Announcing the winner of our launch giveaway!
Thank you to everyone who entered our Launch Giveaway. We'd like to congratulate Jared Marquez on his win of a brand-new Rancilio Silvia V3 home espresso machine. Since it's not everyday that you get a chance to win an espresso machine, we decided to ask Jared a few questions.
1) What's the first thing you're going to make with your new espresso machine?
I'm somewhat of a minimalist, at least, I could say I'm very thorough. I'll most likely start with pulling a few espresso shots as I dial in the right grind size. I like learning things from the rudimentary skills first and then working my way up. I figure pulling good shots is the most essential part of making other well crafted drinks :D My wife, she'll want a latte. Bet you anything :)
2) On a scale of never had coffee to a 3-time world barista champion, where would you place yourself in the coffee geekery scale?
Wow! Well... I can say that I began my "coffee journey" in April after beginning to read Blue Bottle's book. So it's been 8 months. The driving motive has been a desire to open a cafe in my hometown (Lake Tahoe, Ca). And since I don't do anything halfway, I thought to myself, "I've gotta really know my stuff." Little did I know what I was getting into. It's been rad, to say the least.
Years before that I had worked in a commercial coffee shop that will remain unnamed, where I had my first espresso doppio and understood the difference between a latte and a mocha. Once my coffee journey really began, my wife and I got the burr grinder and french press goin'. Then during a serendipitous period of having broke the french press, I made pour over coffee every morning... and every afternoon. I experimented with different variables to see how they affected the brew and learned what made for a consistently delicious cup. Throw in an aeropress and some recent home roasting ventures, and here I am... and then I win an espresso machine; which... is... FREAKING AWESOME!!
I know very little about espresso, but I've already decided that I'm gonna learn it upside down, backwards, and inside out. Super excited and thankful that our dream of opening a quality cafe has been radically advanced by this win. I know I went on, but in a word I'd say I'm a solid intermediate :) There ya go.
3) Which Coffee Kind roaster are you most excited to try out?
I really like the look of Passion House Mexico and Bassline. Mostly because I've been digging way into single origin with various brew methods and it'd be enlightening to try the Mexico all different ways. Then I can see how the coffee presents as an espresso. The Bassline sounds traditional but excellent and will allow me to see what benefits a blend can offer. The Bow Truss Hoist also looks pretty solid.
Congratulations again, Jared! Can't wait to see your progress with the new espresso machine.
Leave a comment