Thread: Coffee Enthusiasts

Managed to pick up this Vibiemme Domobar Junior HX for a good price second hand. Goes well with the recent grinder upgrade. Now to learn this machine to get the most out of it

I upgraded my espresso machine recently!

Originally Posted by joelkerr

I upgraded my espresso machine recently!

I remain terrified of going down that "rabbit hole". Still, it's a gorgeous machine and a beautiful piece of art. Enjoy!

I finally broke down and bought a Keurig Smart pod brewer. It produces very good coffee. Not the best I ever had, but it's easy and quick. My Moka pots and Braun Espresso Machine have sat idle since last fall when I acuired the Keurig.

I have so much coffee in unopened bags in the freezer, it's ridiculous. At this rate, even with using the Keurig make-your-own-pods system, it will be a decade or more before I use all of my coffee. I may end up donating some to whomever will take it. I have factory sealed bags of whole bean and ground, so they should go fast. I have a friend that keeps giving me large quantities of Melaluca mountain cabin coffee for Christmas. I think I have six or eight 1 lb bags sitting in the freezer now.

Anyway I may put on the Moka pot tomorrow.

Anyone here adept at brewing "Flat White" espresso/coffee? I really am a fan. I have never tried brewing that at home, only via Lavazza and Starbucks stores nationally. Just wondering what your methodology is for a flat white, if you ever brew them. Thanks.

Speaking of Starbucks, I was in London and Paris in 2010 and I clearly remember lines out the door at Starbucks in London. Yet Cafe Nero, that I much prefer over Starbucks, were relatively emply by comparison. It must be the old addage that "You Can't Be A Profit In Your Own Land" ruling this preference. If Cafe Nero were in the US, I believe they would be very successful. Moreso than Starbucks that is in their "own land" here.

When I go to Chicago. Or went to Chicago. I'm not sure I'd be comfortable going to Chicago today. Anyway, I am a fan of Lavazza coffee shops there. They are usually not that busy. While Starbucks is still packed. So maybe the "Profit In Your Own Land" theory of mine does not hold water after all. You'd think Lavazza would be very popular because it's very good coffee, and a Lavazza Cafe is unique to many Americans, although perhaps not to many Chicagoans.

Originally Posted by JBHoren

I remain terrified of going down that "rabbit hole". Still, it's a gorgeous machine and a beautiful piece of art. Enjoy!

A Moka Pot was my last acquisition for home brew Espresso, JB. I do have a Braun Espresso Maker that I bought many moons ago, but it's not a pumper. It's just steam generated for brew and milk frothing. But it works great. I just started to Moka Pot my Espresso about 10 years ago and stuck with it. I'd microwave the milk and use one of those hand frothers to froth the milk up.


If I went down the high end Espresso Pumper machine rabbit hole, I too would be terrified. I see how the Keurig Smart Brewer has preoccupied me lately. A work of art Espresso machine would probably put me into a 10 month spiral into the lan of pre-occupation with Espresso machines.

Originally Posted by ZipZop

Speaking of Starbucks, I was in London and Paris in 2010 and I clearly remember lines out the door at Starbucks in London. Yet Cafe Nero, that I much prefer over Starbucks, were relatively emply by comparison. It must be the old addage that "You Can't Be A Profit In Your Own Land" ruling this preference. If Cafe Nero were in the US, I believe they would be very successful. Moreso than Starbucks that is in their "own land" here.

I love this!

Originally Posted by JBHoren

I love this!

It's human nature, JB. After 20 years in corporate America (before I stared my own company), I suffered through so many consultants that were hired in to "Change everything" and "Fix things" because those of us in the company obvioulsy didn't know anything because we were known entities, and someone that knew nothing about the company BUT was someone that nobody knew from some far away land was the profit. Simply because he was new and unknown.

When you are the first or almost the first and expand rapidly you have a national or international juggernaut and with the right publicity and the right clientele base when folks think of the product they think of you first.

Think McDonalds and Starbucks and Walmart and at one time Schwinn Bikes. We all know charbucks has crummy coffee and Micky D ain't the best burgers but folks think otherwise.

Originally Posted by ZipZop

A Moka Pot was my last acquisition for home brew Espresso, JB. I do have a Braun Espresso Maker that I bought many moons ago, but it's not a pumper. It's just steam generated for brew and milk frothing. But it works great. I just started to Moka Pot my Espresso about 10 years ago and stuck with it. I'd microwave the milk and use one of those hand frothers to froth the milk up.


If I went down the high end Espresso Pumper machine rabbit hole, I too would be terrified. I see how the Keurig Smart Brewer has preoccupied me lately. A work of art Espresso machine would probably put me into a 10 month spiral into the lan of pre-occupation with Espresso machines.

The machine is just the start. Then you need a good grinder and then there's all the accessories big and small and of course you can't buy cheap coffee and maybe you want to roast yer own.

ask me how I know.