Ponte Vecchio Lusso - advice please?

Moon · January 2014

Brettmate Have you roasted any of the Guat green yet .. and if so, how long are you leaving it to rest before trying some? I'm considering a bulk purchase .. so I'm interested in how they roast up in the home?

Day 20 - Barista Day 18 - Guat 1. Barista - 9.1/10 2. Barista - 9.1/10 3. Guat - 9/10 Barista definitely better than Guat at this stage. Barista has the better flavour. In other words - a peaking Barista is better than a maturing Guat.

Brett H · January 2014

Not yet mate but this weekend definitely. I'll let you know as soon as they're out of the cooler.

Moon · January 2014

Day 22 - Barista Day 20 - Guat Apparently the Sirius 'Classic' I had been rating .. isn't the 'Classic' blend currently available The blend I was given to try is not available as yet .. I was told 2-3 weeks. It is a delicious coffee .. and performs from Day i. It will be replacing the current blend and keeping the name 'Classic'

1. Barista - 9/10 2. Barista - 9/10 3, Guat - 8.9/10 For me .. the Guat has not hit its peak as yet. The steam valve has been sticking lately .. and has needed a quick turn of the knob which frees it up immediately. I may have to remove the plastic plate at the top under the cup warmer plate to see if I can squirt a drop of oil into it to free it up? Otherwise the Ponte Vecchio Lusso has been working fine so far. I have been using the same grind setting for each of the beans used .. Barista, Guat and the new 'Classic' Slight tweaking may improve them .. only I'm reluctant at this stage to tinker with the grind.

Moon · January 2014

Day 24 - Barista Day 22 - Guat 1. Barista - 8.8/10 2. Barista - 8.9/10 3, Guat - 9.2/10 For the Guat .. I adjusted the grind slightly finer. Seemed to do the trick .. made all the difference .. Bonza coffee. Will have to see what affect it has on the Barista tomorrow. With the Guat producing a delicious 9.2/10 .. it is my choice if having another this evening. :thumb:

Brett H · January 2014

Going well mate!!

Moon · January 2014

It is going well thanks Brett. It's been a while since pulling one of those 7.5/10 sinker types .. and all pretty well up around 9 .. so can't complain too much about the coffees these days. They are all very nice and a bonus if I can manage to crank them up a couple more notches? It keeps the challenge going. I'll have to roast up some green too .. and see what that's like in my Lusso with the better grinder? Crikey .. things sure have come a long way from the ol' Gaggia Baby and $150 DeLonghi grinder. Wonder how I'd be rating one of those coffees these days? Funny though .. I thought they were pretty good at the time.. which is good.

Koffee_Kosmo · January 2014

A lever is a different kettle of espresso machine It looks like you have the Lusso all sorted out Moon And by the looks of your posts - making some great coffee

Moon · January 2014

Cheers KK A week after my Lusso arrived .. my sister calls me and says .. you must have got the hang of it by now. I said .. nah, not yet .. it will take a few more weeks. I knew it would take longer .. only I didn't want to sound like too much of an incompetent idiot.. seeing we both have been on our coffee journeys for quite a while. Feb 4 will be 3 months .. and great to get past that wtf is this I've just made .. is it a sinker or will I risk it?.. stage. I keep a few different types of beans .. so if one isn't quite working .. there are alternatives to enjoy. Looking forward to roasting again. If I go for a larger order of Guat green from mycuppa .. I may find that I need to upgrade my roaster to get the best out of them? I'm enjoying trying out what the experts are roasting up for the moment. As far as the $ saving goes .. I'm probably only saving about $2 per week by going green .. and I thought the whole idea of roasting your own was to ensure freshness. Now it doesn't matter .. cause it is fresh from known suppliers anyway.. and they usually need at least a weeks resting .. so it doesn't seem worth it to me atm. Maybe it's the enjoyment of including the roasting as part of the whole coffee making process that makes it appealing? If you are after convenience .. you'd get an Aldi Pod machine .. well? I'm guessing that the people that get a lever machine aren't in it for convenience .. and don't mind going the extra lengths to reach a standard. Telling coffee people that you roast your own beans .. kinda has that extra zing in it .. Crikey .. this bloke takes his coffee making pretty seriously ......... and they'd be spot on.

