I'm new here...

admin

Welcome; this is the place to tell us a little about yourself... and even if you're not new, it would be great to have a bit of an update [especially for some of those recently migrated members]!

A

Koffee_Kosmo

My story is an open book I live in Brisbane with my family I have a passion for coffee I designed & made the Koffee Kosmo coffee roaster and made it available as a kit I have also helped countless people to build there own roaster personally or with free plans I like a no nonsense type of approach to life and everything I like all types of music except rap I like reading books, mostly who done it and terror I like Rugby Union and Motor Sports I like cars & bikes and funnily enough I enjoy polishing them to a mirror shine  Not much more to add, as I am a simple man with simple needs Regards Koffee Kosmo 

WotB

Sheesh AM, how am I supposed to follow that? Born Yank, Grew up in Portland, Oregon of all places. Finished High School and spent a year in Phoenix, Arizona learning about electronics. Dreamt of going to Uni, folks couldn't afford to send me, so off I went to serve my country! Spent 5 years in the US Army as a Tactical Satellite Communications Technician.  Spent 3 x 6 month tours of duty in Saudi Arabia ('94-'96).  At least I got money for Uni... Did a few odd jobs, mostly electronic assembly work, modifying LCD displays. Somewhere in there, met the love of my life, playing on a MUD (multi-user dungeon; text-based role-playing game online) of all places.  Who needs e-harmony? Talked my future missus into coming to Portland to study.  Lived together 1.5 years while she did her Master's. She graduated right in the middle of a minor recession.  No jobs locally, so she thought about moving back to Oz.  Needed a Visa to join her.  Best way was to get married...Go figure.  She left to work for her former boss back in Oz less than a month after we were married.  I had to wait 4 months for my Visa. Came to Australia in January 2001.  Before coming over, I had enrolled in a BTech at Macquarie University, thanks go to the US Government for paying my tuition. Finished first year of Uni.  Discovered IT wasn't my cup of tea (horrible at pure maths).  Switched degrees to a Bsc majoring in Atmospheric Science.  I could substitute maths for statistics (much better at maths application).  Finished my Bachelor's in 2004. Not too many jobs in my chosen field at the time, outside of acadaemia.  Had to make a choice on what to do.  Started an apprenticeship in Commercial Cookery. It was around this time that the coffee bug had taken hold.  I'd already secured a decent HX machine (at that time), and a Mazzer mini doser.  Started dabbling in roasting. Been cooking ever since.  Been roasting ever since. I now have to forge my future today, when I can no longer endure life in the kitchen.

askthecoffeeguy

shit bro's you guys is like hard core! me, I've been making coffee since I was 14 - so that's 30yrs to you newbies! started off working in my uncle's cafe in Plimmers Steps, in Wellington, NZ, before crossing the ditch in '85 landed in Sydney where I ran a printing press for a while (well... I operated one briefly anyway and worked as an on-foot courier for a print company) decamped to the gold coast where I: sold time share worked as a sideshow bob at grundies built catamarans for sharkcat international managed a youth hostel for a year in nerang rd, southport started my own tourism operation called 'bullshit tours' where myself and another kiwi would take japanese tourists on tours of nimbin / byron etc and make up interesting facts about the landscape / local environment etc along the way... moved to melbourne to join the circus spent four years studying drama, two at university and two at st martins youth art centre in south yarra spent five years working at hyatt hotels as everything from bar manager to silver service waiter, to butler service - I still spit on the ground every time I walk past a hyatt hotel... honourary and founding member of the australian hospitality review panel which set the national guidelines for competency based training twice served on the executive committee of the victorian chapter of the australian sommeliers association spent five years working at what was then the best italian restaurant in the country (marchetti's latin - lonsdale st, melbourne) - the last two as beverage manager / sommelier manager segafredo zanetti espresso in hardware lane for two years whilst simultaneously writing a monthly wine column for Melbourne Palate been contributing to crema magazing and coffee forum for longer than I can remember! worked in an operational capacity for salvatore malatesta from st ali fame for three years trouble shooting and managing outlets, as well as being buyer and sommelier for the group, streamlining supply chains and  kicking butt owned my own cafes for the last ten years, the latest of which is foxy brown espresso in south crescent, northcote - which is trading to critical acclaim and has been named in melbournes top 100 coffee destinations in the 2011 hardback editions of the melbourne coffee guide, and the melbourne coffee review - trading now for 15 months! consulting to industry and just recently got back from helping top set a retail coffee outlet in byron moving house every second week and father to two girls currently aged five and two - and married to my beautiful wife and cafe widow, nemone, for five years! Cheers, and welcome to the forum! Pat aka

