Posted Thu Nov 15, 2007, 7:29am Subject: New to CoffeeGeek? Welcome, introduce yourself!
Are you new to the coffeegeek community? Have you been lurking for a long time and just now decided to join? Either way it’s great to have you among this rapidly growing community. On behalf of the moderators, administrators and other members here welcome!
Now that you are with us please take a second and introduce yourself and share a little about you and what coffee means to you. Coffeegeek is built on the tremendous resources and collective experiences of all its unique members and we always love seeing a new face.
tjkoko Senior Member Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 699 Location: Somewhere in the swamps Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Bialetti Moka Pot Grinder: Baratza Preciso and Turkish... Drip: Meiltta filter with cone Roaster: Whirlypop Stovetop Unit,...
Posted Thu Nov 15, 2007, 7:42am Subject: Re: New to coffeegeek? Welcome, introduce yourself!
Been drinking espresso and cappuccino ever since my Europe on $5 a Day daze, the early 70's. Like to make Turkish coffee and Chemex brewing. Science, teaching and security background.
Posted Thu Nov 15, 2007, 9:30am Subject: Re: New to coffeegeek? Welcome, introduce yourself!
Just a suggestion, maybe Wayne and Mark should consider it for the next "version" of the forum: Have a section for introductions (why is "General Off Topics" the most appropriate place for an intro? Because there's not a dedicated place for them!), and require new users to create a new post there before posting anywhere else. I can see it already, THIS thread is going to become an "Introductions" thread. IMO, each newcomer should start a new topic or it will be constant thread-jacking.
Posted Thu Nov 15, 2007, 9:50am Subject: Re: New to coffeegeek? Welcome, introduce yourself!
JR Said:
Just a suggestion, maybe Wayne and Mark should consider it for the next "version" of the forum: Have a section for introductions (why is "General Off Topics" the most appropriate place for an intro? Because there's not a dedicated place for them!), and require new users to create a new post there before posting anywhere else. I can see it already, THIS thread is going to become an "Introductions" thread. IMO, each newcomer should start a new topic or it will be constant thread-jacking.
Hi Jack great points. Yes that suggestion has already been made and the new CG will most likely have a similar feature/forum section. In the interests of keeping the Off Topic Forum less hectic (and less cluttered) I thought that introductions (most of which are brief and only garner a few follow ups) would be better put in one easy to find location rather than have multiple posts of the same or similar intention in one forum. At this writing I see four such posts on the front page and most have 5 or less brief follow-ups. One has more than 10 but that's due to others introducing themselves mid thread.
pcmb Senior Member Joined: 8 Nov 2007 Posts: 7 Location: alaska Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Rio Junior Grinder: Thinking of a MACAP M4
Posted Tue Nov 20, 2007, 2:55pm Subject: Re: New to coffeegeek? Welcome, introduce yourself!
I am a newbie, moving from the world of enjoying the taste of espresso to the task of pulling my own shots. I inherited a commerical Rio Junior, and first hopped on coffeegeek looking to sell it. I've since decided to keep/refurbish it, and skip the step of owning a Sylvia first, which seems like a common path for many.
I'm now looking for the right grinder, and have a bit of installation work to complete. Plus, where does the Kitchen Aid mixer go when the espresso "zone" of the kitchen takes up close to three feet of counter space? Probably have to add on to the house...
I'd love to venture down to the lower 48 and Canada to check out all the great cafe's, but live on a little island in Alaska. Not that I'm complaining...
Posted Tue Nov 20, 2007, 9:11pm Subject: Re: New to CoffeeGeek? Welcome, introduce yourself!
also a newbie who was a long time lurker, recently joined a couple of threads ago. Coffee was at one time the black gold that woke me up in the morning, then $bux came along and lattes somehow seemed ok (if you grew up in the midwest black drip coffee was the norm and is still pretty tasty), but a recent trip to Barcelona and a friend with an old school Pavoni lever really upped the quality of espresso for me. Now it is a constant search for good local shops that pull good shots, and if they serve it in a ceramic cup, so much the better! The quest for a better home machine maybe is on the horizon, someday :)
Posted Thu Nov 22, 2007, 12:42am Subject: Re: New to CoffeeGeek? Welcome, introduce yourself!