My other sister came over the other day .. the one who has the Sunbeam 6910 that the steam boiler has carked it .. and who tries to tell me that boiling the milk in a pot on the stove will produce much the same result .. yeah right. She is not impressed that I go across to the shopping centre when staying at her place and pay $4.80 for a jumbo latte (lavazza - 8.5/10) <--- very nice. Still working on trying to convince her to fork out and get a new one. Anyway .. she likes a long blackish latte .. 2/3 of coffee and 1/3 milk ..which was a bit of a challenge seeing I was trying to impress her with my new whiz bang coffee machine .. and hadn't made one of this type before. I ended up trying my Spong hand grinder first, with the idea that the grind would be more coarse and better suited to making long blacks.. only it choked and had to revert back to the Compak - which she said looked ugly. In order to get it long .. I kept pulling the lever until the cup was 2/3 full. She ended up wanting a bit more milk in it .. so it must have at least been strong enough. Her friend drank hers long black .. and liked it, although I wasn't convinced - that she was only just being polite? My sister was surprised that I bought the Spong after spending almost $500 on the big ugly Compak .. and commented that I was just keeping up with the Jones's .. after I explained that other members on the Coffee forum I hung out on had a range of Coffee equipment. i'm better setup to cater for those who like an espresso or latte .. and will need a bit more practice to get the long blacks happening. it was taking me ages to make them .. and sis said .. you won't be getting a job as a Barista in a Cafe anytime soon at that rate. Thanks sis .. your welcome. [It's a first born thing]

Moon · February 2014

Day 27 - Barista Day 25 - Guat Baristas of late have been rating 8.8/10 and Guats 9.1/10 Haven't been able to create the rip snorters .. although can't really complain when they're up around 9. Perhaps the heat has affected the beans? Still reckon the best of the Guat is still to come?

This next bit isn't exactly coffee related .. so tune out now .. if it isn't your cup of tea.... err .. coffee. Seeing it appears a bit of a boys club around here .. I'll share this little tid-bit. I was in the Supermarket the other day .. not checking out their coffee beans .. trust me (<-- coffee content) and was chatting with the Butcher in the meat department - when along came one of his female colleagues who was helping him out. He's a really nice bloke so I decided to pump him up with whole lot of compliments and then finished off with how lucky his wife must feel having such a great bloke as him as a husband. I then turned to his female workmate and asked if she gave her husband a big rap to her girlfriends like what I just did? She replied ..'Oh heck no .. I'd never do that .. otherwise they'd all want him' I left it at that .. and being a little bemused by what I had just heard .. hilarious but still - thought to myself .. so what do these women do .. bag out their husbands to their friends so the girlfriends won't bother taking much of an interest in them? My bloke is a lemon .. how's yours? Oh .. forget it .. you think yours is a dud .. well, don't get me started. After pondering on that for a bit .. I thought I'd better get home and make myself a nice tasty latte to celebrate my singleness. - (more coffee content) :coffee2: Edit: I hope these blokes serve them up a daily cup of Nescafe .. as payback. :stir The end.

Moon · February 2014

Day 29 - Barista Day 27 - Guat 1. Barista - 8.8/10 2. Crikey .. an oldie from the back of the pantry (3 mths old) 7.6/10 - sheesh Where's the Bin icon? 3. Guat - 9.1/10 Probably didn't help that the milk steaming produced more of a flat white than a latte .. but also the beans may have dried out a little more than usual due to the heat .. making the grinds a little drier & lighter. To compensate, the next time I will tamp a little heavier, and if that doesn't slow the pour, then adjust the grind finer? It is supposed to be in the grind, but I will try the tamp first. I still need to get a decent metal tamper. I have found in the past .. that it definitely does make a difference over using a plastic one. After doing the triple Fellini .. the lever is horizontal when releasing .. the pour time was 15 seconds - which was a little quick. Although there was plenty of crema - I need to slow it down to minimum 20 secs .. preferably 25 secs to extract a little more flavour. I reckon the chocolate flavour is more likely to come through when the pour is extended. Trying to hold off on the Guat - in case it kicks into orgasmic mode - and not find myself in the same predicament as last time.. i.e. I only had 200g left. I guess I should be grateful for the privilege of experiencing lattes that good. That Guat at its peak was .. and still is, a hard act to follow. But then .. the beans were over 7 weeks old iirc? Many would find that hard to believe .. so I'm keeping some Guat that long to see what happens?

