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Espresso aficionado

K_Bean_CoffeeK_Bean_Coffee
edited January 1970 in Have your say
I was just reading through my buyer's guide and came across these words I put together a little while ago:

"To be an aficionado you need to tick off 4 of these 5 criteria:
1. Your last thought at night is - How will I have my coffee tomorrow morning?
2. You can pick the subtleties of an Ethiopian Yirgacheffe when compared to an Ethiopian Gambella.
3. You polish your coffee machine more often that you polish your car.
4.If you had to give up either chocolate or coffee for life, you would say "goodbye" to the bars.
5. You have read "God in a Cup."

Someone told me I'm being too tough here.  What are your thoughts?  Fair call or not?

I'm very open to suggestions for changes.

Thanks :)
Paul
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Comments

  • askthecoffeeguyaskthecoffeeguy
    Actually I think it all sounds pretty reasonable to me - you could possibly add,. "You have numerous coffee preparation methods and techniques at your disposal" I for one own two expresso machines, five cold drip towers, one syphon, an Atomic stove top, numerous pour over devices, five hand grinders, and a plunger, to name but a few !"
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  • West VillageWest Village
    Regarding point 1, I don't actually have a last thought at night about my morning coffee because I'm up all night thinking about it due to being over caffeinated 😀. I've polished my new splendor  twice this week already and counting. I've polished my 2 year old car exactly....0 times since purchase. Your list seems on point Paul.
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  • K_Bean_CoffeeK_Bean_Coffee
    on 1488486747:
    Actually I think it all sounds pretty reasonable to me - you could possibly add,. "You have numerous coffee preparation methods and techniques at your disposal"
    Great point.  I'll add some words on that for sure.
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  • K_Bean_CoffeeK_Bean_Coffee
    on 1488488740:
    Your list seems on point Paul.
    Awesome. So far, so good :)
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  • Brett HBrett H
    Great list and I certainly tick all your boxes.  I agree with Pat's addition and will add: an aficionado desires running multiple grinders for multiple beans/blends the pinnacle being both flat and conical burrs to cater for different flavour profiles. How's that for pedantry AND..... it's awesome!
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  • K_Bean_CoffeeK_Bean_Coffee
    Excellent Brett. The buyers guide is always evolving :) Paul www.kbean.com.au
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  • LeroyCLeroyC
    So is this specific to espresso Paul? Your thread title states so, but your list title doesn't. I think that has a huge bearing on weather the list is a good one or not. I'll await your clarification before I comment.
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  • K_Bean_CoffeeK_Bean_Coffee
    Hi Leroy - yes, this is specific to espresso. It comes in at my buyer's guide in the DB & PP discussion. Quote "For most a DB or PP machine is overkill.  You just don't need to go this far for a great coffee. However, these do have a place for experienced espresso aficionado. To be an aficionado you need to tick off 4 of these 5 criteria....." ....so yes, if you add milk I don't see the value in a DB or PP machine.  However, long black or even macchiato drinkers could benefit from a DB or PP machine so I'll have to think of a way to fit this in. Cheers, Paul :)
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  • vyapadavyapada
    Oh dear, I haven't read that book... I guess I'll retire my roaster, refractometer, lever and two commercial grinders...  :angel:
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  • Brett HBrett H
    on 1488613186:
    Oh dear, I haven't read that book... I guess I'll retire my roaster, refractometer, lever and two commercial grinders...  :angel:
    Retire them cheaply.... to my house :P
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  • K_Bean_CoffeeK_Bean_Coffee
    on 1488613186:
    Oh dear, I haven't read that book... I guess I'll retire my roaster, refractometer, lever and two commercial grinders...  :angel:
    You are definitely out - what are you even doing posting on this forum? :)
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  • askthecoffeeguyaskthecoffeeguy
    In the game of coffee chess I think it's fair to say that roasting trumps extraction every time ...
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  • vyapadavyapada
    on 1488623890:
    You are definitely out - what are you even doing posting on this forum? :)
    Being sent on my way! (down the path of learning ;))
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  • LeroyCLeroyC
    on 1488605213:
