Skip to content

Search Site

Sprometheus.com

  • Home
  • On Bar
  • Connect
  • About
  • Coffee Glossary

Category: Gear

Pure Over
GearReview
June 17, 2022 Post a Comment

Pure Over – All Glass, No Filter

A filterless coffee brewer isn't unheard of... but I don't recall any of them using that particular aspect as their main marketing point, and that is where the Pure Over comes into the picture. This relatively new pour over dripper designed by Portland based glass artist Etai Rahmil was originally a Kickstarter that was fully funded...

Continue reading
ECM Synchronika
EspressoGear
June 3, 2022 Post a Comment

ECM Synchronika – German Built By Italian Heritage

Over my time as a home barista... there are a handful of machines that get brought up in nearly every espresso conversation, and one of them is the ECM Synchronika. This makes sense because on paper it's a needle in a haystack. It comes with dual boilers, PID for consistent temperature control, the legendary (but divisive)...

Continue reading
Lagom P64
GearReview
May 13, 2022 1 Comment

Lagom P64 – The Last Grinder I’ll Ever Buy (Hopefully)

If you're an eagle-eyed viewer... you've maybe noticed a new addition on my bar in some of my recent videos, and that is the Option-O Lagom P64. From a distance it looks like a microscope, but similarly it is intended to magnify the flavors of your coffee...see what I did there?  If you aren't familiar its...

Continue reading
Aillio Bullet
GearRoasting
April 29, 2022 Post a Comment

Aillio Bullet – The Holy Grail Of Home Roasters

Specialty coffee is already a niche interest... but once you hit a certain level not one coffee enthusiast or hobbyist hasn’t considered roasting their own. Of course the options out there for home roasting are as broad as they are for everything else in coffee, and you can spend as much or as little as you’d...

Continue reading
Gaggia Classic Pro
EspressoGear
April 15, 2022 Post a Comment

Gaggia Classic Pro – Small But Mighty Home Espresso

Getting into home espresso... can be an intimidating experience. There are thousands of options that range in everything from price to performance. Going online in search of answers can can only make the choice harder. Scrolling through forums and blog posts can give you an even mix of horror stories and happy endings, but there is...

Continue reading
Goat Story Gina
CoffeeGear
March 25, 2022 Post a Comment

Goat Story Gina – Three Brewers In One

As a coffee lover... I've collected a whole grip of gear over the years. If you can brew on it I likely have it, or its on a long list I keep on my phone of future buys. But one thing most of them have in common is they tend to be hyper focused on one...

Continue reading
Side By Side
GearReview
March 18, 2022 1 Comment

Side By Side – $500 Gaggia Classic Vs. $5,000 Linea Mini

If there is one question... I get asked on a very regular basis it's why a relatively simple espresso machine like the La Marzocco Linea Mini is worth $5,000, and to be honest it's not an easy question to just answer off the cuff. The response I often use is related to cars, because you can...

Continue reading
Kingrinder K3
GearReview
January 14, 2022 Post a Comment

Kingrinder K3 – Can This $100 Hand Grinder Do It All?

It takes a certain type of coffee person... to want to manually hand grind their coffee. It may or may not surprise you, but I'm not that type of coffee person. I've grown very accustomed to my daily ritual using an electric grinder, but the growing popularity of quality hand grinders is hard to ignore. There...

Continue reading
Linea Mini Ownership
EspressoGear
January 7, 2022 1 Comment

La Marzocco – The Truth About Linea Mini Ownership

On a cold January day in 2017... much like this one, I brought home my brand new La Marzocco Linea Mini. This was almost exactly five years ago, and at the time I was just a new coffee enthusiast looking to learn the craft, but little did I know that it would take me where I...

Continue reading
Airscape
GearReview
December 10, 2021 1 Comment

The Airscape – A Better Storage Solution For Coffee

Air is the enemy... of your coffee's freshness. There is no way to put a complete stop to oxidation that will eventually make your coffee go stale, but thankfully there are some containers out there aimed at helping slow the process down. Today's tester is for the Planetary Design Airscape. It's been on the market for...

