Coffee Bean Grinders

[highfigh]

I think that was me. I misspoke a little. Under high pressure, water boils at 121°C, becoming steam.

Water, when heated to 195-205°F, and the pressurized by the espresso maker's pump, raises its temperature. It's physics, see the Ideal Gas Laws that relate temperature, pressure, and volume. pV=nRT where p is pressure, V is volume, and T is temperature. n is a constant, a kind of fudge factor.

Once the superheated water passes through the puck, the pressure drops back to 1 atmosphere. Somewhere as the pressure drops, steam appears, but more of it goes into the cup as a liquid.

I never thought I would see The Ideal Gas Law mentioned in a discussion about coffee and espresso. I don't think I have seen that since college.

 

[highfigh]

Tony.... drinking coffee since the 4th grade!

I agree with your daughter.... we have a drip machine that gets us going. We load it at night and use the timer. My wife brings me my first cup.

Now, my sister.... ha! She told me that prepping the drip the night before makes it taste "plasticky"... so she gets up, grinds the beans, preps her drip machine (and interesting device with very little plastic) and brews it.

She does make great drip coffee... with all kinds of really good coffee beans.

BUT, she doesn't even have a stereo or HT. Only the JBL Bluetooth speaker I bought her eons ago.

One of my cousins started drinking coffee when he was 7 and people said it would stunt his growth. He's 6'-9".

 

[cpp]

Cottage Grove "away" from Eugene?

We just drove up and down the 5.... SoCal to the Puget Sound.

Although on the 23rd of December it was harrowing. I actually spun out just South of Centralia, but I recovered it... doing 40 mph, kept going forward as the car lurched left and right. Thank God I caught it.

The drive North of Eugene was terrible... lots of semis off the side, lots of lights... 30F.. and then it got worse. 24F, iced up from the Woodland to North of Vancouver, WA.

Thankfully very few drivers ventured out and they were careful... except for the fool that was doing 30 mph on the fast lane just north of Eugene. Forcing everyone to bunch behind her. Finally she moved over... and almost knocked out the Corolla on the slow lane.

Sounds like a crazy road.

 

[lovinthehd]

When we're doing the 5 drive we don't have time to get off the Interstates... we've been forced to go around Portlandia a few times, but other than taking the 99 from the Grapevine to Sacramento the rest is all on the 5. It's bad enough to have to detour on the 99E and 205 from Salem to Vancouver on account of the mess in Portland (*). IMHO, they ought to build express lanes from Salem to Kalama, WA. No exists.... perhaps only one in Vancouver and another 30 miles south of Woodburn.

In the late 70s and throughout the 80s Oregon drivers were better than Washingtonians... but in the last 20 years the crop of drivers from Eugene to Portland are the worse I've encountered anywhere.... sure they got bad drivers in Seattle, but nowhere do I see entitled, slow, drivers with zero situational awareness as in the run from Eugene to Woodburn on the 5. Must be all the students... I don't know, but they are bad, bad, bad, slow, drivers...

Washingtonians are a lot faster.

To give you an over all idea. It's 1200 miles from Orange Cty, SoCal to the Puget Sound. In the three seasons we do it in a non stop 16-17 hour trip. Trying to time Oregon in light traffic... I will usually top off the tank at Weed, CA or Kalama, WA and drive at 75 mph through Oregon (**) on CC. If I'm lucky. In the winter we stop off at Weed, CA for the night. The drive from SoCal to Weed is ~670 miles which can be done in quick time, assuming we don't get hosed on traffic in SoCal or a big booboo on the 99. The drive from Weed to the Puget sound is only 540 miles but it takes longer than the southern leg of the trip because OR is so slow.

We used to stop at Casey's in Roseburg for lunch/dinner but no more, we just want to get through it ASAP... mind you from South of Eugene to the Siskiyou it's fine, if a bit slow, but the flow is good. It's just that by the time we got there, south, we're beat and tired from the Portlandia experience.. and on the way North we're steeling ourselves for the mess ahead.

Two years ago we drove through Portland at 3:30AM. It was fine, except for the idiot driving a loaded gravel truck trying to do 80 mph on the 5 across the bridges... he was F'ing nuts!

