This is our first in a series in which we’ll review the coffee we receive from Craft Coffee.

Panther Coffee
Miami, FL

Origin: La libertad, Quilanga
Loja, Ecuador

Method: Chemex, bleached filter
1:17 35/595 Brew Time: 3:35

Cup: Clean citrus acidity. Barley, plum, pear. Sweet & balanced.

Detour Coffee Roasters
Dundas, Ontario, Canada

Origin: Bufundu, Rwanda

Method: Chemex, bleached filter
1:17 35/595 Brew time: 3:27

Cup: Grapefruit snap. Lot’s of grapefruit and red berries. This would be great paired with cheesecake.

Novo Coffee
Denver, Colorado

Origin: Meru, Kenya

Method: Chemex, bleached filter
1:17 35/560 Brew time: 3:24

Cup: SOO MUCH tropical fruit! Lot’s of passionfruit and guava like acidity. This would be great as an iced coffee

There you have it. For future reviews we will use other coffee brewing devices such as Hario V-60 and maybe even the Bonavita Brewer. We hope you enjoy reading this. If you would like to purchase the coffee reviewed click the roasters name and a link will take you to their on-line store. Have a great weekend!

Espresso Parts had the pleasure of working with Roast Magazine & Imbibe Magazine at Spirit of 77 in Portland, Oregon for the 2012 SCAA! Here’s our staff “working” the manual brew bar!

Song: “The Shining Path” by RJD2.

If you can’t remember the last time you changed your espresso grinder burrs then chances are they could be dull. In fact, if you grind coffee, and I’m sure you do, then your burrs are slowly dulling each and every time you turn on your espresso grinder. This goes for all the your bulk grinders too, though their burrs tend to last significantly longer.

“SO WHEN DO I CHANGE MY BURRS?“

THE OFFICIAL ANSWER:
The easy answer is to change your burrs using the grinder burr manufacturer’s recommendations.

Mazzer Mini (58mm flat burr) – change at 660lbs coffee throughput
Mazzer Super Jolly (64mm flat burr) – change at 880lbs coffee throughput
Mazzer Major (83mm flat burr) – change at 1300lbs coffee throughput
Mazzer Kony (63mm conical burr) – change at 1640lbs coffee throughput
Mazzer Robur 110V (71mm conical burr) – change at 1700lbs coffee throughput
Mazzer Robur 220V (83mm conical burr) – change at 1800lbs coffee throughput
La Marzocco Swift (64mm ceramic flat burr) – change at 3300lbs coffee throughput
Anfim Caimano (75mm flat burr) – change at 1300lbs throughput
Burr life is calculated by burr size and the amount of coffee put through each grinder. While there are recommended grinder burr life spans, these will vary for both flat and conical burrs, the burr material, and size ( i.e. cutting surface area) of the burr. Smaller grinders use small burrs. For example, the Mazzer Mini uses a flat burr set 58mm in diameter, this cutting surface sees a lot less action than the Mazzer Major flat burr set which measures 83mm in diameter.

PREMATURE WEAR.

Premature burr wear can be caused by rocks, nails, etc., that aren’t removed in the roasting and bagging process. Motor shaft and/or bearing damage can also accelerate burr deterioration.

THE COFFEE PROFESSIONAL’S APPROACH TO BURR LIFE:

For the serious coffee professional the manufacturer’s recommended replacement standards take the burrs far past their personal threshold of quality. The extreme perspective might call for one to change their burrs at the half-life. So your 880lbs becomes 440lbs and so on…

We suggest to our customers that you just be aware of the condition of their burrs. If you are quality orientated and find yourself particularly sensitive to negative effects dull burrs can have on espresso flavor or consistency, Espresso Parts recommends to start looking for signs of wear beginning from 50%-75% of the recommended burr life. (See chart above)

It’s a fine line. As long as things are looking and tasting great you are probably good to go.

WORN BURRS. THINGS TO LOOK FOR.

1. Grind consistency. Are your grounds similar in size with very little variation?
2. Taste. Does your espresso taste flat no matter what you do?
3. Burr edges. Do they feel dull?

PROLONGED LIFE?

To prolong the life of your burrs keep them clean. We find that Urnex Grindz does a terrific job of cleaning the burrs and removing lodged solids and oils.

Removing, thoroughly cleaning, and re-installing grinder burrs regularly will also help extend their life.

LASTLY…

Brand new burrs can require a breaking in or “seasoning” period before they achieve the consistency you might desire. Its a good idea to save a few pounds of old coffee so that you have something other than fresh coffee to break those bad boys in. Mazzer Robur burrs are probably the most notorious for requiring such a break in period.

BURR CHANGING TUTORIAL

If you are feeling ambitious we have a tutorial on changing espresso grinder burr sets on our website. http://www.espressoparts.com/ChangingGrinderBurrs Good luck and remember to always use caution and ALWAYS UNPLUG YOUR GRINDER before starting to work on it.

GRINDER CLEANING SUPPLY

Urnex Grindz Espresso & Coffee Grinder Cleaner URNX_GRINDZ $22.40	Espresso Grinder Brush Heavy Wood Handle/Natural Bristles 3007_10R $3.23
Pallo GrindMinder Espresso Grinder Brush Combination PALLO_GRINDMINDER $11.35	2” Wide Flat Brush with Natural Bristles and Wooden Handle 3007_20 $3.46

ESPRESSO GRINDER BURRS

If you don’t find your espresso grinder’s burr set below visit the “Espresso Grinder Burr Sets” section of our website.

