all these are ways i realize just how much of an opportunity we nerds have to break the mold. my brother’s endeavor, for example, is just so doggone simple and doable.

as far as not paying retail price for beans, i suspect he’s gonna have to show a little more volume before that works out. but i will pass your word along.

random thought: you had a competition line, “let it flow, let it flow, let it flow, like espresso,” that is remarkably similar to something i often say when a newly wowed friend or acquaintance reluctantly drags himself away from my home espresso bar marveling at the coffee and offering to tip me or suggesting that i go into business. my reaction is always, “nah. the brew is always flowing here, man. you’re welcome any time.”

the sheer impact of free-flowing brew like most have never tasted never ceases to amaze me. of course, there are money-making opportunities, and my brother is doing it. but the effectivenes of taste … it’s all you really need.

You shouldn’t have to pay retail for beans when you’re preparing and serving coffee with this much love – talk with the roaster… or with your local cafe. Work a deal so that whatever you don’t use at your gig, they can use up in the next couple days.

i don’t think he’d mind my posting his e-mail, if you want to ask him about particulars. nathanael@szobody.com

he’s out of reach on a far-away indian reservation for a few days, though. might take a bit to get an answer.

your idea — and his — is just so deceptively simple. if one can wow any number of friends from the kitchen counter, why not take the same equipment (which is perfectly adequate, as any pro will tell you) and wow entire crowds of folks in a social setting? it’s third wavery without the establishment, and i wonder how far amateurs could push it if they really wanted to.

I have been mulling over the idea of manning a ramshackle stand at the summer block party.

the bro, he’s using black cat for espresso. an unintentional great choice, since it’s so doggone forgiving of brew temp fluctuations. once we nailed down a flush routine and rejiggered the pressurestat a bit, he really started pulling sublime stuff.

the bar: laugh if you like, but i had topped off my camera’s meager memory allotment with intelly pics by the time i got to the bro’s pad. it’s not the most stellar thing to see (more in the african tack-a-shack mode of construction), but it’s not what he uses at events anyway. it stays in the basement.

i will indeed get him to supply some pics. and, ah, maybe you could crash a bat mitzvah sometime… you’re in the area, right?