My midlife crisis purchase

[Aardvark]

Capresso 1300 super-automatic. (http://www.wholelattelove.com/Capresso/C1300.cfm)

As I told my wife, at least it's cheaper than a sportscar.

[albionmoonlight]

A $1000 coffee machine?

Please enlighten me. What makes this better than a $50 espresso machine that one could get at Walmart?

I'm not challenging you. I'm just curious. How much better can a cup of coffee be?

[Ragone]

i'd say its more of a mid life quandry myself

[Ksyrup]

For $1K, I'd expect better than a 6.0 rating...

[Ragone]

For 1k.. the thing better predict exactly what i want.. and have it made when i get to it

oh and clean itself too

[rkmsuf]

Maybe you can have sex with it as well.

[Aardvark]

A $1000 coffee machine?

Please enlighten me. What makes this better than a $50 espresso machine that one could get at Walmart?

I'm not challenging you. I'm just curious. How much better can a cup of coffee be?

A lot.

Proper espresso requires about 18 atmospheres of pressure. This is only achievable by a machine using a pump (either electric or manual.) The old-style espresso machine with a manual pump (looks like a long lever) makes great espresso, but takes years to learn how to do right. Semi-automatics have electric pumps, but still require you to grind the coffee, tamp it, and then deal with the grounds. To get a grind fine and regular enough for proper espresso, you need a burr grinder, and that alone is typically $150 bucks for a decent one.
The fully automatic machines handle the grinding for you, and dispose of the grinds. (You just empty them about once every ten or so cups.) They also can make “caffe crema”, which is essentially like making espresso but with 6-8 oz of water as opposed to 1.5. It is about as strong as good drip coffee, but tastes better and is less acidic.
The operation is very quick as well. It takes about two minutes to warm up, and then each cup of coffee takes a minute.
Two things I’ve noticed about the new machine are:
1. I’m still having trouble frothing milk (it comes out more steamed than frothed), but this is probably just me taking time to get used to this machine. I had a similar learning curve on the previous boiler machine.
2. It uses up coffee faster than our traditional method. It used to be that we used three scoops in the morning, I think this one uses four. It also might be that in the past my wife and I alternated making coffee, so I only saw us run out of beans about half the time.

[rkmsuf]

As I sit here with a cup of McDonald's coffee that resembles mud, I cannot relate to your world.

[Ksyrup]

Well hell, if all you needed was a pump, you should have called this guy...


"Pump" Judge Gets Popped

Charge former Oklahoma jurist with exposing self on bench

<META content="Pump Judge Gets Popped" name=TITLE>http://www.thesmokinggun.com/graphics/art3/0121051inside1.jpg JANUARY 21--The Oklahoma judge who was forced from the bench last year for using a penis pump in court (among other really gross acts) was charged yesterday with indecent exposure for his judicial indiscretions. Donald Thompson, 58, entered a not guilty plea yesterday to three felony counts during an appearance in Creek County District Court, where he worked until resigning last August. According to the below yucky probable cause affidavit, Thompson exposed himself during three separate 2003 cases (two of which were murder trials). For example, on May 13, while he was presiding over State v. Kurt Arnold Vomberg (who was accused of killing his girlfriend's 21-month-old daughter), Thompson loudly pumped himself up. Two court employees told investigators that they saw Thompson (pictured in the mug shot at right) attach the suction device to his penis, while five jurors reported hearing whooshing sounds, which they thought were coming from either a bicycle pump, blood pressure cuff, or an air cushion on the judge's chair. After a January 7 search of Thompson's former courtroom and chambers yielded items that tested positive for seminal fluid, investigators secured a search warrant (http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/0121051judge5.html) to obtain a DNA sample from the ex-jurist. During testimony last year before the Council on Judicial Complaints, Thompson denied masturbating on the bench, using the penis pump, or depositing urine or semen into a wastebasket under his bench. Thompson's demise was triggered by a complaint (http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/0624041pump1.html) filed against him last June by the Oklahoma Attorney General, who sought to oust the jurist for a variety of illicit behavior, which the AG detailed in a removal petition. Along with using the penis pump, Thompson also allegedly shaved and oiled his private parts, according to accounts given to state investigators by a clerk, trial witnesses, and a court reporter. If convicted of the indecent exposure counts, Thompson could face a maximum of 10 years in prison on each charge.

[rkmsuf]

that guy has no trouble producing frothing milk.

[Farrah Whitworth-Rahn]

Good lord, and I thought Arlie wanting a $4,000 TV was bad.

[cuervo72]

As I sit here with a cup of McDonald's coffee that resembles mud, I cannot relate to your world.

