Coffee Appreciation

Bella Barista is in Northampton.

Our very own 'Bombcup' is the roaster there. His 'Gaslight' roast and blend has just won an award as well

@Chalfie

Could try North Star in Leeds northstarroast.com/

^ this x lots, been very impressed with all the beans I've had from them via coffeefix.

(Keep meaning to try Bella Barista but shopping local not mailorder since the local cafe / roasting scene took off)

Many thanks.

I'll put some stuff up in here as a little current project if no-one minds:

1978 La San Marco model 80, mechanical group.

Got it home last night, started taking some bits off, and they just sort of kept coming off.

Getting a comprehensive rebuild. Now the frame and body panels are off for blasting and coating. All the copper parts will be acid dipped to descale, taps rebuilt, all soft parts replaced, full rewire, brightwork polished, reassembled and put into use. Looking forward to that bit.

Where will this cafe be? 3rded on North Star, nice beans.

Ace. How much £ to acquire / estimated how much to restore if you don't mind me asking?

It was about £300 delivered from Italy. Probably another £300 - £400 to complete it. Then I've got to decide whether I keep it or part with it.

Looks a keeper to me!

Another new place MCR, opposite a nice LBS for touring/functional types. Top Granola.

I remember when NTP was about the only go-to place for a decent brew central. #coffeeboom

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Am I right in thinking that you had a lever machine rebuilt that had been sitting in a garden?

I wish! Must've been someone else, soz.

I did that once

Getting lucky with the brightwork - polishing up nicely, some permanent scratches but I reckon machine polishing wouldn't be worthwhile, it will hopefully be put into commercial use one way or another anyhow.

.

One grouphead rebuilt.

Lovely work.

Old Spike Roastery in Peckham Rye (across the road from that first triangle of the Rye nobody ever uses) sells stunning coffee.
I don't like that 'Best cup of coffee in London' thing because it makes you sound like Buddy the Elf. But: really, really good coffee.
I hesitate to add this because normally anything worthy or good tastes nasty, but they're also a non-profit for local homeless or long term unemployed. Don't let that put you off.

Boiler good to go. Need the frame and bodywork from the powdercoaters now for reassembly. Its all happened quicker than i expected.

#winningworkshop

Is that as big as it looks? What's up with the four sparkplugs?

Yes its about 8 litres i think. The sparkplugs are the terminals for the heating elements.

drums fingers impatiently

Still waiting for the frame and bodywork so i brought another machine in which i thought might just need the mechanical stuff doing, but no dice it turns out.

Since starting the first one i have imported 4 more San Marco machines - theyre just so beautifully well made and enjoyable to work on that i am going to see if there's a business in this.

The orange one has perfect original paint but the rest of it is feckered. I'm going finish the first one before going any further. I've fired up the Astoria as we have friends coming over in a bit.

Their beans are pretty hit and miss. If they're fresh then they're about 6/10.. But if they're not, that figure crashes to 3/10.

The bakery that just opened at the top of half moon lane (50m from me) sells Monmouth organic espresso, but I'm trying to avoid buying anything there because the people who own it and their staff have been incredibly rude to me a few times. Also - their bread is overpriced and not very good.

I sorted my shit out and ordered some red brick from square mile this week. Much better.

I have just bought a second hand Pavoni, with the price of new rings and a new filtercup I paid €200. I'm going to take it apart somewhere this week and see if I can get it going again.

Once I have it up and running I want to tune it a bit. Replace the pressostat with a PID controller and perhaps add a heatsink to keep the group a bit cooler. And because I'll be making single shots 95% of the time I think I'll take a holesaw to the portafilter and go bottomless.

Mrs hell is now in the 6th year if her burning grudge against the post office bakery. Fuckers served someone behind her at SWPM.