Mazzer Robur Three Phase 83mm Conical Espresso Grinder Burrs MAZ_128 $156.16	Mazzer Major Espresso Grinder Burrs 83mm MC_19 $81.14
Mazzer Mini Espresso 58mm Grinder Burrs MC_129 $45.54	Mazzer Mini E Espresso Grinder Burrs MC_129E $40.00
Mazzer Super Jolly (Normale) Espresso Grinder Burrs MC_18 $47.43	Rossi RR45/45A Espresso Grinder Burrs MC_66 $39.62
Rancilio Rocky – MD40 – Obel Bregant 50mm Espresso Grinder Burrs MC_41 $38.36	Anfim Grinder Burrs 75mm MC_2 $77.17
Obel Bregant/Carimali/La Pavoni Zip Grinder Burr Set MC_21 $44.52
If you don’t find your espresso grinder’s burr set below visit the “Espresso Grinder Burr Sets” section of our website.Once again, remember EQUIPMENT PARTS SHIP FREE. You can read more about our Free Shipping For Parts offer here:http://www.espressoparts.com/Parts

We have a vintage La Marzocco GS2  2 Group espresso machine up for sale right now. There are a few interested parties but nothing solid yet and you still have time to take a crack at it.

This vintage LM GS2 has had a complete cosmetic restoration from the ground up… PID temperature control has been added, all the safety components have been completely updated, and it has a brand new wiring harness to boot. GS2 mechanical paddle OG style. Original serial # 11317.

Interested??? Email our customer service folks at info@espressoparts.com and we’ll put you in touch with the right folks.

Note: This espresso machine can be customized to customer specifications from here, cosmetics or mechanics, or as is ready to be shipped out and put to work!

La Marzocco GS2, 2 group, mechanical paddle (original MP)

220 VAC, single phase, 2 wire + ground, 20 amp
Completely restored (new powder coat, chrome)
PID controlled brew boiler
Complete safety component upgrade
Custom made high temp wire harness
Engraved glass side panels
1/4 turn ceramic-sealing steam valves

As is pricing, $14,000
This includes:
machine (obviously)
new motor and pump head
new LM portafilters and baskets
water filter kit (cartridge and mounting head)
tamper in walnut or bamboo, flat or convex base, GS2 logo engraved on handle
2 sets of group pm service parts (gasket, screen and screw)
stainless steel braided water lines (2)
flexible drain line

Shipping is not included

NEW - Espresso Parts Maple Wood Coffee Paddle

Designed by Canadian inventor and designer Tom Littledeer, this beautifully carved utensil has a fluid form inspired by canoe paddles. Each one is handcrafted from a single piece of North American maple and is shaped, polished and signed by hand.

Accounting/Customer Service Assistant

EspressoParts.com has been directly involved in the specialty coffee industry for 20 years. We strive to learn as much as we can each and every day so that we can bring our customers the newest innovations and the best equipment, tools and supplies available! We pride ourselves on being one of the most innovative and creative companies in the specialty coffee trade!

We currently have a full time need for a dynamic rock star to oversee Accounts Payable duties and assist with Customer Service responsibilities as required.

AP duties include but are not limited to the following:

• Reconciles processed to General Ledger by verifying entries and comparing system reports to balances.
• Charges expenses to GL accounts and cost centers by analyzing invoice/expense reports; recording entries.
• Pays vendors by monitoring discount opportunities; verifying federal id numbers; scheduling and preparing checks; resolving purchase order, contract, invoice, or payment discrepancies and documentation; insuring credit is received for outstanding memos; issuing stop-payments or purchase order amendments.
• Maintains accounting ledgers by verifying and posting account transactions.
• Verifies vendor accounts by reconciling monthly statements and related transactions.
• Maintains historical records by filing documents.
• Disburses petty cash by recording entry; verifying documentation.
• Reports sales taxes by calculating requirements on paid invoices.
• Protects organization’s value by keeping information confidential.

Customer Services duties include but are not limited to the following:

• Attracts potential customers by answering product and service questions; suggesting information about other products and services.
• Opens and maintains customer accounts by recording account information.
• Resolves product or service problems by clarifying the customer’s complaint; determining the cause of the problem; selecting and explaining the best solution to solve the problem; expediting correction or adjustment; following up to ensure resolution.
• Contributes to team effort by accomplishing related results as needed.

Experience using QuickBooks Enterprise or other comparable software is highly desirable. Barista experience is a major plus. We need someone who can speak to our customers regarding our entire product line. At least 1 year of accounting experience is required. The ideal candidate will have excellent multitask skills, strong communication skills and the ability to work independently and with a team. We need someone who can hit the ground running! Are you that person??

For consideration please respond with a resume, cover letter and three professional references to admin@espressoparts.com.

It’s already February…so we decided to put some great stuff on sale.  For the month of Febrewary our hemp filters will be specially priced and Bonavita Brewers will be shipped free (free shipping for domestic ground).  We will also have weekly deals, the first is the small Beehouse Dripper. You can easily brew coffee for two with this dripper. It takes a #2 Melitta filter and will be a great addition to your pour-over collection. Check back weekly to see what’s brewing.