The above coffee-machine is called "la caffettiera";
everybody has the caffettiera at home in the island of the lady
located in the nation of Leonardo Da Vinci.
The caffettiera is perfect to make coffee,
at that point you'll need to have a proper,good,well toasted coffee:
Illy caffè,Lavazza,Torrisi,are excellent brand.
About Espresso-electro machines,the best
manufacturer,specialised on the making of machines
for Bars,Restaurants etc.is called FAEMA.
However,even with the Espresso-electric-machines,
a super-nice quality of coffee is needed.
I don't know the brands of the Espresso-machines
at the Starbucks,but ,for sure,
the quality of their coffee is absolutely awful.
Salut a tutt
Ty-lot/IsotonaG

ty-lot wrote:The above coffee-machine is called "la caffettiera";

I just bought my first of these-it's a stainless 8 oz version. Makes one cup of lovely strong coffee, or a mug if I decide to cut it with hot water americano style.

I'll probably get one of the big aluminum ones as well, since it's spoiled me for drinking drip coffee and I need something that can kick out more liquid.

Is it true that once you build up a film inside these you don't have to worry about the aluminum flavoring the coffee?

joelb wrote:Is it true that once you build up a film inside these you don't have to worry about the aluminum flavoring the coffee?

I think so. The instruction manual for mine claimed that it will first start tasting good once it's been used about 20 times or so. They also say you should start out a new one with 3-5 'trial runs' where you throw out the coffee afterward.

I'm still getting the hang of mine. Do you take yours off the heat as soon as it starts to percolate and let the remaining pressure do the work? Or do you keep it on the heat longer?

Ty Webb wrote:I'm still getting the hang of mine. Do you take yours off the heat as soon as it starts to percolate and let the remaining pressure do the work? Or do you keep it on the heat longer?

I grind relatively fine but not powder. Then I heat it over about medium heat until the coffee is all up top and it starts making noise, then take it off the heat.

I read that you shouldn't tamp but I was banging the bottom piece on the counter to settle the grounds, and even that was sometimes causing the pressure relief valve to activate. Now I just fill the filter and level it off then let 'er rip.

I do still watch the product to make sure of no boil.

ty-lot wrote:However,even with the Espresso-electric-machines,
a super-nice quality of coffee is needed.
I don't know the brands of the Espresso-machines
at the Starbucks,but ,for sure,
the quality of their coffee is absolutely awful.

I think it's the roasts--from what I've heard, they tend to over-roast the beans and keep them longer than might be ideal, so you can end up getting coffee from burnt, stale beans. And there's no guarantee that the barista knows the optimal use of the machine. That said, if you're in the middle of the Pennsylvania Turnpike and need some coffee, they're the best option. I wonder if their purchase of the Clover company will make any difference...

Ago, next time you're in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, you may want to go here for coffee, if you get into town early enough.

Maurice wrote:I think it's the roasts--from what I've heard, they tend to over-roast the beans and keep them longer than might be ideal, so you can end up getting coffee from burnt, stale beans.

Yes.

Starbucks espresso is undrinkable.

Starbucks drip...well, like you say, on the road it's as predictable as McDonald's. I've been relieved at the sight of a boonie Bucky's on more than one occasion, but never ever excited by it.

We just went to a SB--I hope this translates--where you had to walk through the drive-thru line to go in the front door. And the drive-thru was totally packed.

Like, everyone in the drive-thru, they were in the drive-thru, idling in their fucking minivans and SUVs, instead of parking and walking about 30ft.

Good photo for the history books, Decline of U.S. Empire chapter.

Shit, we found a for-real espresso place in the goddamn WI Dells on a recent trip.

Cafe Frappe, ex. 92 off I90. It's hiding behind the Denny's.

For-real espresso. Very nice young Bulgarian women run it. It's a real oasis.

On the moka pots (la caffetteria), you can get 'em in stainless steel. Those versions don't tarnish, and there is no effect on taste. I have had a few of the whatever-metal ones, and they didn't make good coffee the first few times. Then they were fine. I never washed 'em, just rinse.

This is my birthday present. So far so good. Pressure is much better than the crappy De Longhi I had a couple of years ago, which I broke fairly soon. Hopefully I can make this last longer. I even read the instructions this time.

tmidgett wrote:
We just went to a SB--I hope this translates--where you had to walk through the drive-thru line to go in the front door. And the drive-thru was totally packed.

Like, everyone in the drive-thru, they were in the drive-thru, idling in their fucking minivans and SUVs, instead of parking and walking about 30ft.

Good photo for the history books, Decline of U.S. Empire chapter.

On a busy road near our place is a drive through Starbucks that the missus visits on the occasional drive to work. Same thing: she parks and bypasses the line-up of idling lazyboneses to get her tea.

tmidgett wrote:Shit, we found a for-real espresso place in the goddamn WI Dells on a recent trip.

Cafe Frappe, ex. 92 off I90. It's hiding behind the Denny's.

For-real espresso. Very nice young Bulgarian women run it. It's a real oasis.

For the past few years we have taken a drive down towards Seattle then East to Wenatchee via Hwy 2 and damn if there isn't an espresso hut every 10 miles and not a Starbucks in sight. I only had the chance to try about 3 or 4 of them and for the most part, pretty good. An unexpected surprise in such rural parts.

tmidgett wrote:
Shit, we found a for-real espresso place in the goddamn WI Dells on a recent trip.

Cafe Frappe, ex. 92 off I90. It's hiding behind the Denny's.

For-real espresso. Very nice young Bulgarian women run it. It's a real oasis.

Just wanted to mention to anyone traveling through the Dells that Cafe Frappe is very real and great. A true oasis.