Coffee maker: Rancilio Silvia V3
Grinder: Baratza Vario

I also roast my own beans with a Behmore 1600+ drum roaster. I buy my green coffee beans from Sweet Maria's in California.

http://www.sweetmarias.com

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Despite the high cost of "pods", Nespresso machines also make an acceptable (and consistent) espresso. I often forget to warm up the Rancilio in the morning so the Nespresso machine still comes in handy!

Yeah coffee did not smell good when I was a kid. But it was the 70's and my dad was drinking Maxwell House. Took a long time for me to appreciate it as well.

Yeah, I think the key word here is "need."

That caffeine is a cruel mistress and she will make you do some very shameful things. For example, I still drink the coffee at work. It's bitter, nasty sludge that will burn a hole through your stomache. Sometimes there are even chunks of "skin" floating in it...But I still drink it...cause it's free

Just try drinking Tim Hortons BLACK on an empty stomache and see how much you like it! BTW, the only people I know that can actually drink Timmies black are ALL smokers and their taste buds are pretty much toasted.

Tip: If you can't drink it black, you should never go back!

Not something I've tried yet.

Wow, very cool! Maybe once I retire I might look into getting a lever machine. That other machine sort of reminds me of a really old electron microscope!

I just roasted a new batch of green coffee beans today. This blend is called "Polar Expresso Holiday Blend" from Sweet Marias. Hoping it will kick ass but I have to let it rest for a couple days before I will know. Will be trying it out for the first time on Christmas morning!