Lacehim

Hello... I see loads of names I know here... Well I moved here 10 years+ ago from the UK to live with my wife. I went to Uni, and graduated as a Building Surveyor.  I should have got a trade but got pushed to go to uni.  Never worked in the industry mainly because by the second year of uni I realised that I would then have to study a further 2+ years to actually get qualified and get a decent salary.  So, I worked for the oil companies instead!!!  Left to move here and got a job with a grocery wholesaler out bush.  Then kids born, they had dramas so we moved to the Sunny Coast.  After 3 years as a stay home Dad I'm starting to go slightly stir crazy.  I've just started a small business making switch adapted mice, toys and equipment for families and special needs centres, and I'm learning how to make apps for the iPad which my kids use alot. I'm always up for a social gathering, anything to talk to adults, and if it relates to coffee that's great too. I'm a newbie to real coffee really.  I decided about 18 months ago to starting making coffee at home because the kids always played up at cafes.  Read too much on CS, CG & HB, and ended up with a Lucy from ebay to avoid the Sunbeams.  I got her undercontrol with help from AM, and training from Tim Adams.  I was always interested in how it all works and decided to take on a project, so I spent about 6 months rebuilding a San Marino CK that I sourced off AM.  Then a few months ago, I discovered levers... wow.  I had to have one.  I nearly bought a project off ebay but in the end bought a PV Lusso 2 group.  The lever is a work in progress, it's needs new seals already because PV had a bad batch.  Only had it a few months.  The San Marino is now for sale.  Great machine but I'm secretly hoping to find another project. I also have a KKTO for roasting and I've been trying to roast on my woodfired oven (WFO) too. Lacehim

Dizzy

Okay, my turn now, since I just followed Bliss here! Hi, my name is Di and I'm a coffeeholic...  Very boring compared to all of you fellas:- - In my early 40's - Live in Brisbane at the moment - Husband in the Defence Force, hence while it's 'at the moment' - Grew up in the north of Western Australia: didn't know coffee existed other than in instant form when growing up.  Mind you, I also didn't know that milk came in anything but frozen cardboard cartons until I was about 16 also! - Currently work with Defence as a civillian - Have worked in HR roles, mainly specialising in Learning & Development Management for the last 12 years or so.  Lost the love of it about 10 years ago but found it a real struggle to move away from L&D because it was so speclialised, so it didn't matter what position you applied for, everyone wanted to put you back into L&D to sort out their Training Systems.  :-\  Fortunately managed to finally get out of the field 6 months ago...yay! - Am a keen Tap Dancer. working my way towards teacher status, but mainly do it for the love of rhythm and the ability to make lots of noise!  Also keeps me reasonably fit, but that's just a sideline bonus. - Two kidlets: 9 year old Emily and 5 year old William - available for rent if anyone wants to try before you buy... (just joking!) - LOVE coffee (of course) - LOVE my Nuova Simonelli Musica and Macap M5 Grinder - Roast my own beans, when I'm too broke to buy pre-roasted. I just can't seem to find a bean I really like at the moment, and I'm not good enough at blending to really get a satisfactory cup so end up tending to buy from the experts. That's about it! I already know most of you anyway from the other Forum, so looking forward to joining you on here also. Cheers Di

Dry_bean.

on 1303291111:

