EdipisReks1

I don’t think there is any reason not to get a Santos now. They are wonderful watches, and the two I have experience with were bought right after they were released. Better than Tudor not wanting to fix the issues with the Black Bay GMT.

My mother’s Santos medium needed repair; I posted about that. Cartier ended up replacing the “middle module.” It’s basically the main chassis component with the movement. Well, my Santos, bought a couple weeks after she got hers, developed the same issue last week, and it’s currently on its way to the Cartier depot. My guess is they’ll do the same. Issue with early Santos movements? Cartier radically extended the warranties of watches bought 2018-2019, and they are easy to deal with (they provide packing material and pay shipping both ways), so it’s not a huge deal, but I wonder what the issue is. It was pretty much a brand new manufacture movement when the Santos was released: not unusual for their to be teething issues on a new movement.

That looks like fun.

Heat-blued my Rhino Coffee Gear cupping spoon. I was looking for a deep blue bowl with purple edges and a gradual transition up the handle. I’d say that worked out rather well.

I’ve done enough experimentation now that the Brewista Gem dripper and CAFEC filters is my new pour over preference. The CAFEC filters are better than the Harios, and the Gem is better than the V60. I’ve tried the various combinations. I can consistently pour longer ratios while maintaining the depth of flavor I get from shorter ratios with the V60, while avoiding some of the harsher notes shorter ratios can give. I do not use the lid with the Gem; I don’t really know why it has one. CAFEC filters in this case are the standard “Abaca” filters, not the light roast specific ones (I haven’t tried them yet).

New Forstner band arrived. Here it is compared to an early 1171, which is the shitty version of the 1450, which this is more or less an improved copy of. It’s much nicer than the 1171 of course*: solid end links (solid link-links, too: the 1171 has rolled links, just like Rolex of the era), expansion links, doesn’t rattle, links just screw in Rolex style for sizing, etc. This isn’t going onto the Pre-Moon (I only put Omega on that watch), but it’s basically the bracelet the 1861 Speedy should have had instead of the chunky monkey that came with (this will replace the Forstner/JB Champion flat link on that watch, is my guess). I guess Omega fixed that issue with the newest version of the Pro, but who even knows what those bracelets cost for existing owners. *vintage Omega bracelets are incredibly comfortable, but a real pain in the ass, for anybody who hasn’t had one, but I wouldn’t replace a well-fitted 1171 with another bracelet for love or money. Well, maybe money.

Well, the Hario is going back. It has such little torque that holding it to the grinder when grinding for espresso is more work than hand grinding is!

Hario Electro solo and adapter for the Option-O also arrived. Seems to work great, if slightly janky (some RTV sealant in the adapter should fix said jankiness).

My fancy coffee spoons arrived.

Should we set up a holiday bean exchange? Cincinnati has a couple really good roasters and I would be happy to share. Now that I think about it, I’ll likely be in North Carolina in December, and I found a very good roaster in Greensboro too, so I could share from two areas.

I almost exclusively drink light roast.

Too many variables to really know what is what: first pour over of this bean. First use of the new dripper. First use of the new kettle in a pour over. First use of the new filters (CAFEC), first use of the new server. Slightly too fine (I forgot to recenter the fine adjustment on the OG when I went back to pour over: it worked out): it stalled out at the end. 1:15 with a 20 gram dose. Flavor profile is right in line with the espresso I made from this Gesha. Bright, floral, deep, rich. Delicate but sort of silly. This was a delicious cup of coffee. And talk about zero retention. 20 in, 20 out.

Interesting. I definitely picked up a lot of (very pleasant) floral notes in today’s shot, especially in the nose.

I’m very interested in your thoughts: another bean I’ve never had. My freezer is pretty full, though, already!

