Best yet?

So I'm not sure this is my best ever, but it's my best in some time. This may be the last latte I make using the free beans that came with Miss Silvia. I just roasted my blend of Brazil, Colombian, and Nicaraguan this morning so I will probably have another entry on Monday if I get a good pour - hopefully with nice dark CREMA!!!

The free "Super Crema" espresso beans (as they are dubbed) did have better crema than any vacuum bagged beans I've used prior, but nothing like what comes with a fresh home roast, especially one with 15% robusta to give a nice crema boost.

So, hopefully next post I will have some nice dark crema as a starting palette to work my "magic". ;-) THEN my only excuse will be my ability to pour!

Ta ta.

-Naug

No lazy mornings = no latte art

So I've been working early the last few days and haven't had time to pour a good latte. I rushed to make one before 8am work, but it didn't turn out so good. Too much foam makes not for a good pour. Man, I sound a bit like Yoda - what up with that?

So here's my dilemma. I'm definitely a perfectionist and I don't want to share my "bad examples" of latte art, but at the same time how "honest-to-blog" am I if I only post the good pours? I suppose I should post the good, bad and downright ugly. This may even force me to work hard to hone my skills. However I'm still at the mercy of my Saeco Classico and its hardly-consistent-steam.

On a side note, there is no place in my city where I can buy green robusta beans. I like to use about 10-15% robusta to give a nice thick crema (and a little bit of caffeine kick). I ordered some online and I think I paid more in shipping than the actual cost of the beans. Ha! My only consolation is that they SHOULD last for at least 6 months or more.

I work late tomorrow and with any luck I'll get a decent pour and good crema with freshly roasted beans. If you don't see a post or a picture either my camera's busted, I didn't have time to post, or more likely I made some BAD art!

-Later!

Starting a new blog is fun! :-)

This is my first official Latte Art post... I am a newbie and only have a Saeco Classico espresso machine, but I've been able to get some decent leaf art I suppose. I hope to someday get a Rancilio Silva machine which gives much more consistent steam for making good latte art. I'm also currently out of robusta beans so my crema is somewhat lacking - yes, I roast my own espresso blend as well.

If you've stumbled upon this blog, feel free to comment how bad I am or what not... even encourage me if you like. I have no formal training. I just like to make my own coffee and I figured it would be something fun to blog about.

Cheers!

-Naug