Hi guys, i'm Marc André, new member from Montreal.

Been spending the last 2-3 years in the coffee forums feeding a habit for good espresso. Last father's day, my wife gave me a nice badger and some shaving cream she picked up from a shop in Montreal that has 3rd wave espresso and shaving equipment (yeah, very hipster-ish concept). It's Myriade's second coffee spot, should any of you be from Mtl.

I am an engineer and work in an industrial design firm. As such, I have a real inclination for things that are reduced to their simplest expression. There is usually an elegance and a certain level of "savoir faire" that is associated to theses things and this appeals to me. That is why i love manual espresso machines as well as fixed gear bikes. Straight razor shaving fits into this category as well and it seems my lovely wife has sent me down this new road.

So, i have a badger (i think it is a nice one, from baxter of california, badger hair silver tip). Now i am looking into a razor and strop.

This site has helped a lot in answering some questions. I'll see you guys in to forums once i've acquainted myself with my equipment and possibly screwed something up.