Espresso

Saturday Amy and I were in the Starbucks on NE Broadway, underneath the McMenamins there. A woman named Chrystal Lee helped me, and while I was staring at the espresso machines on sale she started telling me of some great sale, how she had already done her Christmas shopping... in the end she talked me into buying a demo of a $399 espresso machine for $80 (and it came with a pound of coffee). This despite my sort-of attachment to the cheap one I have had for at least ten years.

The demo machine came with no instructions, but after a stop at another Starbucks (in Hillsdale) to explain my situation, I had a video of how to use it. It was a great video, as you can imagine. Mainly it taught me that I didn't have the most important part, the coffee basket.

But Chrystal Lee wasn't in the store until Monday, and efforts on Sunday to get help from other employees were dead ends. This morning I stopped in after dropping off Ashes (cat) at the groomer's. Chrystal Lee just happened to have a coffee basket that would fit -- it was in her car. She got it for me while another customer (eavesdropper) told me at length how much she enjoyed having the same machine.

I got home and wow, it's great. My old one used to take about four minutes to make an espresso. I often let it sit there for up to half an hour, adding hot water if I wanted to drink it hot. This machine makes the same amount in less than 90 seconds from a cold start, and in less than a minute if the thing has been on recently. I'm not an expert, so I can't comment on the finer points of the espresso's quality. I think it's great, and just right for me.

For a photo I opted against one of those delightful, warm shots of the rich cremá with fancy designs. Instead I'm showing what the machine means to me: