Intro and Howdy from newbie Coffee Snob

[scoota_gal Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close scoota_gal]

Hi all.

I just wanted to say hi and this appeared to be the best place to do it.

I have been visiting this site for a year now and have only just decided that you all seem okay to talk to!!

No, seriously I thought it was about time I joined in on some of your conversations as they all look good!

I wont tell you too much about myself just yet, just like a good cup of coffee, I will let you discover that for yourself!!

Suffice to say, I have over the years progressed from coffee drinker to coffee snob through a process of learning from as many sources as I am able to.

Once I see what sort of a reaction you have to me, Ill let you know what machine setup I have!! (cause its not all that impressive but we like it!)

[robusto Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close robusto]

Re: Intro and Howdy from newbie Coffee Snob

Suffice to say I for one am really impressed by your name alone: Scoota gal--- a touch of adventuresness, amiability, perhaps a free spirit, self-effacing.....

Robusto

[mbg963 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close mbg963]

Re: Intro and Howdy from newbie Coffee Snob

Welcome SG!

We may be coffee snobs, but were not SNOBS . No need to be shy so fess-up on the set-up.

Cheers,

Matt

[TEPIN Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close TEPIN]

Re: Intro and Howdy from newbie Coffee Snob

HI Scoota Gal,
Dont take too much Notice Of the God Shot Comments, Every Now and Then we all get one and IMHO its a Personal thing, I Have a 17yr old Mas Espresso that make nice Shots but would be Poo Hooed by Experts, I Also Have a Commercial 2 Group Gaggia that am Slowly restoring, and will put it in my Kitchen, I am resolving the 13 litre Boiler Issue and the 4000 Watt Issue at the same time..
FWIW Up at the Pistol Club we have no Power and I have Taken up my old 1970s Atomic and Made Coffee for the Crew..
FWIW Our Neighbour at The Pistol Club has Pulled all the Bananas out and is Staring to Plant Coffee, 27 Hectares North Facing..

Tepin

[Habit Member Find all posts View Profile Close Habit]

Re: Intro and Howdy from newbie Coffee Snob

Again, and from a fellow newbie, welcome SG,

Heres to a fulfilling journey.

This is truly a marvelous and rewarding place to spend time.

Regs,

Jeff.

[scoota_gal Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close scoota_gal]

Re: Intro and Howdy from newbie Coffee Snob

Thanks guys for the welcome! (where are all the girls!? )

I have a humble Sunbeam Cafe Series machine (the one with the dial, not buttons!) and a Starbucks Barista grinder (otherwise known as a DeLonghi) and I usually have Costa Noosa Espresso blend beans (which I get mail order due to my location!)

Though, having just returned from a jaunt to Melbourne for a certain sporting event, I came across Cottles in South Melbourne and have some of their terrific Supreme Espresso and Classic blend. Very chocolately the Supreme and very earthy the Classic.

So yes I can pull some great coffee from my little machine! I am dreaming of a Rancilio Silvia and perhaps Ill pair it up with the new Sunbeam grinder which I have had a play with and am impressed by it. Though to satisfy my cravings for a better machine, three times a week I get to play with a Brasilia Portofino for work!

[rayzurhed Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close rayzurhed]

Re: Intro and Howdy from newbie Coffee Snob

scoota gal~ Im dreaming the same dream (about the silvia and sunbeam grinder)~ are we related?
Im at the bottom of a steep learning curve too, though every step is exciting.
I wonder how many gals there are in the snobs ranks?
Anyway- welcome aboard!

[Matt_King Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Matt_King]

Re: Intro and Howdy from newbie Coffee Snob

Hi SG. Nothing wrong with a little sunbeam in your life. Mine has the buttons, but they otherwise do basically the same job.

If you have the chance, chop the bottom out of the pressurised filters. That, plus a good grind with freshly roasted beans, and youre halfway to happiness.

[Boris Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Boris]

Re: Intro and Howdy from newbie Coffee Snob

Gday Scoota Gal,
Welcome. Im fairly sure youre not alone. There used to be a female CS who had something to say about everything, cant remember her name though, hasnt been active recently. I guess as long as you dont try and turn this site into a cooking forum or animal show, well listen to just about anything to do with coffee.

Remember, no such thing as a stupid question, cause there always someone else who wants to know but is too scared to ask.

Boris

[scoota_gal Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close scoota_gal]

Re: Intro and Howdy from newbie Coffee Snob

Gday Scoota Gal,
I guess as long as you dont try and turn this site into a cooking forum or animal show, well listen to just about anything to do with coffee.
Boris

Thanks for the welcome and heads up, Boris!

I cant imagine why I would try to turn a perfectly good coffee forum into a cooking or animal show!? Im here for anything to do with coffee!

[Kualityman Member Find all posts View Profile Close Kualityman]

Re: Intro and Howdy from newbie Coffee Snob

New to the game or should I say art...me too and im into Sunbeams and a Delonghi KG100. It is a voyage of discovery, of complete distaste and of complete enthrolment when one produces a great brew.
The challenge is to know how to use what youve got and understand the fundamentals required to produce what you like and then be able to reproduce that time after time. Be bold experiment and tell us what you discover good or bad. Enjoy the journey.

[scoota_gal Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close scoota_gal]

Re: Intro and Howdy from newbie Coffee Snob

Hi there, Kualityman!

It is an interesting journey and in many ways similar to driving a car.

How is that??

Well, I think that you can know how to drive your own car, much like you can know how to get the best coffee out of your machine and then the day you get into a different car you have to give yourself time to get used to driving something different.

I used my friends Sunbeam (the new one with the professional size group head - sorry I cant remember the model name!) and found that I couldnt get it to produce a great coffee like I could on my own. But after a few goes, a bit of experimenting and some bloody awful coffees I began to get into the swing and get it right!!

[lennier Member Find all posts View Profile Close lennier]

Re: Intro and Howdy from newbie Coffee Snob

Welcome to the fray SG
Glad to see you discovered the wonders of South Melbourne (my stomping ground) and Cottle, who generally do some nice beans. When Im not roasting my own or splashing out a bit more for some lovely St Ali beans Ill generally be found consuming Cottles Espresso Supreme. If you make it down again Id highly recommend trying something from St Ali (both drinking in house and grabbing some beans), perhaps their Blend X!

Ciao,

Dennis

[scoota_gal Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close scoota_gal]

Re: Intro and Howdy from newbie Coffee Snob

Dennis,

Thanks for that welcome! Where exactly is St Ali in South Melbourne??

Ill tell my girlfriend if its close by and get her to grab me some of their beans! What would you recommend getting from them?

[TC . Find all posts View Profile Close TC]

Re: Intro and Howdy from newbie Coffee Snob

Hi Scoota- All about St Ali can be found at http://www.stali.com.au/. Its very much worth a visit....as is Maling Room in Canterbury. These guys are producing near best, if not best coffee in Victoria....

Chris