInDbCdVA/s1600/2014-03-11%2B18.03.46-1.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">27. The Puppy<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KeRWipAzuPs/U-scBVRkHCI/AAAAAAAACow/ze4hnBSVCwc/s1600/2014-03-14%2B19.25.01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KeRWipAzuPs/U-scBVRkHCI/AAAAAAAACow/ze4hnBSVCwc/s1600/2014-03-14%2B19.25.01.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">29. My all time favorite: The Wild Flower </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hRLLLG7D0Vk/U-rb-nj5FCI/AAAAAAAACnA/B-ad2IaZIYA/s1600/2014-03-20%2B08.50.58.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hRLLLG7D0Vk/U-rb-nj5FCI/AAAAAAAACnA/B-ad2IaZIYA/s1600/2014-03-20%2B08.50.58.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">31. The Bear</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-StsCtp-19Yg/U-rb4UUTduI/AAAAAAAACmw/9U8nJNLwNOE/s1600/2014-03-16%2B10.00.06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-StsCtp-19Yg/U-rb4UUTduI/AAAAAAAACmw/9U8nJNLwNOE/s1600/2014-03-16%2B10.00.06.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">30. The Chocolate Flower<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tZlB_crVGQM/U-rcGZ-OX6I/AAAAAAAACnQ/epi_vBVieyg/s1600/2014-03-28%2B09.27.20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tZlB_crVGQM/U-rcGZ-OX6I/AAAAAAAACnQ/epi_vBVieyg/s1600/2014-03-28%2B09.27.20.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">32. The "My clever wife's response to my challenge of "drawing a heart on her coffee""</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9RJHvD-hxFo/U-rcCN0NfJI/AAAAAAAACnI/9MRtn6uZE_A/s1600/2014-03-20%2B09.49.45.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9RJHvD-hxFo/U-rcCN0NfJI/AAAAAAAACnI/9MRtn6uZE_A/s1600/2014-03-20%2B09.49.45.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">33. The Wild Flower 2</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-w-4juH6SK28/U-rcVC2aryI/AAAAAAAACnw/7yi_3eW9iEk/s1600/2014-05-26%2B13.59.55.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-w-4juH6SK28/U-rcVC2aryI/AAAAAAAACnw/7yi_3eW9iEk/s1600/2014-05-26%2B13.59.55.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">34. The Ana</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VcF1Nb_y0W4/U-rcO1o_N3I/AAAAAAAACng/i54U8EcLgS8/s1600/2014-03-31%2B19.38.08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VcF1Nb_y0W4/U-rcO1o_N3I/AAAAAAAACng/i54U8EcLgS8/s1600/2014-03-31%2B19.38.08.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">35. The Heart, it is getting there</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ouTHuMNICl0/U-rcUf1fIYI/AAAAAAAACno/IOzplu9plmY/s1600/selfie%2Bcooffee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ouTHuMNICl0/U-rcUf1fIYI/AAAAAAAACno/IOzplu9plmY/s1600/selfie%2Bcooffee.jpg" height="640" width="638" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">36. The Coffee Portrait</td></tr>
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Let me know if you can think on a better name for one of them<br />
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<br />luisgtz2http://www.blogger.com/profile/01667368579237802698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2377599426439812787.post-44899355915098422672014-02-12T09:35:00.000-08:002014-02-12T09:37:50.384-08:00The espresso toolbox Project<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">As an amateur barista, I am proud of my machine and I am also proud of all the accessories that I use to operate it: tamper, single shot, double shot and bottomless portafilters. I love their heavy weight and how they look. I find their shinny chromed parts to beautifully contrast with their plastic black ones.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><b>The dilemma</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">One of the challenges when I started using my machine was to find a good place to store all of the accessories. My wife suggested putting them in one of the kitchen drawers. To be honest, I felt bad when I started storing them in there. I organized them and try to align them, but the next time I opened the drawer they were a mess. I had to move around some things to be able to find what I was looking for. I was also worried that the parts where hitting each other every time I opened and close the drawer. </span></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EXmfGHgXTe0/UsM85I4g4gI/AAAAAAAACPo/RRw6xbIsuv4/s1600/2013-12-15+19.28.41.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EXmfGHgXTe0/UsM85I4g4gI/AAAAAAAACPo/RRw6xbIsuv4/s1600/2013-12-15+19.28.41.jpg" height="400" width="315" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">When I told about my problem to my coffee lover friends, some of them laugh and told me: “at least you have a full drawer for your coffee stuff.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">After a fruitless search online, it seemed obvious that I would have to build my own organizer to store my tools. I wanted something that would not only hold everything on its place, but that it will also serve as a frame to proudly display my tools. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><b>Materials</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">I decided I would make my box out of wood. Everyone can agree that: steel and wood look good together. I wanted to give it an industrial look, something you would find in an old neighborhood brick walled loft. For the interior, I wanted a custom design that would hold each piece on its place, but that would also look elegant and help protect them. I settled for a black, soft material that will not scratch the metal. Finally, I wanted it to be personal. These are my tools, I use them every day to craft something I like. The wood will make it unique, but why stop there? I wanted to include my initials in the box (“LAG”.)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><b>The outcome</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">The final result was exactly what I was looking for. An industrial looking espresso toolbox that keeps everything on its place and that is aesthetically appealing. It was a lot of work, but I think that the result speaks for itself. Here showing the layout for two portafilters</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-akFO4XKFaHg/UsM8iCj8NDI/AAAAAAAACPc/Wje3DekUbxY/s1600/cornerview.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-akFO4XKFaHg/UsM8iCj8NDI/AAAAAAAACPc/Wje3DekUbxY/s1600/cornerview.jpg" height="240" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">espresso toolbox for two portafilters</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-D47J49aJ0Sw/UsM8iSWr8EI/AAAAAAAACPg/4ZujgXxPfPs/s1600/cornerempty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-D47J49aJ0Sw/UsM8iSWr8EI/AAAAAAAACPg/4ZujgXxPfPs/s1600/cornerempty.jpg" height="233" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">What happened next?</b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">We were so very happy with the end product that we created more espresso toolboxes for some of our espresso lover friends and all of them have been very grateful with it.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">Believing that this will be a great addition for all the people who want to proudly store and organize their portafilters we set our mind on being able to offer this as a product available for more people. Starting today, we have them available at eBay (<a href="http://www.ebay.com/itm/171237172617?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649" target="_blank">two portafilters</a> or<a href="http://www.ebay.com/itm/171237171313?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649" target="_blank"> three portafilters</a>) and also at our <a href="http://www.moztro.com/simple-espresso-toolbox/" target="_blank">online store</a>. You can find them with the setup for two or for three portafilters.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">This could be a perfect gift if you have an amateur barista as spouse or friend. We can personalize it with up to three letters when you order it.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">The model displayed fits espresso machines that have a 58 mm tamper or E61 group head, including the following:</span></span></div>
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><b>Rancilio:</b> Silvia, Epoca S1, Epoca ST1</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><b>Quick Mill:</b> Vetrano, Andreja Premium, Anita, Alexia, Silvano</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><b>Izzo:</b> Alex, Alex II and Alex Duetto</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><b>Rocket Espresso:</b> R58 V2, Giotto Premium Plus, Giotto Professional, Giotto Evoluzione,</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><b>Cellini:</b> Premium Plus, Professional, Evoluzione, Classic</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><b>Grimac Royal Falcon:</b> la Valentina</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><b>Expobar:</b> Brewtus II, Brewtus IV, Office Lever, Office Lever Plus, Office Control</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><b>Vibiemme:</b> Double Domobar, Domobar Super, Domovar Junior </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><b>ECM Germany:</b> Technika IV, Barista, </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><b>Bezzera:</b> Mitica, Magica, Unica</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><b>Isomac:</b> Alba, Millennium, Tea</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><b>La Nuova Era:</b> Cuadra</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><b>Famea: </b>Carisma</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><b>Pasquini:</b> Livia G4</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><b>Gaggia: </b>TS</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">among others...</span></li>
</ul>
<h3>
Remeber to visit us at: <a href="http://www.moztro.com/simple-espresso-toolbox/">www.moztro.com</a> to get yours!</h3>
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luisgtz2http://www.blogger.com/profile/01667368579237802698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2377599426439812787.post-91264644695074364152014-02-05T17:39:00.003-08:002016-05-30T08:13:06.412-07:00The "Illy Coffee empty cans" Project<div style="text-align: justify;">
The question that has plagued humanity for decades has finally an answer: What to do with your empty cans of Illy coffee?</div>
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If you are like me, every time you reach the bottom of an <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000VOCQPW/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B000VOCQPW&linkCode=as2&tag=moztro-20&linkId=NYWYFDOCLJIRQBO6%20%20TARGET=%22_blank">Illy coffee can</a> you are left with a challenging decision: Should I throw it away or keep it? On one hand, the cans are so beautiful. Their shiny body and red branding make us believe that a trash can or a recycling center is not the right place where it belongs. On the other hand, we already have 4 or 5 of them stored on our shelves without serving any purpose, and the number continues to grow!</div>
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If you Google: "what to do with empty Illy cans" you will find that several people have asked this same question before and that most of the standard responses do not do justice to their looks. Some of the answers involve recycling, painting or cutting them.</div>
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Some months ago, my wife and I realized that the number of cans at our kitchen was starting to accumulate, and we decided it was time to do something beautiful and useful. From the many ideas, we generated we chosen to go for a pop art (very Andy Warhol-ish) set of containers for our kitchen.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m4JSoJ8a8rY/UvJwNkdbcWI/AAAAAAAACYo/AWH2Jv5x6Pg/s1600/View4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="464" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m4JSoJ8a8rY/UvJwNkdbcWI/AAAAAAAACYo/AWH2Jv5x6Pg/s1600/View4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FBVBEqrA7fM/UvFUzeKgEuI/AAAAAAAACXE/tzzVxrqaOyE/s1600/View1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FBVBEqrA7fM/UvFUzeKgEuI/AAAAAAAACXE/tzzVxrqaOyE/s1600/View1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