Okay, my turn now, since I just followed Bliss here! Hi, my name is Di and I'm a coffeeholic...  Very boring compared to all of you fellas:- - In my early 40's - Live in Brisbane at the moment - Husband in the Defence Force, hence while it's 'at the moment' - Grew up in the north of Western Australia: didn't know coffee existed other than in instant form when growing up.  Mind you, I also didn't know that milk came in anything but frozen cardboard cartons until I was about 16 also! - Currently work with Defence as a civillian - Have worked in HR roles, mainly specialising in Learning & Development Management for the last 12 years or so.  Lost the love of it about 10 years ago but found it a real struggle to move away from L&D because it was so speclialised, so it didn't matter what position you applied for, everyone wanted to put you back into L&D to sort out their Training Systems.  :-\  Fortunately managed to finally get out of the field 6 months ago...yay! - Am a keen Tap Dancer. working my way towards teacher status, but mainly do it for the love of rhythm and the ability to make lots of noise!  Also keeps me reasonably fit, but that's just a sideline bonus. - Two kidlets: 9 year old Emily and 5 year old William - available for rent if anyone wants to try before you buy... (just joking!) - LOVE coffee (of course) - LOVE my Nuova Simonelli Musica and Macap M5 Grinder - Roast my own beans, when I'm too broke to buy pre-roasted. I just can't seem to find a bean I really like at the moment, and I'm not good enough at blending to really get a satisfactory cup so end up tending to buy from the experts. That's about it! I already know most of you anyway from the other Forum, so looking forward to joining you on here also. Cheers Di

Hi Dizzy/Di, welcome to Crema forum, hoping to hear lots mote from you. ;D

Vinitasse

My turn now... Hi everyone! The name is Bruce aka Vinitasse aka coffee_wino on CS Just a bit of background... born in Canada and raised as the son of a career diplomat. Spent my formative years in Canada, the US, Austria, Egypt, Poland and France. After graduating from highschool in Paris returned to Canada to attend uni. It took me a while to figure out what I wanted to be when I grew up and I ended up with a B.Comm and a dual B.A. Hons in Int'l Relations and Economics. In my attempt to prove that post secondary education doesn't mean as much as it should I ended up joining the army as a combat arms officer in the artillery. Did 6 years and ended up as a peacekeeper in Sarajevo. Discovered that I was sick and tired of green clothes and lack of sleep and retired at the ripe old age of 27 as a Captain. Jumped ship to the wine industry (had much more fun and red stained clothes are much nicer than green ones). Spent 10 years working for Vincor International and was sent to Asia for 3.5 years as their regional manager and brand ambassador. Got an MBA along the way. Had entirely too much fun in Asia and lost wife 1.0    ... met someone new and followed her to Australia in 2000... been here ever since. Upgraded to wife 2.0 five years ago. Have lived and worked in Brisbane, the Gold Coast, the Hunter Valley, Melbourne and the Mornington Peninsula. Been a wine maker, Sommelier, fine dining restaurant manager and micro coffee roastery owner (current occupation). Have worked for Pearl in Richmond, Palazzo Versace, Pepper Tree Wines and Vinitasse - The Mornington Peninsula Coffee Roastery. There.. that's more than you could ever possibly want to know about me in a nutshell. Cheers, Bruce

askthecoffeeguy

Nice one Bruce and Di welcone to the good ship Crema - we look forward to seeing more of you both more often! ACg

Koffee_Kosmo

Welcome Dizzy / Di to Crema Forum we have met before Welcome also to Vinitasse / Bruce Bruce the first part of your background is similar to a book character Jack Reacher by author Lee Child Again welcome KK

Vinitasse

on 1303301119:

Bruce the first part of your background is similar to a book character Jack Reacher