I finally opened my Levercraft Panamanian Gesha. 16.5 in, 40 out in 48 seconds (longer pulls are normal for manual machines, and that includes pre infusion:I used the Flair Pro2 head). I flow controlled: pre-infusion, ramp to 3 for 10 seconds, fast ramp up to 7, then a slow decrease to finish. I find that works well for light roasts. The OG gave me as fluffy a grind as you could want. This coffee was roasted 9/21. I have never had Gesha before. I dunno if it was the beans or the fact that I’m really getting good with the Flair, but it was absurdly delicious, if you like very light roasts. I’ll be thinking of this shot for a while. And it was pretty. Not quite fine enough for stripes. Puck was slightly wet on top but knocked clean in one piece. The damp puck heads seem to be normal with the Pro2 brewhead. The “classic Flair” brewheads are usually as dry as you could want, but don’t make as good of coffee. I’ll be thinking about this espresso shot for a while.

For anybody who is thinking about the Bonavita: the particular one I got for Heather does not have metric markings on the reservoir. It has “cups,” delineated with a range of dose in grams for 2, 4, 6, and 8 (it’s a fairly wide range for dose!). I tested it, of course: the cup lines are pretty bang on, assuming a 5 ounce cup. With a 15:1 recipe I have Heather adding “4 cups” of water for 20 grams coffee, “6 cups” for 40, and etc. it’s close enough. The brewer will use whatever amount of water you put in, so this is sort of important. Not every brewer has accurate tanks. It would be nice if it had metric lines on this particular one, but I doubt Heather will care if she is adding 590 or so grams of water instead of 600 for her morning two cups, and this makes it simpler. Certainly better than pouring in water and coffee by eyeball into a piece of crap and hoping for the best! I just realized that you might have thought I meant the Bonavita when I said it was “too tall.” Bonavita is perfect for her cabinet height: I meant the Ratio was too tall. I had looked at the Ratio first.

I picked up a Hario Electro with an Option-O Remi adapter from Prima. The Remi is an amazing grinder, but it’s a chore to grind espresso. They suggested that the Hario wasn’t up to dealing with Orphan Espresso OG burrs, but that grinder is super easy anyway, due to the large burrs and significant mechanical advantage (the Hario motor of course finds the burrs to be difficult to start and can’t take advantage of the mechanical advantage given by the design). I’m looking forward to trying the Hario thingie.

I didn’t particularly want to spend the money anyway. She is super happy with the Bonavita. We figured out a recipe for pre-ground coffee, as her son is sort of noise-shy in the morning until he gets into his cartoons before school. Worked pretty well!

It was too tall for Heather’s cabinets, but I’m sure it makes a great cup.

Yesterday at my soon-to-be stepson’s best friend’s younger brother’s birthday party (say that three times fast): “hey, nice watch.”

That’s the upgrade model, with heat control (I think) and timer, Nate, but yes: that’s the one. Here is the more basic one I am talking about, which just has a rocker button (press and hold to turn on pre infusion, which stays on until you unplug it, and then turn on/off, basically). I like it a lot.

I got a great deal on a LNIB Bonavita brewer for my partner. I couldn’t stand her using her crap automatic anymore when good coffee (she does pour over on lazy mornings, but is often in a hurry) isn’t any more difficult or time consuming than the Hamilton Beach she got from Goodwill in undergrad 20 years ago. I’m ready impressed with the unit. physically it’s very compact and looks nice, with good quality materials, and the insulated carafe works great. Good pour, and it doesn’t retain too much coffee. The brew (I had bloom turned on) does a very credible impression of pour over. Well extracted, flat bed. A good cup of coffee. I’m impressed. Ground at about 14 on the Encore, 15:1 with a good washed anaerobic. If you want to get a good automatic drip without spending a ton (I got this for $60 on eBay, MSRP is closer to $200, I think), I recommend it, especially if you are space constrained.

Bought a Flair 58. Gotta have something to do.

No condensation under the crystal of the Pre-moon several hours after, so I would say it survived end-of-season birthday swim party.

Was on the phone with Cartier for a warranty service (not mine: a watch of my mother’s). I was given a date. I looked at my watch, which has no date dial (GRUT): fuck you Hodnnkee date window weirdos. Phonecall made me want to change watches. Wrist check: goes great with my Birkenstocks and basketball shorts. Also no date wheel. The Casa Fagliano straps are so much better than anything else in the Richemont group (JLC and ALS have the same strap suppliers, but only JLC gets the Casa Fagliano, first or second hand: third hand anything goes) that it’s sorta crazy. And I normally have custom straps made. FYI. Wish I had one on this.