These are perfect for storing things such as coffee (duh!), sugar, rice, pepper, and others. Something cool of this design is that the lid and spoon can be temporarily "held" by the can. You will see how this is possible.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9frWhszQgmU/UvFprEWSe-I/AAAAAAAACYY/EuQq4rYXEZw/s1600/2014-02-04+13.38.50.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9frWhszQgmU/UvFprEWSe-I/AAAAAAAACYY/EuQq4rYXEZw/s1600/2014-02-04+13.38.50.jpg" width="223" /></a></div>
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</div>
<h3>
<b>Materials</b></h3>
<div>
<b></b></div>
8 <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000VOCQPW/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B000VOCQPW&linkCode=as2&tag=moztro-20&linkId=NYWYFDOCLJIRQBO6%20%20TARGET=%22_blank" target="_blank">Cans of Illy coffee </a>(The main reason to do this)<br />
1 Metallic board (23"x17")<br />
8 Industrial looking bolts (at least 3in long)<br />
16 Nuts for the bolts above<br />
2 Wall screws (long enough to pass through the board and go at least 1/2" into the wall<br />
8 Strong magnets*<br />
1 Bottle of strong glue (we used <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0001GAYRC/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B0001GAYRC&linkCode=as2&tag=moztro-20&linkId=V6MNHKGHPMGXOS2Q%20TARGET=%22_blank" target="_blank">Gorilla glue</a>)<br />
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* Note on the magnets: we tried several types and sizes, including small ones, magnetic tapes with adhesive, but we found that the ones that work the best were big magnets (1"x2"x1/2") from Home Depot. The stronger the magnet you select the more weight you will be able to put on the cans without they becoming out of balance.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7qfltKYg8NM/UvFYy1R0fAI/AAAAAAAACX0/jG8614y2Q-A/s1600/bolts.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7qfltKYg8NM/UvFYy1R0fAI/AAAAAAAACX0/jG8614y2Q-A/s1600/bolts.jpg" width="177" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bolts</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EOPD5BSNd48/UvFU0eKv_4I/AAAAAAAACXU/yHcqb-ju6_o/s1600/wallscrew.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EOPD5BSNd48/UvFU0eKv_4I/AAAAAAAACXU/yHcqb-ju6_o/s1600/wallscrew.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wall Screws</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-87SMYDdmEfg/UvFUptXA3NI/AAAAAAAACW0/_vTVcC8ZHLE/s1600/MagenitcBoard.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-87SMYDdmEfg/UvFUptXA3NI/AAAAAAAACW0/_vTVcC8ZHLE/s1600/MagenitcBoard.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Magnetic Board </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b></b>
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<h3>
<b><a name='more'></a>Tools</b></h3>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Driller and drill bits</div>
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<h3>
<b>Preparation</b></h3>
</div>
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Once you have all the materials, execution is fairly simple:</div>
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First you need to find a drill bit that will match the size of bolts you acquired. We drill them on the following coordinates in inches, considering that the lower left corner is (0,0) on the magnetic board:</div>
<br />
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify;">(3,1.5) (8.5,1,5) (14.5,1.5) (20,1.5)</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">(3,10.5) (8.5,10.5) (14.5,10.5) (20,10.5)</li>
</ul>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
Second, the bolts are inserted in the holes and a nut should be placed on each side of the board. Thus using two nuts per bolt. The purpose of this is to keep the bolt at a predefined distance and preventing it from moving. The purpose of these bolts is twofold: aesthetics and support: the magnets might not be strong enough to hold a can full of sugar by itself. They need the bolt to provide stability and help the magnets carry the weight.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XuZOQcNDANk/UvFbsI06TBI/AAAAAAAACYA/QU88abSnGTY/s1600/2014-02-04+11.14.30.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XuZOQcNDANk/UvFbsI06TBI/AAAAAAAACYA/QU88abSnGTY/s1600/2014-02-04+11.14.30.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Third, you will need to glue the magnet on the back of each can using the Gorilla Glue as shown in the following picture. It is important that you are consistent on always using the same spot so that your cans look the same and are perfectly aligned.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6Sy03kN5TXs/UvFpdRo1mfI/AAAAAAAACYQ/0H0Mu4sCH8k/s1600/2014-02-04+13.30.33.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6Sy03kN5TXs/UvFpdRo1mfI/AAAAAAAACYQ/0H0Mu4sCH8k/s1600/2014-02-04+13.30.33.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Finally, drill two holes in the upper left and right corners of the board. Then select the place in your kitchen where you will place it and mark the places where the wall screws will go. Drill the holes using the right drill bit for the wall screws.<br />
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Place your board on the wall and secure it with your wall screws The final result should look something like this<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HTduawG3uP8/UvFU0O9h2-I/AAAAAAAACXY/HBbh7hpUkDw/s1600/View2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="284" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HTduawG3uP8/UvFU0O9h2-I/AAAAAAAACXY/HBbh7hpUkDw/s1600/View2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jnKZo4_Sbnk/UvFU0fFOWyI/AAAAAAAACXc/RdmFZa60RRU/s1600/View3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jnKZo4_Sbnk/UvFU0fFOWyI/AAAAAAAACXc/RdmFZa60RRU/s1600/View3.jpg" width="231" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RXt0-NeeJwc/UvFUvrnVPZI/AAAAAAAACW8/9MZC_PaeU14/s1600/Neon+View.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="462" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RXt0-NeeJwc/UvFUvrnVPZI/AAAAAAAACW8/9MZC_PaeU14/s1600/Neon+View.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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For more design ideas, please visit the following blog: <a href="http://annapedrozza.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Cool Design Findings</a><br />
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Leave your comments if you like it<br />
<br />luisgtz2http://www.blogger.com/profile/01667368579237802698noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2377599426439812787.post-53802696202119213062014-01-28T19:17:00.000-08:002014-01-28T19:17:07.012-08:00Quick Guide to clean your Quick Mill Anita<div class="MsoNormal">
Below is a summary of the necessary
cleaning steps for your Quick Mill Anita. I would assume that the same process should
apply to other espresso machines, but I cannot assure it. You should always
follow your manufacturer’s instructions.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WreeyBjsMkY/UsM8goArKOI/AAAAAAAACPQ/J7uTVCyDvo8/s1600/quickmill-anita.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WreeyBjsMkY/UsM8goArKOI/AAAAAAAACPQ/J7uTVCyDvo8/s1600/quickmill-anita.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a></div>
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When I got my new Anita, I downloaded the <a href="http://www.chriscoffee.com/Quickmill-Anita-p/n990.htm" target="_blank">user manual</a> from
Chris’ Coffee, an excellent website with plenty of
information for those who want to learn more and are looking to buy their next
espresso machine. Their manual is very useful, but I needed something more
concise that could summarize the important actions on a single page. I created
the following table to remind me what are the necessary
cleanup steps that I need to follow on a per use, weekly, montly and yearly basis.</div>
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I hope it is useful for you as well</div>
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<b>After every use<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 473.4pt;" valign="top" width="789">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
After preparing espresso dispose the grounds immediately<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 473.4pt;" valign="top" width="789">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Return portafilter to group head and run some water for a few seconds<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 473.4pt;" valign="top" width="789">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Clean with brush, I use the one in this <a href="https://www.blogger.com/2)https://www.chriscoffee.com/Cafelat-Grouphead-Brush-p/cflcb.htm" target="_blank">link </a>which is special for
group heads<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="background: #D9D9D9; border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-background-themeshade: 217; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 473.4pt;" valign="top" width="789">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b>Once per week<o:p></o:p></b></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 473.4pt;" valign="top" width="789">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Clean reservoir with mild detergent<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 473.4pt;" valign="top" width="789">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
After cleaning fill the reservoir with white vinegar to remove
deposit. Let it sit for 1 hr. Then clean and rinse. <o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 473.4pt;" valign="top" width="789">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
If for some reason you notice a vinegar taste or odor after you did
the above, fill with water the reservoir and add baking soda. This should
remove the taste and odor. Clean it normally after this.<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 473.4pt;" valign="top" width="789">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Plain water backflushing (15 seconds)<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="background: #D9D9D9; border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-background-themeshade: 217; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 473.4pt;" valign="top" width="789">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b>Once per month (or every 30-25
espressos)<o:p></o:p></b></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 473.4pt;" valign="top" width="789">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Insert the cleaning brush in warm water with cleaning powder and use
it to clean the group head. Wipe off
with a wet cloth<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 473.4pt;" valign="top" width="789">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Backflushing with espresso machine cleaner: Place 1/4 of a teaspoon
of espresso machine cleaner into the backflush disc in the portafilter and then
lock the portafilter into the grouphead. Repeat the same procedure as above
until the cleaner is dissolved and the water runs clear (about 5-10 flushes) <o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 473.4pt;" valign="top" width="789">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Remove the portafilter from the group and rinse thoroughly<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 473.4pt;" valign="top" width="789">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
With a damp cloth wipe the underside of the group. <o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 473.4pt;" valign="top" width="789">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Pull a shot of espresso and dispose of it<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 473.4pt;" valign="top" width="789">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
In 1 liter of water add 1 teaspoon of machine cleaner. Dip your
portafilters and filters for 30 minutes and rinse them thoroughly after that<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="background: #D9D9D9; border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-background-themeshade: 217; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 473.4pt;" valign="top" width="789">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b>Once per year<o:p></o:p></b></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 473.4pt;" valign="top" width="789">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Group Gasket And Shower Screen Replacement<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
