EdipisReks1

I ordered a Normcore portafilter. Specifically fits the Flair 58 (well, it’s just an E61 portafilter, but they do call out the Flair specifically!). I don’t like how light the Flair portafilter is. This should fix that. Also includes an 18gram precision basket, which is strangely not something I have (22 IMS and 20 VST; the stock Flair basket is 18, but it’s not great: it’s fine, but I don’t use it).

Silver and I agree that she doesn’t like being an only cat: she either gets too much attention from me or not enough. Dunhill ran interference on both fronts. I’m contemplating getting another cat. It’s complicated: if I end up moving in with Heather there are those cat dynamics. But that’s still in limbo, so I have to think about what is best for Silver. She’s a difficult cat. Skittish, doesn’t like other cats. I’ve introduced kittens to adult cats before (this was easy: the adult cats were always deathly afraid of the kitten!), but I’ve never introduced an adult cat to another on a permanent basis (Silver and Dunhill already knew each other). Silver and Heather’s cats don’t get along, though over a series of very careful meetings it was… better the last time we were in NC. But wasn’t permanent. One way or another I’m not going to spend the next 10-15 years with just one cat, though, and I can’t take 25 years to get cats to get along, so any recommendations?

A little thing, but if you need a 58mm tamper, this is a very good one for the money made by a Ukrainian company. I have one in red. It’s dead on 58, so basket fit is pretty universal (though of course there can be a little ring depending on basket and/or dose).

Cappuccino this morning with some light roast Ethiopian (the person at the counter of roastery didn’t know the varietal, and it’s not labeled, but I think it’s Sidamo: it’s fairly well roasted, though it has some Quakers) and Silk Next Milk. Another place where I COULD have done latte art. I’m super happy with Silk Next Milk (at least the “while fat” variety); by far the best plant milk I’ve used for coffee, and very close to the flavor of dairy when steamed.

Hah! I haven’t thought about Martinelli cider in a long time, but I sure tasted it as soon as I read that line! That’s certainly a strong endorsement!

Bellows for the Ode arrived. I think it’ll work great.

The Weber Looking Glass is exactly what you would expect: perfect and worth the money, but a luxury. I mean, espresso at home is. But this mirror is perfect for the purpose. The Flair mirror is merely adequate, and repurposed makeup mirrors I’ve tried don’t really work well.

Good stuff Bryan! I went to a couple roaster/cafes in Louisville, over the weekend. All I can really report back is that my coffee game at home is pretty strong. Of course, I’m just making for me. Easy to pull one great shot with this workflow.

I want that top one framed on my wall.

Weber Looking Glass on order. I find the Flair mirror to be irritating in exactly the way the Looking Glass seems to solve.

The Silk Next Milk was willing. I just wasn’t quite.

We aren’t doing great, either of us.

The Ode is my development grinder. I’m not sure I know what I’m developing, but it’s a good chalkboard.

I just noticed how adorable the CAFEC box is.

Silver sure loves this ribbon.

Blind shaker works as advertised. Fluffy, relatively well distributed grounds. I didn’t get it quite ready to immediately tamp, but it was also my first time. I also just like it. It reminds me of the Option-O Remi in design and build, and is just a pleasure to use.

It works perfectly with the Ode too, which is nice.

Blind shaker finally arrived.

If paper towels hadn’t worked okay my next try was going to be a thin handkerchief.

Rocking my original pour over today. It makes perfectly nice coffee, though I don’t recommend using the permanent filter in the basket only… at the beginning of the pandemic when I couldn’t get coffee filters I tried the permanent one. I used a paper towel the next day.

The Deeper Roots and Levercraft were pretty similar to each other, but the St. Frank Bolivian was radically different, in direct comparison. Very fruity and funky. They were all excellent, but that one…

All of my cupping bowls are heating in the sink. Gesha cupping coming up.

I won’t be making the equivalent of these of Silver, though.

New supervisor.

This is what I’m dealing with here. Dunhill’s job was to moderate this.