Starbucks tests new names Max Effgen, July 18, 2009 Interesting article in the Seattle Times, Starbucks tests new names for stores. How do you compete with saturation? Change your name. Will be interesting to see how this works. Anyone remember all the “Seattle’s Best” stores that were shut down after the Starbucks buyout? Friends ask me all the time… Continue Reading
Portable Espresso = Handpresso Max Effgen, July 5, 2009 I came across the Handpresso while shopping at the Seattle Flagship REI store. It is truly portable. Hand pump operated and uses the standard Easy Serving Espresso (E.S.E.) pod. This is a device that I would actually take into the backcountry. Pack-in/Pack-out does not work well with loose coffee grounds…. Continue Reading
Coffee Drinks Illustrated Max Effgen, July 5, 2009 Coffee Drinks Illustrated by Lokesh Dhakar is an impressive illustration of the variety of espresso drinks. Being a coffee fiend, I like it. Looks like he is channeling his inner Edward Tufte. I found this via LifeHacker. Continue Reading
WSJ: Coffee Prices Now Off 18% for Month Max Effgen, June 19, 2009 It is the little things that bring a smile to my face…Selling by speculators and supply from the Brazilian harvest dragged ICE Futures U.S. arabica coffee to seven-week lows. Have a great weekend. Continue Reading
Starbucks recalling 530,000 coffee grinders Max Effgen, June 17, 2009 I caught wind of this story last night: Starbucks recalling 530,000 coffee grinders. I cannot imagine cleaning a device with spinning metal blades without unplugging it. There seems to be more to this story on the grinder recall. I do strongly recommend grinding coffee at home. Freshly ground beans just… Continue Reading
Is it the world’s smoothest brew? Max Effgen, May 31, 2009 Came across this on Lifehacker, Use an AeroPress for Small Servings of Coffee, and realized it had been awhile since I had posted anything coffee related. The AeroPress looks interesting and should make a good cup. They claim it is the world’s smoothest brew. Cannot comment on that, but it… Continue Reading
MyPressi Thumbs Down. JoeMo Thumbs… Max Effgen, May 23, 2009 I came across the MyPressi TWIST a few weeks ago. Initially, I was excited that I could have a new toy and doppio espresso wherever and whenever. My take: Over engineered and very expensive. Better option for coffee on the go is French (or Freedom) Press and a JoeMo travel… Continue Reading
More on Coffee Max Effgen, April 11, 2009 Check out this good read by Starbucks co-founder Jerry Baldwin, Press Pots: Coffee Worth the Effort on Press Pots (a.k.a. French Press or “Freedom” Press). My coffee habits are similar — only espresso or press will do. A few years ago, I received a KitchenAid Pro Line Burr Grinder KPCG100… Continue Reading
Coffee Max Effgen, March 20, 2009 When I first moved to Seattle, I could not tell the difference between an espresso and freeze dried Taster’s Choice. That changed in a hurry. I now have a strong regular habit. I even brought a Starbucks Barista® Espresso Machine into the office of a former employer to slow my… Continue Reading