MarkPrince Moderator Joined: 19 Dec 2001 Posts: 4,700 Location: Vancouver Expertise: Professional
Espresso: Frankenstein'ed LM Linea Grinder: Anfim Super Caimano Vac Pot: 1922 Silex Drip: Krups Moka Brew Roaster: Hottop
Posted Mon Oct 15, 2007, 11:58pm Subject: What would you like to see in the new CoffeeGeek?
Hey folks. Very simple question, hoping for some detailed answers.
If CoffeeGeek were to be completely redesigned, from the ground up, what new features would you like to see on the website. I'm looking for anything you have in mind, but also, if you have hyperlinks showing examples of what you'd like to see (ie, another website covering something completely different from coffee is doing it), please share.
Tell us what you'd like to see in how articles are presented and laid out (including any new features you'd like to see within the article's template design)
Tell us how we can improve the consumer reviews section
Tell us how we can improve or make better the pro reviews section (yes, I know - write more of them - that's a given).
Tell us how you'd like to see the Resources section revamped, what you'd like to see there.
Tell us what we're missing from the website
Tell us what you'd like to see for the forums (include links to examples if you have them)
Tell us how you'd like site membership to be improved
Tell us how you'd like to see site navigation and structure improved
Tell us what you'd like to see on the front page, and how we could improve that
I'm hoping for a lot of quick feedback on this one!
harrymanback Senior Member Joined: 15 May 2007 Posts: 129 Location: morro bay, ca Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: expobar brewtus ii Grinder: la cimbali md6, baratza... Drip: nah...bodum press(es) Roaster: modded wear•ever popcorn...
Posted Tue Oct 16, 2007, 5:03am Subject: Re: What would you like to see in the new CoffeeGeek?
what i'd really like to see: head to heads in prosumer reviews. that is, pulling shots on a few dual boiler machines (or heat exchangers, grinders, tamper base geometries, etc...comparing like machines/tools) and comparing shot quality, steaming, temperature stability, pressure adjustments, and overall build.
Posted Tue Oct 16, 2007, 5:54am Subject: Re: What would you like to see in the new CoffeeGeek?
I am seconding the request for a PM system. It could separate unrelated or otherwise off-topic arguments into a one-on-one domain. It's a difficult decision because on one hand, sometimes I have some questions that are really directed towards one person, on the other hand, sometimes answers to such questions would be best shared with the public/valid thread. A PM system might keep threads more in order as long as they were used. This might be a burden to the moderators who would have to sometimes remind folks to "keep that stuff in a PM" or something to that effect. hmmm...but Coffeegeeks seem to be the most polite or classy out of any fourm that I have been a member of/browser of...maybe the public nature of it is a contributing factor to this.
_________/\|_/\|\|_|>__________| http://www.flickr.com/photos/olph4rt/ | + | It takes an average of 42 beans to make a shot. Douglas Adams wrote in the Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy, that 42 is the meaning of life...coincidence?
CoffeeRoastersClub Senior Member Joined: 6 Jul 2005 Posts: 2,166 Location: Vernon Expertise: Professional
Espresso: Vintage La Pavoni Lever... Grinder: KitchenAid Pro Line Burr... Vac Pot: Vintage Silex Drip: Aeropress, French Press Roaster: "EL SUPREMO" w/QuikSPIN-CRC...
Posted Tue Oct 16, 2007, 6:15am Subject: Re: What would you like to see in the new CoffeeGeek?
MarkPrince Said:
Hey folks. Very simple question, hoping for some detailed answers.
Maybe a cupping forum. It appears that many here on the board are interested in it, and it could be something of an attraction for them and new members.
Lips Senior Member Joined: 9 Mar 2006 Posts: 47 Location: Philadelphia Expertise: Professional
Espresso: Linea Grinder: Mazzer Major Drip: Fetco, French Press,... Roaster: Ambex LM-15
Posted Tue Oct 16, 2007, 7:43am Subject: Re: What would you like to see in the new CoffeeGeek?