Continue reading
Fellow Ode
GearReview
November 5, 2021 3 Comments

Fellow Ode – A Bargain Or A Bust?

I'll admit it, I'm late... to the Fellow Ode party, but its definitely not for lack a trying. I've been reaching out to Fellow on multiple avenues trying to get an Ode for review since late 2020. Unfortunately every lead led me to a non-response, a pass off, and one case being purely ignored (see the...

Continue reading
Coffee Gifts
CoffeeGear
October 29, 2021 Post a Comment

Top Five – Affordable Coffee Gifts of 2021

The holiday season is fast approaching... and with all the delays in both manufacturing and shipping I figured I'd get this video out a little earlier than normal.  So for those looking for some affordable coffee gifts, or just wanting to know what coffee toys I've been loving through 2021 than this video is for you....

Continue reading
Hario Switch
CoffeeGear
August 20, 2021 Post a Comment

Hario Switch – The Last Dripper You’ll Ever Need

When I first saw the... Hario Switch I thought it was just a more expensive version of the Clever Dripper, but after getting one I realized it's a bit of a different beast. Unlike the Clever you can easily manipulate the brew from percolation to immersion, and back again with the flip of a switch, hence...

Continue reading
Puck Screens
EspressoGear
June 4, 2021 1 Comment

Espresso Anatomy – Do Puck Screens Work?

As if there weren't... enough tools and accessories out there for pulling shots, it's time to look at yet another advertised as your fast pass to better extractions; the Bplus espresso puck screens. Of course, many of us espresso nerds have heard all of this before, many times over. So I'm sure you could understand my...

Continue reading
Cafelat Robot and Flair 58
GearReview
May 21, 2021 Post a Comment

Head-To-Head – Cafelat Robot Vs Flair 58

I'm a man of my word... and a couple month's ago while reviewing the Robot I said I would soon be releasing a head-to-head battle with the Cafelat Robot and the Flair, but what I didn't tell you was I was waiting for the new 58 to drop. In the world of hand pressed, fully manual...

Continue reading
Espro Bloom
GearReview
April 2, 2021 1 Comment

Espro Bloom – Brewing A Faster Cup

Brewing coffee quickly... hasn't always been looked at as a good thing, but as we've developed a better understanding of extraction it's become more widely accepted. First science told us to run faster shots of espresso, and now the Espro Bloom has entered the fray claiming tasty brews in record time. They do this by utilizing...

Continue reading
Chestnut X
GearReview
March 5, 2021 1 Comment

Chestnut X – The Hand Grinder Upgraded

The hand grinder market... has really blown up over the past few years, with new options hitting shelves and websites at a pretty solid rate. There are names that most coffee enthusiasts kick around on the regular like the Comandante and the Kinu M47, but there's a newcomer to this market, and its boasting some pretty...

Continue reading
Niche Zero
GearReview
February 5, 2021 2 Comments

Niche Zero – Year One In Review

The unsung hero of the coffee bar... is the humble grinder. The espresso machines, coffee drippers, and latte art pours tend to often be the stars of the show, but today I'm revisiting my experience with a Niche Zero year one review. If you've been around for a minute you may recall the original review I...

Continue reading
La Marzocco Linea Mini
GearReview
January 8, 2021 2 Comments

La Marzocco – The Linea Mini Four Year Review

Four years ago this week... I became the proud owner of a brand new, crispy white, La Marzocco Linea Mini. In that time it has given me endless hours of entertainment, content for videos, increased my barista skills, and also helped motivate me to create not one, but two businesses. So I do generally look at the...

Continue reading
Nanopresso
GearReview
December 18, 2020 Post a Comment

Nanopresso – The Micro Espresso Machine

When I think about making espresso... I generally picture myself at home, or in a cafe working behind a classic countertop machine, but I also have to remind myself that other people actually leave their house sometimes.  So something like the Wacaco Nanopresso may actually be a the perfect option for those adventurous, espresso-loving spirits who...

