105 posts later

Maldon Fireworks 8
Originally uploaded by goynang.

I began this blog a year ago. It was never set up to be a hardcore coffee blog (there are many, and they know coffee more than I do), I am just trying to pass along any interesting coffee related news.

105 posts later, more than a third are coffee related entries, and I hope I am doing a fair job to keep you entertained….

Tatjana Simic - Santa Maria

I like this song. It has a nice beat to it, with an eye candy singer that always helps...

Waiting In Line Like Everyone Else.

I have been doing the French Press since my machine went kaput. Once in awhile I get my caffeine fix like I did before I bought my espresso machine, waiting in line…

Merry Christmas, everybody!

All For You by Sister Hazel

The Latte Art Master - Kyle G.

hot chocolate
Originally uploaded by tonx.

This ex-Victrola barista/trainer from Seattle is one of the best barista and latte artists around. His fat Rosetta pours are simply beautiful and elegant. I had tried and failed miserably on such pours, and I have been waiting for someone like Kyle who can show us how to do it. It is about time! Kyle’s partner in crime, tonx (ex-Victrola roaster), got a clip on youtube. I sure picked up some pointers from the mid-pour during his demonstration.

If you are confused about tonx’s description for the video, is because they are now working for Intelligentsia, in LA!

Food Pairing: What To Drink With What You Eat.

Maybe you didn’t want to read what I wrote about food pairing with coffee or cappuccino, but you may be interested to read what the pros have to say.

In the book review section from Fresh Cup's December issue, it mentioned What to Drink with What You Eat, a guide to pair food with wine, beer, spirits, coffee, and tea. I have not read it, so do some DD before you buy this book. Hey, I am just a messenger.

Call On Me.

While I was cleaning out some clutter at my place, I found this old February 2005 issue of Man’s Fitness Magazine, and the link to this Fitness Video. Sorry ladies...Guys, enjoy!

Diagnosis: Not good!

I started up my machine this morning, everything looked jolly; the pressure and the temperature build up nice and smoothly. Once the machine reached its optimal temperature, I performed a dry run, and then turned on the steam valve. Oh my! It was like I had turned on the afterburner of a fighter jet, the pressure stayed above 1.0 bar throughout the duration of 60 seconds. Once I turned off the steam valve, the pressure build back up promptly. I went back to the machine after a short break and found the reading at zero. Dang, not a good sign.

I tried again this afternoon. Turned on the machine, and notta! I couldn’t even hear the heating element working at all. I rechecked the machine half an hour later, and the machine was still ice cold, a flat liner…Not good at all…

Almost New Again.

Well, the vacuum breaker valve has been replaced, but my machine is acting kinda strange. Initially it struggled to bring up the temperature with the lifeless steam (although I increased the boiler pressure setting). After a few false starts, it seems to go back to its old self slowly but surely, with 1.3 bar reading on the pressure gauge, up from 1.1 bar (I can't quantify the increase, but it sounds good to me). I’ll have to wait and see if the machine is truly ready, and I’ll get to play around with the extra steaming power...

Man On The Moon by REM.

Every time I hear this song, I remember the people I worked with, while finishing up my college days and shortly after . Those guys at this Chicago's top patent litigation firm are serious party animals. I am smiling right now, ear to ear, baby!

Leaky Leaky Valve.

I noticed my espresso machine losing the steam pressure in the middle of making my daily cappuccino last weekend. I called the place where I bought my machine yesterday afternoon, instead of selling the parts I didn’t need, they gave me a check list to go through.

Today, I removed the casing for the first time EVER to check the parts that help produce the tasty cappuccino I enjoy everyday (I know, I know, I am not a true coffeegeek), and I found the culprit – leaky vacuum breaker valve. I could hear the pressure escaping from the valve, and the condensation running down on it. I also took the opportunity to increase the pressure boost. More steaming power! Yeah! Arrr! Arrr! Arrr! I hope I’ll be able to replace the faulty part without breaking the machine. The truth is out, I am not handy!

How To Save A Life by The Fray.

When ABC first aired Grey's Anatomy in 2005, I was not a bit interested (however, I like the movie, “Gross Anatomy”.)

Now I find myself engrossed in the 3rd season of this primetime medical comedy drama, and its awesome theme song is always a plus.

Kathy, thank you for opening my eyes to this captivating show. (Kathy is my former manager on the trading floor at CBOE in the 90's, until she was promoted to head our corporate office in NYC. Earlier this year, she came back to be close to her family, and she sure brought the energy and life back to our Chicago office again!)

For a limited time only...

I am going to keep this for a week, then take it off..
It is too funny, so I decided to keep it.

The $50,000 Espresso.

Well, this "Espresso" is not made for drinking. It is a Book-on-Demand vending machine that can print in any language with the full color covers, glue, bind, and ready for you to read in less than 7 minutes.

Now, all you need is an espresso that you can actually enjoy while reading your newly minted book.