Way cool... will have to look that up Cheers B

tauyeung

I'm new here but only if you look at the number of posts I have.  I forgot my username, and my password, only just got it all fixed.  Here's why: Date Registered: April 04, 2004, 11:40:58 PM  :o I'm Tanya aka Green Bean (was also Green Bean on CS but I rarely spoke).  I'm married to Wotb. Umm...let's see.  I came to Australia when I was 10 from Hong Kong.  Love yum cha and didn't touch coffee until I was about 18 ! Did my schooling here, B.Sc (felt more like BS), then worked for a global IT mob which took me back to HK and around China - a real eye-opener.  My career also morphed from a very technical one to business processes and auditing (not sure how I survived without coffee to be honest). Then...[read Wotb's blurp where I cut into his life on the MUD]..... Around 2004 I did a weekend 'home barista course' and still didn't know much about coffee, except that my little machine at the time sucked !  My tutor for the course used a CKX and so naturally I just bought the same machine.  Then came the grinder, tamper and all the rest of it... And then Wotb got hooked and overtook my enthusiasm (and along with that all my machinery) !  And I've been learning about coffee ever since, not just from the countless test shots at home, but visiting other roasters and cafes  I've been freelancing and experiencing what life has been throwing at me for the past few years, and have decided that natural therapies would be my current path.  We'll see where this path leads.  I'm learning massage at the moment and I'll be looking for willing victims soon  ;D I'm no expert - far from it - but I know I appreciate a good shot of coffee.  I look forward to learning from all of you here.

admin

Hey guys - have been away for a few days ... am hoping to catch up with things a little this evening - to all new members welcome - hope you find this a relaxed, enjoyable environment! A

Dry_bean.

on 1303429051:

Hey guys - have been away for a few days ... am hoping to catch up with things a little this evening - to all new members welcome - hope you find this a relaxed, enjoyable environment! A

Morning Admin, trust you enjoyed your break, did you find your way down to the Victory?

RichardM

First post - I'm new here Some of you may recognise my name from CS. Joined there three months ago...have some of the same "issues" that others have noted, so thought I'd sign up elsewhere as well where a lot of the people whose opinions and posts I value the most also hang Another QLD'er here too (Toowoomba).

Koffee_Kosmo

Welcome to both Green Bean & Richard M Welcome to the friendly forum KK

Dry_bean.

on 1303445071:

First post - I'm new here Some of you may recognise my name from CS. Joined there three months ago...have some of the same "issues" that others have noted, so thought I'd sign up elsewhere as well where a lot of the people whose opinions and posts I value the most also hang Another QLD'er here too (Toowoomba).

G'day Richard, good to see you on board.

tauyeung

Thanks for the warm welcome  Just had my 2nd doppio of the day and now ready to function for the day !

ACog

Hey All, Thought I'd start off with my first post here as it seems like the most appropriate place to put it! Long story short, I'm just here for the coffee. Originally from the Blue Mountains, I've lived in Melbourne (awesome place for coffee nuts) on and off for around 8 years and moved back to my home area a year ago. I run a coffee cart at some local markets on the weekend and work in IT during the week. Eventually I'd like to make the switch to coffee full time. Some of you already know me from the Twittersphere and that other place. -ACog

WotB

Welcome back Acog.  We're all about the coffee.  I'd love to pop by for a visit to your cart, but I don't get weekends off.  Not even Easter long weekend  :'(

Dry_bean.

on 1303563049:

Hey All, Thought I'd start off with my first post here as it seems like the most appropriate place to put it! Long story short, I'm just here for the coffee. Originally from the Blue Mountains, I've lived in Melbourne (awesome place for coffee nuts) on and off for around 8 years and moved back to my home area a year ago. I run a coffee cart at some local markets on the weekend and work in IT during the week. Eventually I'd like to make the switch to coffee full time. Some of you already know me from the Twittersphere and that other place. -ACog

Morning Acog, welcome to Crema, great to see you over here.

admin

Hi DB - thanks for the recommendation, but no didn't get to Victory - both times we passed it, was in the middle of the day & just couldn't make it there for dinner... nice to get away for a few days tho [apart from the coffee]! Welcome to Green Bean, Richard and ACog. A

Dry_bean.

on 1303604323:

Hi DB - thanks for the recommendation, but no didn't get to Victory - both times we passed it, was in the middle of the day & just couldn't make it there for dinner... nice to get away for a few days tho [apart from the coffee]! Welcome to Green Bean, Richard and ACog. A

Morning A, the coffee at the Victory is better than average as well, perhaps next time.

