Need some input

[mosesbotbol]

Originally Posted by floydpink

I'm completely anal and obsessed.

I can't get over it if my espresso pull is faster than 25 seconds to make 1.75 oz shots, 30 seconds being optimal. I have a timer and push it the second the shot starts and break stuff if it comes out too fast.

I don't use a timer. If I like the angel hair thick streams of coffee and it appears to be in the 20's, I am happy.

[Costa]

Thank you all, I have reached my decisions.

Ordered a Technivorm Moccamaster. Also getting the Macap M-4. But if you guys and gals would help me with one last decision; stepped or non-stepped on the grinder. I will be using it for both daily coffee and stove-top espresso until I get the machine. Seems stepped is the way to go, would you all agree?

Again, thank you all for educating me and sending me swiftly down the coffee slope.

Any bean websites and maybe some of you favorites beans to try for day-to-day coffee would help as well! Thanks again!

[floydpink]

Congrats on a very good decision. You can consider your grinder buying finished forever probably, and that is the heart of the whole operation. No upgradeitis for you in the grinder department.

I say get the stepless and figure out one time where the coffee grind setting works best, put a little felt marker dot on it and do the same for your espresso mark.

I had a stepped grinder and find a lot in between numbers that makes little differences that most don't worry about, but I do.

You'll spend a good deal of time looking at your dial and will probably make marks, or use little arrow stickers to know where certain points, like absolute zero are. (more on that later) It's all part of the fun and is very rewarding once you get dialed in to your commercial grinder.

I went further and took off the ring with the numbers, spray painted it the same color as the silver machine, and painted black notches carefully where the numbers are.

Unless you are changing multiple times a day, it won't be a hassle at all and the adjustment will be easy. 20-30 seconds of turning will move the grinder settings more than enough for both grinds.

You could always do like others in your situation and pull off the knob and replace it with a guitar winder which can be had for a buck or two. Once you do that, you'll cruise through the settings and probably enjoy your handywork.

The main point of the Macap, in my opinion, is the infinite adjustment of the worm drive and without it, you still have an awesome grinder for life, but might wonder how that shot would be in between two numbers.

In any event, nice job. It was fun to watch you wrestle with this and I can't wait until machine time comes.

[floydpink]

Originally Posted by Costa

Thank you all, I have reached my decisions.

Ordered a Technivorm Moccamaster. Also getting the Macap M-4. But if you guys and gals would help me with one last decision; stepped or non-stepped on the grinder. I will be using it for both daily coffee and stove-top espresso until I get the machine. Seems stepped is the way to go, would you all agree?

Again, thank you all for educating me and sending me swiftly down the coffee slope.

Any bean websites and maybe some of you favorites beans to try for day-to-day coffee would help as well! Thanks again!

http://coffeegeek.com/forums for hours of fun reading regarding coffee machines and equipment, and for beans, I find Sweetmarias as good as it gets if you're roasting. Their customer service is the best.

Until then, Unclebeanz is great and I am hardpressed to find a better espresso blend than Intelligencia's Black Cat Espresso or Stumptown Hairbender.

I also would be glad to send you some of my own roast if you want.

[Costa]

Originally Posted by mosesbotbol

If you want to save money... Have you checked Craigslist? Grinders and machines come and go all the time.

The Rocky is stepped. When the grind comes to espresso, you still have a swing of 3 steps in getting the grind "just right", so although it is not infinite, you'll hit the sweet spot. The Silva does maintain temperature as steady as the high end machines, but you still end up with a nice espresso.

I am not as perfection obessed as I use to be with espresso. As long as it comes out within in time, I am happy. If the comes out more on one side than the other, I don't shed a tear.

Thank you! For the price, I'm better off with the Macap, its just that the statement that said "not for coffee use" scared me, as I will be using it for my coffee until I get the "real" espresso machine this summer. Again, thank you.

[ashtonlady]

Yes it is a Capresso MT 500.

[ashtonlady]

I agree with Uncle Beanz

[Costa]

Originally Posted by ashtonlady

I agree with Uncle Beanz

Thank you! I will check into that ASAP!

[ashtonlady]

yes

[Costa]

Originally Posted by ashtonlady

yes

yes on the gold filters?

[mosesbotbol]

I am surprised you are not going to use a French Press and Thermos. You get the advantages of keep coffee warm, yet the quality of the French Press coffee. No filters or electricity.

I fill a Thermos up and pour the rest as my first cup.

[Costa]

Originally Posted by mosesbotbol

I am surprised you are not going to use a French Press and Thermos. You get the advantages of keep coffee warm, yet the quality of the French Press coffee. No filters or electricity.

I fill a Thermos up and pour the rest as my first cup.

I am definitely going to play around with the french press. The problem is the wife gets up earlier, and gets the coffee on. Tough enough time to get her to grind ("I have to grind?"), hence the Technivorm. I am the coffee person on the weekends, where I intend to "play" more.

But I wanted to make the upfront investment on a top of the line grinder, as it seems to be the foundation of it all.