The McDonalds I stop at makes ok coffee...

[rkmsuf]

The McDonalds I stop at makes ok coffee...

Mine tastes like ass today.

[FrogMan]

Mine tastes like ass today.
you've actually tasted ass before???

FM

[rkmsuf]

you've actually tasted ass before???

FM

This morning in the form of coffee. At least it's how I always imagined it.

[Ksyrup]

This morning in the form of coffee. At least it's how I always imagined it.
Must be the hazelnut.

[albionmoonlight]

you've actually tasted ass before???

FM
Remember he did spend some time in the Box. We don't know what all goes on in there.

[rkmsuf]

Remember he did spend some time in the Box. We don't know what all goes on in there.

*shivers*

[wade moore]

This morning in the form of coffee. At least it's how I always imagined it.

You've imagined what ass tastes like?

[rkmsuf]

You've imagined what ass tastes like?

Yes. Is that wrong?

[Ksyrup]

It's more right than actually tasting it, I imagine.

[bbor]

Yum...ASS!....I've always been an assman.

[albionmoonlight]

I hereby nominate this discussion for threadjack of the year.

[rkmsuf]

Note to self.

Mentioning ass in any thread can only be good.

[Huckleberry]

A lot.

Proper espresso requires about 18 atmospheres of pressure. This is only achievable by a machine using a pump (either electric or manual.) The old-style espresso machine with a manual pump (looks like a long lever) makes great espresso, but takes years to learn how to do right. Semi-automatics have electric pumps, but still require you to grind the coffee, tamp it, and then deal with the grounds. To get a grind fine and regular enough for proper espresso, you need a burr grinder, and that alone is typically $150 bucks for a decent one.
The fully automatic machines handle the grinding for you, and dispose of the grinds. (You just empty them about once every ten or so cups.) They also can make “caffe crema”, which is essentially like making espresso but with 6-8 oz of water as opposed to 1.5. It is about as strong as good drip coffee, but tastes better and is less acidic.
The operation is very quick as well. It takes about two minutes to warm up, and then each cup of coffee takes a minute.
Two things I’ve noticed about the new machine are:
1. I’m still having trouble frothing milk (it comes out more steamed than frothed), but this is probably just me taking time to get used to this machine. I had a similar learning curve on the previous boiler machine.
2. It uses up coffee faster than our traditional method. It used to be that we used three scoops in the morning, I think this one uses four. It also might be that in the past my wife and I alternated making coffee, so I only saw us run out of beans about half the time.
I can't imagine caring that much about coffee.

[sabotai]

Good lord, and I thought Arlie wanting a $4,000 TV was bad.

If it's wrong to want a $4000 TV, I don't want to be right. :p

[3ric]

I can't imagine caring that much about coffee.
Paging CoffeeWarlord. Paging CoffeeWarlord!

[Farrah Whitworth-Rahn]

If it's wrong to want a $4000 TV, I don't want to be right. :p
It's not wrong, just pricey. I do want him to have it though, and now that we have settled some legal issues, he can get it. :)

[JeeberD]

The Cappucino machine we have at OG cost around $15,000, and that was a discounted price since OG bought them in bulk for most of their restaurants. Individually they supposedly cost around $25,000...

[Franklinnoble]

English Breakfast Tea.

End of discussion.

[Farrah Whitworth-Rahn]

English Breakfast Tea.

End of discussion.
You drink tea? :eek:

[rkmsuf]

Cappuicino is the biggest scam on the public ever.

25 grand to make foamy coffee?

[Glengoyne]

There is something to his assertion that "proper" espresso tastes better than the stuff most of us can make at home with our $60 espresso machines. I don't think I could indulge quite so much as Aardvark, but I do appreciate a nice cup of coffee.

When you mention acidity, I wouldn't think the brewing process would have much effect on that. If I want to control acidity I choose a different coffee. I don't hardly ever drink anything from South America, because of the acidity. I have been sticking to African and Indonesian beans once I discovered the differences.

[sterlingice]

The good news is that you'll offset the cost of getting Starbucks in roughly 3 days ;)

SI

[Eaglesfan27]

It's not wrong, just pricey. I do want him to have it though, and now that we have settled some legal issues, he can get it. :)
Congrats on settling the legal issues.

[Aardvark]

Cappuicino is the biggest scam on the public ever.

25 grand to make foamy coffee?

It's probably a commercial machine, so it will be ten times more rugged. The price still seems a bit steep, but I imagine that it might be intended for very heavy usage and be capable of more than two cups at a time.