A roasting forum, home and/or commerical would be helpful. I think the pro roasters could really help out the home-roasters and vice versa of course. I guarantee there are some home roasters out there doing some pretty experimental stuff that we, commercial roasters could learn from.
This may be too political but I would really like to see cafe reviews done by coffee pros. Maybe "cafe profiles" would be less controversial.
Posted Tue Oct 16, 2007, 8:40am Subject: Re: What would you like to see in the new CoffeeGeek?
Consumer reviews: a few new specific categories. Why are roasters not a separate category? Or maybe make it easier to find sub-categories. When I wanted to review my Bialetti moka pot, it was hard to find the right place to review it.
Pro reviews section: I see a lot of previews, but not many in-depth reviews. Previews don't help much since they have a lot of "gee-whiz new toy" feel to them. I understand that the in-depth reviews take more effort and time, and I'm grateful for that... but the most current detailed review is July 2005 (Jura Capresso S9)? Maybe you can enlist the help of many long-term coffee geeks who have shown their ability to write and perform detailed reviews so that you have an army at your disposal. Provide them with equipment, even if only temporarily, for review purposes. Or encourage them to explore and buy their own.
Resources: links to common questions that get asked on the forums all the time, like "how to buy an espresso machine" or "how to buy a grinder"... but wait, that's in the Guides and How-tos section. Maybe you should combine the two? The resources page doesn't have much to make it distinctive other than the FAQ. The news is already on the front page.
Guides and How-tos: how about more info on home roasting? Resources for green coffee? There is a forum, and it is helpful, but the website is espresso-based first and doesn't really focus on non-espresso brewing/drinking. Almost all detailed reviews, and most of the first looks, are for espresso machines and grinders and accessories. There are plenty of people in the forums who are non-espresso, but the espresso forum is first. And there's no "all guides" or "all tips and tricks" link like there is for reviews and first looks. (Maybe there aren't enough?)
Navigation: how about an auto-login? I have to type my username/password each time. I'd like an option to automate that.
Disclaimer: these are really off the top of my head. Please don't take offense if I've missed the mark on some of them. Perhaps I haven't realized the availability of some link or the utility of some feature. I'll take any correction you can provide.
Posted Tue Oct 16, 2007, 9:45am Subject: Re: What would you like to see in the new CoffeeGeek?
I would like to see a consumer review section for different coffees much like the equipment reviews, probably not as detailed. This way, there would be a lot more locally available blends, etc. that people would write little reviews of . You would probably want to include in the review: 1) # of years person has brewed espresso, 2)equipment type, 3)roast date if known, and 4)comments section and maybe 1 or 2 rating scales. A professional barista might give a better review, but if you came across a coffee with 50 reviews from various people that gave it a high rating, that says something. Quite a few people on CG have good palates.
Also would like to see way more professional level reviews of equipment with head to head tests. There are clearly a lot of competent CGer's quite qualified to review machines who would be happy to play with new machines. Mark, you clearly can't do them all. Also, the head to head tests (a la Car and Driver) would be very helpful to many. It's disappointing to see a real review twice a year with several previews which aren't really reviews. You should aim for at least one machine review a month, I would think.
Finally, even though I don't partake myself, there seems to be a growing number of people interested in superauto's who frequently write in for advice. It probably wouldn't go amiss to review superautos more often since, ultimately, many of these people do like good coffee and will eventually further the specialty coffee market in the US (and probably will find their way to a real machine/grinder at some point). Michael
Posted Tue Oct 16, 2007, 10:04am Subject: Re: What would you like to see in the new CoffeeGeek?
CoffeeRoastersClub Said:
Mark,
Maybe a cupping forum. It appears that many here on the board are interested in it, and it could be something of an attraction for them and new members.
I highly agree with a cupping forum. I'm pretty sure there are many Coffeegeekers out there like myself that haven't cupped before, and maybe even for the same reason that our palates just aren't mature enough that cupping seems a little intimidating. Personally, I love the taste of coffee and enjoy tasting the myriad of single origins out there but I just can't describe what I'm tasting. I think a forum containing tips on how to develop the palate would be great since what I've read all through these forums there are many people with the expertise.
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