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| Tuesday, December 23, 2003 |
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The best Christmas gifts any coffee freak can get. Or give. 
| | This is my third Barista machine. The first was called the Estro Vapore, but it was almost identical. The unit has a two year guarantee, and if you use it heavily it should last at least that long. Starbucks (which bought the Italian company that makes the unit) has been steadily improving the quality over the years, without changing the basic well-proven design. (My last one, for example, had a brushed-metal surface on basic steel, and developed a rust problem. The current model, shown above, also available in a variety of colors, is solid stainless steel, and sturdier than its predecessors. |
| | Simply put, the Barista is the best machine for the money on the market. You have to spend a lot more to get a better machine. Take Peets Coffee stores, for example. They sell a commercial-grade machine for about $1200, plus a Gaggia machine for $350. I've met some people who swear by the Gaggia; but for me it's too tall and too plasticy. The Barista fits nicely under a counter, making it easy to move out of the way. |
| | Right now Starbucks stores have the Barista machine on sale for $299 (normally $399) and the grider for $99 (normally $129). Both are a heckuva deal. |
| | The Barista does two things a good cappuccino machine needs to be able to do: 1) steam milk properly, with real steam from a wand that's long enough to reach down into a steaming flask — and not some annoying "frothing" gimmick; and 2) produce strong espresso, in a dark black stream that tans to crema, from properly ground beans, and quickly. |
| | The Barista grinder is a relatively new product, sold only in Starbucks stores (it's not on the Web site, for some dumb reason) and it's so durn handy it knocks me out. First, it's easy to pour out one mix of beans and put in another (impossible with my old grider). Second, the grind settings are accurate and easy to adjust. Third, the ground coffee accumulates in an easily removable little container. Fourth, it's not too big. All huge plusses. It also grinds very evenly, which is a must for proper espresso extraction. |
| | As for coffee, Starbucks varieties are generally fine (I like Cafe Verona best), but nothing in the U.S. beats Peets. Nothing. Don't even bother trying. I've sampled hundreds of local coffee shops all over the country, and haven't found a one that's Peets equal. (Unrelated: both Peets and Starbucks Web sites are remarkably bad, considering.) |
| | If price is no object, and aesthetics matter hugely to you, the hand-made Salvatore machines are impossible to beat. Amazing. I've written about them before, here. |
| | Bonus link: a reader points to Isomac machines, some of which are in the same price range and certainly look cool. He testifies: |
| | We have a Millennium model and have used it daily for about 3 years with no problems. Even though it seems expensive, if you consider $4 x 2 people x 365 for Starbucks, it pays for itself quickly. They are very solidly built and have a nice powerful pump, plus keep their pressure well for making cup after cup in a row. Also, regarding Starbucks coffee, both my wife and I think it is horrible - it tastes burnt. We agree that Peets is good, but next time you make it to San Francisco, try Capricorn Coffees - a small roaster on 10th St in South of Market. Amazingly good and *cheap*!! They sell primarily to restaurants, but you can buy directly through their small storefront. Besides, we'd rather support small local businesses than the evil empire. |
Christmas is foreplay
Prorora
| | Got pointed to an interesting picture of a proton halo on the arctic crown of the Earth. Proton halos produce an interesting ultraviolet variant on what we normally seen during the height of the Aurora Season, currently happening in the far northern hemisphere. |
| | After an amazing October and November, December is turning out to be rather quiescent for auroral activity. At least so far. Watch SpaceWeather.com for updates. |
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