Getting a new Ikg of the Sirius Classic (Guatamalan) blend on Monday hopefully? *Apparently, the old 'Classic' blend beans ran out a month ago .. so any orders since then are the new good Guat blend - which is what I have been trying myself .. and rating. Certainly excited about that .. as I am about any good quality beans purchased that are coming my way. Coffee time - obviously don't have an issue with caffeine keeping me awake .. which is good.

Moon · February 2014

Day 31 - Barista Day - 29 - Guat Ended up adjusting the grind slightly 1. Barista - 8.9/10 Pour time - 18 secs For the next one - I tamped like a Gorilla - as KK would say, although, with that plastic tamper .. it's probably more like tamping like a Chimp. 2. Barista - 9/10 Pour time - 10 secs (after triple fellini) Strangely .. it was a very nice coffee .. hence the 9/10 - although a little subtle in the flavour department for my taste .. even prior to Summer and the heat. This makes it better suited (in my opinion) to what they refer to in the Wine Industry .. as a 'quaffing' coffee .. meaning you can keep drinking it all day and not feel like you are caffeined out. To satisfy my taste buds - it needs a bean variety in the blend to give it a flavour that presents itself, rather than having to focus so intently trying to determine whether it is happening or not. This is where I believe the Sirius Classic has the edge on it. It will be interesting to see how the Classic shapes up this time around? * It wouldn't be fair to compare a fresh batch of Classic with a 5 week old Barista in a H2H at this stage. I suppose I have the Days after Roast up top .. so each bean gets rated with this on clear display for consideration. As the beans age .. it gives an idea of how they are coping with their wrinkles that seem to be popping up. It's ok ladies .. your natural beauty comes from within. We're on 4 1/2 weeks after roasting for the Barista (& Guat) - so I wonder when these beans are considered past their prime? Until their rating drops below 8.5/10 .. (which is highly unlikely, seeing I only have 350g of Barista & around 6-700g Guat left.. and I know the Guat can stand the test of time) .. they will escape being binned.

Brett H · February 2014

I roasted 2x 500 grams of Jeff's Guat last weekend. Beautiful bean to roast and beautiful to drink!! As a plunger I enjoyed it as a long black. I didn't like adding milk as I generally do for a plunger coffee. Flat white test comes tomorrow! Kudos again MyCuppa. Savour your Guat Moonie!!

Moon · February 2014

on 1391776863:

I roasted 2x 500 grams of Jeff's Guat last weekend. Savour your Guat Moonie!!

Yep .. sure am. How are the lattes going Brett? .. from pre-roasted as well as the green that you've roasted up

Day 34 - Barista Day 32 - Guat 1. Barista - 8.2/10 Strange one. Tamped like a chimp and did the triple Fellini and the pour just dripped - for 60 secs. Being the first for the day, I couldn't really tell how good or bad it was .. but down the hatch anyway. It seemed like the worst coffee I'd made for a while.. 2. Barista - 8.9/10 Same story .. but this one tasted pretty good .. there's still some quality left in this batch yet. 3. Guat - 9/10 45 sec pour after adjusting grind a tad finer. Tamped firmly and took way too long. Surprisingly, it was very nice .. go figure? 4. Guat - 9.2/10 Backed grind off .. polish only when basket half full and finished off with a light tamp this time. Pour was better only it was a little short in volume - so I went for the 2nd lever pull. I couldn't fill the vacuum with water in the cylinder after about 3 tries .. the lever kept jolting up above horizontal, but seeing it was still dripping whilst doing this .. it reached the required shot volume so I gave up on the 2nd pull. The result was a very good coffee .. deserving the 9.2/10 score. I suspect the Guat is in the process of turning .. no .. not into a Vampire after being bitten .. a turn for the better. What are we up to since roasting? 32 days .. hmm .. almost 5 weeks. Another 2 weeks to get to what the last batch was peaking at .. as strange as it was. Of course .. Coffee Guru ---> mycuppa will be onto me .. about forgetting all this 'peaking' business .. and just enjoy it You know it makes sense .. only he ain't Sam Keckovich .. so I'll go along happily on my merry way to try to understand what's going on .. as it is all a part of the journey I am undertaking. Call me crazy if you like .. if you haven't already? Cruizin Man 8)

Brett H · February 2014

The Guat at my place went really fast between the work plunger and the Lattes at home. We've had visitors who like their coffee and they got a treat with that Guat. I actually preferred it as piccolo latte as i found I lost some of the flavours in the milk.

