Coffeenoobie Senior Member Joined: 11 Dec 2011 Posts: 2,323 Location: PNW Expertise: I like coffee
Espresso: N S Oscar Grinder: Vario W
Posted Fri Mar 2, 2012, 6:02pm Subject: The strangest thing you use in espresso prep. (and bread)
I could not find a dissecting probe for a WDT stirrer so I use a stainless steel poultry lacer. For leveling off the portafilter I use a strange wooden handled cheese knife with a cuved blade that sat in the junk drawer not getting used since I got it as a wedding gift in 1902. I will post an image if anyone cares to see it. And 2 used yogurt cups.
Coffeenoobie
Buying advice: GRINDER GRINDER GRINDER. Don't cheap out on the grinder. My coffee treasure map... Click Here (maps.google.com)
Posted Sat Mar 3, 2012, 4:58am Subject: Re: The strangest thing you use in espresso prep.
To make a WDT tool - take a wooden chopstick and a sewing needle. Put a drop of super glue on the point of the needle and the push the needle into the end of the chopstick. Now you have the rounded end of the needle exposed so you don't scratch your filter basket when doing the WDT.
If the idea of superglue bothers you, just push the needle into the chopstick (pair of pliers helps)
jwoodyu Senior Member Joined: 31 Dec 2010 Posts: 704 Location: Michigan Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Allex Duetto II Grinder: Mazzer Major Roaster: Poppery
Posted Sat Mar 3, 2012, 8:19am Subject: Re: The strangest thing you use in espresso prep.
Oh this is a toss up. 1.) WDT made from the stick with a Mickey Mouse head one end a paper clip ground down to pretty fine on the other. The stick actually came from rock candy purchased at Disney World 2.) My waste basket on the coffee bar is an empty Folgers 5 lbs can.
You know those people that want to tell you how to raise your kids but have none of their own? That is how i feel when someone with a kitchen appliance tells me how the merits or dis-merits of my machine or how to use it.
Posted Sat Mar 3, 2012, 9:08am Subject: Re: The strangest thing you use in espresso prep.
I use the end of my coffee scooper to do the WDT, then I. use a plastic cup with the bottom cup out for. a dosing cone, i'm also in the process.of making a tamping stand out of some 2 in channel iron.
Posted Sat Mar 3, 2012, 9:31am Subject: Re: The strangest thing you use in espresso prep.
The strangest thing I use is an ice-cream scoop for dosing the grounds. After grinding coffee (I use a Macap now) into a basket, I compress an ice-cream scoop against the walls of the basket to pack the grounds tightly into the scoop. Then use a dull blade with a straight edge to remove excess grounds from the scoop. Then turn the scoop over and gently tap the grounds, now in the shape of a dome, into the portafilter. Just tamp the grounds flat. Very repeatable method of dosing ground beans, and no spilled grounds to worry about. Notice the dent I hammered into the scoop. That is how I vary the volume. I have several scoops and that is how can dose different amounts. The bad thing of this method is that it doses by volume and not by weight, which is an issue since different coffee beans have different density. But it's just me at home and it works well to dose grounds.
That's cool! I like the result; looks like it was dosed with an M3.
AndyPanda Said:
To make a WDT tool - take a wooden chopstick and a sewing needle. Put a drop of super glue on the point of the needle and the push the needle into the end of the chopstick. Now you have the rounded end of the needle exposed so you don't scratch your filter basket when doing the WDT.
If the idea of superglue bothers you, just push the needle into the chopstick (pair of pliers helps)
calblacksmith Moderator Joined: 25 Nov 2007 Posts: 5,685 Location: Riverside, Ca, U.S.A. Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: ECM Veneziano A1 Grinder: Many different commercial Vac Pot: 40s era Silex Drip: Milita, Bunn&Curtis... Roaster: Cast iron pan, gas burner
Posted Mon Mar 5, 2012, 8:19am Subject: Re: The strangest thing you use in espresso prep.
Wow, I don't think I will get more than 50 years while married but you did GREAT!
I don't use anything really strange. A plastic chopstick to move the coffee and level the dose, NO WDT, tamp with the Presspoint tamper then brush the PF clean with a 1" paint brush.
In real life, my name is Wayne P.
Feed the newbs, starve the trolls and above all enjoy what you drink!
Coffeenoobie Senior Member Joined: 11 Dec 2011 Posts: 2,323 Location: PNW Expertise: I like coffee
Espresso: N S Oscar Grinder: Vario W
Posted Mon Mar 5, 2012, 12:58pm Subject: Re: The strangest thing you use in espresso prep.
Of topic: Calblacksmith, I want your recipe for french bread so write me off board.
I was kidding about the the wedding, we were married in 1999 but it seems like 1902 some days... Anyway, we will not make 50 years because we got married too late. (first marriages for both, we are just picky and I had oats that needed sowing) We might get to 40 years of marriage if we are lucky.
On Topic: Thanks for the photos and ideas. I expect there are a lot of people using wacky things in espresso making! I like the mickey mouse head stick. It is good to use mementos like that so they are not just getting dusty and you can look at them and remember the vacation. The ice cream scoop is pretty neat idea.
I had a nice time at Noble Coffee in Ashland Or this weekend. Nice people, serious about their coffee and it was good. I can't dial in what I brought home but the new grinder should fix that so I popped it in the freezer.
Coffeenoobie
Buying advice: GRINDER GRINDER GRINDER. Don't cheap out on the grinder. My coffee treasure map... Click Here (maps.google.com)
calblacksmith Moderator Joined: 25 Nov 2007 Posts: 5,685 Location: Riverside, Ca, U.S.A. Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: ECM Veneziano A1 Grinder: Many different commercial Vac Pot: 40s era Silex Drip: Milita, Bunn&Curtis... Roaster: Cast iron pan, gas burner
Posted Mon Mar 5, 2012, 3:14pm Subject: Re: The strangest thing you use in espresso prep.
UH, OK, it has been a long time since I mentioned that I baked but ... sure.
Flour, water, salt, yeast. Use the right amount of each and you are good to go! LOL
OK, I have it in my bakery text book. I will need to look it up but the above is true and for all TRUE french bread, that is all there is in it... by French law!
In real life, my name is Wayne P.
Feed the newbs, starve the trolls and above all enjoy what you drink!
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