I know bird rock. Very good. I like Steady State in north county. James coffee is really good. I liked it better than bird rock but can’t really lose either way.
It’s great and really opened my eyes to coffees I would not normally buy. It’s perfect because I use the three bags I get from them and pick up something from my local shop to try when out or get some Arcade beans.
our la marzocco espresso machine is the crown jewel. it’s like a $30,000 machine. could be mistaken but it was some sort of requirement in order to sell counter culture coffee. it’s sexy though. we do a lot of pour over and use what’s been posted in here. have a super nice mahlkoning grinder. edit: i’ll snap a picture next time im in but look at this shit
Its a 4 grouphead? So you guys are doing 50+ espresso drinks an hour? That is crazy. Very curious on what espresso grinder you use. That is the real way to tell if a shop cares about the quality or just is for show.
Shop that I drive out of my way to get espresso based drinks has this slayer espresso machine. Thing is beautiful.
I wish I could afford a Decent Espresso machine. Maybe it's time to start saving up to get there next year..
I was looking at the grinder below, but then thought maybe I could get a manual one a little cheaper that does just as good, if not better, job?
That is so weird. Even the shitty wanna be craft places here don't do that. It takes us 8 seconds to grind and tamp, 25 to pull the shot. If you are doing a latte or something then it usually runs about 100 seconds to do the whole thing. Those 8 seconds are literally nothing.
100% this. I have had an Encore for almost three years. It’s great for the price. I’m looking to upgrade but at that price point you can’t beat it.
I'm at the point I won't get Chemex or pour over at any local coffee house, because my technique is better. It irritates me to watch their lazy pours
Yikes. What self respecting "3rd wave" or later shop pre-grinds their coffee?! I had looked at a Mazzer Mini when I bought the Baratza Sette and I had a hard time finding a decent deal on a doserless option. The dosers suck ass if you do 1-3 espressos a day.
This is the grinder I have at home. Its like 2 feet tall and weighs about 45 lbs. Really, just what you need for 2-3 espressos a day. Just wanted to keep the cuntiness ball rolling.
I've seen some of these on my local craigslist or ebay. It's too much machine for home use (assuming this is not the Mini) IMO - just too damn big to fit under cabinets.. It has solid resale value at the very least.
They break all the time and do not hold up to the demands of a high volume cafe. There are 3 brands worth buying. Synesso Nuova Simonelli La Marzoca Anything else is not made well enough to make good coffee and hold up. We have Simonellis in all our shops but probably will be selling them to upgrade to Synessos as they are currently the best on the market. But for grinder there is literally only one option and that is a Mahlkonig Peak. Anything else and you are wasting everyone's time. They cost a fuck ton but they are amazing and we only run those.
Not Mix but I've heard issues around Quality Control and problems with pumps / skimping with cheap parts, etc. For the price you pay, functionally, there are other machines which offer you a lot more bang for your buck. A lot of hype but slayer does allow you to do all sorts of "geeking out" type of shit and experiment with your shots. Slayer shots are essentially superfine grinds with a long ass pre-infusion and letting the brew pressure on once you see some espresso droplets. Then there was some controversy around getting people to delete negative reviews & instagram posts that blew up not a long time ago.
Sounds like typical millennial brand that focuses on new features, marketing, and design but doesn’t quite have the build quality dialed in. That usually takes longer so that makes sense. I just wonder because all of our local Brooklyn shops are either Slayer or La Marzocco. Obviously it makes little difference to me as a consumer but always curious. RT on the Mahlkoenig, my favorite local shop owner swears by it and the thing is also a beautiful piece of hardware.
Anyone here have an espresso machine at home? I've got a crappy Breville that makes OK shots but looking to upgrade over the next year. I'm yet to figure out an upgrade budget but the more I read about Decent Espresso, the more I feel I should save up to getting one. The worry ofcourse is the amount of electronics involved vs. a reliable, mechanical espresso machine that'll last more than a decade.
I have the Infuser and it's slightly inferior to BDB in terms of pulling shots. The 54mm portafilter's just a pain in the ass to deal with and it lacks consistency. I had a gaggia in the past and it was crapshoot as well. Rather than spend 1200 on a BDB, I figured I might as well save a little more and go for the next thing up, esp. if I can find something used. I've had the infuser for 3+ years and it's somewhat about that time when a Breville appliance craps out.
It's hard to swing a lever espresso machine at home. Profitec's a solid company and Profitec 300 remains on my wishlist - I am not sure I have the patience for HX machines which need an hour to warm up before being able to pull a shot. ECM's another solid option.
What are your go-to roasters? Any recs on some good stuff you guys have had lately (outside of coffee collective)?
I’m going to run by the onyx shop on the way home and get some more beans as I ground up and used the last of my supply up this morning.
Boston. I usually buy a local-ish bag a month (mostly George Howell or snowy owl, a small roasted on cape cod) and get some through Trade. Just ordered a bag of PTs flying monkey blend today.