Recent content by Randy G.

There is very little information available at the resellers of this machine where I just did some investigation. I could not find if this machine has a 3-way valve or not. If it doesn't have one then wet puck will be the norm. But stop worrying about the puck. Worry about the espresso. Some...

The single hole basket is a "crema enhancer" and shouldn't be used unless the grinder is so bad that you cannot get the "standard" basket with many holes to work. Usually, the crema-enhancer is used with pre-ground coffee and you just put the coffee in, level with a VERY light tamp, and go. The...

Everything is, indeed, relative, no? I can use less than $200 worth of equipment and make a better cup of coffee that that Jura - A refurb Baratza (about $85) or a hand grinder (about $100) and an Espro Press ($75). So would I pay the extra $2150 for the convenience of pushing a button for...

I know that there is a good list of shops geographically listed with customer reviews at coffeegeek.com

There are two (or more) models of the Bistro grinder. Even the "better" one (the "10903-") is not sufficient for espresso. The other one isn't sufficient for use as a fishing sinker. The grinder is more important than the espresso machine. It is likely creating a lot of dust which might be the...

It is important for us to know: - what beans you are using - how old are the beans since they were roasted - what grinder do you have. - What model of Breville do you have - Is the Breville new There are many other questions, but those are the place to begin.

I would say that its is a good attempt, indeed. The only recommendation I can make is to re-order the file's pages so it is chronological- disassembly steps in order first, then followed by reassembly.

Technivorm for drip Espro is going to be coming out with a larger Espro Press which is my favorite brewing device (second only to my espresso machine0>

I have found, as my sense of taste becomes more educated through experience, that paper filters do change the taste of the coffee. Is that a good thing? Taste is subjective, and it also depends on the coffee and the filter. Paper filters out some of the coffee particles as well as some oils...

There is no "universal" good for you" or "bad for you." Peanuts are an excellent food, but if you have an allergy to them you can be dead in minutes from eating one. Some people are sensitive to caffeine.. others not. Sort of like: "Being drunk isn't so bad." "Oh, ya? Ask a glass of water how...

Orphan has their own custom designed hand mill now (the "Pharos"). Huge conical burrs, simple design, and while not cheap is probably the finest hand mill ever made when it comes to precise burr alignment. There is a huge discussion of it on Home Barista.com: Pharos manual grinder by Orphan...

Folger's Instant? Really? Life's too short to drink bad coffee. You could make a coffee concentrate ahead of time and use that for convenience.

Old Salt. Nice write up. Would have made a GREAT website with photos accompanying the step-by-step. Many super-autos experience failure rates hiugher than would be expected. Their complexity makes them a daunting device to attempt to repair. Juxtaposed to the cost of shipping and paying for...

It is also a "farmed" product, with the animals often (or always?) kept in confined cages and fed the coffee cherries. The fact that it is even allowed to be imported into this country bewilders me- not because of the treatment of the animals or their health, but for the nature of the product...

It is VERY difficult to compare three different coffees when they are prepared in three different ways. And there is no debating what you liked best- that's a subjective issue. But if a good quality Yemen couldn't beat instant or a Nespresso pod, then the coffee was either old, poorly roasted...