The only good thing about that run is that our car, a Honda, has a good sounding system and it will generate an ersatz surround field from stereo. I got 500GB of storage in my cell phone and 500+ Tidal HiRez (and some Redbook) downloads, so we can do all of Oregon on one band.... I recommend the Grateful Dead.

(*) I don't think those people have built a new freeway in 25, 30 years!!!
(**) By way of comparison... we cruise at 85 mph in California and 79 in WA.

Have done the hwy 5 trip from LA to SF more times than I care to count....I started using 101 just to break it up (so damn boring) even tho it took a bit longer. Like the section from Weed to Eugene, many (too many trucks tho) just use 97 to 58 to 5....prettier and less grades to deal with....if you try that next time you'll roll right thru our town....I'll buy ya a beer . Last time I drove up 5 all the way thru Washington was quite a while ago, but I just remember a lot of really goofy drivers....particularly left lane sitters. Last time I just went to Mt St Helens and used 5/Portland at an early hour but still had bad traffic....came back the back routes. Portland traffic really sucks, so I just avoid it generally.

 

[tonyE]

Have done the hwy 5 trip from LA to SF more times than I care to count....I started using 101 just to break it up (so damn boring) even tho it took a bit longer. Like the section from Weed to Eugene, many (too many trucks tho) just use 97 to 58 to 5....prettier and less grades to deal with....if you try that next time you'll roll right thru our town....I'll buy ya a beer . Last time I drove up 5 all the way thru Washington was quite a while ago, but I just remember a lot of really goofy drivers....particularly left lane sitters. Last time I just went to Mt St Helens and used 5/Portland at an early hour but still had bad traffic....came back the back routes. Portland traffic really sucks, so I just avoid it generally.

We've done that route a few times... on longer drives. Usually our drive up North is one shot but we often will take longer scenic vacation drives on the way back home.

A nice option is to go off the 5 at Grants Pass and drive out to Crescent City (those are BIG trees) and take the 1/101 all the way back to Paso Robles ( Big Bubbah's Bad To The Bone BBQ) and then SR46, SR33 to Ojai, Santa Paula, Moorpark... Reagan FWY and then home... An alternative is to stay on the 101 and go down to Buellton. (Industrial Eats.... Santa Ynez), come back via the San Marcos Pass, to the old Santa Barbara Rd up on the hills, to SR150 and Ojai.... (good places to eat in Ojai).

Of course, from Weed you can also swing East on SR89 and taking mountain roads ( rather good ones though ) make your way to Reno/Carson City/Tahoe.... then keep going on 395 to Mono Lake and the back side of Yosemite. Then come by north of Edwards and make it home on the 15.

Of course, you got the routes you mention... driving by Klamath Falls and Crater Lake on 97. Pity the fire that hit downtown Weed a few years ago. ( We got a collection of I Love Weed, CA mugs)

Unfortunately for us, Portlandia is almost unavoidable unless we swing way out East to Bend, Yakima and the 90. I suppose we could try the 101 down the Coast, which will work for us since our terminus up North is Kitsap County, so we'd avoid Tacoma and Olympia... but that would be a very long drive.

I do hate the traffic in Portlandia.... what I didn't know was that the traffic in Portlandia hates me too. The drive up on Dec 23rd was the worst... the only one close to it was in Christmas of '90.. and that one took three days.

Yes, lots of left lane squatters North of Eugene on the 5... LOTS.

 

[Hobbit]

Have done the hwy 5 trip from LA to SF more times than I care to count....I started using 101 just to break it up (so damn boring) even tho it took a bit longer. Like the section from Weed to Eugene, many (too many trucks tho) just use 97 to 58 to 5....prettier and less grades to deal with....if you try that next time you'll roll right thru our town....I'll buy ya a beer . Last time I drove up 5 all the way thru Washington was quite a while ago, but I just remember a lot of really goofy drivers....particularly left lane sitters. Last time I just went to Mt St Helens and used 5/Portland at an early hour but still had bad traffic....came back the back routes. Portland traffic really sucks, so I just avoid it generally.

I used to do that the 5 from SJ (Campbell) to Pasadena all the time. My ex-wife was from Pasadena and had family there. The way we broke it up was stopping at Harris Ranch. An awesome place to eat, especially if you're a carnivore!