luisgtz2http://www.blogger.com/profile/01667368579237802698noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2377599426439812787.post-2159058652738050632014-01-15T19:06:00.003-08:002014-01-15T19:06:46.968-08:00So you want to upgrade your espresso machine? (part 2)<div class="MsoNormal">
God bless the internet. Not so long ago, when you didn't knew something, you
had to spent days looking for a book or person who could give you some
guidance. Things have changed and now it is easier to connect with people and in most of the cases find general information about something. On my process of upgrading my machine I was fortunate to find blogs and communities that helped me through the process. Many companies also have valuable
resources at their websites that were very helpful. Some of the websites I consulted
were:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ul>
<li><b>Coffeegeek.com: </b>quick and detailed reviews on machines,
grinders and more</li>
<li><b>ChrisCoffee.com:</b> besides selling the machines, they have
plenty of information including manuals and videos that help you through the
process</li>
<li><b>Seattlecoffeegear.com:</b> specifications and helpful videos
showing the machines they have</li>
<li><b>Wholelattelove.com:</b> specifications and helpful videos</li>
</ul>
<h2>
<b>Selecting the Grinder </b></h2>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One of the first things my coffee connoisseur friends told
me, was that the grinder is just as important as the espresso machine, if not
more. With this on mind, I wanted this grinder to be the last one I had to buy during my
lifetime. I was mainly interested on quality components and durability. I didn't
want something with a lot of features that was going to break down in a couple of
years.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
After some initial research on brands that were within my budget, I narrowed it down to two models: Baratza Vario and Mini Mazzer. A very detailed Mini Mazzer review by <b><a href="http://www.coffeegeek.com/members/MarkPrince" target="_blank">Mark Prince</a></b> from
coffeegeek.com made the decision pretty
simple (to see the review <b><a href="http://www.coffeegeek.com/proreviews/detailed/mazzermini" target="_blank">click here</a></b>). This machine seemed to offer the best grinding quality and durability since most of the components are stainless steel. I found very amusing that the first thing I found when I opened the box was a warning indicating it was not intended for household use (too late!)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MmxIoptQaXU/UtMwqYgxIlI/AAAAAAAACSk/knOVLb6E4sw/s1600/2013-11-14+18.55.32.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MmxIoptQaXU/UtMwqYgxIlI/AAAAAAAACSk/knOVLb6E4sw/s320/2013-11-14+18.55.32.jpg" height="320" width="161" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-89eB6nWcpc0/UtMwqE6f_MI/AAAAAAAACSg/AKMKFZtxw40/s1600/2013-11-14+18.16.48.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-89eB6nWcpc0/UtMwqE6f_MI/AAAAAAAACSg/AKMKFZtxw40/s320/2013-11-14+18.16.48.jpg" height="320" width="285" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<h2>
<b>Selecting the Machine</b></h2>
<h3>
<b>Guiding Steps</b></h3>
With the grinder out of the way, the next step was to select the machine. I would recommend the following four steps to those of you
looking to upgrade or a first espresso machine.</div>
<div>
<b style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><b style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></b></b></div>
<b style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
1) Know your budget's max and min.</b><br />
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> How much
are you willing to spend on a machine? With just this decision, you will considerably narrow down your options. The max seems obvious since it is
limited by the amount of money you have, but the minimum could be tricky. In my
case I was constantly challenging myself to explain why I needed to spend that
much. Fortunately, I kept asking myself: if I buy a cheaper machine, am I going to be happy and satisfied with it for the next five years, or are am I going to want to upgrade it as soon as I have it?</span><br />
<div>
<div style="text-indent: -24px;">
<br /></div>
<div>
<b style="text-indent: -0.25in;">2) Decide early on if you are a control freak or a “just push a
button” type of person? </b><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><br />
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">What level
of involvement with your coffee would make you happy day after day. Do you want
your coffee to be ready in three minutes with only the push of one button or do you
want to wait thirty minutes for the machine to warm-up and then ten more minutes grinding, tampering, measuring and pressing? </span><br />
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span>
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">I put together a generic list of the differnet type of machines you will find; it goes in
ascending</span><b style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </b><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">order of </span><b style="text-indent: -0.25in;">degree of control:</b></div>
<div>
<div style="text-indent: -24px;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<b style="text-indent: -0.25in;">-Capsules.</b><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
Nespresso and Dolce Gusto are some of the brands on this category. They sell
their own capsules and with the push of one button you can have coffee ready in less than five minutes. They are offered at very competitive prices, since most of these companies make their profits from the capsules, not on the machines </span><b style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Cons: </b><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> Forget about going to your local café to buy
some beans. You will be captive to buy their brand’s capsules for as long as
you have the machine. Fortunately, they have plenty of options on capsules. Besides adding Amaretto or Baileys to your coffee, I don't think you will be able to get more creative than that.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-D_SOpDryit4/UtMyirXa1pI/AAAAAAAACS0/_PbD1x8RhB4/s1600/65_HERO.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-D_SOpDryit4/UtMyirXa1pI/AAAAAAAACS0/_PbD1x8RhB4/s320/65_HERO.png" height="320" width="227" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Capsules</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b style="text-indent: -0.25in;">-Super
automatic.</b><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> With only pushing one or
two buttons you could get everything from an espresso to a cappuccino. The
machine does all the work and your involvement is minimal; it is probably
reduced to the type of coffee and milk you use and programming a few settings. With this type of machines you are not captive to use only one brand of coffee, and you can select whatever you want. Something important to note, is that most of them come with a grinder; if this is going to be your final choice, most likely you will be able to skip the selecting a grinder step. </span><b style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Cons:</b><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> if for some reason you don’t like the way it prepares the
coffee, you don’t have a lot of options. I would assume that because of all the complex mechanical and electronic actuators and sensors, they will require specialized technicians to repair and that it might not be cheap.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dHn-bffNsys/UtMytljcTGI/AAAAAAAACS8/UxNA4z1d52Y/s1600/Saeco+Royal+super.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dHn-bffNsys/UtMytljcTGI/AAAAAAAACS8/UxNA4z1d52Y/s320/Saeco+Royal+super.png" height="294" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Super Automatic Machine</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b style="text-indent: -0.25in;">- Semi-Automatic. </b><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">A lot of the coffee lovers fall in this
category (including myself). You can control a lot of the aspects
of making coffee: what beans do you use, how coarse do you grind them, how hard
to do you tamper them, how much pressure to use, how long the extraction should
take, what water temperature to use, etc. There is a big range on prices on this category. I like how involved you could get when using a machine on this category and most of the good coffee shops have machines that fall on it. </span><b style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Cons:</b><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> until you master the process and
know your machine, every shot might taste different. You will probably ruin more than a couple of shots during the learning curve. If you normally wake up late in the morning, chances are you will have to leave your house without drinking your coffee since it takes at least thirty minutes to get it at the right temperature. There are so many technical details and differences on this machines that it will become confusing to know which ones are important for you.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xCs9Fif2WZg/UtMzx7CAqRI/AAAAAAAACTI/q2dEPjjYH4g/s1600/mazzorco+red.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xCs9Fif2WZg/UtMzx7CAqRI/AAAAAAAACTI/q2dEPjjYH4g/s320/mazzorco+red.jpg" height="256" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Semi-Automatic</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b style="text-indent: -0.25in;">- Manual: </b><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Do
you want to be in TOTAL control of your coffee? If so, this is the one for you! The semi-automatic machine has pumps and valves that allow coffee extraction at the right pressure. With a manual one, you use your arm strength to provide the necessary pressure to extract coffee. <b>Cons:</b>You need to have a lot of practice in order to be able to extract good coffee consistently. I think it should be really hard to really learn how to apply the same pressure over and over again. In my opinion, there are already too many important variables that you need to control, I would rather let the machine do a little bit more of the work.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-K1V8jqGj-l0/UtM2Tv6BB8I/AAAAAAAACTQ/VFhaDGH194U/s1600/manual.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-K1V8jqGj-l0/UtM2Tv6BB8I/AAAAAAAACTQ/VFhaDGH194U/s320/manual.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Manual</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b style="text-indent: -0.25in;">3) Determine what attributes you want in your machine.</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="text-indent: -24px;">Find a couple of specialized websites that sell espresso machines and apply the criteria from above, this will reduce your options and will let you focus on selecting one that goes with you. Most likely you will need to make trade-offs between the following three characteristics: <b>looks, features </b>and <b>durability.</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="text-indent: -24px;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="text-indent: -24px;">In my case, I decided early on my budget and that I wanted a semi-automatic one. However, on the next phase I went back and forward on my decision several times since I didn't have clear what was more important for me.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b style="text-indent: -24px;"><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b style="text-indent: -24px;">Features. </b><b style="text-indent: -24px;"> </b><span style="text-indent: -24px;">I found the </span><a href="http://www.seattlecoffeegear.com/breville-dual-boiler-espresso-machine-bes900xl" target="_blank">Breville BES900XL Dual Boiler </a>to be very interesting. Not only it was on the low range of my budget, but it looks nice and it has a lot of small details that made it very appealing. It was probably the cheapest dual boiler machine I could find (this is a good thing), has a placeholder for the tamper, programmable extraction temperature, backlit LCD, drop down swivel foot, etc. In my experience if something seems to be to good to be true, normally it is. I believe that Breville is able to have all these great features by sacrificing quality of the components. With this I don't mean they are cheap components that are going to break after a couple of weeks of use. What I mean is that probably they had to use less stainless steel, quality pumps and valves and others in order to make-up for the difference.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iHSAR-AJZ10/UtSoX15HoJI/AAAAAAAACTg/f0DKxwBi8pA/s1600/breville.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iHSAR-AJZ10/UtSoX15HoJI/AAAAAAAACTg/f0DKxwBi8pA/s320/breville.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>Looks. </b>The moment I saw the <a href="http://www.1st-line.com/store/pc/La-Nuova-Era-Cuadra-Commercial-Espresso-Machine-V2-127p4420.htm" target="_blank">La Nuova Era Cuadra</a> I loved it. I like the rounded lines and the colors it has available. It is a very nice looking machine with an E-61 group head. This group head could be consider some type of standard and you can find machines from different manufacturers using the same group head. For this reason, replacement parts or service should be easier to get and probably cheaper. The other option is a proprietary group head, in which case you will need to buy all your replacement parts from the manufacturer.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
