SCG Crew’s Favorite Gear: Single, Hx and Dual Boiler Espresso Machines
Next in our series of the crew’s favorite picks covers the world of traditional espresso machines. Find out which single, heat exchange and double boiler machines the team digs.
Single Boiler Espresso Machines
Heat Exchange Espresso Machines
Dual Boiler Espresso Machines
Compare: Rocket R58 vs. La Marzocco GS/3
In the market for a big baddie? Is having control over your brew temperature and/or steaming enough milk to serve up cappuccinos to a small army a high priority for you? If yes, you probably should check out the Rocket Espresso R58 or La Marzocco GS/3 double boiler espresso machines.
Look we don’t want to tell you how to live, but we do care about you. So we’ve put these two popular machines side by side to show off their features, tech specs, internals and performance. Watch Gail walk us through this glorious adventure!
Crew Review: La Marzocco Stainless Steel Portafilter
Portafilter cleanliness is one of our favorite subjects around here, but we have noticed that the regular soaking and scrubbing of the chrome-plated brass versions adversely affects their finish over time. What was once shiny and beautiful becomes dark black and the chrome plating can even begin to wear down.
For heavy use environments, like cafes, this means that portafilter replacement is a standard cost of doing business, so La Marzocco created a stainless steel model aimed at decreasing that cost.
Watch Gail demonstrate this stainless steel portafilter with breakaway spouts and show us how it holds up over several weeks of use without cleaning. She also compares it to a standard chrome-plated brass version, as well. These do cost a pretty penny, but could definitely be worth it for folks that do need to regularly replace their portafilters.
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Brew Head Maintenance on the La Marzocco GS/3
You know how we feel about cleanliness, baby! So we asked Gail to give us the lowdown and the what-for on how to maintain the brew head on the GS/3.
Watch as ahe takes it apart, cleans and then re-assembles for maximum cleanliness and joy.
Field Trip: Green Bean Coffeehouse
Next up in our series featuring local cafes is the Green Bean Coffeehouse in Seattle’s Greenwood neighborhood. What started out as the first physical location for a local church has evolved into an essential element of the Greenwood community — a non-profit designed to bring the neighborhood together through open space, charitable support and community events.
Find out about their history, purpose and tips that they have for anyone interested in starting their own community or coffee focused business.
Field Trip: Milstead & Co.
What does it take to open your own cafe? We hit the road with Allison in this field trip series to find out.
First up is the newly opened brainchild of Andrew Milstead, Milstead & Co., located in Seattle’s Fremont neighborhood. Featuring tons of reclaimed materials in its build design, low countertops and recessed equipment to improve engagement between baristas and customers, and a singular focus on providing uniquely brewed coffees — using everything from a La Marzocco Strada to an Aeropress — Milstead & Co.’s concept is rooted in education and producing high quality coffee for people who dig it.
Watch as Andrew talks to us about his background, concept behind the cafe, what went into opening it and tips he has for others interested in doing the same. If you’re in the Seattle area, definitely don’t skip visiting Milstead & Co. for a gorgeous, and delicious, cappuccino.
Experimenting with Ristrettos
You know that since we are part of the goblin class, we love short things, right? It took us awhile to strong arm Gail into doing a ristretto comparison on several different machines, but we finally wore her down and here is the proof of our labors!
Watch as Gail pulls double ristretto shots (1.5 oz total) on the La Marzocco GS/3, Rocket Giotto Evoluzione, Nuova Simonelli Musica, Rancilio Silvia and Saeco Via Venezia.
Crew Review: La Marzocco GB/5 Commercial Espresso Machine
Field trip! We visited La Marzocco’s showroom to learn more about and share info on more of their commercial-grade espresso machines.
Gail takes us through the technical specs, functionality and features of the very popular GB/5 espresso machine.
La Marzocco Linea: Cups per Hour with Jess & Gail
When we locked Gail in a room alone with the La Marzocco Linea and Mahlkonig K30 Vario, she was able to whip up 41 lattes in an hour. How many can she make with the assistance of the lovely Jess? Find out in this riveting video that demonstrates the importance of teamwork when making lattes — and, really, when trying to make it in life. There is a lesson in here for all of us.