u/VeganCurtains

Been pulling from the 49 pro for a couple weeks since it arrived. I only have an old non-espresso Kitchenaid burr grinder (the original), so the pressurized cheater basket has been a lifesaver. And an eWizard steamer arrived yesterday (how did that happen?), and so I broke down and preordered a DF54 from Cliff & Pebble, which won't ship until July (I guess there is quite a supply chain hole).

I keep telling myself my beloved coffee addiction isn't going to become a gaping maw of a black hole that will devour my soul like an H.P. Lovecraft monster...

Curious how many arrived at manual espresso via the long path of roasting one's own coffee beans.

I've been home roasting for about 20 years now, still using a 'frankenstein' setup as it hasn't broken, and provides the control required to deliver consistent results. I gravitate toward African varietals (lots of Ethiopian and Kenyan), and tend to prefer light (City, City+) in my french press, which until I got the Flair was my preferred brew method, to render the distinctives that light roast preserves of the bean (as darker tends to focus on the roast itself).

As a result, my first true excursion into espresso with the Flair just explodes on the tongue and palate (compared to the same bean french pressed). And next roast day (this weekend) I'll probably experiment with going a little darker (maybe Full City) with some of the greens I have in inventory to see what the Flair does with them.

After trying many different sources for greens (unroasted beans), including collectives, forums, and the like, I've happily gone 100% exclusive with Sweet Maria's, as many home roasters do.

Anyway, just curious who else is down this rabbit hole, alongside pulling their own shots.