A couple of things I didn't like from this machine. That the side panels and the water tray are made of plastic. This is actually what helps them have this rounded and colorful sides that look so cool, but I got a little worried about durability. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-77Z0tJTguGc/UtWAEo-6klI/AAAAAAAACTs/yMXhA-FU5xg/s1600/cuadra.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-77Z0tJTguGc/UtWAEo-6klI/AAAAAAAACTs/yMXhA-FU5xg/s320/cuadra.jpg" height="316" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">La Nuova Era Cuadra</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I really liked this machine. Unfortunately, when I was getting ready to buy it I found out that the distributor in the US (1st-line Equipment) was out of stock and it didn't had a date to have it available. The following is a video I found online of someone operating the machine to pull a shot</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/cs2fUu8QxFQ?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="text-indent: -24px;"><b>Durability.</b> My other first choice was Quick Mill Anita. This is a gorgeous stainless steel machine that was on the high range of my budget. It also had a E-61 group head, but it lacked all the features of Breville and the nice, sexy curves of La Nuova Era. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WreeyBjsMkY/UsM8goArKOI/AAAAAAAACPQ/J7uTVCyDvo8/s1600/quickmill-anita.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WreeyBjsMkY/UsM8goArKOI/AAAAAAAACPQ/J7uTVCyDvo8/s320/quickmill-anita.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Quick Mill Anita</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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However, as you can see from the picture, most of the outside of the machine is stainless steel (including sides and tray), which gives it a great old fashion look, at the same time that ensures durability. I also liked the 4 holes steam wand. Overall I believe that the quality of the components is higher on this machine and for me this was one of the key factors on selecting one.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>4)Select vendor</b>. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Once you narrow it down into one or two machines, select your favorite vendor and check for availability. A recommendation here. Most of the companies I indicated in this article, spend a considerable amount of time uploading resources (articles, descriptions, videos, etc.) that will help you and guide you on your research. When you are ready to pull the trigger, try to buy from one of the companies that helped you through the process. It sounds tempting to go and look for the best price in order to save $10 or $20 dollars, but I think it is important to reward those companies that were helpful educating us, so that they keep adding more resources and doing a good work.</div>
<h2>
<b>And the winner is...</b></h2>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
After all the research done I decided to buy the <b>Quickmill Anita.</b> I could had waited for La Nuova Era Cuadra to become available, but I realized that for me, the slight difference in looks didn't justify using plastic parts instead of stainless steel. I wanted something that could give me the best performance on this category and I think that Anita was the right choice. Like with many other things in life, there is always room for improvement; these are some of the things that would had delighted me if this machine had had them:</div>
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</div>
<ul>
<li>A better tamper, the one that comes with the machine is a cheap plastic one (although from what I read most of the machines come with a similar one)</li>
<li>A circular cleaning brush for the group head. I had to do some research and buy one from Chriscoffee.com</li>
<li>Smaller footprint and height. It can barely fit on my kitchen countertop, with little room for cups on top</li>
<li>A naked portafilter as a bonus (ok, this might be too much to ask)</li>
</ul>
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Here is a picture of my final setup: Mini and Anita side by side.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iVxcmPHUBbg/UtYe72eZPXI/AAAAAAAACT4/AwfUlfoAPS4/s1600/2013-11-19+09.11.32.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iVxcmPHUBbg/UtYe72eZPXI/AAAAAAAACT4/AwfUlfoAPS4/s400/2013-11-19+09.11.32.jpg" height="400" width="298" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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This is a picture of the machine during its first extraction using naked portafilter (not included with the machine) to create a triple shot. </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-t7H9MJaA18E/UtYhJDuwDHI/AAAAAAAACUA/Aussi2ee-EY/s1600/2013-12-15+14.56.16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-t7H9MJaA18E/UtYhJDuwDHI/AAAAAAAACUA/Aussi2ee-EY/s320/2013-12-15+14.56.16.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
I hope all these was helpful for you<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Click <a href="http://baristaamateur.blogspot.com/2014/01/so-you-want-to-upgrade-your-espresso.html" target="_blank">here</a> to read the first part of this blog</div>
</div>
</div>
luisgtz2http://www.blogger.com/profile/01667368579237802698noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2377599426439812787.post-62320439059770217612014-01-09T18:33:00.001-08:002014-01-09T18:41:49.870-08:00So you want to upgrade your espresso machine? (Part 1)<div class="MsoNormal">
It is being said that the two major purchases one does
during a lifetime are a house and a car. I would add a third one: an espresso
machine<b>.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Background<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My first espresso machine changed the way I used to appreciate coffee. It was an entry level one, but for me, an inexperienced barista, it was heaven... while it last. I use to have a Café Roma from Breville. It is
a good machine for an entry level barista. It taught me about espressos and
cappuccinos. It was easy to operate and maintain. In the 5 years I had it, I
never had a problem with it and we pretty much use it on a daily basis. I was
able to prepare shots with plenty of <i>crema</i>
on top and I was also able to froth milk.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nCCFIQVTeUk/Us9XyW4FDuI/AAAAAAAACRY/Z8YD51oSCOA/s1600/Breville_Cafe_Roma.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nCCFIQVTeUk/Us9XyW4FDuI/AAAAAAAACRY/Z8YD51oSCOA/s1600/Breville_Cafe_Roma.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cafe Roma from Breville</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
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</div>
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If everything was so great, what was the problem with this machine you might ask. The main problem was that the more I learnt about coffee the more I realized that there were some things that this machine was just not going to be able to do.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Frothing milk for real lattes.</b> My wife and I tried, and tried, and tried and
then we tried even more to create the perfect milk for a latte. We wanted to
create microfoam to pour it on a shot and have a rich creamy texture. We
watched every video available on YouTube on how to do it, and although we occasionally got very
close, we were never able to get the expected result. However, we realized that it was not totally
our fault; the steam wand and its power were not the
right ones to create the right texture.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Crema</b>. As I mentioned, we were always able to get plenty of crema from our
shots which made us feel very proud. However, years later I learnt that we
always got it, not because of our barista skills, but because we used a
pressurized filter. As the name implies, the design of these filters allows
them to create enough pressure and crema, almost regardless of the grinding,
tampering and coffee beans. While this is a good thing for new baristas, once
you start wanting to learn more and try more variations you find yourself limited.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Perfect Shot.</b> Finally, when we read that a perfect shot should give you 30
ml in 27 second we were shocked. Our machine was getting 30 ml in 8
seconds!. We tried adjusting the grinder to a finer one, but the only thing we
achieved was to clog the machine. With a finer grind, it was unable to allow
the espresso to extract.</div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>When we wanted to
upgrade<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
All of the above made obvious that our espressos needed an upgrade. We
started talking to some of our coffee connoisseur friends and we were shocked when they told us how much they spent on a good grinder and a good
espresso machine. Were they kidding? The prices they indicated seamed
unreasonable: $500 for a grinder and $1000-$2000 for an espresso machines. Our
grinder at that time cost $20. Although we wanted the upgrade, we found
ourselves without enough money to make a good purchase. It was time to put our
dreams of better coffee aside and start saving.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-k5_7NWFc1SQ/Us9X0b9vDJI/AAAAAAAACRk/n0sy8Z3jtLA/s1600/flyaway+coffee.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-k5_7NWFc1SQ/Us9X0b9vDJI/AAAAAAAACRk/n0sy8Z3jtLA/s1600/flyaway+coffee.JPG" height="284" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>When we were
ready to upgrade<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Two years of cashbacks and savings had to pass for us to be
ready for the upgrade. It seemed pretty
straight forward: go online and type: “Best espresso machine” then chose the
one within your budget, right? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Wrong! The search returned tons of options to choose and
even more questions: Do you want a manual, semi-automatic, automatic or super
automatic machine? Do you want it with single boiler, dual boiler or heat
exchanger? E-61 group head or not? What seemed like an easy purchase turned
into a research project.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In addition to the questions above I also had to decide on how long do I wanted to keep the machine? What
was more important quality of components or features? looks or durability? among other things.<br />
<br />
Who
knew upgrading an espresso machine could become so complicated?<br />
<br /></div>
To be continued...luisgtz2http://www.blogger.com/profile/01667368579237802698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2377599426439812787.post-1923164056602683632014-01-02T15:38:00.001-08:002014-01-02T15:38:35.745-08:00North Lake Tahoe<br />
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Snow, ski and a Happy New Year!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For this year’s New Year celebration we rented a cabin in
North Lake Tahoe with some friends. It
was a perfect opportunity to take a couple of days off, ski, hike, play games,
drink, eat, laugh and of course: enjoy some local coffee.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For those of you not familiar with Lake Tahoe, this is a
gorgeous place that is only 3 to 4 hours away from the San Francisco Bay Area.
