Comments for The Bean Vagrant

Comment on Base by Trevor

Trevor — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 21:53:59 +0000

Ah – Hope it suits – if you like it snug, with none of that compassing about with the north-sou’west malarkey, then it should.
Do watch out with anything other than the flat for the single basket though – mine was doing odd stuff today – even though compassion for them might not be a big concern..!
Wow a Cripple – very Avant-garde! But it’s the lights that matter, definitely.

Comment on Base by Hugo

Hugo — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 21:17:40 +0000

I’ve been procrastinating for months over a custom tamper to fit the baskets better, thanks for the measurement… very cool.

I think (hope) I’ll get a C Ripple…. with bells and flashing lights and things.

Comment on Cleaning – spouts. by thebeanvagrant

thebeanvagrant — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 18:28:59 +0000

Ah – a solution! …at a cost:

http://morecoffeehit.blogspot.com/2009/10/teflon-coated-portafilters.html

Or, more affordably (to continue answering my own question!), simply make sure to get that green scourer down into ‘the void’ vigorously by any means necessary!
My resolution at the moment is to try to be a very fastidious cleaner with our new machine, despite the bemused and harrassed looks from the dozen or so other staff that use the machine without the same level of respect!

Comment on Sohospro by thebeanvagrant

thebeanvagrant — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 17:43:30 +0000

Hope you find them as good as I did on the day.

Comment on Sohospro by Mark

Mark — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 13:30:47 +0000

Nice read. I’ll be sure to check out those places when I’m next in London.

Comment on Divided by Trevor

Trevor — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 20:02:56 +0000

I agree the extra time does allow for better texture more easily. When training new staff I always get them to use more milk than they need the first few times to give them more time to texture. Steaming small amounts is always fiddley, and risky, and perhaps with that extra time, a large pitcher will always actually have a better texture than a small… But I just find that once it’s been chopped-and-changed-about, the second/final portion never seems as nice. Maybe I’m too rosetta obsessed, but if the latte art doesn’t work so well, to me, it signifies other problems too – I think maybe it’s the emulsion breaking down too much, not to mention the temp…
But then, as you say, it might just be another skill to master.
Also, we use only semi skimmed organic, and I know when I practised with normal full fat last year, it made things generally more velvety, which could have an impact.
Oh no – the dredded fizzing milk! …It’s only a matter of time!

Comment on Divided by Hugo

Hugo — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 22:23:35 +0000

I think of dividing as just another skill to add to the mix. I love it and I’m currently playing at four cappuccinos from one gurt jug… no prizes for guessing why… but the time you get to texture that much milk makes is silky as hell. Evening out the foam perfectly is still beyond me but… If I work it out it will make 4 capps a really, really quick job.

Don’t forget that milk at this time of year can be a little ropey ‘cos the cows are getting all hormonal. When you swirl it, can you hear it fizzing?

Comment on Tamper base shape… by thebeanvagrant

thebeanvagrant — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 18:09:21 +0000

Everyone mostly used to borrow mine when they worked with me, but now they will mostly use the supplied (and rather nice) flat 53mm, whilst I keep my new RB (whatever spec it might be) mainly to myself (my prrecious!). Found it comfy before and think the handle’s good for me.

Comment on Cleaning – spouts. by thebeanvagrant

thebeanvagrant — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 18:03:49 +0000

Yep, that does sound easier!
Even if I got them off, it’d still be tricky to get them really clean inside. With a scourer, you can get the p/f brass nice n shiny in a few ticks, but getting a scouring pad into the spouts with the same force is probably impossible. Yet I doubt detergent and a brush will get them as clean as the rest of the inside of the p/f – but if the spouts aren’t as clean as the rest – why bother..?!
Makes a good case to go completely naked, but we use single shots in our smalls, so need some split doubles available.

Comment on Cleaning – spouts. by thebeanvagrant

thebeanvagrant — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 17:55:26 +0000

Thanks!
I tried (albeit a bit lamely) with a screwdriver, and a pair of pliers at the time, to no avail. Might need to try that spanner, or a vice, or better screwdriver …if I can’t clean them still-on with detergent.