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Home  Articles Recent Articles Tools of the trade - basic accessories
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Tools of the trade - basic accessories |
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Written by glenn
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The grinder has been bought. The espresso machine has been purchased. Time to get started - right?
Not so fast young fella!
Before you start flipping switches and turning knobs you need
accessories.
Here are some basic things you will need:
1. a tamper - it has to be a Reg Barber tamper of course! Do remember
to toss out that black, sorry looking piece of plastic that came with
your machine.
2. pitcher(s) - you want the Dave Schomer style, 20 ounce capacity,
slightly cone shaped with a large needle-nose spout. (for you straight
espresso drinkers who are sneering at this very
moment - please remember that your friends, relatives, colleagues,
acquaintances are eventually going to ask you for a latte.) And, for those of you that have removed your turbofrother or other frothing aid, a smaller 10 or 12 ounce pitcher works quite nicely with these short wand machines.
3. shot glass(es) - these are not just for showing off your Guinness
style pour. You need these to calibrate your shot. In other words; are
you pulling a
true double or just a lazy ristretto?
4. milk frothing thermometer - how hot is hot? Forget the sub $10
inaccurate el-cheapo types - get a GOOD one. You want 155F to 160F.
Start with a Taylor thermometer maybe...
5. cloths - there is nothing like endearing yourself to your
significant other when you are caught using great-grandma's prized
linens to wipe down your showerscreen. Keep the peace in the family by
purchasing inexpensive(ideally, coffee coloured) dish cloths and dish
towels just for you. Don't let anybody else use them.
6. cutting board - while we are on the topic, how are you going to
explain all of the dents in the Corian? Save your countertops and
possibly your life by acquiring a small cutting board - wood or plastic
will do. Cutting board? OK for you beginners out there, you place your
portafilter on the cutting board before you tamp down with all your
might...
7. blind filterbasket or rubber backflushing disk - buy this ONLY if
you have a solenoid equipped machine. See article on this site. Loads
of fun - addictive.
8. grinder brush - keep the chute clean
9. can't think of anything else at the moment...yes! an appliance timer. Run, don't walk. Get one now.
10. just thought of something else- you need a short screwdriver to unscrew
the showerscreen. Do not attempt this on E61 machines...
Glenn
S. is a senior financial consultant with a successful firm in Southern
Ontario. He works and lives in Waterloo and is the most prolific member
of CoffeeCrew.Com.
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Subject: Re:Silvia or Europiccola? - by: germanicus
Well, I'm the proud owner of a Silvia + Rocky + Reg Barber tamper. From the moment I handled the machines I didn't regret not buying a La Pavoni. This Silvia is a serious piece of equipment. Every mor...
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Subject: Re:Poll results discussion - by: colin
Our winner: Derek Lucas! Take a bow brother.
Runner up by a length - Dave Crothall of The Black Stilt...
Two dudes whose energy, if harnessed, could power a small town for a year.
These are ver...
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Subject: Re:Poll results discussion - by: derek
So many on-lookers people lurking and never making a comment... I guess I've been one of them.
Well I tought it was about time to make a comment... As I've stated to Colin, I felt the poll did a fe...
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Subject: Re:Poll results discussion - by: dave_c
I think the poll has some value at least in the sense of which cafes have a strong report with their regulars as well as an awareness of the poll going on. Obviously, the cafes near the top of the po...
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Subject: Re:Murky Coffee vs. the General Public - by: colin
Right on, right on.
You are a wiser man than I DanTheMan - I should have spotted that...
That said, I am a reformed dork-stick after all......
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Subject: Re:Murky Coffee vs. the General Public - by: dantheman5
Hi, I have been lurking here for a little while, funnily enough, something like this is what finally gets me registered and responding.
I just feel that the whole encounter would have been somewhat...
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Subject: Murky Coffee vs. the General Public - by: colin
The story is sold as funny. Dude walks into Coffee in Washington D.C. and orders an iced espresso knowing full well they do not do iced coffee. Words are exchange. A is published. BoingBoing.net pic...
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Subject: Re:Buying replacement portafilter - by: Jfdup
I think I'm just going to order a metal spout to put on it (possibly a fancy single one). It's relatively cheap but the shipping charges are absolutely crazy....
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Subject: Re:Victoria: Caffe Fantastico experience - by: colin
obvious wrote:
I tried Discovery last week --very nicely decorated, but a bit too much 'tude from staff and beans I bought weren't great, not bad, just not great.
-Pete
Yea. They either...
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Subject: Re:Buying replacement portafilter - by: colin
Better idea - buy a solid steel Gaggia one.
The Rancilio might not fit the group....
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