During winter there are plenty of ski resorts and during summer you can always
do hiking, fishing, biking, etc. It is located in the border of California with
Nevada, so that you could be skiing during the morning and playing black jack
at night.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-T_YklvVcUmk/UsMrYRCIFSI/AAAAAAAACOQ/HDMy1SI2b_c/s1600/Lake+Picture+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-T_YklvVcUmk/UsMrYRCIFSI/AAAAAAAACOQ/HDMy1SI2b_c/s640/Lake+Picture+1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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By the second morning we ran out of the coffee that some of
our friends brought. This was a perfect excuse to explore what were the local options
to buy coffee and enjoy a cup next to the gorgeous lake. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have found that if I use Google or Yelp and type “coffee roaster” or “coffee roasting” it normally list those coffee shops where
they roast their own coffee and where people care more about what they are
brewing. On the other hand, if I only type “coffee” or “ cafe” or “espresso”
then I get a long list of “Cafes” that includes: cafeterias, delis, restaurants
or even pizza places.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Since the cities around here are very small, I wasn't expecting to be able to find anything. I was glad when my quick Yelp search
displayed <a href="http://www.coffeeconnexion.com/" target="_blank">Coffee Connexion Roasters</a>
in Tahoe City, only 15 minutes away from our cabin. We drove there and found it located in a small
mall next to a Safeway. I liked that the place has character. It has a deck
with patio seating where you can appreciate part of the lake. They also have
very ingenious bicycle seats that I haven’t seen in other places.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BVLsk0FSgrA/UsMr0qyvTdI/AAAAAAAACOg/VyC5syO-fg8/s1600/Bicycle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BVLsk0FSgrA/UsMr0qyvTdI/AAAAAAAACOg/VyC5syO-fg8/s320/Bicycle.jpg" width="258" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OPCDgVp9lwI/UsMrwFrdClI/AAAAAAAACOY/YpNB_aS-7cU/s1600/Sign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OPCDgVp9lwI/UsMrwFrdClI/AAAAAAAACOY/YpNB_aS-7cU/s320/Sign.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The ladies behind the counter were very friendly and the
service was very good. We ordered a couple of lattes and it was fun to see that
they were like a negative photograph of a traditional latte. In a regular latte
the milk is what creates the art, in these ones the coffee shot created the
art. This was interesting to see, but the milk was very foamy and I normally prefer
it when the milk is thicker and it blends with the coffee instead of sitting on
top.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_pp_j3zP2Us/UsMsCFdgHxI/AAAAAAAACOo/ydZKBCm-Kto/s1600/Coffee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_pp_j3zP2Us/UsMsCFdgHxI/AAAAAAAACOo/ydZKBCm-Kto/s400/Coffee.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We also bought a bag of coffee for our cabin. They have a
variety of coffee beans on sale that are locally roasted and they offered some
free tastings in order for us to select the one we liked. Something we noticed is the all their beans
had dark roasts. I would have
preferred if they had slightly lighter roasts. Specially, since, after writing
the post about <a href="http://baristaamateur.blogspot.com/2013/12/dark-and-caramelly-roast-not-for-me.html" target="_blank">Dark and Caramelly</a>, I discovered that I prefer medium roasts
instead of very dark ones.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Overall it is a good place to sit down and enjoy a book or
just to seat and contemplate nature. However, in my opinion, there is some room for improvement in their coffee preparation process. As I mentioned, it
was interesting to see the latte art but the milk was very foamy. I would also be
great if they could offer more roasting options.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
The last day, before we started our journey back home, we stopped for a coffee at <a href="http://www.watermanslanding.com/" target="_blank">Waterman's Landing</a>, a small place next to the bay. You can take your coffee outside and sit on a bench with a gorgeous view, but the coffee was not good. The milk was so hot that for a moment it reminded me the McDonald Liebeck v. McDonald's lawsuit. Besides potential tongue burns, the problem of serving the milk that hot is that it gets burnt and ruins the taste of the coffee. This is one of the reasons I normally recommend to drink coffee at specialized coffee places where they don't do something else, i.e. rent kayaks or paddle boards.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Happy New Year!</div>
luisgtz2http://www.blogger.com/profile/01667368579237802698noreply@blogger.com0Tahoe City, CA, USA39.169028999999988 -120.1457980000000139.119777499999991 -120.22647900000001 39.218280499999985 -120.06511700000001tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2377599426439812787.post-4150486703738148412013-12-27T22:12:00.000-08:002013-12-27T22:12:05.156-08:00Four hours in downtown Portland<div class="MsoNormal">
Today I had to do something I promised I will never do.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
During the last couple of years I frequently had to travel
and, by the end of 2012, I reached the "Gold frequent flier" status with United
Airlines. With the status comes a lot of little perks: shorter lines at the
airport check-in, upgrades to economy plus, upgrades to first or business
class, access to the lounges on international flights, etc. In order to keep this status one must keep a
minimum number of miles per year, otherwise by the end of the year you go back
to reality.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s amazing how fast one can get used to good things. This
year when I found myself short 1,000 miles to retain the status, I panicked. I
didn’t want to lose it. What was the solution? Taking a one day trip to
anywhere that was cheap and could give me the necessary miles. I finally became
one of these obsessed frequent fliers that do whatever it takes to collect
miles: last minute flights, unnecessary connections, getting the airline’s
credit card, etc.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, today I woke-up at 3:40AM to go to the airport and take
a flight to Portland, OR. Why Portland? 1,200 miles round trip is the
answer. I faced one important decision:
what should I do once I landed: stay at the airport and sleep or work in one
bench or try to find a couple of good cafes in downtown Portland and write
about it. Obviously the later was more appealing.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Doing some research I found that <a href="http://voodoodoughnut.com/index.php">Voodoo Doughnut</a> is a famous
place in downtown(22 SW 3rd Avenue.) This became my first stop. One of their most famous donuts
has bacon on it, not very appealing to me. I got one of the house specialties,
but I didn't buy my coffee there.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5Qw0oUNyXnE/UriSauKHEiI/AAAAAAAACNI/NymqgK-Z5oA/s1600/2013-12-23+09.19.38.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5Qw0oUNyXnE/UriSauKHEiI/AAAAAAAACNI/NymqgK-Z5oA/s320/2013-12-23+09.19.38.jpg" width="269" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Please don't eat me!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span>
If a place is a good
sandwich place buy sandwiches in there; if a place is a good pizza place buy
pizza in there; but whatever you do, not buy sandwiches at the pizza place.
Same goes for Cafés. Don’t buy a coffee
in a “Café” that makes sandwiches or soups. Most likely you will be disappointed.
Coffee should be bought at places that…well specialize in coffee.<br />
<br />
I took my doughnut with me and went to “<a href="http://www.baristapdx.com/">Barista</a>” a 5
minutes’ walk on the same street(529 SW 3rd Ave Unit 110.) There I had for breakfast the exact combination I wanted.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TI8Vg-DVO0o/UriTJ3c2iCI/AAAAAAAACNQ/9RTXzVPKYno/s1600/2013-12-23+09.34.24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="276" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TI8Vg-DVO0o/UriTJ3c2iCI/AAAAAAAACNQ/9RTXzVPKYno/s400/2013-12-23+09.34.24.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Overall these are the pros and cons from this place:<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Pros</b><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ul>
<li>Baristas are good and the place is nice and clean with a big window to watch people pass by on 3rd street. </li>
</ul>
<b>Cons</b><br />
<ul>
<li>This was probably my fault since I was not specific enough,
but they gave me my coffee on a paper cup</li>
<li>I ordered a double shot latte but overall it felt very mild.
I talked to the barista and he indicated they used Coava Coffee on my espresso,
locally roasted in Portland, OR</li>
<li>They don’t have power outlets to connect your laptop and I
couldn’t find their wifi, which is a shame since I wanted to stay longer to do
some work.</li>
<li>Indoor seating is limited to a bar and stools which is also
bad if you are planning to do some work.</li>
<li>They do not have restrooms</li>
<li>With all of the above, it seems that they don’t want you to
stay for long. This is similar to what one might expect on a café on Italy, but
I believe in the US, where espressos are not the norm, people tend to stay
longer at a café.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
The weather this time of the year (late December) in Portland
seems perfect for coffee: rainy, cloudy and cold. It makes you want to have a
warm cup in your hands while you contemplate the River Willamette.</div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7x5yNRqcs3E/UriULSBjLXI/AAAAAAAACNg/4zIB3NR8iwA/s1600/2013-12-23+10.48.23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7x5yNRqcs3E/UriULSBjLXI/AAAAAAAACNg/4zIB3NR8iwA/s640/2013-12-23+10.48.23.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rV39gi4uEGw/UriULF_FokI/AAAAAAAACNc/Gf04jd8cqVk/s1600/2013-12-23+10.45.17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rV39gi4uEGw/UriULF_FokI/AAAAAAAACNc/Gf04jd8cqVk/s640/2013-12-23+10.45.17.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">After some sightseeing in the rain I made my
second stop: <a href="http://stumptowncoffee.com/">Stumptown </a>coffee.</span></div>
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</div>
<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jBmgq2EKlYI/UriUs79OjxI/AAAAAAAACNs/kV0ZhWjnSMY/s1600/2013-12-23+11.00.59.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jBmgq2EKlYI/UriUs79OjxI/AAAAAAAACNs/kV0ZhWjnSMY/s400/2013-12-23+11.00.59.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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</div>
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A lot more industrial looking than Barista, with more indoor
seating, tattooed baristas and LP records
playing on the background. Definitively a must if you want to sit down and relax.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-063Yzg61718/UriVKIvuoZI/AAAAAAAACN0/71_NqXAkoVM/s1600/2013-12-23+11.15.05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-063Yzg61718/UriVKIvuoZI/AAAAAAAACN0/71_NqXAkoVM/s400/2013-12-23+11.15.05.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>Pros</b></div>
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</div>
<ul>
<li>Good baristas, Wifi, power outlets and plenty of indoor
tables</li>
<li>I slightly like the coffee more than at Baristas. I felt it
slightly stronger.</li>
<li>They have restrooms</li>
</ul>
<b>Cons</b><br />
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</div>
<ul>
<li>Not that I can think about</li>
</ul>
<br />
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Although I only went to two places on this trip, it seems
that Portland has many options in terms of roasting companies and cafes. I definitively
would love to have more time to explore more on another trip. If I had to decide to which one of the two places I visited
this time I would return, I would have to say Stumptown. The overall ambiance of the place is what I enjoy when I go out for coffee. Sometimes, laziness or comfort prevent us from doing what we like. If life gives you the opportunity to do something you love (to travel and drink coffee in my case) don't think it twice and take the opportunity!<br />
<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
luisgtz2http://www.blogger.com/profile/01667368579237802698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2377599426439812787.post-27017952050000989442013-12-18T16:57:00.002-08:002013-12-19T09:16:35.017-08:00Dark and caramelly roast? Not for me<br />
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</div>
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Today my wife and I experienced some unexpected coffee
tasting that showed us how immensely different two different types of coffee
beans can be.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Everything started last Friday when we had a gathering with
some friends at our apartment. Since we ran out of coffee and it was already
late, I did a last minute run to Target to get a bag of Dark Espresso Roast
from Starbucks. That night, we all had a great time but we ended having no
coffee.</div>
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<br /></div>
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The next morning, to help me lessen the slight hangover I
had, I prepared my usual latte with a double shot using the beans I just bought.
