Need some input

[mosesbotbol]

If you want to save money... Have you checked Craigslist? Grinders and machines come and go all the time.

The Rocky is stepped. When the grind comes to espresso, you still have a swing of 3 steps in getting the grind "just right", so although it is not infinite, you'll hit the sweet spot. The Silva does maintain temperature as steady as the high end machines, but you still end up with a nice espresso.

I am not as perfection obessed as I use to be with espresso. As long as it comes out within in time, I am happy. If the comes out more on one side than the other, I don't shed a tear.

[floydpink]

I'm completely anal and obsessed.

I can't get over it if my espresso pull is faster than 25 seconds to make 1.75 oz shots, 30 seconds being optimal. I have a timer and push it the second the shot starts and break stuff if it comes out too fast. 22 second pulls go right into the sink.

The Macap allows exactly 5 seconds to be added or subtracted by one complete rotation of the worm drive.

I only floss with one type of floss, oh forget it. Buy what you like, not what me and Vic use.

[mosesbotbol]

Originally Posted by floydpink

I'm completely anal and obsessed.

I can't get over it if my espresso pull is faster than 25 seconds to make 1.75 oz shots, 30 seconds being optimal. I have a timer and push it the second the shot starts and break stuff if it comes out too fast.

I don't use a timer. If I like the angel hair thick streams of coffee and it appears to be in the 20's, I am happy.

[Costa]

Thank you all, I have reached my decisions.

Ordered a Technivorm Moccamaster. Also getting the Macap M-4. But if you guys and gals would help me with one last decision; stepped or non-stepped on the grinder. I will be using it for both daily coffee and stove-top espresso until I get the machine. Seems stepped is the way to go, would you all agree?

Again, thank you all for educating me and sending me swiftly down the coffee slope.

Any bean websites and maybe some of you favorites beans to try for day-to-day coffee would help as well! Thanks again!

[floydpink]

Congrats on a very good decision. You can consider your grinder buying finished forever probably, and that is the heart of the whole operation. No upgradeitis for you in the grinder department.

I say get the stepless and figure out one time where the coffee grind setting works best, put a little felt marker dot on it and do the same for your espresso mark.

I had a stepped grinder and find a lot in between numbers that makes little differences that most don't worry about, but I do.

You'll spend a good deal of time looking at your dial and will probably make marks, or use little arrow stickers to know where certain points, like absolute zero are. (more on that later) It's all part of the fun and is very rewarding once you get dialed in to your commercial grinder.

I went further and took off the ring with the numbers, spray painted it the same color as the silver machine, and painted black notches carefully where the numbers are.

Unless you are changing multiple times a day, it won't be a hassle at all and the adjustment will be easy. 20-30 seconds of turning will move the grinder settings more than enough for both grinds.

You could always do like others in your situation and pull off the knob and replace it with a guitar winder which can be had for a buck or two. Once you do that, you'll cruise through the settings and probably enjoy your handywork.

The main point of the Macap, in my opinion, is the infinite adjustment of the worm drive and without it, you still have an awesome grinder for life, but might wonder how that shot would be in between two numbers.

In any event, nice job. It was fun to watch you wrestle with this and I can't wait until machine time comes.

[Costa]

Originally Posted by floydpink

Congrats on a very good decision. You can consider your grinder buying finished forever probably, and that is the heart of the whole operation. No upgradeitis for you in the grinder department.

I say get the stepless and figure out one time where the coffee grind setting works best, put a little felt marker dot on it and do the same for your espresso mark.

I had a stepped grinder and find a lot in between numbers that makes little differences that most don't worry about, but I do.

You'll spend a good deal of time looking at your dial and will probably make marks, or use little arrow stickers to know where certain points, like absolute zero are. (more on that later) It's all part of the fun and is very rewarding once you get dialed in to your commercial grinder.

I went further and took off the ring with the numbers, spray painted it the same color as the silver machine, and painted black notches carefully where the numbers are.

Unless you are changing multiple times a day, it won't be a hassle at all and the adjustment will be easy. 20-30 seconds of turning will move the grinder settings more than enough for both grinds.

You could always do like others in your situation and pull off the knob and replace it with a guitar winder which can be had for a buck or two. Once you do that, you'll cruise through the settings and probably enjoy your handywork.

The main point of the Macap, in my opinion, is the infinite adjustment of the worm drive and without it, you still have an awesome grinder for life, but might wonder how that shot would be in between two numbers.

In any event, nice job. It was fun to watch you wrestle with this and I can't wait until machine time comes.

So there is a way to mark where you were, great. I envisioned a wheel that just spun, with no way of marking a spot that gets you what you want.

Seeing as I will be getting the machine in the spring, what is my best method, in your opinion, of making espresso without a machine; the stove top method?

I don't see myself getting into roasting, but then I did not see myself with 2 vino temps and attempting to build a walk-in humidor either when I had a 10 cigar Thompsons special humi before meeting you people on CS many years ago...lol. So time will tell on that one.

