Posted Mon Sep 8, 2003, 8:13pm Subject: Re: Am I Wierd (Rhetorical Question)
SilentBob Said:
this morning I made myself an actual "double" (which is quite a pain in the #$%, since my rig doesn't have onea them fancy "3-way solenoid valves"), and it tasted pretty darned close to the café variety.
I used to have a Solis SL90. IME, it's not so much that making a "double" is a pain (since you're most likely using a double filter basket anyway) as it is making multiple shots that can be a pain (double-doubles? triple-doubles?). Without a 3 way solenoid valve, the pressure is not released on the puck when brewing stops. So you have to let the pressure release normally before removing the portafilter or else you'll have "puck explosion" where all the grinds get scattered all over the machine, counter, etc.
ljguitar Senior Member Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 2,450 Location: Cheyenne Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Expobar Pulsar Grinder: Mazzer Super Jolly, Solis Drip: Bunn Roaster: iRoast2
Posted Tue Sep 9, 2003, 7:14am Subject: Re: Am I Wierd (Rhetorical Question)
RoxieL Said:
...Without a 3 way solenoid valve, the pressure is not released on the puck when brewing stops. So you have to let the pressure release normally before removing the portafilter or else you'll have "puck explosion" where all the grinds get scattered all over the machine, counter, etc.
Hi Roxiel... In haste to get that 4th shot pulled, I sneezed coffee grounds all over a friend's kitchen one night with my LaPavoni. The predominant color of the kitchen was white. Everything in the kitchen --- counters, sinks, appliances and cupboards --- all white.
Oh well...at least it was easy to spot what needed cleaning.
Confusius say...Man without 3 way solenoid who in hurry, really in hurry to clean up messes before hostess return to kitchen!
Posted Tue Sep 9, 2003, 8:38am Subject: Re: Am I Wierd (Rhetorical Question)
I show up and watch a couple of drinks prepped before I order. I've given up on lattes and usually order cappuccino's because you can't taste the coffee at most places. And more often than not, I still get a stinking latte with no coffee flavor. Lately I've started to get macchiato's which usually turns out to be the cappuccino that I really wanted in the first place.
ROFL!!! Yeah, I hate to say I've done that more than once, myself. And the weird thing is, I almost always knew it was going to happen, but I did it anyway. In the words of Billy Crystal, "I hate when that happens."
Ah, well, a week and a half ago, the new Expobar Office Control arrived. DH (apparently) signed for it. I had gone to take some trash out & couldn't get out the entry way, due to "the big box". Later, DH asked, "did you bring in 'the big box'?" Didn't get a chance to unpack it for a day, so it was constantly referred to as "the big box." Point is, it's been SO NICE to not have to worry about exploding grinds!!!!
SilentBob Senior Member Joined: 29 Jan 2003 Posts: 136 Location: Bremerton, WA Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Isomac Tea Grinder: Cunill Tranquilo Vac Pot: Cory Electric Auto Drip: Manual pour-over Roaster: Whirley-Pop
Posted Tue Sep 9, 2003, 1:05pm Subject: Re: Am I Wierd (Rhetorical Question)
strugs, they answered your question for me...
I haven't spewed coffee grounds all over the kitchen (yet). If I'm pulling consecutive shots, like if my whole family of four wants a drink ALL AT THE SAME TIME, or I want a double double, I have to very slowly relieve the pressure in the portafilter, and it still spews grounds and water all over my machine.
It's amazing how messy this "hobby/obsession" can be, and even more amazing how clean I keep my coffee counter - it's usually the cleanest part of our kitchen.
Posted Tue Sep 9, 2003, 1:43pm Subject: Re: Am I Wierd (Rhetorical Question)
Lattesstink Said:
I show up and watch a couple of drinks prepped before I order. I've given up on lattes and usually order cappuccino's because you can't taste the coffee at most places. And more often than not, I still get a stinking latte with no coffee flavor. Lately I've started to get macchiato's which usually turns out to be the cappuccino that I really wanted in the first place.
I try to see how they're pouring (i.e. does the milk pour well and does it look like microfoam) and then check on how many shots come in what drink sizes. Most places here in the east put a single shot in the small cappas and lattes and a double in all the bigger sizes, thus the milk to espresso ratio varies. At many of the less than serious places in the northwest and elsewhere (e.g. drive-up stands), a single shot is standard in all sizes.... even 20 oz lattes! I geenrally try for either a doubkle shot latte in an 8 oz cup or a quad shot in a 16 oz cup. That yields a 3 to 1 milk to espresso ratio. properly foamed milk and a good sweet espresso shot works beautifully at this level although in most places I end up adding some turbinado sugar to mask the bitterness. On occasion I also find the drink to be weak due to underextraction.
At this point I've grown to accept that a good latte or cappa is truly the exception rather than the rule when I'm dining out or in a cafe.
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