Thursday, June 17, 2004


gratitude meets the eagle

first, let me thank eric case. what a doll! i'm so grateful for his selection of bccy as a "blog of note."

and let me thank those kind enough to click on over here too. i deeply appreciate your supportive email.

that's how the morning found me when i received a call from don schoenholt of gillies, who had a customer looking for a modern espresso machine for the home with that antique copper-and-brass-eagle look.

i myself love these kinds of machines, and if i had taller cabinets at home, or a nice clear kitchen island, you'd bet i'd have one pronto. when considering these machines, the first question you have to ask yourself: lever (manual) or push-button (semi-automatic).

the lever machines look the loveliest, but take longer to learn to use properly, which is why i usually recommend that the non-patient get a semi-auto.

i personally have had experience pulling shots on two brands of these antique-looking makers: the expobar athenea and the elektra microcasa sx.

the expobar has the most authentic retro look, and in my experience expobar machines are quite reliable. however, it's really large: about 30 inches tall!

if you want a slightly scaled-down take on that same look, the elektra might be better for you at only 23 inches high.

i really loved pulling shots on the chrome version of this machine at the scaa consumer member espresso lab in atlanta earlier this year, even tho' i found that after pulling a couple of shots the machine seemed to run a tad hot. . .but both machines make great coffee once you perfect your barista skills.

another question you'll want to consider when evaluating these machines is how much milk you intend to steam. will you be drinking mostly lattes and cappuccinos or are you a straight espresso person?

both of these semi-autos are so-called heat exchanger or "hx" machines, and have large boilers, so you can steam plenty of milk to create lots of coffee drinks in good time. some might find the manual versions don't quite have the same steaming capacity.

finally, when buying a machine of this caliber, you have to remember to get a quality espresso grinder as well. the best espresso is made from fresh beans freshly ground just before you pull the shot. otherwise, you'll be disappointed with the taste and crema of the drink!

and speaking of consumer members, let me take this moment to remind you all of my nyc coffee event on june 27 and 28 -- don't miss out! email me with the link below to reserve a space.

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