BillyJack Senior Member Joined: 2 Jun 2003 Posts: 52 Location: Chicago Expertise: Just starting
Espresso: Saeco Gran Crema/NP... Grinder: Gaggia MM
Posted Fri Aug 22, 2003, 5:55pm Subject: LaCimbali Dolcevita S/100-Tasted Shot From Machine
Today, I was driving by a strip mall and saw a sign advertising espresso and popcorn.
I decided to enter this shop in order to find out which brand of espresso machine they were using. I scoped out a fully automatic LaCimbali Dolcevita S/100.
I thought that I'd give the espresso a try and ordered a double. They were using LaVazza beans. How old were the beans? The "barista" didn't know. I also asked as to how many ounces of espresso were pulled in a double. The "barista" didn't know.
I received my double and estimated that about three ounces of espresso was poured into my cup. The espresso had zero crema and tasted like an average cup of semi-strong coffee one would purchase at a Dunkin Donuts.
Was I disappointed? No. I expected as much. The "barista" did mention that she makes ristrettos for a few Italians who visit from time to time. I was impressed that she even knew the term, ristretto.
The LaCimbali Dolcevita S/100 is an impressive looking machine. I don't think that it's being used to its full potential. I like to try a two ounce double with freshly roasted beans pulled on this beast.
I experienced this episode after I visited a Starbucks and had a cup of their "coffee of the day". Damn, after drinking my own 1-1.5 ounce doubles, it seems that every commercial establishment I visit is serving me coffee flavored water. I'm ruined!
I'm writing this review while I'm drinking a cup of decaf espresso made from freshly roasted beans purchased from Caracolillo Coffee Mills. The taste is fruity and somewhat acidic. I pulled a one ounce double which was topped with about a quarter inch of rich, dark caramel looking crema. Not a bad flavor, but my preference is the bold chocolaty flavor of Intelligentsia's Black Cat blend. I guess that once you're possessed by the cat, you can never go back.
jim_schulman Senior Member Joined: 19 Dec 2001 Posts: 3,772 Location: Chicago Expertise: I live coffee
Posted Fri Aug 22, 2003, 6:42pm Subject: Re: LaCimbali Dolcevita S/100-Tasted Shot From Machine
It's a nicer looking machine on the inside, with a big brass boiler and brewgroup. I had shots from several Italian commercial superautos at the SCAA convention, where they are set up and fed for people who know what espresso tastes like. Properly adjusted they do an OK job, approximately at the level of my old Solis SL70 or a Gaggia home machine, but they cannot equal a properly pulled shot on a commercial machine, even at their best.
If a godshot is a 10, the best you could hope for is about an 8 to 8 1/2.
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