Wanted to get it started, and feel I got the basics; good grinder and drip brewer.

Thanks again. Must have spent about 5 hours reading about this over the weekend...lol.

[floydpink]

Originally Posted by Costa

So there is a way to mark where you were, great. I envisioned a wheel that just spun, with no way of marking a spot that gets you what you want.

Seeing as I will be getting the machine in the spring, what is my best method, in your opinion, of making espresso without a machine; the stove top method?

I don't see myself getting into roasting, but then I did not see myself with 2 vino temps and attempting to build a walk-in humidor either when I had a 10 cigar Thompsons special humi before meeting you people on CS many years ago...lol. So time will tell on that one.

Wanted to get it started, and feel I got the basics; good grinder and drip brewer.

Thanks again. Must have spent about 5 hours reading about this over the weekend...lol.

Ok, took some pics of the dial and wish I hadn't. Macro really shows how bad the paint job was and how dirty my grinder is!

Anway, the first one shows the worm drive and the dial with numbers that you can see as you turn...


The next one shows my kindergarden markings that, on the left, the small dot is my absolute zero, or where the burrs begin to touch.

Next, the black lines show a full number incremement. The big white line is 1.5 from zero, which is my sweet spot for espresso. I have no idea who said that 2.5 is the sweet spot on Macaps for espresso, but many seem to think it is. Not for me, and I think Vic either if I remember correctly. Vic??

[floydpink]

Originally Posted by Costa

Thank you all, I have reached my decisions.

Ordered a Technivorm Moccamaster. Also getting the Macap M-4. But if you guys and gals would help me with one last decision; stepped or non-stepped on the grinder. I will be using it for both daily coffee and stove-top espresso until I get the machine. Seems stepped is the way to go, would you all agree?

Again, thank you all for educating me and sending me swiftly down the coffee slope.

Any bean websites and maybe some of you favorites beans to try for day-to-day coffee would help as well! Thanks again!

http://coffeegeek.com/forums for hours of fun reading regarding coffee machines and equipment, and for beans, I find Sweetmarias as good as it gets if you're roasting. Their customer service is the best.

Until then, Unclebeanz is great and I am hardpressed to find a better espresso blend than Intelligencia's Black Cat Espresso or Stumptown Hairbender.

I also would be glad to send you some of my own roast if you want.

[mosesbotbol]

Originally Posted by floydpink

I am hardpressed to find a better espresso blend than Intelligencia's Black Cat Espresso

Black Cat is really good. I am a cheap bastard, so I don't want to pay those prices especially since I use the same beans for French Press or Espresso. Brewed coffee can really deplete beans quick!

I have tried a couple of home roasts from some forum members and all were outstanding! I would buy from them if it was possible. A lot depends on how do you like your coffee blends. I am fan of Brazilian and Guatamalan beans, so blends with that are my preference. Also, the roasting preference is important too. Some like darker beans than others. I generally do not like shiny beans and go for not so dark a roast.

If everybody had the same taste, there would be just one brand.

I do not like some of the Lavazza beans. It's like drill going through my tummy. Best to drink it on the toilet. Danesi is good. You may miss out on the freshness of local beans, but not the end of the world.

[Costa]

Originally Posted by mosesbotbol

Black Cat is really good. I am a cheap bastard, so I don't want to pay those prices especially since I use the same beans for French Press or Espresso. Brewed coffee can really deplete beans quick!

I have tried a couple of home roasts from some forum members and all were outstanding! I would buy from them if it was possible. A lot depends on how do you like your coffee blends. I am fan of Brazilian and Guatamalan beans, so blends with that are my preference. Also, the roasting preference is important too. Some like darker beans than others. I generally do not like shiny beans and go for not so dark a roast.

If everybody had the same taste, there would be just one brand.

I do not like some of the Lavazza beans. It's like drill going through my tummy. Best to drink it on the toilet. Danesi is good. You may miss out on the freshness of local beans, but not the end of the world.

I did not realize that home roasters sold to the general public. If you know of any good ones, please let me know, I'd love to try them out.

Do you recommend a well priced daily bean for daily drinking while I play aroudn on the weekends with more pricey stuff?

Thanks again!

[Costa]

Originally Posted by mosesbotbol

If you want to save money... Have you checked Craigslist? Grinders and machines come and go all the time.

The Rocky is stepped. When the grind comes to espresso, you still have a swing of 3 steps in getting the grind "just right", so although it is not infinite, you'll hit the sweet spot. The Silva does maintain temperature as steady as the high end machines, but you still end up with a nice espresso.

I am not as perfection obessed as I use to be with espresso. As long as it comes out within in time, I am happy. If the comes out more on one side than the other, I don't shed a tear.

Thank you! For the price, I'm better off with the Macap, its just that the statement that said "not for coffee use" scared me, as I will be using it for my coffee until I get the "real" espresso machine this summer. Again, thank you.