This is a ropey video I threw together. Apologies in advance.
Stovetop espresso is no longer a misnomer.
Thanks to Colin for the loan. Didn’t mention on the video, but it tasted good, clean, no hints of burnt flavours that you might associate with a moka pot brew.
This is a heady time for filter brewing. I don’t think at any time in recent memory has the discourse been as vibrant. Gold Cup, Extract Mojo, TDS, extraction percentage, are terms we are all hearing a lot more of in recent times. They are becoming a greater part of the general coffee lexicon. This is a good thing, I hope this momentum continues. This post is really a continuation of the thought process in my last post on the subject. This post specifically asks the question:
Why don’t we use powder-fine grind for brewing filter coffee?
Before I attempt to answer that, let me start by addressing why I think a powder-fine grind could be a good thing.
Abid Clever
I’m going to be honest here, though I’ve had long-standing love affairs with the French Press, and even the vac-pot, drip brewing is a more recent interest. Like the good sheep I am, I’ll admit it was sparked by Square Mile’s now famous/infamous Chemex videocast. They are dangerous videos to watch because they usually make me want to go buy some new toys. I’ve actually really enjoyed using the Chemex, and other drip cones, I still love the elegance of the Chemex, but to a certain degree I find all of these manual drip methods as much of an art as a science.
I’m gonna keep this one short. I’ve seen the good and bad the Vario has to offer, and as much as anything, I’ve taken away from my observations that the biggest issue with the Vario is the hype that preceded its release. It’s a pretty good home grinder, better than pretty good for espresso in fact. However, in creating unrealistic expectations, the grinder is going to get shot down, and people will focus on what it doesn’t do instead of what it does.
I don’t like pointing the finger at specific people, and I have huge respect for Mark Prince and his site, which if truth be told, I have spent way too many hours reading, and have learned a great deal from. In a thread regarding his “First Look” at the Vario he commented:
*Can be watched in HD on Vimeo*
Mahlkönig Vario: Some Observations from The Other Black Stuff on Vimeo.