Continue reading
Duomo The Eight
EspressoGear
December 11, 2020 Post a Comment

Duomo The Eight – Distribution On Pins & Needles

I promise you... this will be the last distribution tool review I'll do for awhile. It just seems like when it rains it pours, and recently a Duomo The Eight poured into my possession thanks to a lovely local espresso lover named Josh who was willing to part with it while I made a review. At...

Continue reading
Cafelat Robot
EspressoGear
November 20, 2020 1 Comment

Cafelat Robot – Handmade & Hand Pressed

In a world... and industry that is increasingly becoming more and more automated, the market for hand-pressed espresso machines is still only growing in popularity. In that market the Cafelat Robot is one of the premium players, and having paid nearly $500 for it also costs a premium. It's unique vintage 1950's sci-fi movie robot styling...

Continue reading
Origami Dripper
GearReview
November 13, 2020 Post a Comment

Origami Dripper – The Beauty & The Brew

There comes a point where one may ask... how many coffee drippers is too many?  Well, I'm not sure yet, and I know I haven't reached that point just yet.  So I felt like the Origami Dripper is a welcome addition to my already somewhat crowded home barista coffee cart. For what seems like quite a...

Continue reading
Swift Mini
GearReview
August 14, 2020 4 Comments

The Swift Mini – From Cafe To Kitchen

La Marzocco has a habit... of making Mini versions of their commercial machines. I'm sure you've heard of the Linea Mini, but in case you haven't, its pretty epic.  Their newest addition to the Mini line up for home baristas is the La Marzocco Swift Mini.  The full-size Swift is a cafe workhorse that you'll find...

Continue reading
Fellow Atmos
GearReview
May 1, 2020 2 Comments

The Fellow Atmos – Coffee Storage Upgraded

Being the coffee nerd... that I'm sure you are (otherwise you may of made a wrong click somewhere) you've likely heard of or own something made by Fellow Products.  They make all kinds of useful and extremely aesthetically pleasing specialty coffee gear.  I mean, you'd be hard pressed to find another company that makes a better...

Continue reading
Leverpresso
GearReview
April 3, 2020 1 Comment

The Leverpresso – The Littlest of the Levers

The Leverpresso is... the smallest lever espresso machine on the market, at least that I'm aware of.  It begs the age old question, does size matter?  Get your mind out the gutter. I'm talking about if it can it live up to its larger and more expensive cousins like the Flair or the RoK?  Well, today...

Continue reading
Changes To Linea Mini
EspressoGear
February 28, 2020 Post a Comment

Top Three – Things I’d Change About The Linea Mini

It may be hard to imagine... the Linea Mini needing some changes.  It's true that it's a dream machine.  Waking up and making my morning cappuccino on it is part of my daily routine that never gets old.  But no matter how perfect it may seem, using it day in and day out for years you'll...

Continue reading
Tamper Comparison
GearReview
February 7, 2020 Post a Comment

Tamper Comparison – Barista Hustle Vs Pullman BigStep

It's time for a tamper comparison... and the two puck pressers I'll be looking at this week are the ever popular Barista Hustle and the Pullman Big Step.  These two tend to be a couple of the most popular options in the specialty coffee industry.  You'd be hard pressed to find at least one cafe out...

Continue reading
Fellow Monty Cappuccino
GearReview
January 24, 2020 Post a Comment

Fellow Monty – Cappuccino Milk Art Cups

The Fellow Monty... not to be confused with the "full Monty", is a newcomer to the milk cup market.  At least they seem new to me, I didn't see them popping up until the last couple months.  They looked intriguing to me, as I do love all things without handles (note my favorite handleless milk pitcher)....

