Coffee! (With Pretty Pictures By Rachel)

My latest obsession has been coffee. More specifically, espresso. My coffee setup includes a Rancilio Silvia espresso machine outfitted with an Auber PID with steam control, and a Baratza Vario grinder. I've gotten some fantastic coffee out of it, and I thought I would share a few pictures of the process. Rachel gets all the credit for the pictures! :)

Of course, this effort would be a waste if I didn't start with good beans. Espresso is an intense brewing method that uses pressure to drive a fast extraction that can bring the best (and worst) out of a coffee bean - and there is little room for error. Recently I've been using espresso blends from Paradise Roasters - a well-regarded and local coffee roaster - and enjoying the results.

Here, I'm making a latte. I pull the shots first and then froth the milk because I would like to work towards making latte art, and there's no hope of getting the right consistency in the milk if it has to sit for a few minutes while I pull the shot.

First, I usually let Silvia warm up for about an hour. Although the boiler gets up to temp in just a few minutes, all of the brass around the grouphead takes much longer to warm up.

The PID controller keeps the boiler within 1 degree of my setpoint of 215F

I dry off the portafilter with a towel

I preaheat the shot glasses for the espresso, and the cup for the latte

I grind using a cut-off yogurt cup to direct the grounds into the portafilter

I shake the grounds to break up any clumps

Then I remove the yogurt cup

I distribute and level the grounds with a card

I remove any excess from the edges

I tamp

I remove the tamp with a polishing twist

I twist the portafilter onto the machine, empty the glasses, press the brew button and start the timer

The shot starts slowly

And it quickly builds momentum

The crema dissipates with a cool layering pattern

Leaving two delicious, slightly short shots!

Rachel likes our little spoons

Then I froth the milk

Tasty microfoam achieved!

And it pours!

Not exactly latte art, but super tasty!

A yummy weekend tradition :)