I’ve added the Dream Toy of the Month for September 2005 to my main web site.
I have this Dream Toy and love it. It is the Rancilio Silvia espresso machine, which is a mid-to-high grade espresso machine for the home.
If you have only had espresso from the “steam toy” machines (in the $100 range), you have not tasted the real stuff. Most coffee shops, including the big name chains, don’t get it right, either.
Either the coffee is too stale, the water temperature is cold, the water temperature is too hot, the coffee is not ground fine enough or the machine simply can not make the a good espresso. “Thin and Bitter” is not espresso. A proper espresso has a perceptible body, a mouth-feel. It even tastes of berries, citrus, chocolate or nuts or a combination of those.
If you are lucky enough to have a good coffee shop in town, see how they do at espresso. In Baton Rouge, my favorites (other than my kitchen) are Perks on Perkins Road and Highland Coffee by LSU.