Continue reading
Niche Zero
GearReview
January 17, 2020 4 Comments

The Niche Zero – A Home Grinder Hero

I'm late to the Niche Zero... party, but if there's one thing I've learned as a somewhat sociable adult, its never show up to a party on time.  So here I am.  Thankfully a local coffee lover reached out and allowed me to borrow their beloved Niche Zero in exchange for my beloved Lux-D.  Seemed like...

Continue reading
Linea Mini Worth The Money
GearReview
December 27, 2019 1 Comment

Coffee Time – Is The Mini Worth The Money?

Linea Mini reviews are so... hot right now.  In fact, they have been for years.  Ever since I published my year one ownership review roughly three years ago, it has been my one of my most popular posts ever on the blog year to year.  Recently I saw Chris Baca threw his 5-panel hat into the...

Continue reading
PuqPress Q2
EspressoGear
December 6, 2019 1 Comment

The World’s Most Expensive Tamper – PuqPress Q2

The PuqPress Q2... is by far the most expensive tamper I've ever used.  It's $1,080 price tag sets it apart from my trusty Pullman Big Step at a measly $165.  Which is already pretty expensive for a tool used for such a simple task. But I never really sat down and thought that the tamper needs...

Continue reading
Flair VS Rok
EspressoGear
November 8, 2019 Post a Comment

The Flair Vs The Rok – Head to Head

It's time the Flair faces the Rok... in a head to head battle to see which hand pressed espresso machine will come out on top.  To keep things fair I was able to get a standard group head for my Flair to make it more of an even competition with the Rok.  I also crowed sourced...

Continue reading
Cafe Concetto Filters
GearReview
November 1, 2019 1 Comment

Cafe Concetto – Metal Aeropress Filters

Cafe Concetto's metal filters... for the Aeropress has entered a ring that isn't extremely full of challengers.  I've seen them bounce around online a few times in the past, but it seems that no one has fully perfected it...yet.  At least to have it stand up to the tried-and-true paper filters.  For those who have followed...

Continue reading
OCD V3
GearReview
September 13, 2019 1 Comment

OCD V3 – Don’t Call It A Comeback

ONA Coffee has dropped the OCD V3... and it's time to find out if its a step forward, or just more of the same.  For those who have been following along with my personal love-hate relationship with the OCD (ONA Coffee Distributor) tool you know that I've been both a huge proponent of the tool, and...

Continue reading
Modern Cortado
EducationGear
July 19, 2019 1 Comment

Espresso Anatomy – The Modern Cortado

The Cortado is one of my... go to espresso drinks. Theres nothing better than a little espresso beverage and not spending a fortune.  Especially when you're like me and usually hit at least three coffee shops when I go out.  It's easy to get over-caffeinated and up feeling a little wonky.  So keeping things small and...

Continue reading
Flair Signature Pro Espresso
GearReview
July 12, 2019 5 Comments

The Flair Espresso – The Review

Now that the Flair... has been on my counter for a month or so, and I've pulled quite a few shots with it I think it's time to do a review for it.  The model that I have is the Signature Pro, which comes with a pressure gauge, updated stainless steel pieces, an additional portafilter, a...

Continue reading
Top Three Espresso Tools
EspressoGear
April 26, 2019 2 Comments

Top Three – Must Have Espresso Tools

https://youtu.be/8wiPsXWs7QA Having the right tools... is key for any job, even making great espresso.  Of course you need an espresso machine, but along with that there are espresso tools that make the job easier and more consistent.  As I'm sure you know consistency is the key to success in coffee making.  If you aren't consistent extractions...

Continue reading
Pitcher Spout
GearOpinion
March 15, 2019 1 Comment

Pitcher Perfect – Round Vs Sharp Spout

The pitcher does not make the pourer... but it can help you progress.  As we all learn and advance in our abilities we also develop our style.  The type of latte art pours we prefer can definitely be assisted by the pitcher.  Over the years my style has changed, and my preference in pitcher has changed...

