Well, I experienced what I hope is the first and last real bad coffee this morning.  Was up working with Shanthi till the wee hours of the morning, so maybe I was just sleep-deprived.  But the cappa/latte this morning was really not great.  Tasted thin and hot in an awful searing sort of burn-the-top-of your-mouth-and-throat kind of way.  Not nice at all, in fact damn bloody unpleasant.  Indeed, you can probably see the effect that it has had on me, as I dont think I am usually this grouchy!!  Haha, but then again, i do like to have a good night sleep as well.  Shanthi even said it was bitter, which she hasnt said since much since I began my learning curve.  Write it down to experience and the crap results of not enough sleep and being in a rush to get out of the house for the respective starts of our work days.  Ah well, shit happens!

So I reckon that I am going to get an Espro tamper, the one that lets you know when you’ve hit 30 lbs.   Its my birthday tomorrow, and I reckon Shanthi may need some guidance on what to get me!! Right?? Expensive this tamper is, yes, but I am quite certain that my tamping is not good.  In fact, I feel that a lot of the variables are being sort of winged right now.  I think its back to basics this weekend.  Start with the grinder, make sure its dialed in correctly, then get the 30lbs tamp.  My temp surfing is alright, I think.  And I am using the Spinelli beans (original blend), which seem to be pretty decent.  So, there we go.  A bit of science this weekend, in between bringing the boys for a swim and their playschool.  Oh, I also need to give Silvia a good clean and a backflush.  Actually, I think i am going to buy the Espro toriod pitcher, too, cos my foaming has really worsened, too.  Hahaha a lot of complaints from me, today.  But, turuthfully, I am still really really enjoying the whole experiecnce. 

Have began reading a bit about home roasting today (specifically from Tim Eggers’ website review of his pan roasting technique, see here ).  Looks interesting and would be pretty neat to try it.  Just wonder how much of an issue the smoke will be, considering HDB rules and all that stuff.  Still, I have a balcony that could come in handy.  Will think more about this.

OK this is my lunchbreak, gotta go and get some food, hungry.