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malachi

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Posts posted by malachi

  1. Pre-infusion on the multi-group machines will only pre-infuse on one group at a time. In other words, if a shot is pulling on one group and you start another, the second will not pre-infuse. As a result, few who use the machine bother with pre-infusion (including Schomer's folks at Vivace).

    The Synesso was worlds ahead of the FB70 and Linea machines.

    The new Marzoccos (the new semi-auto GB5 and the just-announced Marzocco Mistral) are on par.

  2. Exceptional machines.

    Great to work on.

    Some issues with the pre-infusion model on multi-group machines.

    Otherwise, pretty damn perfect.

    Basically, one of the top three options for a commercial machine (Synesso Cyncra, Marzocco Mistral, Marzocco GB5).

  3. The Brewtus in not an HX machine but rather a dual boiler machine.

    On the Brewtus a PID would be an upgrade though, with the E61 group, it would perhaps be less significant than you'd think. Would be different with a saturated group.

    Replicating the Scace Thermofilter at all, much less for under $100, is pretty much impossible. Creating a device that measures brew temp with some sort of accuracy... that's possible. But the Scace is a very different animal.

  4. Wow, $ 4500 for a one group La Marz.  I wonder if I could actually taste the difference between something made on that machine vs. my Pasquini Livia.  Given that I already have a Rocky grinder and home-roast my own espresso, I wonder if a machine upgrade to that level of cost would really make a discernable difference in the end product.

    Honestly... for almost all baristas (home or pro) the best bang for the buck is training. There are very few baristas who are truly limited by their espresso machine.

  5. PIDs are (IMHO) over-rated and over-hyped as a generalized solution to all problems espresso.

    Adding a PID controller to a cheap machine is rarely a ideal solution and adding a PID to a HX machine makes little sense to be honest. A far better solution for temp management on an HX machine would be a real-time, accurate digital display of grouphead brew temp.

    As for the "ultimate" home machine - by early next year we'll finally have two contenders. The first is the 110v Synesso single group. The latter is the soon-to-be-release La Marzocco home machine. Either would be a "last machine I'll ever own" option.

    This is, sadly, not true of the machines listed here - all of which have significant weaknesses.

    Finally, the E61 group is nice but is also over-hyped as a solution.

  6. The demand for next year is extraordinary but it is impossible for us at this moment to attend reservations for 2006 because the management for 2005 is taking us all the time. Normally we will start at the end of this season, on mid October. You can send your request at that time.

    We thank you for your interest.

    Atentamente,

    Luis García

  7. Not Harrison!

    Seriously. I'd probably suggest just about anywhere else.

    The usual list looks something like:

    Higgins, Hurleys, clarklewis, Gotham, Apizza Scholls, Pho Van (on 82nd), Ken's, Wildwood (though honestly I was not impressed), Paley's Place (again, honestly I was not impressed), Castagna, Ken's Place, Bewon, Low BBQ, Pix (for desert), Horse Brass (for beer), Stumptown (for coffee), Fife, Wong's King, Alba Osteria, Carafe, Karam.

  8. It's a stereotype.

    Just like "restaurant people are alcoholics" would be a stereotype.

    Or, more to the point, "restaurants have crap coffee". Know what I mean?

    That's super cool about the Esmerelda.

    Are you selling much of it?

    I wish more folks had a chance to taste that coffee. It's incredible.

    I'm really glad you're selling it this way - I hope your customers appreciate the gift.

  9. ... having the overly Tattooed guy give you a smile in the morning not a grunt when they go into your shop to get their first cup of the day, not just putting their change on the counter actually putting it in your hand and look you in the eye and say thank you and have a nice day.

    If you want people from the coffee world to respect what you are doing and stop stereotyping your product, I'd suggest showing a little of the same in response.

    ... Oh yeah that single origin estate type coffee, Esmeralda Special – Panama It comes from Hacienda La Esmeralda in the Boquete region of Panama.

    Wow!

    Do you mind if I ask how much you charge for the Esmerelda?

    I think you might be the only place I've heard of that is selling the Esmerelda brewed.

  10. Sell me on why I should pass by 4-5 other sources of espresso product between the office and Eastern Market to visit Murky.

    This is one of those "it's hard to explain, you have to experience it" kind of things. In the coffee world, there is as big a gap between a place like Murky and their perceived competitors as there is between those competitors and the free coffee at a car dealer.

    The vast, and I mean vast, percentage of Americans have literally never tasted what folks in the specialty coffee world are talking about when they talk about "great" coffee.

    So it's really hard to explain why you should skip the convenient and familiar and go to someplace that coffee freaks go on and on about as being special or different or just plain better.

    I'll put it this way...

    If I were in DC and Murky was closed I'd either drive to Timonium for my coffee or just skip it altogether - 'cause the rest of the stuff served as coffee just isn't.

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