Archives for category: Guides

Some lighter blog fair this time. As the annual gift giving orgy is a mere [insert number] days away, there’s an increased level of discourse about what to buy. I’ve seen a lot of “what espresso machine should I buy for under €100?”, “anywhere sell that civet coffee?” etc. An awful lot of money will be poorly spent on shit (sometimes literally) coffee gifts this Christmas. So I thought I’d put together ten items, covering a variety of price points, of things that I would be happy to give or receive.

patty

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There persists a deluded, quasi-philosophical resistance to the use of electronic devices, and scientific methodology for improving the production of brewed coffee. While coffee preparation certainly falls into the culinary arts, like it or not, water is a solvent, coffee a solute, and there is much benefit to be gained in the adoption of scientific apparatus and some light math. I implore those holding out, to at least once, measure brew strength and extraction percentage. This should include roasters, retailers, consumers and all in between. It is the only practical way that the occupants of this consumption chain have of communicating reference points and explaining what is in their cup. I’d be very happy to see an end to the widespread use of wishy-washy, meaningless terms like “filter grind” and near universal prescription of 4mins as brew time. This offers that possibility. That spectrum of end-users though, probably reflects very different perceptions about what would be an acceptable amount to spend on a device for the purpose. It is important though, that an option is available for all price points.

meters

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