Boston Espresso

[David Kahn]

Anyone know if one of these is operating in Boston yet?

http://dinersjournal.blogs.nytimes.co...

[emannths]

I swung by Barismo for some beans yesterday and noticed they had a new machine. I'm pretty sure it's one of these bad boys.

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Barismo
169 Massachusetts Ave, Arlington, MA 02474

[bobot]

Yes, Barismo has a variable pressure machine. They also got rid of the pour-over machine (they will have two or three of those at Dwelltime) and are back to doing those by hand.

[hckybg]

Apparently two of the newer coffee places in town - Render Coffee in the South End and 3 Little Figs in Somerville - have the La Marzocco Strada, for those interested in these intriguing and very expensive variable pressure espresso machines. I've not been yet, so would be interested in any reports from those who have. I'm curious to know if the baristas are actually using the machine's full capability or if they are just pulling shots as normal. Dwelltime will have one too, and I expect they will be very experimental with it.

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Render Coffee
563 Columbus Ave, Boston, MA 02118

3 Little Figs
278 Highland Ave, Somerville, MA 02143

[David Kahn]

Thank you! That is very exciting. Render looks to be just a couple of blocks from my house, and I will definitely be checking it out.

[lergnom]

Perhaps too far off topic, but I like the coffee the Clover produces. I didn't realize it makes like ET and phones home for settings for each varietal or blend. Sort of Big Brotherish coffee making but it works well.

[hckybg]

Too bad Starbucks had to buy the company though, even in a Clover the most expensive Starbucks beans still taste like burnt stuff to me. And make my stomach have fits too.

[emannths]

Maybe ask them directly? http://www.slayerespresso.com/contact...

[David Kahn]

I wrote to them today. Unfortunately, they told me that the nearest machine is in NYC.

[hckybg]

None in Boston, as they say RBC has one. Other places in New York have the La Marzocco Strada, which is similar--I've seen it at the Whitney Museum, Kava in the West Village, and at Culture in Midtown. Wait and see what the new Barismo storefront (which won't be called Barismo) has--if anyone in town got something with variable pressure and knew how to use it, I bet it'd be them. The thing is I've never noticed the barista manipulating the machine when I've been to places with this type. In part that is because sometimes I've ordered blends, but I don't recall seeing it when I've had single origins either. I'm usually too bashful to ask what they're doing and maybe I just can't see it from where I've stood.

[hckybg]

David Kahn, did you see that the new Barismo joint - called dwellTime - will have a La Marzocco Strada?

[David Kahn]

I did not, but will check it out. (Just bought one of these -- http://www.chriscoffee.com/products/h... -- and, in learning to use it, have been saturating myself in espresso. Would be really nice to be able to talk with someone who actually knows what they're doing.)

[hckybg]

Wow! Lucky you. I just have a little Gaggia Evolution but have had good luck with it--but no PID controller so I can't obsess over temperature and really fine tune (I don't want to take the machine apart to modify it). I have read good things about the Alex II, I am sure it will take your espresso making to another level if you have had a machine before and will probably be an interesting machine to learn on if that is the case. Definitely talk to Jaime van Schyndel at Barismo/dwellTime, we are lucky to have someone like that in Boston (as well as George Howell).

[cpingenot]

they got approval of their common victualer's license too, so hopefully we'll be seeing them soon !

[emannths]

Today's iced coffee article in the Globe says that dwellTime will open in October.

http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/food/...