I used to work at a community radio station and, until we broke down and spent two grand or so on a commercial CD player we were burning through consumer models at a rate of one every two months.

[Aardvark]

There is something to his assertion that "proper" espresso tastes better than the stuff most of us can make at home with our $60 espresso machines. I don't think I could indulge quite so much as Aardvark, but I do appreciate a nice cup of coffee.

When you mention acidity, I wouldn't think the brewing process would have much effect on that. If I want to control acidity I choose a different coffee. I don't hardly ever drink anything from South America, because of the acidity. I have been sticking to African and Indonesian beans once I discovered the differences.

Different components of the coffee are extracted at a different rate. Essentially, the espresso method minimizes the amount of time hot water is in contact with the ground coffee ending up in extracting nearly as much of the flavor compounds (which is why you use a little more coffee than with traditional drip) but less of the acid and a little less caffeine.

The french press method also results in less acidic coffee since the water, although it starts boiling, is not kept heated. The grounds are coarser than drip, but the water is kept in contact with the grounds longer.

[Kodos]

I prefer to drink Cherry Coke. Maybe I should spend $1,000 on my own fountain beverage center. ;)

[Huckleberry]

Cappuicino is the biggest scam on the public ever.
Diamonds.

[sterlingice]

I prefer to drink Cherry Coke. Maybe I should spend $1,000 on my own fountain beverage center. ;)
Party at the alien's place!

SI

[Kodos]

Well worth the hassle of intergalactic travel!

[DanGarion]

But you could have made an inexpensive one yourself!


http://www.engadget.com/entry/1234000730027817/

[Glengoyne]

Diamonds.

Ah now that is the truth of it.

[SunDancer]

It's not wrong, just pricey. I do want him to have it though, and now that we have settled some legal issues, he can get it. :)

A wife thats good lookin, like sports and allows her husband to buy a huge, top-end television to watch more sports....

[Farrah Whitworth-Rahn]

A wife thats good lookin, like sports and allows her husband to buy a huge, top-end television to watch more sports....
I extract my price for such luxuries, don't be fooled.

[Subby]

Congrats not only on your purchase, but being at a place in your life where you can completely overspend on something that brings you happiness.

I look forward to the day I can plop down 75K for a Porsche 911 convertible...

[sterlingice]

I look forward to the day I can plop down 75K for a Porsche 911 convertible...
Ditto :D

SI

[SunDancer]

Congrats not only on your purchase, but being at a place in your life where you can completely overspend on something that brings you happiness.

I look forward to the day I can plop down 75K for a Porsche 911 convertible...

mmmm....Porsche.......75k? Thats it. I though the 911s were alittle more expensive, with the Boxster and the fugly-SUV in the lower-price range.

I hope Jeebs doesn't read this. :)

[Coffee Warlord]

I can't imagine caring that much about coffee.

You're on the list now, bucko.

[SunDancer]

I extract my price for such luxuries, don't be fooled.

So I take it you get the next big luxury purchase. :D

[terpkristin]

This thread caught my eye for some or the other odd reason, and it turns out to be one that is highly entertaining for me!

I too own a Capresso espresso machine, though mine is the Capresso mini-s (http://www.zaccardis.com/capresso-mini-s-espresso-maker.html)
I love making espresso in the morning, but so far my biggest gripe with it (and I've had it for about a year and a quarter or so) is that my roommate doesn't clean out the basket...EVER. Well, that and my frother leaves a bit to be desired, too. I honestly rarely use it anymore, opting instead to steam (not froth) some milk on the stove or pop it in the micro for 90 seconds.

Oh well, what can you do. Yeah, I'd probably not have spent $949 on an espresso machine, but I might be singing a different tune if I were a) a little older with b) a stable job and c) a true love of coffee. So far, I only have "c" so I gotta wait a bit. :D

On a comletely different vein, I found this earlier today at Engadget and it seems mildly appropriate. Being an engineer, I might have to do it for kicks. :p How-To: Make a cheap portable espresso machine (http://www.engadget.com/entry/1234000730027817/).

Hope you enjoy the new toy!

/tk

[Coffee Warlord]

c) a true love of coffee. So far, I only have "c" so I gotta wait a bit. :D


Marry me.

[oliegirl]

That machine is so beautiful, it almost brought tears to my eyes! I wanted to register for a super expensive coffee maker, but my mother wouldn't let me, and I fear radii might have gone into shock if I had. He couldn't believe I registered for (and received) and $75 teapot, let alone a $1000 coffee maker!!! :)

Enjoy your coffee, and if you ever travel to Atlanta, bring it with you and make me a cup ;)