Shrink
macrumors G3
Wonderful suggestion.
And now that brings me to the question as to whether denatured alcohol be as good?
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Espresso Enthusiasts
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Wonderful suggestion.
And now that brings me to the question as to whether denatured alcohol be as good?
Scepticalscribe
macrumors Haswell
Enjoy the coffee beans, and enjoy the espresso cup (and saucer) - complete with black cat - when you do finally manage to take delivery of them.
Above all, I hope you are continuing to enjoy your gorgeous Expobar espresso machine.....
S.B.G
Moderator emeritus
Thanks!
Still awaiting on UPS to deliver the cup and another Friis container.
In the mean time I made a cup, in the Le Cresuset cup, of the Atomic Coffee Diesel blend. I dare say it was a god shot too. It tasted simply magnificent!
Yes. I use Smirnoff. I know someone who uses Russian Standard and takes a shot as they're cleaning.
Reminds me of the Don Francisco labeling...
I would advise against it. Even if it fully evaporates, I wouldn't use something harmful on stuff that comes into contact with food items. What's that cheap American vodka in the blue bottle? You can buy 1.75 liters for cheap and it'll last you years. Or months if you prefer reliving your college days.
I use a paintbrush to apply the vodka and a clean terry towel to wipe it off. That way it doesn't touch water, it's sterile and the oils are dissolved instantly. Plus, no coffee smell.
Scepticalscribe
macrumors Haswell
Ah, a God shot, an intense and bizarre competition re numbers of Friis containers with an unnamed mentor, a delivery expected of an espresso cup (complete with fetching black cat logo), a recently published author (take a bow) and the proud owner of an Expobar.......what more can one ask for on this pleasant day?
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Oh, yes, I should say that I prefer using a drop or two of bleach on French presses. The screen is a breeding ground for bacteria and 1-2 drops with all that water won't kill you, and is standard in food and drink services. Ideally you'll want to wash it out with hot water several times and let it all air dry. It'll dissolve all oils and get rid of any lingering smells. It'll also kill any bacteria that finds itself embedded, such as the tiny screw that's used to secure the screen plate to the main stalk. If you're a pessimist, you can use hydrogen peroxide from the chemists at a 2-3% solution and squirt it all over and then pour hot water into it. Citric acid powder (available at the grocer's) will also work at 15-25 grams for a French press. You can use the mixture water to descale your French press if there's any hard water stains.
S.B.G
Moderator emeritus
UPS finally arrived a short while ago and delivered the new espresso cup and a black Friis coffee vault.
Shrink
macrumors G3
Oops...I accidentally deleted one of my posts. No loss...
I just had to show you all a most incredibly beautiful gift given me by a dear friend. Although I can't use them for their intended purpose, I will have them on display in my living room so I can enjoy their beauty every day.
The truth is that they are so beautiful I doubt that I would have used them even if the situation were different.
They are from 1933 and 1934.
[doublepost=1472079461][/doublepost]
Harrumph! Fancy, shmancy Friis canisters...oh, wait.
Never mind...😛
I just had to show you all a most incredibly beautiful gift given me by a dear friend. Although I can't use them for their intended purpose, I will have them on display in my living room so I can enjoy their beauty every day.
The truth is that they are so beautiful I doubt that I would have used them even if the situation were different.
They are from 1933 and 1934.
[doublepost=1472079461][/doublepost]
Harrumph! Fancy, shmancy Friis canisters...oh, wait.
Never mind...😛
S.B.G
Moderator emeritus
Absolutely gorgeous spoons. What a wonderful gift your friend sent to you. I must admit I'm a little envious of you and these spoons with their radiate beauty. 🙂
Shrink
macrumors G3
Thank you, Mate.😀
I do have some wonderful friends who have done so much to boost me up over the past period of time.
You are certainly one of those kind and emotionally generous people...as well as so many wonderful folks on this thread.
Just so I'm not off topic (I understand the there is a Moderator lurking here)...I also feel so happy that I can have my daily coffee. It was sorely missed.
wfs29223
macrumors member
mobilehaathi
macrumors G3
Sounds like a bad idea, with the ethanol it'll have a lower boiling temp. You'd probably be shooting alcohol steam through your machine. It might not damage it, but I don't see it being a better option than typical descaling solution.