Koffee_Kosmo · February 2014

We go through about one kg or roasted beans a week Very rare that they get from 14 to 20 days post roast before they are all consumed KK

Moon · February 2014

on 1392118550:

The Guat at my place went really fast between the work plunger and the Lattes at home. We've had visitors who like their coffee and they got a treat with that Guat.

It is nice to share the find with others .. when you come across something extra special.

on 1392118550:

I actually preferred it as piccolo latte as i found I lost some of the flavours in the milk.

It was the piccolo lattes that I started off with .. before changing back to the standard sized cup. I found them nice and rich .. hmm, might have to go back and try them again. I actually liked them better .. only like an espresso shot .. it is gone too quickly. This is where the 2 lever Lusso comes in handy ---> make 2 at a time.

Day 36 - Barista Day 34 - Guat 1. Barista - 8/10 Blimey - this was lucky it was my first and still all dopey .. otherwise a sinker. 2. Guat - 9.2/10 Shot volume small - so had to use the double pull for the extra 10ml.. before removing cup. Didn't get the steaming right .. and it ended up a flat white. Still yum. These Guat beans seem to be producing more colour in my lattes the last few days. 3. Guat - 9.1/10 Did a lightish tamp and it burst out the PF in about 12 secs. Should have been a sinker. Still scored a 9.1/10 <--- I'm convinced something is going on with these beans. I'm waiting for the sweet chocolatey flavour to kick in .. then I know it is peaking.

Moon · February 2014

Day 36 - Barista Day 34 - Guat Looking like I might have to retire off the rest of my Barista? It's 5 weeks old now and appears to have dropped off the pace. It has been a good run. Think I'll go try a Guat .. and see how that's traveling today?

Moon · February 2014

Day 37 - Barista Day 35 - Guat 1. Guat - 8.2/10 Appears the change after 5 weeks from roasting date may not have been for the better? 2. Guat - 7.5/10 (12 hrs later) This was difficult to drink .. and felt a little queasy after drinking. After a stella performance from this wonderful Guat bean .. it's tasting like it is finally due for retirement. Due to services rendered .. and to allow it to retain a little dignity .. I'll probably be sending it off to a first class 5 star retirement Village. In fairness .. I'm tempted to give both Barista and this amazing Guat one last try .. only the last cup from both is not inspiring me to do so. Both these beans have been fabulous drinking .. and it's sad to send them off to pasture .. only all good things must eventually come to an end.. as they say. It has been an amazing run .. and these beans have withstood the effects of the extreme heat we've been having in Melbourne .. so no complaints whatsoever for lasting as long as they have .. providing many wonderful coffees. *And of course - many thanks to mycuppa for presenting these top quality beans :thumb: I have been using Sims cheap 'Dairy Choice' milk for the above. It does not appear to have any discernible odour or taste that may have contributed negatively to the taste in the cup.

Ok .. Sirius Classsic (Guatamala) has arrived .. so these are my initial results using the same grind as for the above. 1. Classic - 9/10 Backed the grind off a fair degree 2. Classic - 8.8/10 Excellent crema .. only shot volume was also small, as were the previous shots in recent days using the other beans - requiring a 2nd pull. The other beans were old, would have been heat effected and would have therefore dried out. This blend .. from my last try a short time ago, appears to be less dense, which, from other similar bean types I've tried in the past - pours more quickly and requires a heavier tamp to compensate. As expected, the 2nd lever pull was wanting to pour too quickly .. so I held the lever back and let it drip to required volume, rather than letting it go. After removing my cup, I then let go of the lever - and the remainder of the 2nd extraction gushed out. Tamp was of medium pressure both at half and full basket.. dose being at maximum. I will be doing a heavy tamp for my next cup. This was a very nice coffee although .. like the old Guat above, detected a slight bitterness which wasn't enough to be unpleasant. As I am still experimenting with the grind setting for this new bean blend .. I am yet to find the sweet spot. I will be adjusting the grind to a little finer for the next cup.