Hey all- Never even looked in 'off topic' before. Yes, this is an odd place for intros.
I joined in early September just after buying a *$s Barista on closeout. Killed me to give them money as I have never been a patron of the place. Read about the closeout, though, and could not resist.
Picked up a used Rocky to complete the set.
I used to live in San Francisco where I frequented Cafe Roma in North Beach for good cappuccino; sometimes Cafe Trieste. Now, however, I live on the Peninsula with Starbucks on every corner (sometimes more than one) and Peet's popping up more and more. I like Peet's drip with honey and milk, but like good cappuccinos so much more. Had my first Starbucks cappuccino while on the road a couple of weeks ago. I thought it would be bitter, but instead it was almost non-existent. To paraphrase the lady on the Wendy's commercial; where's the coffee?
I have been savoring my new found cappa habit each morning. My shots are getting better and better but my steaming still leaves a lot to be desired.
Considering buying myself an upgrade for Christmas. Read the forums every day. Decisions, decisions...
subtlepersona Senior Member Joined: 29 Nov 2007 Posts: 5 Location: Baltimore, MD Expertise: I love coffee
Posted Thu Nov 29, 2007, 4:11pm Subject: Re: New to CoffeeGeek? Welcome, introduce yourself!
Hi everyone,
I've been checking out coffeegeek for awhile, but now Im finally a member. Im originally from San Diego, California, I got my first barista job in Caffe Salotto, my favorite high school hang out and now I'm in Baltimore. Im almost two years into the occupation and Im getting more in love with coffee. I hope to put Baltimore on the map for good coffee so wish me luck.
cian Senior Member Joined: 15 Apr 2007 Posts: 1 Location: U.S. Virgin Islands Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Gaggia Coffee de Luxe, La... Grinder: Mazzer Mini P Vac Pot: Yama Syphon Pot (8 Cup) Drip: KitchenAid Thermal Coffee... Roaster: CoffeeBeanDirect
Posted Thu Nov 29, 2007, 11:23pm Subject: Re: New to CoffeeGeek? Welcome, introduce yourself!
I first came to CoffeeGeek.com in April this year; at that time being in search of a new espresso machine. My Krups combination Espresso/Drip Coffeemaker stopped working (all the lights on the front panel went out and nobody was, nor ever would be, at home again).
I have been a coffee lover for many years (I did my post-graduate work in Europe and was introduced to fine coffee there. Actually, being a poor student at that time, I consumed vast amounts of coffee without really appreciating what I was tasting. I was burning the candle at both ends. During the day I either taught classes or attended them; evenings I played piano in jazz clubs to support myself and always had a large mug of coffee or shots of espresso (my birthday could easily have been a national holiday in Columbia if I had paid for what I consumed) sitting next to my sheet music, ashtray and piano light. I also developed a taste for fine cigars. As George Burns always noted: “Happiness is a good martini, a good meal, a good cigar and a good woman . . . or a bad woman, depending on how much happiness you can stand.”
Anyway once on the site I found a great deal of information, opinions, and entertaining discussions. I would like to offer kudos to Mark Prince and all of the moderators and contributors who make this such a remarkable free access web site.
That said, I would add that my idea of what constitutes coffee, let alone ‘good’ coffee has dramatically changed. Folks in my profession are frequently said to “know the price of everything and the value of nothing.” To a degree that is still true, but I think I’m getting better especially in the area of coffee.
As a result, my wife and I have radically changed how we make, consume and enjoy coffee. Although I do not lust after the more expensive espresso machines (I purchased a Gaggia Coffee Deluxe from Whole Latte Love), I will admit that I followed the threads on coffee grinders very closely, and opted to buy a Mazzer Mini. The difference in flavor and aroma from using a grinder of this caliber I can only describe as ‘shocking‘. I was amazed at flavors I tasted in the espresso and drip coffee.
In closing, I note that although there is no such thing as a free lunch, CoffeeGeek.com is probably as close to that as you can get, i.e., price: as a commercial entity and a sponsor driven web site with a lot of people interaction -- high marks; value of all the interviews, reviews, articles and knowledge: .....priceless!
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