Off Topic The Review Thread

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sb_73 said:
As an early Fathers Day present to myself, purchased in the certain knowledge that my kids would forget and anyway can’t afford the stuff I want, I have purchased a Heston Blumenthal branded Sage Barista Express, which is a mini coffee machine looking very much like the ones you get in proper coffee shops.

Grinds the beans, heats the water, provides steam for frothing and looks lovely (and gains the spousal approval on style alone). As it is a beast of imagination which offers you choices in coarseness and length of grinding, steam pressure, single or double shot etc. it takes a bit of calibration and experimentation. As always with new toys I have been playing with it in search of the best combination (in truth they have all been good) and have now had about 8 espressos in 30 minutes. I’m wired, the dog is going to be rapidly walked this evening.

This is an extravagance undoubtedly, but no other bugger is going to treat me, i might as well do it myself. And I foresee years of joy from this machine, I love coffee and have a worlds worth of beans from different places to test.....

Recommended for the hedonist.
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It does look good, but at £489 it should do. I've worked out that if you were to buy an espresso every day for £2 you would have to drink 1,500 cups before the machine pays for itself. ( Figures supplied by Diane Abbott. )

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QPR999 said:
It does look good, but at £489 it should do. I've worked out that if you were to buy an espresso every day for £2 you would have to drink 1,500 cups before the machine pays for itself. ( Figures supplied by Diane Abbott. )

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I said it was an extravagance. Probably Fathers Day and birthday combined. I’ll go out on a limb and estimate that I will get better value from it than I would from a QPR season ticket. Reckon I’ll do that in in about 15 months - a couple of coffees a day for me, one for the wife, and lots when we have people over.

One thing this isn’t is in any way ‘instant’. About 3 minutes to get an espresso, which is an age compared to a pod machine, and there is a bit of cleaning up to do after as well. I am developing a Zen like approach, considering the process of making a coffee as a ceremony rather than a task. But I won’t be indulging in latte art, for exhibitionists only and as you know I’m very shy and retiring.

I didn’t sleep very well last night.
 
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I have to admit to being more of the stove-top Bialetti coffee man myself. Takes a little longer, but with freshly ground beans gives a smashing cup of coffee. Used every day. Definitely a store of decaf around just in case more than a few coffees are being consumed!

Enjoy your indulgence SB - well earned after many years of being a Father of course!
 
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SW Ranger said:
I have to admit to being more of the stove-top Bialetti coffee man myself. Takes a little longer, but with freshly ground beans gives a smashing cup of coffee. Used every day. Definitely a store of decaf around just in case more than a few coffees are being consumed!

Enjoy your indulgence SB - well earned after many years of being a Father of course!
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That’s what I used to use when I lived in Italy, and for most of the 90s. Still have it but unusable now as we have one of those ceramic/glass hobs and it doesn’t work on it.

I am experiencing issues rationing myself at the moment. Can’t do decaf.
 
Steelmonkey said:
Today is the 150th anniversary of the birth of Charles Rennie Mackintosh......lots of things going on in Glasgow to celebrate the artists work, preceded by a fascinating program on BBC2 a couple of days ago....now available on iPlayer

Mackintosh: Glasgow's Neglected Genius: www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b0b5ydcz via @bbciplayer

Also, a great article on him and his work...

Charles Rennie Mackintosh and the rooms that inspired Europe - BBC News https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-44315755
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Absolutely devaststed to hear the news this morning of another fire at the Mackintosh building in Glasgow, along with a venue that I regularly attend, the O2 ABC.

Glasgow fire: Art school's Mackintosh building ravaged - BBC News https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-44504659
 
Apologies for returning to one of my pet hates, but the Today programme on Radio 4 is having a slow motion car crash this morining. Presented in front of an audience (why, just why?) by Hussein and Carney in Newcastle, it has been both inept and thoroughly patronising for all the Northerners invited on to say their bit. Gary ‘I wanted to be a comedian but as soon as I open my mouth you know why that won’t work’ Richardson did the sport and made a reference to The Good Old Days, perhaps forgetting that that only makes sense vaguely to people of my ancient generation, and was only actually watched by people even older, Carney tried to interview a Russian tour guide who had shown some England team members around the Hermitage in St Petersburg, and the guide started reciting big chunks of her spiel.

I am a fool for persisting with this.
 
sb_73 said:
Apologies for returning to one of my pet hates, but the Today programme on Radio 4 is having a slow motion car crash this morining. Presented in front of an audience (why, just why?) by Hussein and Carney in Newcastle, it has been both inept and thoroughly patronising for all the Northerners invited on to say their bit. Gary ‘I wanted to be a comedian but as soon as I open my mouth you know why that won’t work’ Richardson did the sport and made a reference to The Good Old Days, perhaps forgetting that that only makes sense vaguely to people of my ancient generation, and was only actually watched by people even older, Carney tried to interview a Russian tour guide who had shown some England team members around the Hermitage in St Petersburg, and the guide started reciting big chunks of her spiel.

I am a fool for persisting with this.
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You are such a Conservative-in-Denial, Stanners :)
 
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I suspect most of you won't have heard of Buddy Curtess and the Grasshoppers - a blues Brothers derivative band from the late 80s. Anyyway, they did their first London gig for donkeys years in the 100 club last night and it was great. They're obviously not as lively on their toes as they used to be but sounded excellent. Thoroughly enjoyable way to spend a Friday evening and it was only 3.75 for a pint of Pride in the Green Man in Berwick Street!
 
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Dan Starkey 2 said:
I suspect most of you won't have heard of Buddy Curtess and the Grasshoppers - a blues Brothers derivative band from the late 80s. Anyyway, they did their first London gig for donkeys years in the 100 club last night and it was great. They're obviously not as lively on their toes as they used to be but sounded excellent. Thoroughly enjoyable way to spend a Friday evening and it was only 3.75 for a pint of Pride in the Green Man in Berwick Street!
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Haven’t heard of them but have spent many an enjoyable evening in the 100 Club, last time to see Ray Gelato and the Giants last year.
 
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