HOMEREPAIRBEAR
San Diego, California
About me:Updated my grinder a few months ago, picked up a Macap M4 with doser. Bit of a routine change with the doser, but have to say the worm gear really is sweet for dialing in the right grind. I'll miss the small footprint of the Rocky.Still pulling shots with a Rancillio Silvia V.3 with a Delta P.I.D. Highly reco a P.I.D. to those who still surf the temp. Dreaming of an upgrade to an E61 in the distant future.
My Equipment:
Espresso machine & grinder
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EVEN BETTER THAN DESCRIBED.
homerepairbear | Mon, 10/24/2011 - 21:04These beans are a treat. The first review written here is spot on. I will add that I usually add 4 parts milk and the shots shine through. Not the typical chocolate bomb. Very agreeable in the morning and evening. I played with dosing a bit and found 18 grams in my VST filter produces an amazingly rich shot not achieved with 19 grams. And the price is right, this is the best value I've found yet.
SPOT ON! THESE BEANS DELIVERED, EXACTLY AS DESCRIBED.
homerepairbear | Sat, 09/17/2011 - 22:41I try a lot of coffees, and generally buy 3 pounds at a time to make the shipping cost less painful. I'd read the reviews and decided to try the Nuevo and Classico. I was down to my last few grams of beans when my shipment arrived and immediately froze 3 of the 4 bags ordered. Bonus points for free shipping on my order. Greatly appreciated! The first shot I pulled was 5 days post roast and without any adjustment to grind or temperature, the results were great. Love it when that happens. I'm a latte drinker mostly and my double was very tasty with whole milk. I got dried cherries to start with a lemon/citrus/cereal middle note, and a mellow chocolate finish. Distinct flavors through and through. I am a Northern Italian roast fan and freaked a little when I saw "dark roast" on the label. These beans are a little darker than most Northern Italian roasts, hence the Central Italian callout, but not oily, and have a hint of dark roast aroma, but the flavor is all about the beans. I'll buy these beans again. Greatly looking forward to trying the Classico.
LABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS GRINDER.
homerepairbear | Thu, 06/30/2011 - 12:57I upgraded several months ago from a Rancilio Rocky Doserless to the Macap M4 with Doser. Thought I was not going to love the doser but let myself be coerced and have no regrets. The worm gear allows for endless fine tuning to the grind. The doser is actually a lot easier than I thought. Best part, zero waste aside from what might still be inside the grinder. And zero mess. I only feed the grinder enough beans for the shot I'm pulling, so the size of the hooper is overkill for my 2 shots a day routine. An option for a smaller hopper/configuration would also allow it to sit under cabinetry and be workable there. Highly reco this grinder. Much prefer the manual operation and level of control to the digital options out there. No timing the grind, scoop the 18 grams, push the on button, then dose. Pure pleasure. And it's easy to clean.
RANCILIO SILVIA V.3, ROCK SOLID
homerepairbear | Tue, 04/26/2011 - 14:17I've had my Silvia for over a year and a half. Took me a while to learn how to dial in a good shot, as I have no friends who are into espresso, so lots of trial and error. My ordered my Silvia with a P.I.D. modification to take the mystery out of temp surfing. The Sivia is well crafted, nicely designed, and at it's price point, a great espresso machine. With practice, I have achieved consistency. I've also purchased a digital thermometer that has allowed for even more control and now can check the water temperature at the group head. I've found my sweet spot with this machine for sure. I hear gripes about certain things, the drip tray is small, takes too long to reach temp again after pulling a shot, etc. This is not a commercial machine. It's built like one, but it's for home use. I make a couple lattes in the morning and might have a shot in late afternoon, 2-3 shots a day. This is an excellent machine to learn how to pull hots with. It's hands on, and everything you do affects the result. Espresso is not rocket science, but you have to be anal on some levels. It is a great enough machine to continue to use for years. I have had no mechanical issues. I did purchase a bottomless portafilter and have enjoyed that immensely. I like that cleaning this machine does not require a degree in advanced technology. This machine may take a little patience in the beginning, but once you learn how to operate it, you are in complete control. The manual doesn't offer much help past setting up your machine, but the website has several videos to help get any novice started. I learned a lot from videos on Youtube too. There are several there that are good how to's and one two that were excellent. No one becomes one with their espresso machine overnight. Bottom line, I would gladly buy another Silvia, and look forward to future tweaks and changes from Rancilio. For the price point, you get decades of Rancilio expertise, and a handcrafted machine built to last.
NICE.
homerepairbear | Sun, 01/23/2011 - 20:37Thoroughly enjoying the Belle Espresso from Klatch. Huge chocolate with a smooth caramel finish, and just a enough of roast to add depth. I'll buy this again for sure.