When I took the first sip, I noticed a very strong burnt, bitter flavor that I
did not like. I thought that maybe I did something wrong while preparing it.
Did I put too much coffee? Did I press down too much while tampering it? However,
I didn’t pay too much attention to this. On Sunday morning, once again, I
prepared my latte but with only one shot each this time. To my surprise, I noticed
again a strong burnt flavor and by now I was sure it was because of the beans. </div>
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</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PDzyFFr5fIo/Uq_bAyMYREI/AAAAAAAACMI/QdA8lb9ipE0/s1600/2013-12-14+10.20.39.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="220" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PDzyFFr5fIo/Uq_bAyMYREI/AAAAAAAACMI/QdA8lb9ipE0/s320/2013-12-14+10.20.39.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Double shot latte with Starbucks Espresso Dark Roast</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Later that day, I bought a bag of San Francisco’s Sight
Glass coffee and as soon as I got home I gave it a try. As soon as I opened the bag, I knew that
something great was about to happen. When I ground the beans, the whole
apartment was filled with its delicious aroma. With the exact same preparation as before, I
got cup of coffee that I loved and that I would describe as sweet and with
hints of chocolate.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XowubuGpiXg/Uq_bj36IHtI/AAAAAAAACMQ/bNOebWqnqRs/s1600/2013-12-15+15.01.30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="243" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XowubuGpiXg/Uq_bj36IHtI/AAAAAAAACMQ/bNOebWqnqRs/s320/2013-12-15+15.01.30.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Single shot latte with Sight Glass' Espresso Owl's Howl</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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This unexpected tasting where I got to try the two coffee
beans on the same day, using the exact same setting, with the same machine, the
same milk and the same barista (me) made me perceive differences that I was not
able to perceived before. This is a very recommendable experiment. By comparing
the two of them side by side you can clearly identify which side is more appealing
for you.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Overall, there are three things that I would like to
highlight:</div>
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</div>
<ol>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">The importance of freshness. When I ground the
Sight Glass beans the aroma spread through the house in seconds. On the other
hand, when I ground the Starbucks beans the aroma was not as intense; I could only
smell it around the kitchen. I believe this
is related to the freshness of the roasting and one of the reasons that people
recommends that coffee beans should be consumed within the first one or two
weeks after roasted. I know that the Sight Glass beans were roasted 5 days ago
(it says it in the bottom of the bag). The Starbucks beans I have no idea since
there’s no date on the bag.</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">I learn that the smell and flavor of a darker
roast is not something that I appreciate. Although I can perceive some
sweetness, the closer thing I could use to relate the smell is burnt tobacco. There
are obviously a lot of people that enjoy a dark roast. I just learnt that
French Roast, Italian Roast and Spanish Roast are three variations of dark. For
me, it seems that I am inclined to lighter roasts such as City Roast or Full
City Roast. You can click the following link to see pictures on various types
of roasts</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">I think that both companies gave me exactly what
I paid for: Starbucks gave me a more affordable (~$7) bag of very dark coffee beans
that were not recently roasted, but that was convenient to get at my
neighborhood supermarket at 8PM on a Friday night. Sight Glass, on the other
hand, gave me a more expensive (~$16) bag of recently roasted coffee beans that
were not as dark. The difference is that Sight Glass gave me also a great cup that was aligned to my preferences.</span></li>
</ol>
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Here’s a picture of both bags and a sample of their beans. By zooming in we can easily appreciate the difference in roasting: The ones in the left are darker and caramelized as it says in the bag
“DARK ESPRESSO ROAST, Rich and Caramelly”.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zBG4xyFo9c8/Uq_caagSvXI/AAAAAAAACMc/EI0DUechKso/s1600/2013-12-16+00.00.33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zBG4xyFo9c8/Uq_caagSvXI/AAAAAAAACMc/EI0DUechKso/s400/2013-12-16+00.00.33.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OdgFotCYFvM/Uq_cgNmJFjI/AAAAAAAACMk/aOfvMjfGwKg/s1600/zoom-in+beans.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OdgFotCYFvM/Uq_cgNmJFjI/AAAAAAAACMk/aOfvMjfGwKg/s640/zoom-in+beans.bmp" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
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The journey continues...</div>
<br />luisgtz2http://www.blogger.com/profile/01667368579237802698noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2377599426439812787.post-91461306015810533832013-12-14T10:39:00.000-08:002013-12-14T10:39:07.735-08:00What do you want in your coffee?<br />
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A couple of months ago I
watched a great TED Talk with Malcolm
Gladwell’s on “Choice, happiness and spaghetti sauce”(1). He explained that
many focus groups fail to get valuable outcomes, because people don’t know what
they want and then he paraphrased Howard Moskowitz: <i>“The mind knows not what
the tongue wants</i>”</div>
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<br /></div>
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I paid particularly attention when he said that when people
is asked “What do you want in a coffee? Most of the people is going to answer “I
want a dark, rich hearty roast”, but in reality most of the people (~75%) like “milky,
weak coffee”, although they don’t like to say this to others.</div>
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<br /></div>
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This got me thinking on what do I want in my coffee. Which are
those cups of coffee that I remember as being really good and special? If I
have to summarize it in few words I would say milky, strong coffee. I like a coffee that tastes like coffee, but I
love the sweetness that properly steamed milk can provide. Whenever I make
coffee at home I prepare a latte. If we go outside I order the same thing. </div>
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<br /></div>
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I used to talk to one of my coworkers, a fellow coffee aficionado, about the best cafés in the bay area or where you can
get the best beans: “Have you tried Blue Bottle or Four Barrel?”, “Which local cafés roast their own coffee and
sell only small batches”. After watching
the TED talk, I started thinking on what I really like from each ones of these cafés and I came to realize that it is not the coffee bean <i>per se</i>, but the
baristas abilities what I appreciate.</div>
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<br /></div>
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My theory is that by pouring steamed milk into my coffee I
am disguising and changing its flavor, and what I am really distinguishing
between one coffee and another are the barista’s skills.</div>
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<br /></div>
A good café in my book is one where the barista is able to create the right texture on the milk and serves the coffee at
the right temperature with some skilled latte art on it. The place doesn’t need to be fancy. One of my
favorite places in San Francisco is located in what used to be a garage where
you literally seat in the sidewalk ((Blue Bottle kiosk located at 315 Linden St.)<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mpB6POZVgD4/Uqun6c3tP2I/AAAAAAAACKI/A286rtt1-EA/s1600/good+latte.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mpB6POZVgD4/Uqun6c3tP2I/AAAAAAAACKI/A286rtt1-EA/s1600/good+latte.png" width="200" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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On the other hand, a bad café for me is one where the
barista burns the milk and serves an extra hot latte with just a lot of foam on
top or not foam at all (which is often the case in Starbucks). I usually burn my tongue on the first sip and after that it doesn't really matter how it tastes<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LMB2yDOjou4/UquoMTZcDoI/AAAAAAAACKQ/ThA32Nbj1jU/s1600/bad+latte.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LMB2yDOjou4/UquoMTZcDoI/AAAAAAAACKQ/ThA32Nbj1jU/s1600/bad+latte.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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<v:shape alt="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4JDut857Sw8/UPwV0MJ4qeI/AAAAAAAAFuU/EOIoqx_wGMo/s1600/peppermint+hot+chocolate_pouring_km.jpg" id="Picture_x0020_4" o:spid="_x0000_i1025" style="height: 120.6pt; mso-wrap-style: square; visibility: visible; width: 120.6pt;" type="#_x0000_t75">
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</v:imagedata></v:shape>I truly believe that there are people out there who can really
appreciate and differentiate between a espresso that took 25 seconds to extract
and one that took 35 seconds. Or even
people who can detect is the shot was extracted 2 or 3 degrees below the ideal
temperature. However, I am not one of them and I think this might be actually a
good thing, as people say: ignorance is
bliss. The less you know the less picky you get on where you buy your beans, or
how long it takes to do a perfect extraction.<br />
<br />
My recommendation is that <i>in coffee as in wine, the best coffee is the
one you like</i>.</div>
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<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vrwYaEw0YJk/UqumpJNqJ8I/AAAAAAAACJ4/52O7jA6RvnA/s1600/blue_bottle_coffee_sf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="306" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vrwYaEw0YJk/UqumpJNqJ8I/AAAAAAAACJ4/52O7jA6RvnA/s1600/blue_bottle_coffee_sf.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: small; line-height: 20.453125px; text-align: start;">Blue Bottle Coffee Co.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /></div>
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Leave a comment with what do you want in coffee and lets see the results!</div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>Reference</b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->(1)<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span><!--[endif]-->http://www.ted.com/talks/malcolm_gladwell_on_spaghetti_sauce.html</div>
luisgtz2http://www.blogger.com/profile/01667368579237802698noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2377599426439812787.post-42753615175334386222011-12-20T23:04:00.000-08:002011-12-21T08:05:52.061-08:00Cafetière à Piston<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