A diluted solution of citric acid in warm water added to the boiler or water tank and run through a couple times, then flushed with clean water should do the trick. I'd never run alcohol through my espresso machines. Espresso machines are easy to flush out. Grinders not so much.
JamesMike
macrumors 603
Scepticalscribe
macrumors Haswell
At times, Art Deco is an incredibly appealing style, (not 'fancy schmancy' at all) and some of what was produced then managed that wonderful fusion of form and function that I find incredibly attractive.
When admiring writing desks, I am torn between the clean lines of the Regency style and Art Deco.
Anyway, almost two years ago, in London, on a holiday, I bought a set of solid silver espresso coffee spoons (otherwise known as demitasse spoons) with that lovely little coffee bean on top of each spoon for myself as I thought that they were absolutely gorgeous; mind you, for some strange reason, - possibly that I am not drinking as much espresso as I thought I might have been - my French Press has been pressed into use instead - I have yet to use them for their intended purpose.
More recently, I bought a few - slightly battered, older espresso (demitasse) solid silver spoons, also complete with little attached coffee bean, from earlier in the Art Deco period (almost at the end of the Art Nouveau) era, lacking a display box. And yes, I plan to use them.
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wfs29223
macrumors member
Shrink
macrumors G3
Since they are, technically, espresso spoons, and I can no longer make espresso with my equipment because of my injury, I can't use them for espresso. And since I never put anything in my coffee, it never requires stirring!
Of course, I could use them for other purposes...but, as mentioned, I think they are just too beautiful to use.
S.B.G
Moderator emeritus
As @Scepticalscribe requested here is a photo of the Intelligentsia Black Cat 20th anniversary cup with coffee in it. Though, its not their Black Cat blend as I don't have any right now, but the Barrington Coffee Gold blend, of which I'll probably use the last of today.
Shrink
macrumors G3
Well, yeah, it's kind of fancy...but, damn, that looks like one beautiful cup of coffee.
In a nifty cup.
Geez...don't I just hate it when I'm wrong!😡
😛
Scepticalscribe
macrumors Haswell
Actually, I am someone who does take sugar in espresso, (but have tried with varying degrees of success, a success which has lasted as long as several years, to many months - to wean myself off sugar in ordinary coffee; in this respect, Ethiopian coffee is very forgiving), so the concept of an espresso (or demitasse) spoon, is not completely new to me.
Ah, doesn't that look simply gorgeous?
What a beautiful cup of espresso, the cup is exquisite, while the espresso itself looks stunning.
I am one of those who subscribes to the idea that - when dining - you start by eating something with your eyes (although functioning olfactory senses also help enhance your anticipation), and that an elegantly laid table, or a beautifully served cup of espresso will serve to tantalise and delight you long before you even get to take your seat or take a sip of the sublime beverage put before you.
A quality of life issue.
Nifty cups rule.
Scepticalscribe
macrumors Haswell
Well, actually, I can't for a number of reasons.
The first is that I am not at home, (which is where the espresso spoons are) and the second is that - unlike the world - I don't have a camera phone, or a digital camera (mine still runs on film).
However, they are quite similar to the pictures of the charming set posted by @Shrink, but lack the striking enamel colouring of that set, and instead are plain. The little coffee bean - a touch I like - is present and correct at the end of the handle of each demitasse espresso spoon.
I did get them dated, but, as I am away, I can't fetch them and check the date; my memory suggests late 1920s, which like the 1933 and 1934 of @Shrink's set is 'classic' High Art Deco.
The somewhat battered set I purchased later - also solid silver - (without a box), come from a slightly earlier period, that of the First World War., in other words, early Art Deco. Their coffee beans are (on the demitasse espresso spoon handles) and are present and correct, but the spoons themselves are somehow a little less 'refined', and have probably been 'used' quite a bit.
If I find a way of doing so, I may try to post some pictures.
[doublepost=1472135681][/doublepost]Mind you, there are some exquisitely beautiful coffee pots which date from the Art Deco era.......
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Scepticalscribe
macrumors Haswell
Is it a cliché to write here that I had an espresso (not bad at all) with - or, rather, after - dinner?
Shrink
macrumors G3
It's never cliché to have an espresso...especially after dinner.
Ah, yes. My apologies. I had forgotten about your health. Initially, I thought they were adorned with lead paint and thus antiques, and that the acidic nature of coffee would leech out the lead.