Moon · February 2014

Interesting I've deliberately held off in the last few days as I had tried a few different beans and noticed a distinct bitterness in the cup and wasn't sure why this was happening. I needed to make sure whether it was due to the beans .. the milk I was using, or my method .. i.e. grind setting (too fine) I had noticed the bitterness in the last cup of the old Guat, a new batch of Sirius Classic, and a new Sirius experimental blend I was trying out. As previously mentioned, I had changed the milk to Dairy Choice from Sims, which is their cheap $2/2ltr variety, and had purchased 5 litres. Even though I had tasted the milk on its own and did not detect any bitterness .. I decided to finish it and convert back to my usual Coles $2/2ltrs Farmland to compare. To see whether it may have been the beans .. I purchased a 250g pack of 'Supreme' at my local deli, that comes from New Zealand. It was a favorite when I had my old Gaggia Baby coffee machine. I used up the last of the Dairy Choice milk last night and started on the new milk this morning. My first cup was made from the 'Supreme' beans .. and although there was a slight bitterness in the milk froth on first sip .. the bitterness had virtually gone. An hour later .. I made a latte using the Sirius Classic blend beans .. whereby there was a slight bitterness in the froth on first sip .. it was also virtually gone. It appears that the problem was with the milk .. and not with the beans used. Back in business :thumb: 1. Supreme (NZ) - 9/10 This is a very nice coffee, although it is dryish and light in it's grinds .. meaning it takes a heavy tamp and pours quicker .. lacks a little body as a result. Will no doubt be better if I can slow the pour down a bit. First lever pull resulted in a 15 sec pour .. and had to hold on to the lever to slow the 2nd down until reaching the 30ml shot volume. 2. Sirius Classic - 9.1/10 I'd give this 'Classic' blend the edge over the Supreme. It is also a dryish light grind and requires the same treatment.. although in the cup .. has a better 'body' to it, and doesn't taste quite as diluted in flavour. As previously mentioned .. a proper metal tamper will improve the result in the cup. I'd be happy drinking either of these 2 bean blends on a regular basis. ps. I'm still working up the courage to go back and try the old Guat .. at 7 weeks post roast. Are we there yet? Maybe later .. like .. err .. what's the hurry?

Brett H · February 2014

7 weeks is pushing the antique stud mate but I took some coffee to work roasted before Christmas and it was drinking nicely... Just a little flat from what I remembered thinking earlier in its days.

Moon · February 2014

on 1392517450:

7 weeks is pushing the antique stud ....

It is .. only the last lot of Guat at 7 weeks was the best coffee I'd ever tasted .. so it's worth a shot. (I'll keep a bucket handy - after the last one) :'( It's a crying shame --> I've saved 480 grams. If a no go .. I'll put in a jar on the shelf and label it - ''Dedicated to Science' :head: Problem is ... Beans running a marathon back then in 24 deg heat is a bit different than the latest poor buggers having to match it in 40 deg heat. A failure to win Gold is understandable.. only .. you can't win it - if you're not in it.

mycuppa · February 2014

on 1392514987:

Interesting It appears that the problem was with the milk .. and not with the beans used.

Moony 'Ol Chap. In 30+ years of making espresso coffees, I don't think I've ever come across bitterness being related to milk - they are entirely different chemical compounds coffee and dairy. Perhaps the milk offsets (or softens) bitterness. You would be surprised the number of people who confuse acidity with bitterness. Milk issues are generally things like sour, "off", ferments, savory taints, funny or unpleasant taste, etc. Putting aside beans for a moment (although the rest of the world likes to always blame the coffee beans first and foremost), bitterness is generally a result of an extraction or brew issue.

Moon · February 2014

on 1392519663:

Moony 'Ol Chap. In 30+ years of making espresso coffees, I don't think I've ever come across bitterness being related to milk - bitterness is generally a result of an extraction or brew issue.

I'm not sure if the milking Cows still roam around the paddocks, especially the cheap milks .. but I remember there is a certain time of the year (probably Spring?) when the Cows eat the Yellow Daisies (are they Dandelion?) which from memory .. changed the flavour of the milk for a period .. and it was a tad bitter iirc? If they are Dandelion .. then this is naturally very bitter. Wrong time of year for that to be a possibility .. unless the milk from Spring is frozen? Wouldn't surprise me .. when it only has a short use-by date .. like 5 days versus the organic milks that have something like 4-5 weeks. Not sure whats going on there? The bitterness was not subtle .. it was pretty strong .. and in the years I've been drinking coffee using beans .. probably up around *10 years - I very rarely come across it .. so I've little doubt I have tasted a variety of beans with different levels of acidity. *Coffex Super Bar was my fav for a fair chunk of that - so a bit wet behind the ears.