You are right, I am talking about the famous French Press!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IwwWkbq0WjE/TvGBET_-l8I/AAAAAAAAAu4/jm_OIAvQp2Y/s1600/copper.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IwwWkbq0WjE/TvGBET_-l8I/AAAAAAAAAu4/jm_OIAvQp2Y/s320/copper.gif" width="214" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The first time I saw one of them was at my
girlfriend’s house in Monterrey in 2008. This was the first time I talked to
her dad and he offered me a cup of coffee. He prepared the coffee on one of
these coffee makers and I was intrigued by the little glass and metal artifact in
front of me.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Since I just met him I wanted to leave a good
first impression and I did not ask anything about the coffee maker. However, months later, back in
the bay area, I went for brunch with some friends and when I ordered my coffee they brought me one of this little, shiny things. But I was prepared to
deal with it since I knew what I needed to do...</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Background<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">It is also known as <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Coffee
Plunger </b>and it is a relatively recent design (around1929) and because of the
name I assume it was invented in France (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">cafetière
à piston</i>). It is basically a glass or clear plastic cylinder with a lid and
plunger that has a fine mesh filter which is normally made of metal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The plunger fits tightly in the cylinder,
similar to a syringe, and as one presses down the plunger, the ground coffee is
pushed down, leaving only the brewed coffee on top.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Preparation<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">These are the step by step directions to prepare a cup of
coffee using a French Press:</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1)<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Add about one rounded spoon of coffee for every 6
oz cup you want to make</strong>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 1in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">a.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>You need your grind
to be<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>more coarse than the one you use
on a drip coffee maker and a lot more coarse than the one you would use for an
espresso shot. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The following figure shows the
difference between the one used for a drip coffee maker and the one used for a French
press (Pictures taken from <span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.ineedcoffee.com/">http://www.ineedcoffee.com</a></span>).
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Remember that the plunger has a fine mesh
filter, and it could get clogged if it is too fine. In addition to this, if you
grind it too fine, the more sediment you will find in your coffee when you pour
it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 1in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EAPca2jOtuc/TvGBC0AH4aI/AAAAAAAAAuw/i1MOtobTr8o/s1600/Coarse+grind+for+french+press.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="163" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EAPca2jOtuc/TvGBC0AH4aI/AAAAAAAAAuw/i1MOtobTr8o/s400/Coarse+grind+for+french+press.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><strong>2)</strong><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> <strong>
</strong></span></span></span><strong>Add water that is about to boil.</strong> It is important
here that your water is not boiling when you pour it because it could degrade the
taste of coffee</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 1in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">a.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>It is recommended that the water is between 195
to 200 F degrees, but if you don’t have a thermometer, just monitor your water
and remove from the stove before it starts boiling.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 1in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">b.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Another recommendation is to avoid filling it to
the top since water could spill when you start pressing the plunger.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><strong>3)</strong><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><strong>Slowly stir the coffee </strong>wi</span></span></span></span>th a wooden spoon (to prevent any damage to the glass) and place the lid once you are done stirring.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><strong>4)</strong><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><strong>Let it rest (brew).</strong> For how long? This will
depend on how strong you want it and on the size of your French Press</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 1in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">a.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Some people recommend 4 minutes for larger
presses (12-16 oz or more), <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>for smaller
ones you could get a good result in just 2 minutes. What works for me is
normally between 2 to 3 minutes for small batches (2 cups)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><strong>5)</strong><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>With one hand hold the lid and with the other
one start pressing the plunger at a steady pace. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><strong>6)</strong><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><strong>Pour and enjoy</strong></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">As you can see it is an easy way to prepare great coffee. If
you are very demanding on your coffee it might take you some time to find the combination
of grinding, water temperature and brewing time that works for you, but it is
worth it.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Some people do not like the French Press since it leaves some sediments and also because the longer you leave the coffee in the
press, the more it will brew and it will become bitter (there might be people
that like this!). However, I personally think that it is a great coffee maker. <span style="font-family: inherit;">I would say it is a nice to have in your kitchen; <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>it is a perfect item for a dinner or coffee session at home where you want to have a simple and at the same time elegant way to pour the coffee. Due to its simplicity, you can use it to prepare small and large batches in a very easy way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></div>
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Cost<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I have seen them going from $9.99 all the way to $49.99 USD
depending on the store, size and brand. Considering the price of other types of
coffee makers I believe this is one of the cheapest you could find and there
are many aesthetic designs out there. I would not spent more than 20 USD for a 16 oz one.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">It is funny how after you become familiar with something, you
start seeing it everywhere. Next time you go to a department store look around
and you will see that there are all classes of French Presses: made of metal
and glass with cool designs, plastic ones in all different colors, there are
even some of them that have a dual purpose: French Press and travelling mug</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WQkJgyAg-Oo/TvGCxd9ISbI/AAAAAAAAAvQ/IeX4JfYx4zA/s1600/various+FP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="165" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WQkJgyAg-Oo/TvGCxd9ISbI/AAAAAAAAAvQ/IeX4JfYx4zA/s400/various+FP.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Enjoy…</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">References<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_press/">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_press/</a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.bodum.com/">http://www.bodum.com/</a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.ineedcoffee.com/">http://www.ineedcoffee.com/</a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></div>luisgtz2http://www.blogger.com/profile/01667368579237802698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2377599426439812787.post-77888350161399095452011-12-13T18:35:00.000-08:002011-12-13T18:43:57.842-08:00Japan and my coffee experience<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7z5TqGTJuS8/TugKx4yaWxI/AAAAAAAAAuI/FXfxnywdniE/s1600/Le+Cafe+Doutor+sign.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7z5TqGTJuS8/TugKx4yaWxI/AAAAAAAAAuI/FXfxnywdniE/s1600/Le+Cafe+Doutor+sign.png" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Yes, I know: what does Japan has
to do with coffee? Well, I am going to be honest with you: In Tokyo I enjoyed
one of the bests lattes I have ever had. I know it doesn’t make a lot of sense,
but I think I can find an explanation to this, it has to do with the culture of
doing things right. </span></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Let me tell you the story first, the
name of the place is Le Café Doutor. It is located in Ginza, that is a very
chic avenue in Tokyo (I would assume the equivalent of 5<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> Avenue in
NYC or Masarik for my friends in Mexico). </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">After a day of riding the subway
and visiting some of the typical touristic places in Tokyo (the Toyko Tower,
Buddhist monastery, the fish market auction among others) I went to Ginza since
I heard a lot about it. As soon as I started walking down the street, names
such as Gucci or Apple started showing up; I stepped into some of the stores and
I immediately sensed how all these brands seemed to be more expensive in Yens.
The complete experience is amazing and hard to describe, you are surrounded by
rivers of people coming and going at an incredible fast pace, all of them
wearing the latest trend in fashion and immersed in their mobiles. I was
enjoying just being there and suddenly, I saw it in a corner, the place that
would put the cherry on top: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A chic café,
with big windows and seating outside; it seemed like the perfect place to crash
and enjoy a cup of coffee.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RI_w4KvqaCo/TugKifzYTeI/AAAAAAAAAuA/mW7qW9ax-eQ/s1600/Le+Cafe+Dotour.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RI_w4KvqaCo/TugKifzYTeI/AAAAAAAAAuA/mW7qW9ax-eQ/s400/Le+Cafe+Dotour.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Since I was already drinking lattes in the US, I thought that I would
give it a try, but I wasn’t expecting anything exciting about the coffee; from
all the things I knew Japan was good for, I didn’t know coffee was one of them.
