Posted Wed Apr 4, 2012, 12:55pm Subject: Noob wants to get 90% of the way to great espresso
OK,
I have read miles and miles of posts about my machine (Breville Dual Boiler) and espresso making in general. I know there are 37 different factors which need to be in perfect harmony to achieve the perfect shot. But I'm a n00b. I'm not shooting for perfect this week, just a decent espresso.
So here's my question: What are the *biggest* things? Which factors are the ones you have to nail to get 90% of the way there?
I've got another 60 years or so to get to perfect, but I'd like to get to decent before May arrives.
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 Wed Apr 4, 2012, 1:24pm Subject: Re: Noob wants to get 90% of the way to great espresso
Given fresh beans, great grinder (all the people say amen) Get a scale weigh your dose and your extraction. Read this First and then this Second
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.
I can do that, although it goes against my tendencies. I tend to measure as little as possible when cooking, relying on what "feels right". Perhaps I will need to channel some of my brother's OCD for this.
I've got the Breville Smart Grinder, which I understand is not the best, but has many supporters who say it is great. I'm hoping that it will work for me.
I realize now that I'm in a fresh coffee bean wasteland. I'm going to place my first order at Counter Culture today. I initially got a 2.2 lb bag of Lavazza beans, because at the time I didn't know what to get. I've tossed so many shots trying to get things right, so maybe that's OK?
Symbols: = New Posts since your last visit = No New Posts since last visit = Newest post
Forum Rules: No profanity, illegal acts or personal attacks will be tolerated in these discussion boards. No commercial posting of any nature will be tolerated; only private sales by private individuals, in the "Buy and Sell" forum. No cross posting allowed - do not post your topic to more than one forum, nor repost a topic to the same forum. Who Can Read The Forum? Anyone can read posts in these discussion boards. Who Can Post New Topics? Any registered CoffeeGeek member can post new topics. Who Can Post Replies? Any registered CoffeeGeek member can post replies. Can Photos be posted? Anyone can post photos in their new topics or replies. Who can change or delete posts? Any CoffeeGeek member can edit their own posts. Only moderators can delete posts. Probationary Period: If you are a new signup for CoffeeGeek, you cannot promote, endorse, criticise or otherwise post an unsolicited endorsement for any company, product or service in your first five postings.
= No New Posts since last visit 