 

[lovinthehd]

I used to do that the 5 from SJ (Campbell) to Pasadena all the time. My ex-wife was from Pasadena and had family there. The way we broke it up was stopping at Harris Ranch. An awesome place to eat, especially if you're a carnivore!

As long as you didn't get a big whiff of the cattle yard Which I think I read recently has changed now....

ps I'd more often eat at Harris' in SF, tho did stop in at the ranch a few times.

 

[tonyE]

As long as you didn't get a big whiff of the cattle yard Which I think I read recently has changed now....

ps I'd more often eat at Harris' in SF, tho did stop in at the ranch a few times.

We've done that place... but honestly, the drive from Saint Josey to SoCal deserves the 101, 46, 33 and 5. That way you can stop in Paso Robles at Big Bubbah's Bad To The Bone BBQ... honestly, better than Harris Ranch... Arguably the best BBQ joint in California ( OK, there are some really good ones on the Central Coast...).

Or if you really are not in a hurry, drive the 101 all the way and stop at Buellton's Industrial Eats or the Hitching Post 2.

There is a really good "biker bar" sort of diner on the San Marcos pass... and a bunch of good food in SLO, Pismo Beach, etc... even in Lompoc if you are willing to detour.

Come to think about it... driving on the Central California Coast offers a lot of great food and drink. ( Do stop for the night after those two bottles of Paso Robles or Santa Ynez Pinot).

Once you've done that, you'll find that Harris Ranch is too "commercial" tasting. IMHO I prefer Andersen's pea soup... both in Santa Nella ( on the 5, just north of the detour to Gilroy) and Buellton (right off the 101).

The last few drives, though, we've taken the 99 which is a lot more pleasant to drive than the darn 5. But then, we're not going to the Bay Area, so we're cruising on the East Side of the Central Valley. Hmm.. there used to be a very good steak house in Bakersfield... but that was a long time ago....

 

[lovinthehd]

We've done that place... but honestly, the drive from Saint Josey to SoCal deserves the 101, 46, 33 and 5. That way you can stop in Paso Robles at Big Bubbah's Bad To The Bone BBQ... honestly, better than Harris Ranch... Arguably the best BBQ joint in California ( OK, there are some really good ones on the Central Coast...).

Or if you really are not in a hurry, drive the 101 all the way and stop at Buellton's Industrial Eats or the Hitching Post 2.

There is a really good "biker bar" sort of diner on the San Marcos pass... and a bunch of good food in SLO, Pismo Beach, etc... even in Lompoc if you are willing to detour.

Come to think about it... driving on the Central California Coast offers a lot of great food and drink. ( Do stop for the night after those two bottles of Paso Robles or Santa Ynez Pinot).

Once you've done that, you'll find that Harris Ranch is too "commercial" tasting. IMHO I prefer Andersen's pea soup... both in Santa Nella ( on the 5, just north of the detour to Gilroy) and Buellton (right off the 101).

The last few drives, though, we've taken the 99 which is a lot more pleasant to drive than the darn 5. But then, we're not going to the Bay Area, so we're cruising on the East Side of the Central Valley. Hmm.. there used to be a very good steak house in Bakersfield... but that was a long time ago....

Yeah there's some good food down in California.....I do miss it a bit. Harris' wasn't my favorite steak place, but they did a good job generally. But where were the good coffee grinders along these routes?

 

[lovinthehd]

Oh and I picked up some freshly roasted coffee in Eugene today from the aptly named Coffee Plant Roaster, one roasted yesterday, the other on the 4th. Let's see if some grinding and coffee making magic ensue....

 

[lovinthehd]

Looking at this and considering for my outdoor grill's side burner....any opinions?

 

[j_garcia]

Yeah there's some good food down in California.....I do miss it a bit. Harris' wasn't my favorite steak place, but they did a good job generally. But where were the good coffee grinders along these routes?

I like the steaks at Harris. The Ribeye French dip is amazing too. Breakfast is also great there. "Favorite" steak? maybe not, but it is definitely the best for the price.

There's plenty of good coffee here. Maria's is local-ish in Oakland. I frequent Verve (Santa Cruz) and Devout (Fremont). Philz is becoming a bit too big, but their beans are good too.

