Seattle Coffee Gear Blog » Videos

Crew Review: Izzo Alex Duetto II

Kat — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 19:16:10 +0000

One of the more popular double boiler espresso machines on the market, the Alex Duetto II has a lot to love about it. The functionality is awesome — PID interface to set the coffee and steam boiler temperatures, easy access to switching between 15 or 20 amp, convertible water source so you can use either the internal reservoir or plumb it in, anti-burn hot water and steam wands — which also now features a four hole steam tip.

Since our last look at this machine, several upgrades have been made, so we decided it was time for another run-through. Watch as Gail talks about features and specs, then demonstrates shots and making a latte. Dig it!

Brewin’ with Brandi: Chocolate Martini

Kat — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 19:14:34 +0000

Oh, how we love Brandi — with her fun recipes and troublemakin’ ways! This week, she’s concocted a dangerously delicious Chocolate Martini that features Monin’s Dark Chocolate syrup & sauce. It was a hit with the crew — and we’re pretty sure it will be with you, too.

Ingredients

1 oz Monin Dark Chocolate syrup
1 oz half & half
1/2 oz Irish cream liqueur
2 1/2 oz Vodka
ice
Monin Dark Chocolate sauce – for garnish

Directions

Drizzle chocolate sauce on a martini glass in your favorite, creative pattern and chill in the freezer.
Add all syrup, half & half, liqueur, vodka and ice into a cocktail shaker and shake vigorously.
Strain into chilled martini glass and serve.

Compare: Chemex Filters vs. Hario 02 Filters

Kat — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 20:23:59 +0000

Our first time out, Allison used a Hario 02 paper filter for her brew test with the Chemex. And we didn’t hear the end of it from our YouTube fans!

So once we received our first shipment of signature Chemex filters, we decided to do a side by side brew comparison to practically determine if you could tell a difference in the cup. Watch as Allison brews up two batches on the Chemex and we taste them to find out.

Shot Compare: Baratza Virtuoso vs. Breville Smart Grinder

Kat — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 22:02:29 +0000

In yet another grudge match (!!), Gail dialed in the new Baratza Virtuoso and the new Breville Smart Grinder for use with the Rocket Giotto, pulled several shots and then we did a side by side taste comparison.

Does either of them have the edge, taste-wise? Watch to find out.

Crew Review: Compak K10 Conic Fresh

Kat — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 19:55:30 +0000

Look, you know we don’t judge. In general, we are open minded, supportive and care about you finding the right equipment for you. We often say that we don’t have a horse in that race — the most important thing to us is that you end up with equipment that helps you make coffee that you love at home.

But if we’re going to throw that all to the wayside and pressure you into anything, it’s going to be the ridiculously awesome Compak K10 Conic Fresh grinder. You know that the grinder is the thing and this grinder is the serious thing.

Watch Gail take us through the features and specs, then demonstrate how this big bad grinder performs. Yow!!

How To: Dialing in a Coffee Grinder

Kat — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 22:32:19 +0000

A little bit of the ol’ science behind the magic! Dialing in a grinder is one of the most fearsome tasks for new home espresso enthusiasts, and we’re often asked for advice on how to get the hang of it.

While we produced a video a couple of years ago that covers this topic, we have had many folks ask more questions that weren’t covered in the original version and we’ve learned a few new tips and tricks along the way. Watch Gail dial in the Nuova Simonelli Grinta for the Nuova Simonelli Oscar, providing recommendations that can be applied to any home espresso setup.

Brewin’ with Brandi: White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Mocha

Kat — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 18:14:58 +0000

Smooth, silky white chocolate is set off by the delicious, roasted (and salted!) flavors of Monin’s Macadamia Nut syrup in Brandi’s newest concoction. Watch as she prepares this scrumptious treat!

Ingredients

1/2 oz Monin White Chocolate sauce
1/2 oz Monin Macadamia Nut syrup
2 shots of espresso
7 oz steamed milk

Directions

Combine sauce and syrup, mix well. Add the shot and stir to incorporate. Top with steamed milk and garnish with a lil’ whipped cream. Mmmmm!

Compare: Baratza Virtuoso vs. Breville Smart Grinder

Kat — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 19:10:18 +0000

For entry level espresso-grade grinders, the Baratza Virtuoso and the Breville Smart Grinder have a lot of features one might want to cuddle and caress (with the finger guards in place, of course!). At similar price points, how do their features and grind performance compare?

We asked Gail to take these out for a stroll and show them off for you. Watch her go through their features and functionality, then grind at three different settings (finest, medium, coarsest) to compare how the burrs practically perform.

Experimenting with Cold Brew Coffee

Kat — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 18:16:48 +0000

Do you really need a fancy, specially-designed gadget to brew up a batch of cold coffee? Or can you just use your trusty ol’ press pot? While we carry a couple of different cold brew options (from Hario and Sowden), we wanted to see if using one of them (namely, the Sowden) produced a better, worse or similar cup to making a cold brew with a La Cafetiere french press.

So we put Allison to the test! Watch as we brew up a batch in each, using the same grind and coffee-to-water ratios, allowing them to sit over night and then giving them a taste test. We also compare how much sediment appears in the cup. So exciting!

Baratza Grinder Line-Up

Kat — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 16:56:44 +0000

Since our last look at Baratza’s offerings, they’ve added some new options and changed their line-up, so we asked Gail to provide us with an update.

Watch as she talks us through the different features of the Maestro Plus, Virtuoso, Preciso, Vario, Vario-W and the Esatto retrofit accessory. Then we demonstrate grind differences between the Maestro burrs, the Preciso burrs (used in the Virtuoso and the Preciso) and the Vario burrs (used in the Vario and Vario-W) to see how they compare at their finest and their coarsest.