I'm still trying these new beans .. so after my initial comment .. in fairness to the beans .. and supplier, I thought I'd better look for other possible causes. Strange that the bitterness was there as soon as I used that milk .. and wasn't as soon as I changed it.. well, at least 95% gone. It wasn't as if one blend was not bitter during the 5 litres I used. Every cup of coffee was. If one type or cup of coffee was ok .. I would eliminate the milk as the cause. I'm up for any ideas on this though. I've been too quick on previous occasions to blame the beans .. finding out that the problem was my method & inexperience. In this case it could be .. the Jury is still out.. even though I have pointed the finger at the milk as the prime suspect. Why not eh .. it's not like Pura .. or whoever? - are going to come on here to take some skin off my hide .. yet a coffee supplier might .. if I'm bagging their beans unfairly. :pan All I did was tamp a little firmer .. and use a different brand of milk. Could my machine need flushing out? Probably no need to now anyway .. as it appears ok, so I've most likely already consumed the bitter chemicals. Is cyanide used in the boiler making process? If it is .. don't tell me :stir I'm adding filtered water often .. and figure that due to this .. I don't need to empty all the water out of the boiler. I've had the machine for 3 months .. is there a chemical reaction inside the boiler after a certain time that leaches the internal wall. You would think this would be more metallic .. and there's no hint of this. Case still open

Brett H · February 2014

Mate, don't touch the machine. Taste again tomorrow... Report back. There are so many variables, have you tried turning it off and turning it on...

Koffee_Kosmo · February 2014

A lever machine does not need a chemical clean The only thing you can do - ( as I do ) is remove the water distension filter screen and seal and clean it Also clean the now exposed head And also the PF That's about it KK

Moon · February 2014

Have tried all 3 types of coffee beans and no probs. Must've been the milk .. even though I couldn't taste any bitterness when trying it on its own.. which is strange, although if it was detectable in a taste test .. I'm sure it wouldn't have passed Quality control. I'm a little surprised that QC at Pauls milk allows its full-cream milk to have that mildewed taste & odour that doesn't sit well in a cup of coffee. It is also present in its 2ltr Organic full-cream - but not in their 1 ltr Parmalat Organic milk. Anyway, back to normal operations .. so all good.

Moon · February 2014

Spent the last few days trying out the Sirius Classic & Supreme (NZ) bean blends. The Sirius Classic goes for $26 kilo + delivery - whereas the Supreme sells for $44 kilo from the local Deli. It is handy to know that for emergencies like running out of beans - there are some quality beans nearby. When you are desperate for a Coffee .. it probably wouldn't matter if they were $100 kilo .. I'd still pay $25 for a 250g pack .. rather than revert to Earl Grey tea for more than half a day. Today 1. Supreme - 9/10 2. Classic - 9.2/10 'Classic' has been rating around 8.9 - 9/10 and hadn't been knocking my socks off as I'd hoped it would .. until now. Grind has remained the same .. and have been working on the tamp pressure and extraction method. I now believe that first impressions are unreliable, and that tweaking is necessary to get the best from beans.. something that the experienced around here already knew .. only us n00bs need to find out for ourselves .. eventually. The Classic once again produced heaps of crema .. and after tamping like a Chimp with a chip on its shoulders (wishing it was a Gorilla) connected the PF containing 19g. As usual .. I had the PF half rotated when pulling the lever down halfway to dispel the air trapped in the cylinder before locking the PF into position at 6 o'clock. I then pulled the level down and waited 5 seconds to see if any drops .. umm .. dropped. When there wasn't .. I released the lever to horizontal .. or above, until drops appeared - then pulled down and did the Fellini a further 3 times or more until I am convinced there was adequate pressure against the grinds from the spring to prevent a fast pour. It began dripping for about 6 secs before pouring continuously. As it appeared that a full shot would not occur from the first pull .. I pulled the lever down from about 2/3 of the way up. Once down .. I released to horizontal ... then pulled down and repeated another 2 or 3 times until there was sufficient resistance against the spring. Even though I knew it would raise more quickly than the first release .. the slower it goes - the better the outcome. Previously, I might have held on to the lever to prevent it rising too quickly .. only I now figure it is better to do a harder tamp and repeat the Fellini as many times as necessary. The result in the cup was excellent .. scoring a 9.2/10 - Very colourful .. perfect 1cm froth .. and the most important bit .. tasted great :thumb: Yeah baby! It's whatever works for you me .. I guess

Moon · February 2014

Update 1. Lavazza - 8.5/10 (Rhumbas- Taylors Lakes) 2. Supreme (NZ) - 8.7/10 3. Classic - 8.9/10 4. Classic - 9/10 5. Classic - 9.1/10 6. Supreme - 9/10 ^ Some coffee enjoyment going on there. I found that when using these light grinds such as the Classic and Supreme .. after doing the triple Fellini .. it turns out better if the lever doesn't rise too quickly. If either the first or second releases tends to want to rise too quickly .. I place my hand over the top of it to keep it rising at a slower speed. The coffee turns out better.

