Newb just got a machine.

[muppet_man67]

Hey I just thought I would introduce myself. After reading this forum and others I instructed my girlfriend that I wanted a Silvia for my birthday. My birthday isnt until the 25th but hey I convinced her I could open it earlier. I have a Irebital Challenge (spelling) on order and couldnt wait so I bought some preground espresso coffee from the supermarket. Waaaay to course it just dumps in the cup in about 10 sec but I was surprised to find that it was not the worst cup ive ever had. (loads of room for improvement cant wait for my own grinder.) probably on par with what I get at uni.

I have a background in hospitality. When I was 16 I got a job working at a bakery/cafe in st.Kilda called Banjos.I worked there for over 4 years until it closed down, first as floor staff and making coffees, and then later on I got trained up as a breaky cook. I had great fun when they paid for me to do a 1 day coffee course at William Angliss. By the time I finished there I was cooking fulltime. I now cook/wait/make coffee at a place called FUBAR. The food is waaaay better which is nice when your a cook, because people now say nice things now about my food. The coffee is also better. (illy) and made more consistently.

Good forum guys.


Cheers Sam

[COFFEECHASER]

Re: Newb just got a machine.

Welcome aboard Sam and nice gear you are collecting there. You will certainly notice a difference with the grinder when you get it. Same grinder as mine. Be prepared to waste some beans when you dial it in though. Make sure you buy fresh beans, or roast your own.
Do you have a tamper? Well worth the investment. Hope the grinder gets to you soon.

Brett

[muppet_man67]

Re: Newb just got a machine.

yea the place Im buying it all from roasts coffee and is giving me 1kg when I go to pick up the grinder along with a stainless steel tamper, (hope it fits right why are they always too small :-/) if its no good I might get a pullman they look nice. and a knock box. Yea im happy to waste a bit of coffee to get the it right. Ive done it on commercial machines many times.

1 quick question. When I was looking at machines one of the things I was told about the Silvia was that it pours faster then a commercial machine. I didnt take it too seriously at the time but when I set the grind should I be aiming at a classic 30/30 shot, or does something else work better.

[Monkey]

Re: Newb just got a machine.

Hi Sam

Im new to CS too. Looks like there will be a few of us having fun tipping experiments down the drain for the next few days/weeks ;D

Ive graduated from a little Breville Cafe Roma and a Delonghi grinder which was all so easy!

[Javaphile]

Re: Newb just got a machine.

1 quick question. When I was looking at machines one of the things I was told about the Silvia was that it pours faster then a commercial machine. I didnt take it too seriously at the time but when I set the grind should I be aiming at a classic 30/30 shot, or does something else work better.

Stick to the 30/30 rule initially and then adjust it according to your tastes.


Java "Rules are just a guideline" phile

[marcstolk]

Re: Newb just got a machine.

1 quick question. When I was looking at machines one of the things I was told about the Silvia was that it pours faster then a commercial machine. I didnt take it too seriously at the time but when I set the grind should I be aiming at a classic 30/30 shot, or does something else work better.

Stick to the 30/30 rule initially and then adjust it according to your tastes.


Java "Rules are just a guideline" phile

Very good advice :-)

[Viviane]

Re: Newb just got a machine.

Welcome, muppet_man67 and Monkey. My Silvia is 2 months old, and Im still having a lot of fun with it, as well as making the odd really bad coffee. Plenty of good advice here, so hang in there.

muppet_man67, as a fellow chef Im not sure that Id want to be working in a place called FUBAR. Serving food that is beyond all repair or recognition????? :P

[Thundergod]

Re: Newb just got a machine.

Welcome Sam.
Sounds like your café experience will come in very handy for you new machine at home.



Viviane - not being a chef, I like my eggs "al a fubar" (just the way I make them myself).

[muppet_man67]

Re: Newb just got a machine.

haha its not the food that the name is in reference to but the staff.

Anyway I got the grinder this afternoon and spent the last hour getting the grind going. (i now understand what people mean by the adjustment being a pain on the iberital.) hopefully it wont be too much difference between decaf settings and regular.

Anyhow got the grind right and made myself a coffee. with the beans I was given with the machine. (a Vendor in St.Kildas House blend.) and WOW probably the best coffee I have ever made myself and right up there with the best Ive had.

Im a very happy boy right now.

I guess it just shows the massive difference between fresh roasted beans and the packed stuff that almost all cafes use. anyway before I drank it I took a photo

[PiccoloLatte]

Re: Newb just got a machine.

haha, nicely done.

I havent been game to post my attempts at art because theyre too crap. No problem with that one though.

Good luck with the new machine

[COFFEECHASER]

Re: Newb just got a machine.

Anyway I got the grinder this afternoon and spent the last hour getting the grind going. (i now understand what people mean by the adjustment being a pain on the iberital.)

Only an hour? Must be a new record   Clearly more experienced than me. I am sure you will be happy with it now you have done the initial setting though. Certainly a better looking coffee than I can produce as well. And even in a straight sided mug!
Fresh coffee makes a huge difference indeed.

[luca]

Re: Newb just got a machine.

Wow! Like coffeechaser said, those straight-sided cups are HARD to pour into!