CI veers erratically toward third-world betterment
February 4, 2007 – 11:20 pm
grainy frame-grabs unanimously agree: the all-clad presso looks like it could also punch rivets in your forehead.
while media-lavished coffee luminaries are off slurping or shunning native african brews as moods dictate, this blog’s bush-dwelling relatives have no choice — and now regularly torment our fine sense of quality consciousness haute gluttony with gleeful evidence of hopelessly sordid swill. clearly, a little international espresso misseology has been in order … meaning a hunt for non-electric bush equipment.
we cast a net in the usual places, lurked for months on italian and german ebay pining after gas-fired lever antiquities and at last lighted on the out-of-circulation all-clad presso, with its sloping metal arms and minimalist arch-like structure — like some elegant device of medeival upper-class torture.
alas, schulman was right — a rubber gasket that rolls down to let water into the brew cylinder, then rolls up to seal in the pumping pressure, is ingenious (geek it here). ’tis also gravely undermined by a fatal machine flaw — an air-trapping brew cycle. nothing a bit of sawing and dremeling couldn’t fix, though, and the bioluminescent cypriot’s place of work offered both the requisite sharp utensils and a representatively primitive audience for our test runs!
result: seriously impressive lever shots that rival the coddled riviera for transparent shot clarity and sweet, strong old-skool minispros. also: this blog’s devastatingly informative instructional video, framed with stunning cinematographic innovation and complete with a bit of modest mouse accompaniment, wailing from the blogdaughter and chandler burr-like taste descriptions!
we’re warning you: amateurism has never stooped so low.
click for video
UPDATE: did we mention you can pick one up for $50? buy yours today.
UPDATE: no, the chadian bush offers no opportunities for roasting and grinding, though that could change in the near future. meanwhile, schulman offers an unthinkable stopgap solution … but you didn’t hear it from this blog.
6 Responses to “CI veers erratically toward third-world betterment”
LOVE IT!
By Mike White on Feb 6, 2007
nuthin like a one-take, poorly lit stream o’ tripe. toward the end, i just flat-out ran out of things to say.
but thanks.
By bz on Feb 6, 2007
What’s the bush-grinder to be? Mortar and pestle or bicycle-powered three-phase robur?
By )on on Feb 7, 2007
good question. depends on the circumstances du jour.
for instance, they used to have a generator-run roaster and zassenhaus hand crank (all this for stovetop espresso, mind you. a propane-fired stove top.). but the generator dated to the 1960s and croaked. the zass bit the dust too. currently i understand the only espresso available is the pre-ground carte noir purchased every six months when they journey to the capital (eight hours, roughly). BUT, i’m told they may get a cheap electric grinder and a new generator. they also have rooftop solar panels that offer occasional power supply.
so, actual grindage is anticipated in the near future.
not sure if you were referencing previous accounts of mortar and pestle action. we actually tried it once:
http://ben.szobody.com/blog/index.php?title=title_4&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1
By bz on Feb 7, 2007
love it man!
What’s that song at the end??
By Phil on Feb 7, 2007
‘float on,’ by modest mouse.
it was only a british mega-hit.
By bz on Feb 7, 2007