So, there I was asking for a latte, and suddenly something amazing happened…</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">…the guy crafting my coffee was
not your average Starbucks barista; this guy was an artist, he used the milk he
was pouring to draw a leave in my cup (which later I discovered it was called a
Rosetta). This was the first time I saw someone doing something like this. He
was creating art in my cup. Still wondering how was he able to do that I stepped
outside and I was lucky enough to find a seat with a perfect view. At that
moment, out there, far away from home, but with a familiar smell and a warm cup
in my hands I felt in peace and relaxed, it was one of those moments where time
stops around you and you are able to appreciate small details like the wind and
people’s expressions while they stare at their phones. It is amazing what a
good cup of coffee can make!</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The following morning I decided
to test my luck at another café in a much discrete area in Tokyo, and once
again, I was not disappointed, it was delicious too. The taste, smell and looks
of the coffee were perfect. I left that day Japan with a very good impression.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As I told you before I was
surprised to get such a good coffee experience over there, but now that I think
about it I shouldn’t have been that surprised. After all, the milk, beans and
the espresso machine could easily be bought from any place in the World. But
what about the barista’s skills, as far as I could tell he was Japanese, and I
have heard wonders about Italian baristas, but not a lot about Japanese ones,
so how did he acquired those skills?</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">If you have ever heard about
Total Quality Management (TQM), Just in Time (JIT) and other terms to talk
about quality, you know that a lot of them started in Japan. It is not just
about doing things, but doing things in the best possibly way you can. When a
culture is so oriented towards quality and detail in every aspect, you could
easily see how important it should be for any business to pay that much
attention on their raw materials, equipment, and on the training to their
employees. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They already did it with
cars, are coffee shops their next target?</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So now you know, If you are ever
around the Ginza area, and you want a nice place to seat down and watch the
crowd walking through the streets, here is the address: Le Cafe Doutor, Sanai Dream
Center 1, 2F, 5-7-2 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo( </span><a href="http://www.tradina.com/0355378959/map.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">http://www.tradina.com/0355378959/map.html</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">)</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">For those of you that are not
familiar with a Rosetta, here is a link to a video showing it: </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GH0JZKejJdU"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GH0JZKejJdU</span></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Once that I was back home I
discovered that the latte I have been drinking at Starbucks although it is
technically a latte, it is not the kind of latte I wanted. With this experience
I learnt that drinking a cup of coffee could be a delight for the senses:
smell, taste, touch and sight, and now I try to make every cup count…</span></div>luisgtz2http://www.blogger.com/profile/01667368579237802698noreply@blogger.com1Tokyo, Japan35.6894875 139.691706435.2768075 139.0599924 36.1021675 140.32342039999997tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2377599426439812787.post-78986838203931011252011-10-27T21:22:00.000-07:002011-11-01T20:03:20.516-07:00Starbucks and Coffee<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Starbucks and coffee<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It is hard to define Starbucks role in coffee culture since
people has very strong opinions about it: they either love it or hate it</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WZs4wp97t70/TqopQPzRaPI/AAAAAAAAAtk/v7hJ1fB1JJs/s1600/starbucks-logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WZs4wp97t70/TqopQPzRaPI/AAAAAAAAAtk/v7hJ1fB1JJs/s200/starbucks-logo.jpg" width="197" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5UilvjnJzaY/TqopgPZJ6WI/AAAAAAAAAts/-VzXZas44CY/s1600/imagesCA2ABBKA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="195" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5UilvjnJzaY/TqopgPZJ6WI/AAAAAAAAAts/-VzXZas44CY/s200/imagesCA2ABBKA.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">To be honest, nowadays I almost never go to a Starbucks, unless
it is an emergency of course (i.e. I’m at the airport and it is the only coffee place
available).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, I believe that just
like me, a lot of people were introduced by Starbucks to the World lattes,
macchiato, mochas , ice coffees and all the different ways you could enjoy this
beverage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Several books have been written about Starbucks and their
success. More than the coffee, I believe that the Starbucks brand provides and
sells an experience to their consumers. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">People who claim to know about coffee complain about the
mass-production of the beverage and all the flavors and combinations they add,
where you can taste from caramel to ginger and lose every trace of coffee. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> It is always funny to watch the person in front of you to order an "iced decaf tall sugar-free vanilla" (??)</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">My main complain towards Starbucks is because of their baristas. If you
go to a real coffee place each cup seems to be unique, handcrafted by an artist
and in Starbucks you will never see this. I agree that it looks more like an assembly line manufacturing coffee-like drinks in paper cups. You don’t
believe me? Watch the following video and compare what you normally drink at Starbucks
with this one:</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/Rl-8WyA6pzw?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Does it look the same to you?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">However, as I said
before, it was thanks to them that I started drinking other variations of
coffee, and once that I started, I said goodbye to brewed coffee, no more Cafe
Americano for me!</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">For many years I
was happy drinking only Starbucks, until I travelled to Japan…</span></div>
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
</div>luisgtz2http://www.blogger.com/profile/01667368579237802698noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2377599426439812787.post-25185393865100804452011-10-04T18:51:00.000-07:002011-10-04T18:55:41.588-07:00The Journey..<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">...of
discovering coffee </span></b><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-y3ZcKDZsR1E/ToaIS_M3EuI/AAAAAAAAAtU/_aacSF8IvWI/s1600/nescafe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-y3ZcKDZsR1E/ToaIS_M3EuI/AAAAAAAAAtU/_aacSF8IvWI/s1600/nescafe.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
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</o:lock></v:path></v:stroke></span></v:shapetype><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I started drinking coffee in a regular basis probably when I was around
16 years old. At that time I used to think that a good cup of coffee meant hot
water with one teaspoon of instant coffee, sugar and some milk; two teaspoons
if I needed to stay awake through the night (?). Hey! it had
<strong>a better flavor than ground coffee!!!</strong> At least that what they said:</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-w3jZRJBjI5g/ToaIfv4huYI/AAAAAAAAAtY/cXZF0cjC35o/s1600/nescafe2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-w3jZRJBjI5g/ToaIfv4huYI/AAAAAAAAAtY/cXZF0cjC35o/s320/nescafe2.jpg" width="232" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Eventually, my family bought a coffee maker and we started
drinking brewed coffee, and for many many years, that is what I used to drink.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We never had an espresso machine at home, and
now that I think about it, no one I knew had one at that time. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Every now and then, if we went out to celebrate someone’s
birthday, I was able to order a cappuccino; Oh my God, so delightful! They were
mainly reserved for special occasions, and since they were so scarce, I really
enjoyed when I was able to have one. However, for many years it was a mystery
for me what made it so different to the coffee I drank at home; was there
something in the milk? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Was it made with
a different type of coffee, a sweeter one? Do they put a spice on it? Was there a
secret ingredient on it? Why there’s a monkey called Capuchin and how is it
related to coffee?</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Osx0zFfULf8/ToaJWXHcUfI/AAAAAAAAAtc/c76FIlqcLhg/s1600/Monkey.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Osx0zFfULf8/ToaJWXHcUfI/AAAAAAAAAtc/c76FIlqcLhg/s320/Monkey.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is how I look in the mornings before my first cup!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It was until years later, when I got my espresso machine, that
I learnt that a cappuccino starts with an espresso shot and that many factors
contribute to its really flavor: the type of coffee, the roasting, the
grinding, the barista’s skill, etc. There was no secret ingredient after all!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It is important to note that I wouldn’t have bought an espresso machine if it
wasn’t because I was introduced to the world of lattes, macchiato, mochas and
more by a very controversial player in the coffee world: Starbucks! Everything changed after they came to town...</span></div>
luisgtz2http://www.blogger.com/profile/01667368579237802698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2377599426439812787.post-39183428493967129932011-09-27T19:08:00.000-07:002011-09-27T19:17:39.030-07:00Why coffee?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2HGlfxOvM68/ToKAp7NxK2I/AAAAAAAAAss/Cw9GOtWlj6w/s1600/smellmemory.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="193" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2HGlfxOvM68/ToKAp7NxK2I/AAAAAAAAAss/Cw9GOtWlj6w/s320/smellmemory.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Once I read in a scientific magazine that the sense of smell
has a greater influence in the part of our brain where our memories are
located, and therefore a known aroma could easily trigger our memories.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Coffee, with its characteristic aroma, has a
very unique way to bring things to my memory: Those late nights at college
working with friends on a project while some coffee made us company; coffee
also brings me memories of trips and places I have been, I cannot differentiate
or even remember the taste of water or soda from city to city, but I can
precisely tell you what coffee did I drink, how good was it and in which coffee
place I had it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you remember when you
used to go out on a date for a cup of coffee and a movie? I am pretty sure that
you can remember where you went, and I am pretty sure that while having those
long conversations to know each other you have in front of you a steamy cup of coffee.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As you will find out later, I love to travel, and for me
another way to discover a country is through its food. I have discovered that Coffee
is unique from country to country, the beans they use, the barista’s skills,
the method they use and many other factors make each cup unique. And every now
and then, when I am able to get a cup of coffee that resembles the one I tried
somewhere, my mind travels, it is not longer at my home or at a local
restaurant, it is in a plaza San Sebastian, a small restaurant in Bolivia or in
a cold night of a Greek winter savoring for the first time a Coffee made in a briki</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Drinking coffee for me is a relaxing experience that helps
me to enjoy even more a book, a conversation or whatever other activity I am
doing.</span></div>
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luisgtz2http://www.blogger.com/profile/01667368579237802698noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2377599426439812787.post-51029813608402832572011-09-27T18:40:00.000-07:002011-09-27T18:43:43.501-07:00To the Coffee Aficionado that is inside of you<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Let’s admit it, in terms of food, every single one of us has
an aficionado inside, the object of your affection could be wine, beer, cheese,
steak or others; once I met a guy who was a connoisseur about olive oil. Mine happens to
be coffee, and if you are reading this it might be the same for you.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">If you are like me, there are few things that you enjoy more
than a warm cup of coffee first thing in the morning. At the same time, you
probably have a full time job or school and no matter how much you would like
to prepare a cup of coffee like a professional barista, you only have a limited
amount of time to learn about it and also limited resources ($) to buy beans,
coffee makers, grinders, etc. Therefore, your homemade espresso, cappuccino or latte
rarely tastes as good as in a good espresso bar.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">With this blog I am not aiming to teach you anything, I am
far away from being an expert on the topic. What I really want to do is to
share with you my past and present experiences on this fascinating topic. I
also want to read your comments and learn from you. I hope I can do this
enjoyable enough so that you stay with me during the journey.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So lets get started…</span></div>
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luisgtz2http://www.blogger.com/profile/01667368579237802698noreply@blogger.com0