Hey–we’re a guest cup today on The Year of Coffee. What fun.
Seven months ago, I did not blog and had no espresso maker.
My old hand-me-down one had died, its hand-me-down replacement was a non-starter, and the sad, pathetic $30 replacement I bought in desperation (a cheapo Melitta on sale at Target) seeped steam out of every crack in a very high-pressure, scalding hot, frightening kind of way, and seemed like it just might explode into a million glass pieces. I knew that you could not make real espresso with a cheapo machine, even if you lived long enough to try repeatedly.
I knew you could make it in a stove-top Moka pot, and I have many friends who swear by them, but I loves me some crema on the espresso, and from what I’ve seen, the Mokas don’t do crema. I was also used to using a machine, and I liked the ritual of it.
So after some research, it was discovered that there are decent espresso machines for not-obscene amounts of money. But not for cheap. And we broke down and bought us one. And lo, it was good.
Understand, people, I do not own a stereo. I put up with a boom box and an ipod with some fancy speakers. But no stereo. The espresso machine had to come first.
Now every day is a good coffee day. I don’t know what kind of warm brown liquids all of y’all are into, and yes, I do appreciate black and herbal teas. But for me, when it comes to coffee, drip doesn’t hold a filter to a nice espresso or espresso-based drink. For the American in all of us, there’s the Americano (double espresso in a large mug, filled with boiling water)–a much purer and more nuanced taste than tired old drip, but no stronger. And as you can see from the top photo above, I do loves me a latte or cappucino. (Usually my home-made ones are, as in the photo, somewhere between the two.)
My good friends from Bosnia make hot sugary espresso in a Moka pot. They call it “coffee.”
The Sicilian’s mom makes espresso in a Moka pot. She calls it “black coffee”. Drip coffee, no matter what’s added to it (or not), is called “brown coffee.” After dinner, she asks everyone around the table, and everyone says, “brown coffee,” “black coffee,” “brown coffee,” etc.
Last September, I did not blog and had no espresso machine. By November, I was blogging when I could, and teaching a workshop for teachers on how to blog with their students, and drinking only the finest arabica, pressurized into beautiful, creamy espresso and espresso-based drinks.
If I had to give up one of these habits, I don’t want to say which one I’d choose. Either way, I’d be very grumpy.
7 comments ↓
So what espresso machine did you get?
It is a Gaggia Carezza. I got a super deal, but am still horrified to admit to my readers that I spent $175 on a coffee machine. It’s so decadent. Like I said, no stereo. But it’s a lovely machine and they are hard to get (and usually $200). There’s a huge leap between a $100 and $200 espresso machine. (A leap from hot cheap plastic to something involving some plastic that does not get hot.)
I have tried espresso machines. Bought one from Wal-Mart for $40. I sits under the sink. It is worth it for the hassle and the taste (for me) to buy one when I go out. I live in the Pacific Northwest, so espresson stands are only about five feet apart from each other…
I loved this post! I’ve been drinking espresso and keeping a diary since middle school, and if I had to give up one or the other, there’d be blood on the floor.
Carezza is an obscure Italian perversion. Heh.
I have yet to make the jump to a decent espresso maker. Or even a crappy espresso maker. I still use a piece of crap $10 coffee maker for my morning jolt, but I have at least graduated to decent grounds. But I do love lattes, so it’s only a matter of time before I get serious about it.
That was supposed to be a $10 maker, not a $1 maker. I’m not that cheap.
Brian–this espresso-making thing is a cult. But a benevolent one. You will never regret it.
Butcher–if your wal-mart one was anything like my Target one, under the sink’s a good place for it. Mind you, the pot from mine would have made a nice beaker for chemistry experiments or a vase for very small bulb-derived flowers.
Radio–i could very well be spelling Carezza wrong. But I know no Italian. Only a few swear words, and the words for “pig” and “feeling tired/sick/dopey” (neither of which I will be able to spell), which are regularly in use Chez Sicilian.
I am so, so glad these comments have not been along the lines of, “you spent WHAT on a coffee machine?” Cause you know I don’t have to blog to hear that. I can just call up my dad and tell him (no plans on telling him tho’).
The Sicilian is not impressed with the machine. He thinks we should buy Dunkin Donuts Hazelnut coffee. But we did once and it left a permanent chemically-nutty funk in the old Mr. Coffee. I was not impressed.