I've been really focused on my photography the last week, taking a lot of pictures and spending hours in Adobe Photoshop. My employeer has given me funds to access an online training resource called lynda.com online learning library. It contains lots of high quality (video) instruction on all kinds of graphic software tools, like photoshop, illustrator, flash etc. I'm learning a lot from this and having fun. Here's a macro shot I did yesterday of my battle scarred reg barber tamper.
I took it in my kitchen utilizing the nice light from my large kitchen window.
Still playing with my Bodum Mini Santos. I think I'm doing it correctly now since the coffee is real nice. Still, I find the coffee from my OBH Nordica King of Coffee brewer to be more to my liking. It is specially engineered to brew at perfect temperature and time. I am not saying that it is a better brewer, just that I think I prefer drip. This is an important point that is often mentioned in the discussion groups when people get too caught up in the technique and technology of brewing: find out what *you* like. If you for instance prefer the taste of an espresso brewed outside of the normal parameters of 20-30 secs etc, then by all means do so, and don't feel guilty for not following the golden rules.
Just 3-4 weeks until my trip to Italy and the WBC. It will be interesting to try some espresso in the real italian coffee bars. I guess I will be disappointed by the coffee but thrilled by the atmosphere? If you know a great coffee bar / place in rome or trieste, please let me know by commenting this post. Btw, I really appreciate the comments you make to my posts. It is really motivating me to continue updating this blog.
I witnessed some nasty espresso brewing practices the other day. After work I stopped by a coffee bar / ice cream joint called "con Gusto" in the Grønland area of Oslo. I ordered a double americano and some nice italian ice cream. The guy proceeded to push the doser lever twice, and then *scooping* up some of the stale, spilt grounds from the tray at the base of the grinder! 5/17/2004 07:31:00 PM