Continue reading
Linea Mini
GearOpinion
January 18, 2019 3 Comments

La Marzocco Linea Mini – Two Years Later

I love my Linea Mini... it's one of my most prized possessions, which I'm sure was obvious in my year one review.  So when I sat down to write this two year update on my ownership experience, I really dug deep.  Thinking about the times I was frustrated, or annoyed with the machine trying to leave...

Continue reading
Angels' Cup
CoffeeGear
December 7, 2018 Post a Comment

The Coffee Nerd Gift Guide

If you're anything like me... you have a hard time not only buying gifts, but also knowing what to ask for when holidays or birthdays come around.  I feel like as I've gotten older my hobbies and interests have become exponentially more expensive.  Coffee thankfully is a little different.  You can spend as much as you'd...

Continue reading
IKAWA Professional
GearRoasting
November 2, 2018 1 Comment

IKAWA Professional – Quick Roast

The IKAWA has become... an invaluable tool for coffee roasters around the world.  Its small footprint, customizability, and ease-of-use makes it something extremely important to the business of roasting and developing coffees.  The fact that I can take it home in the trunk of my Mazda MX5 and roast in my kitchen without setting off a...

Continue reading
Slow Pour Close
GearReview
September 7, 2018 1 Comment

Welhome Pro Compeition Pitchers – Handle or Not to Handle

I'm a sucker for cool gear... but who isn't?  Every industry I've ever worked in comes with its gear, and specialty coffee has a plethora new gadgets and gear that I always love to get my hands on.  Steaming pitchers are of course one of those pieces of kit.  In my fridge at home I've got...

Continue reading
Pitcher Tips
GearReview
July 6, 2018 Post a Comment

Pitcher Perfect – A Comparison Review of Three Milk Pitchers

On espresso bars around the world... there are a variety of steaming pitchers.  They are all intended for the same basic purpose, to pour steamed milk into coffee.  Yet there are many differences ranging from the subtle, to the blatantly obvious.  Some even have no handles if you can believe that. Having used quite a few...

Continue reading
LEVA Side View
GearOpinion
June 22, 2018 Post a Comment

Pulling On The LEVA – La Marzocco’s Ode to the Past

The Leva truly is a piece of art... the hundreds of photos I've seen since its announcement really don't do it justice. My initial thoughts when I first saw it in person where that of intrigue and an excitement. The Leva marries together a very raw, visceral look, with also a very classic beautiful simplicity that...

Continue reading
Fellow Prismo
GearReview
May 4, 2018 1 Comment

The Fellow Prismo – Will It Spro?

The Aeropress has always been in this middle ground... between espresso and a French Press.  On one hand its brewed under pressure, and on the other immersion is also part of the program.  It's never been a favorite of mine, the cup just doesn't have the clarity I look for in black coffee, or the complexity...

Continue reading
OCD on Portafilter
EspressoGear
February 19, 2018 1 Comment

Consistent Shots All Day, Every Day

Love em' or hate em', distribution tools are here to stay… It’s rare to walk into any specialty coffee shop these days and not see a distribution tool of some kind sitting on the bar. Nearly every company that produces coffee tools has come out with their own version. They vary in shape, size, and material,...

Continue reading
Bottomless Drop
EspressoGear
February 9, 2018 3 Comments

La Marzocco Linea Mini – One Year Later

It’s been a year since the Linea Mini graced my kitchen... I threw out an entire kitchen table and chairs to make space. No regrets. Having the ability to make café quality espresso in your kitchen is every coffee enthusiasts dream. Once that dream becomes a reality, the possibilities are endless. For example, I drink a...

Continue reading
notNeutral Stack
CoffeeGear
January 10, 2018 Post a Comment

Not All Cups Are Created Equal

A cup is just a vessel... that holds a liquid, and you drink out if it. Some are short, some are tall, some are glass, and some are ceramic. Its not until you think about it as another tool of the craft of making, and enjoying coffee, that you start seeing them in more specific terms....

Continue reading
2021 © Sprometheus.comTheme by SiteOrigin
 

Loading Comments...