It's here!
Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2011 7:08 am
So after a painful weekend of waiting, my Mini is here! Photo below shows it dominating the kitchen counter and making the Vario look even smaller. I have a feeling there will be words said when my better-half gets home, but sodcakes to it, I love it!
Interestingly, while I was told it was going to be the very latest model, with the embossed logos, it's actually got the printed logo; it's a mk-II though. Does that mean it will have a boiler drain plug underneath?
Realised that, despite everything I remembered to buy, I forgot to get scales, so judged it by eye (based on videos I'd seen from Endo and others filling the double basket). Set Vario to espresso on macro and two notches down on micro, tamped to what I guesstimated was right (tricky to find a 53mm Esproo in the UK, so I've just got a basic metal tamper with a flat base), locked and hoped for the best.
First pull - into two shot glasses - was surprisingly even, considering it was my first ever time tamping. Wouldn't want to have tried it with a bottomless portafilter, though, as I'd probably have lost an eye with all the spritzers!
Unfortunately the double-button preset was too short, and cut out after about 15 seconds (I'm timing from the first drops I see coming through the spout, right?) but I couldn't resist and had a quick taste anyway - shockingly sweet! Again, I'm a rank amateur, but compared to what I've had in cafes it was an eye-opener.
Tried again, after setting the button to go for longer, and got to a smudge under the shot glass line in 25s. By then it was pretty blond, so I stopped it; kinda speckled on top. I'd meant to take a photo, but I couldn't help it - whipped out the milk jug and had a go at frothing. Even though I'd had the jug in the fridge waiting, the milk still got hot far too quickly, I didn't have time to do any real foaming/stretching. I can see this is going to be an issue, simply keeping up with what the Mini can do.
Anyway, my first latte was undoubtedly not a patch on anything you guys could create, but to me it tasted amazing
Usually I have just one or two cups of extra-strong drip coffee a day, but now I'm wondering how many shots I could handle before losing the ability to sleep
Anyway, sorry for the long post but still super-excited by the new toy!
Chris
![Laughing :lol:](./images/smilies/icon_lol.gif)
Realised that, despite everything I remembered to buy, I forgot to get scales, so judged it by eye (based on videos I'd seen from Endo and others filling the double basket). Set Vario to espresso on macro and two notches down on micro, tamped to what I guesstimated was right (tricky to find a 53mm Esproo in the UK, so I've just got a basic metal tamper with a flat base), locked and hoped for the best.
First pull - into two shot glasses - was surprisingly even, considering it was my first ever time tamping. Wouldn't want to have tried it with a bottomless portafilter, though, as I'd probably have lost an eye with all the spritzers!
![blackeye :blackeye:](./images/smilies/icon_blackeye.gif)
Tried again, after setting the button to go for longer, and got to a smudge under the shot glass line in 25s. By then it was pretty blond, so I stopped it; kinda speckled on top. I'd meant to take a photo, but I couldn't help it - whipped out the milk jug and had a go at frothing. Even though I'd had the jug in the fridge waiting, the milk still got hot far too quickly, I didn't have time to do any real foaming/stretching. I can see this is going to be an issue, simply keeping up with what the Mini can do.
Anyway, my first latte was undoubtedly not a patch on anything you guys could create, but to me it tasted amazing
![Very Happy :grin:](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
![bom :bom:](./images/smilies/bom.gif)
Anyway, sorry for the long post but still super-excited by the new toy!
Chris