 

[Eppie]

Looking at this and considering for my outdoor grill's side burner....any opinions?

Should work on an outdoor grill but is it natural gas or propane? When I use pots on a propane BBQ they get covered in black soot. Natural gas should not have that problem.

 

[lovinthehd]

Should work on an outdoor grill but is it natural gas or propane? When I use pots on a propane BBQ they get covered in black soot. Natural gas should not have that problem.

Hadn't considered the fuel....my grill I refill with propane (pretty sure....)

 

[lovinthehd]

I like the steaks at Harris. The Ribeye French dip is amazing too. Breakfast is also great there. "Favorite" steak? maybe not, but it is definitely the best for the price.

There's plenty of good coffee here. Maria's is local-ish in Oakland. I frequent Verve (Santa Cruz) and Devout (Fremont). Philz is becoming a bit too big, but their beans are good too.

After I posted I looked at the Harris' SF menu pricing....it's gone up a bit since my last visit. I'll just grill my own these days anyways and we have no steak joint nearby either....

 

[Eppie]

Hadn't considered the fuel....my grill I refill with propane (pretty sure....)

If it's a refill tank it's propane. Natural gas BBQs get their fuel from the home gas lines. The soot is mostly where the flames touch the pot, so the bottom of the roaster might get black. I think the roasting cage would be ok. Just something to consider but shouldn't be a deal breaker. A little more clean up if the black bothers you.

 

[tonyE]

After I posted I looked at the Harris' SF menu pricing....it's gone up a bit since my last visit. I'll just grill my own these days anyways and we have no steak joint nearby either....

Sous vide.... sous vide... best meat, fish, chicken, beef ribs, carnitas... you'll ever have.

72 hours for braised beer ribs that you can eat with a fork.... or 128F for the best medium rear steaks/roasts you'll even have. 2 days for carnitas, 4 hours at 165F for chicken... 30 minutes at 115F for sea bass ( finished fried on butter..).

I only use the BBQ to finish the sous vide or to make sausages/burgers/salmon steaks... and my BBQ is right on the outside wall of the kitchen... right where the espresso machine sits... imagine that, I can BBQ and make coffee at the same time.

Heaven on Earth... now if I only had an IPA tap in there...

Maybe I'll put a coffee bean roaster next to the BBQ. Can you roast coffee beans on a propane BBQ?

 

[lovinthehd]

If it's a refill tank it's propane. Natural gas BBQs get their fuel from the home gas lines. The soot is mostly where the flames touch the pot, so the bottom of the roaster might get black. I think the roasting cage would be ok. Just something to consider but shouldn't be a deal breaker. A little more clean up if the black bothers you.

Then again from my brief look at the fuel differences it seems it could more an efficiency thing? There's no pot in any case, just flames into the cage thing. Does it create some sort of particular coat on the beans? Hmmmm.....

 

[lovinthehd]

Sous vide.... sous vide... best meat, fish, chicken, beef ribs, carnitas... you'll ever have.

I only use the BBQ to finish the sous vide or to make sausages/burgers/salmon steaks... and my BBQ is right on the outside wall of the kitchen... right where the espresso machine sits... imagine that, I can BBQ and make coffee at the same time.

Heaven on Earth... now if I only had an IPA tap in there...

I do sous vide, particularly in winter with a hot pan. Too wet outside. I sometimes use a propane torch (am I getting a soot thing?) to finish things off.

I'd still rather have a variety of IPA rather than a tap of a single until exhausted....altho maybe if it were my own brew (but too lazy for that).

Can we sous vide coffee beans to some effect?

 

[ryanosaur]

Then again from my brief look at the fuel differences it seems it could more an efficiency thing? There's no pot in any case, just flames into the cage thing. Does it create some sort of particular coat on the beans? Hmmmm.....

I wouldn't want to roast beans over open gas flames. Might just be me. *shrugs
I know @Swerd does it in his oven and is very pleased with his results.
Just for kicks looked for home hobby style roasting gear and am disappointed that there isn't much out there that looks promising on a short search. You can brew Beer cheaper than roasting Coffee Beans!

Hmmm...

Maybe when I start drinking beer again I'll have to dust off the gear and commit to some brew weekends.

Hmmm...