Morning Suprise from my Counter Culture Espresso

NOTE: Normally I would never do what am about to discuss, but alas, for the love of a woman…

So, I wake up this morning at the house after a couple of hard days on the road and the wife has the Faema warming up. I walk in asking why, because we have only enough CCC Aficionado espresso beans for about three grinds.

She replied, “Give it a shot, you never know.” So, I did. No grinder calibration. No test shot. No nothing. The first shot came out and looked fantastic and I made a cappuccino with that and she swore it was “right on target.”

I was stunned. So, I made a second cappuccino for myself with the second shot. It was great! I was taken away with how great it really was.

At last, the espresso was down far enough I had to take the hopper off of the Mazzer and hold my hand over the neck to grind. This was just a double shot of espresso and it was absolutly the best shot I have pulled in a long time.

No calibration shots! It is amazing to me. I guess the only explanation was as the beans aged they came right up to where the grind setting was. After all, the two days ago I dialed the grinder in on two shots and thought to myself that it could stand just a hair more fine, but I was afraid of going too far and settled for less than immaculate.

Coffee truly is amazing to me.

Happy Birthday Mrs. Nikki!

Happy Birthday WIFE! Twenty Six and counting!

²⁵ Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come. ²⁶ She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. ²⁷ She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. ²⁸ Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. ²⁹ Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. ³⁰ Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised. ³¹ Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.

The Holy Bible : King James Version. 1995 (electronic ed. of the 1769 edition of the 1611 Authorized Version.) (Pr 31:25-31). Bellingham WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

Counter Culture Aficionado, the second day

Mmmmm. Helios Cafe was good to me. This Aficionado is right on target. The espresso is just fantastic and it holds up well under the milk of a cappuccino; probably better than Tuscano (I grieve to admit that). To be fair, it probably works better than I poured four capps this morning and the texture was just on target.

If I did this for a living I would be a master, I know I could. Why? My wife says so!

Helios Cafe & Aficionado by Counter Culture

The family and I were in Raleigh yesterday looking bunk beds for the kids, it is Emma’s fourth birthday that is coming up on the 25th (the fact that it is the fourth is INSANE). We stopped by Helios Cafe in downtown Raleigh. Helios has a brand new two group La Marzocco GB/5 that they purchased from Counter Culture (I remember that thing sitting in the crate last time I was there). What a sweet machine! They were producing some sweet espresso and the capps had incredible texture on the milk. The wife even commented that the GB/5 was just flat out keeping up with the demand (they were “off the hook” busy in there).

I got a double shot of Aficionado and a cappuccino. The wife had a cappuccino as well and Anna had a decaf double shot of Aficionado. She loves espresso. I brought home a pound of Ethiopian Yirg and a pound of Aficionado to feed the beast!

This morning was great. I made Nikki a press of Ethiopian Yirg to take to the office (she is working with Daddy this week while our Secretary is on vacation) and a cappuccino “to-go.” Anna and I had a ball making double shots and capps. And let me tell you, the Aficionado was smokey as ever and right on target. Almost as good as Tuscano, but not quite.

We really enjoyed a quite morning shook up by the Mazzer and the Faema. A little whining, grinding and swirling noise is good first thing in the morning!