    Hi Leroy - yes, this is specific to espresso. It comes in at my buyer's guide in the DB & PP discussion. Quote "For most a DB or PP machine is overkill.  You just don't need to go this far for a great coffee. However, these do have a place for experienced espresso aficionado. To be an aficionado you need to tick off 4 of these 5 criteria....." ....so yes, if you add milk I don't see the value in a DB or PP machine.  However, long black or even macchiato drinkers could benefit from a DB or PP machine so I'll have to think of a way to fit this in. Cheers, Paul :)
    Ok, if it's espresso specific that counts out ATCG's reference to alternative brewing methods. It would apply to coffee fanatics/aficionados, and definitely most of us, but not specifically to espresso. So with that in mind I think you list is pretty good Paul. I know it's a bit tongue-in-cheek, but this could be lost on some people so it may just need a little tweaking. Maybe something like this: To be an aficionado you will most likely tick off 4 of these 5 criteria: 1. Your last thought at night is - How will I have my coffee tomorrow morning? 2. You can pick your Kenyans from your Colombians.        (Still not easy for some people, but doable. I think Yirgacheffe from Gambella is a bit of a stretch for anything other than real pros). 3. You polish your coffee machine more often that you polish your car. 4.If you had to give up either chocolate or coffee for life, you would say "goodbye" to the bars. 5. You have read 'God in a Cup', 'Espresso Extraction: Measurement and Mastery', OR 'ESPRESSO COFFEE: Professional Techniques'. What do you reckon?
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  • K_Bean_CoffeeK_Bean_Coffee
    I like that Leroy. The change to Colombian and Kenyan is definitely a good one.  Also, yep, I shouldn't be too specific about the book.  I just love "God in a Cup" so much :) ACG, yes, agreed re roasting as well.
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  • LeroyCLeroyC
    on 1488683946:
    I like that Leroy. The change to Colombian and Kenyan is definitely a good one.  Also, yep, I shouldn't be too specific about the book.  I just love "God in a Cup" so much :) ACG, yes, agreed re roasting as well.
    I'm actually reading a very well written book at the moment called The Curious Barista's Guide to Coffee. It's by Tristan Stephenson and I'd never heard of him or the book until I saw it for sale for $5 at a local book store. It's only a year or two old so is very current. I'd highly recommend it for people that want a slightly softer entry to coffee reading material than that provided by the books mentioned above.
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  • mycuppamycuppa
    3. You polish your coffee machine more often that you polish your car. Depends upon your car and whether or not it's kept out of the elements. The point of polishing a car is to enjoy the result and in this modern day with many people forced to park outside, it's a short-term level of enjoyment so many people don't even bother, or they know they are just going to get bored with their car and flip it in a few years (like their coffee machine). I've got some of the best coffee machines but I don't polish them anywhere near as often as my cars. Maybe I don't love my coffee machines but I certainly love espresso. Personally, I think being in love with your coffee machine or your car is symptomatic of other **idiosyncrasies** like inadequacy. It's a love that is temporary at best and subject to change in the next wave of anxiety that triggers another round of upgraditis. Espresso is about the coffee beans and has little to do with gear - especially in the hands of the able or competent......... :stir
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  • Brett HBrett H
    Now, now MyCuppa..... being realistic and sensible and see you fail the aficionado test  :pan
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  • K_Bean_CoffeeK_Bean_Coffee
    Love the post MyCuppa. Rule of thumb is 1/3 beans, 1/3 gear, 1/3 operator. .....something like that :) If you have great beans and you know what you're doing, the gear can be a $20 pourover.  Big $ on gear is not needed for great coffee I'm the first to agree - even if pricey gear is my business ;)
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  • mycuppamycuppa
    Sorry Brett and KB......old age amplifies cynicism. Reality is that unless you stump up big $$ for a game changer like Slayer or some of the levers then everything else is just same-same.........barely 15 % difference between the worst and the best.....in the hands of the skilled. Equipment enthusiasts would obviously beg to differ with protected or vested interests. The key to appreciation of espresso is not believing you must have the right gear but the many AHA moments in the long journey of honing technique and more importantly targeting the right beans. The best gear with a perfect technique cannot salvage espresso prepared from beans that were not roasted or blended for that extraction method. Square peg being jammed into a round hole. Hazard a guess that 90 % of roasted coffee in Australia is not suitable for espresso .....so where does that leave the poor aficionados...holding onto the thin line that advancements in gear will ultimately compensate for huge variability of ingredients ? There is a simple and profound epiphany when you experience a classic and rewarding espresso from unsophisticated equipment and sloppy technique and it's a reason a visit to Italy should feature prominently on said list as should the admission that a true espresso aficionado learns something new everyday about espresso.