Moon · February 2014

Just finished my 2nd of 5 stints at my sisters place up at Taylors Lakes while she is away on a NZ cruise. Not having a fully functional coffee machine .. I visited my usual preferred Cafe at Watergardens - 'Rhumbas' for my morning coffee .. a Lavazza Jumbo. I found out my usual Barista had left about a month ago .. whom I was very happy with - as she made excellent coffee. I rated the previous barista's coffee at 8.5/10. For a Lavazza .. it was as good as it gets .. and very nice. The new d00d made me a latte yesterday .. and although I rated it an 8.5/10 (above) .. it was a little generous, as it wasn't as nice as the previous coffees made by the gal who left. More like an 8.2/10 .. the yeah ok it'll do, only I'll try somewhere else next time .. kinda coffee. I paid $4.80 for it .. so I expect something decent.. and it fell well short of that. He is a nice friendly very confident younger bloke .. so I'm not sure how he will take it when I go back there in a few days to bring him up to speed with some customer feedback on how he's going with his coffee making. Anyway, today's installment rated a 7.5/10 .. so I'm on the War path. I had walked too far to take it back when I tasted it. It was one of those line ball sinker types that I may choose to drink if it was my first for the day at home .. and desperate .. rather than take the extra time to make another. It tasted like he'd hit the button twice and let the water run too long, as it tasted watery rather than milky .. and had that yucky spent grinds taste. The fact that the micro foam wasn't smooth certainly didn't help. Usually I'm feeling pretty revived after one of these .. only this dud left me disappointed, flat .. and unsatisfied. I didn't walk that far and fork out $4.80 to be left feeling like that. After arriving back home .. I made a Classic .. rating a 8.9/10. Nice .. but again fell short of the kicker I was looking for to get back on track. The journey continues... no doubt .. there will be disappointments along the way.

Moon · February 2014

Today 1. Classic - 9.1/10 This is the ideal first cup for the day .. as it is full-flavoured and throws a bucket cup of cold hot water coffee over those dopey taste-buds. 2. Supreme (NZ) - 8.9/10 - a very nice reliable performer. It's a pleasure to do business with the Kiwis.

I'm after something different next time to run by my PV Lusso & Compak. As I have previously purchased green beans from both site Sponsors - Bean Green & Ministry Grounds, I'm looking at their roasted blends. a) Bean Green Roasted Seasonal b) Ministry Grounds - Nehemiah a) As this is BG's only roasted offering, I'd expect it to be pretty good. b) I do have some reservations about this blend .. as it contains 'organic' beans .. and from my limited experience with these types .. they have produced dryish light grinds like the Classic & Supreme .. they tend to pour quickly which is what I'd prefer to avoid text time around. Don't get me wrong - I have still made lovely coffees from these .. only, as mentioned, I'd like to try something a bit different. On the other hand .. mycuppa's Barista/Guat beans grind up and pour perfectly .. so I am after a more dense/moist grind like these. The last lot were a little drier .. only I am now aware that it is better to put my order in after checking the weather - to hopefully avoid them leaving the Depot when the forecast temp is say .. above 26deg .. when the beans are in transit. As site sponsors .. I'd imagine there would be many out there who have tried these beans A recommendation/review as to what you thought of these would be appreciated A more accurate assessment would be achieved if you were to rate these beans out of 10 .. as I do. *To be fair on the sponsors .. rather than say you thought they were .. err .. pretty ordinary, perhaps a rating like this may adequately explain your experience? 7.5/10 - take it or leave it 8/10 - nice but had heaps better 8.5/10 - very nice - I could live with drinking this one every day 9/10 - Excellent - highly recommended as a good drop 9.2/10 - Up with the best I've had. 9.5/10 - Better than sex. ps. Oops .. forgot to mention - espresso drinkers omitted ---> milk coffee drinkers only >:D

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