Week beginning August 26th - The EK 43 grinder debate

So there is a bit of talk in the industry about a new method of grinding beans for use on an espresso machine using the EK 43 grinder and in consequence of that, a few blog posts.

I have seen this grinder in action at the 3FE store in Dublin recently as did two of my key staff when they went to visit last weekend. However the three of us have yet to use one, or be able to assess it fully. But the coffees we tasted were delicious.

What I have seen are the blog posts put out by four of the most well regarded people in this industry in this part of the world, if not the whole world. It makes for fascinating and involved reading, and also shows the lengths that people are going to for coffee and the experience.

These are the blogs that I have read. I suggest you read them in the listed order. I recommend you need a good comfortable chair, a great coffee (or strong drink) and about an hour. And after that, possibly another strong drink.

http://www.prufrockcoffee.com/2013/08/the-kaminsky-report/

http://colinharmon.wordpress.com/

http://bar1sta.com/?p=164

http://www.jimseven.com/2013/08/21/alright-lets-talk-about-ek43s-then/

I am not going to write a blog post on the benefits or otherwise of this grinder. I'm not smart enough to write like these guys do, but I do know my current business model and with the limited information I have at hand, I can only see that these grinders would not work for me in our situation for the simple fact that it could take about 2 hours every day to dose out our daily pre portions and the efficiency on the bar that we pride ourselves on would suffer.

Anyway, if you are a coffee geek and wish to have a fascinating, in depth read, please enjoy and I suggest you follow these gentlemen's blogs anyway for further great reading.

If all you are looking for is great hospitality, coffee and food, then here is our menu for next week. With Lamingtons. Yum oh. Please enjoy.



Traditional bircher muesli with rhubarb and raspberry compote 3.50

Granola muesli with pomegranate molasses and rhubarb and raspberry compote 3.50
Fruit salad (pineapple, mango, strawberries, grapes, passion fruit) 3.70
Ciabatta roll with omelette, pancetta, rocket and tomato salsa 4.90
Ciabatta roll with courgette omelette, rocket and tomato salsa 4.90
Croissant with Italian roast ham, talleggio cheese, spinach & plum tomatoes 4.90
Seven seed bakery bloomer toast with home made preserves 1.70
Coffee, cherry and walnut toast 2.30
Banana bread 2.40

Pastries by Seven Seed bakery
French butter croissants 1.80
Pain au chocolat 2.40
Almond croissants 2.80

Baked Treats
Sweet Muffins: Apricot and almond 2.40
Savoury Scone: Courgette and feta 2.40
Chocolate and hyssop friands 2.40
Super moist chocolate brownies 2.40
White chocolate blondies 2.40
Portuguese tarts 2.00
ANZAC cookies 1.80
Chocolate chip cookies 1.80
Lamingtons 2.50

French retro baguettes 4.90
Pancetta, avocado, tomato, aioli, rocket
Tomato, mozzarella, basil, chimichurri, spinach

Foccacias 5.00

Smoked Salmon, dill, red onion, capers, aioli, spinach
Ham, gherkin, pickle, Dijon, mature cheddar, rocket

Salads: 5.50/6.50
Venison meat balls with green lentils, black rice, coriander, buttered coriander seeded red onions, fragrant tomato dressing and wood sorrel.
Grilled haloumi, wild watercress, roasted red onions, and rose-hip dressing
Green beans with chilli, peanuts, fish sauce and coriander

Tart: 4.40 or 7.50 with salad
Goats cheese, roasted chicory and rowan berry