shape_shifter

howdy, I'm here too now, got caught up in all the spam bots Well obviously people are going to know me from 'over there', hopefully I won't get slammed as much over here though.  I'm all for passion but self-righteousness I just can't abide. Anyway, I'm loving my coffee and my UCP which is now producing great roasts at times no one thought a popper could ever do and I'm looking forward to finding the quietest machine I can to get the most of my home roasted beans :D

Dry_bean.

on 1303992480:

howdy, I'm here too now, got caught up in all the spam bots Well obviously people are going to know me from 'over there', hopefully I won't get slammed as much over here though.  I'm all for passion but self-righteousness I just can't abide. Anyway, I'm loving my coffee and my UCP which is now producing great roasts at times no one thought a popper could ever do and I'm looking forward to finding the quietest machine I can to get the most of my home roasted beans :D

Evening shape_shifter, welcome to The Crema forum. For noise reasons I contemplated a rotary pump when I bought the Bezzera however given that the vibe pump does just as good a job simply couldn't justify the extra $$$$, if you have the spare cash go for it.

RichardM

on 1303992480:

howdy, I'm here too now, got caught up in all the spam bots Well obviously people are going to know me from 'over there', hopefully I won't get slammed as much over here though.  I'm all for passion but self-righteousness I just can't abide. Anyway, I'm loving my coffee and my UCP which is now producing great roasts at times no one thought a popper could ever do and I'm looking forward to finding the quietest machine I can to get the most of my home roasted beans :D

Welcome, shape_shifter. You won't get slammed here. Have you considered a lever machine??? You'd certainly need to use one in the flesh first to decide if it's for you though. I can't remember though - where are you located?

Koffee_Kosmo

Welcome Shape Shifter Great to have you on board mate Post regularly and the forum will grow with the added combined knowledge KK

shape_shifter

Thanks everyone DB, we are definitely going to be trying machines out and listening to them 'in the flesh', never know we might find one that suits that isn't a rotary. Richard, I actually want a Lusso, I even have one of the roasters numbers up here to be able to go and try his out, but my OH wants to be able to make coffee when I'm not home and he doesn't want to use a lever, he just wants to press a button or two, I have to take that into account. KK, I hope so, as much as my OH and I are newbies to the coffee world, together we can really get things done and his design of my UCP - UnnecessarilyComplicatedPopper is something to be seen.  I don't think anyone thought that a popper would be capable of the roasts I'm getting

Rider

Hello all, Name finally got through after original name binned due to bots apparently, Anyway, another refugee from a well known site... Life has happened, was a Foreign Exchange Trader for many years, technology happened and found myself drifting to the motorcycle trade, due to a life long love affair with the things. I'm older than Di....... :D Have been teaching people for around 12 years on a part time basis, the last couple full time. Teach novices through to stupid stuff at race tracks. In that interim period did a Bruce (Vinitasse) and lost wife 1.0 but after a while found wife 2.0. She grew up as a missionary kid and is an absolute pleasure to spend time with. Coffee really happened for us around 2 to 3 years ago through a few friends with nice gear and a similar penchant. They are now amused by my obsession compared to their slightly more than mild interest  ;D Have done the usual upgrade path, SB 6910 and 0480 (great learning ground), but eventually took the plunge and happily live with a VBM Domobar Super, Macap M4D, Scace 2, a couple of Behmors, Bread maker, Popper etc etc. Like others have claimed, we are here for the coffee, along with forthright, honest information that we can hopefully give, as well as receive. Anyway, enough twaddle, REALLY happy to be here guys n girls Chris

beanflying

on 1303992480:

Well obviously people are going to know me from 'over there', hopefully I won't get slammed as much over here though.  I'm all for passion but self-righteousness I just can't abide.

Welcome we promise we will be nice  ;D

hiphipharar

Well about time I spoke up. Opted for a different username this time to my CS presence (flynn_aus). My coffee journey over the last 3 years is a familiar one - from someone who was barely weaned off instant  to a full-blown snob (small s and big S) via the usual upgraditis path. I have the ever reliable Giotto P Plus & Mazzer Mini combo I have more coffee prep equipment than time to use it but I have a preference for manual brewing methods these days - syphon, Clever Coffee Dripper and Aeropress whichever takes my fancy but mostly the CCD used at work.