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  • Brett HBrett H
    There he is... saved from being voted off the island with a cracking post and two must-adds to the list!  Bravissimo!
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  • askthecoffeeguyaskthecoffeeguy
    Ive got my sunbeam cafe series salvaged from hard waste and repaired by myself on the bench at the moment as I got sick of hauling my rancilio epoca up and down two flights of stairs twice a week to go to the markets and with a bit of tweaking I can pull shots comparable to just about any commercial coffee environment - of course the milk production is rubbish but then milk in coffee is for the weak and the feeble of mind anyway ... P
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  • askthecoffeeguyaskthecoffeeguy
    (just kidding I love my lattes as much as the next person I just wanted to provoke a response and to see how that looked in writing but I stand by my comments on shot quality  :pan :pan :stir :stir :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:)
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  • LeroyCLeroyC
    on 1488708698:
    Reality is that unless you stump up big $$ for a game changer like Slayer or some of the levers then everything else is just same-same.........barely 15 % difference between the worst and the best.....in the hands of the skilled. Equipment enthusiasts would obviously beg to differ with protected or vested interests.
    Yep. I've said it before. I can make perfectly good coffee on this - 299874639f0d1563f3091bc493741bc4.jpg And that's why I've kept it as my current home machine. Between this, my Little Guy and various soft brew appliances I have all I need. It's a great little steamer as well so my once daily milk drink is always good. And the espresso from it is excellent. To be fair, it does lack a little of the depth and complexity that I used to get on my semi-commercial machine, but it's still really good and I wouldn't hesitate to serve it up to any of you. I know looks aren't everything, but they give a bit of a clue to whether an espresso shot is good or not. This is the usual standard from my little machine - 3b6381e169d3c582ff2ad641c49fb5ff.jpg So I totally agree with your sentiments MC.
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  • K_Bean_CoffeeK_Bean_Coffee
    on 1488708698:
    Reality is that unless you stump up big $$ for a game changer like Slayer or some of the levers then everything else is just same-same.........barely 15 % difference between the worst and the best.....in the hands of the skilled. Equipment enthusiasts would obviously beg to differ with protected or vested interests.
    Great post and I couldn't agree more. As I said in my post, I sell these big $ machines (yes, vested interest) but I'm the first to say that a $20 pourover can make a fantastic coffee. Great beans and a $20 pourover or average beans and a Slayer?  I'll take option 1 any day of the week :)
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  • LeroyCLeroyC
    on 1488752824:
    Great post and I couldn't agree more. As I said in my post, I sell these big $ machines (yes, vested interest) but I'm the first to say that a $20 pourover can make a fantastic coffee. Great beans and a $20 pourover or average beans and a Slayer?  I'll take option 1 any day of the week :)
    I'll take the 1gr Slayer thanks. Are you giving one away?
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  • K_Bean_CoffeeK_Bean_Coffee
    Ha - not this time Leroy. That was an "in joke" - Leroy won 2nd prize in a competition I ran last year :) 
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  • LeroyCLeroyC
    on 1488799719:
    Ha - not this time Leroy. That was an "in joke" - Leroy won 2nd prize in a competition I ran last year :)
    Can't blame me for trying. LOL.
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  • Dry_bean.Dry_bean.
    on 1488688868:
    Espresso is about the coffee beans and has little to do with gear - especially in the hands of the able or competent......... :stir
    This about nails it Mycuppa.  :thumb:
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  • K_Bean_CoffeeK_Bean_Coffee
    Another agreement from me. People visit my showroom and I tell them that in all honesty the difference in espresso from a low end to a high end prosumer machine is very small.  Leroy and his work machine prove that beyond doubt :)
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