Rites of Spring #6 - We interview Stephen O'Brien of MyPressi · Friday April 2, 2010 by colin newell
We interview Stephen of MyPressi!
Of the handful of coffee culture mountaineers that have scaled the Everest of caffeinated engineering ingenuity – among them Luigi Bezzera creator of the world’s first “espresso” machine… Dr. Ernest Illy inventor of the first automatic espresso machine in 1933 and Italy’s own Achilles Gaggia creator of the modern pump driven espresso machine in 1946… Very few of these folks live or have lived in the late 20th and early part of the 21st Century.
Among those imagination rich folks are Alan Adler, creator of the Aeropress, Craig Hiron, tenacious entrepreneur who put it all on the line for the OTTO Espresso maker and last (but not least) Stephen O’Brien of the not-yet-World-famous MyPressi Twist espresso maker.
The “just-turned-40” Stephen, who lives in California, is just the latest in the rare circle of coffee and espresso loving folks that have scaled this rarely climbed mountain of ingenuity – the addition of one more amazing espresso producing product in the history books.
And no stranger to doing things differently and with flourish, Stephen claims to jump from one thing to another – having authored 27 books on the subject of software development and software aided publishing.
Raised in Melbourne, Australia and having left home at the gentle age of 16, Stephen learned to conquer the obstacles of life with his own devices and a tireless and quirky sense of creativity. His brain wave in the Espresso world came after only truly embracing coffee culture for a few years. While on his honeymoon in Bora Bora, Tahiti and after several truly bad espresso at the Island resort, Stephen and his new wife conceptualized the idea of a completely portable espresso system using the tiny nitrous oxide cartridges most widely recognized for whipped cream dispensers.
He forgot about it for a while, was reminded about it again by his wife and after a period of about 18 months looking for the right engineering team (in this case from California) came up with a winning product.
Stephen and the MyPressi crew sent me a sample of the Twist to use and abuse. We review it over here on the Coffeecrew.com website.
We interviewed Stephen today via Skype – if you cannot see the audio thingie below, click here for the mp3.
Comment [1]
Rites of Spring #5 - Love is in the air and so on · Friday March 26, 2010 by colin newell
In April 1993 I sailed the B.C. Ferry into Active Pass heading for Vancouver… possibly for the last time… for, you know, romantic reasons.
I’m visiting a girlfriend in Vancouver. I look around the busy and crisply new Spirit of British Columbia for faces in similar situations… you know, gals that are traveling to Vancouver to visit boyfriends.
And wouldn’t it be interesting to simply wave a magic wand and take us folks that are crossing a body of water to visit a significant other… and just match them up with eligible folks on the Island.
In 1993 it would have been quite a sound environmental initiative – a reduced carbon footprint long before the term was ever used.
Out on the passenger desk, I sniff the April air deeply as an older B.C. Ferry comes into the pass… ostensibly heading to Victoria… doing the same thing – reuniting family, friends… and lovers.
I actually met the woman of my dreams in 1993 on or about April of that year. In Victoria no less.
And at a time when I realized that the long distance one in Vancouver was running out of steam.
And the funny thing was, since I was 12 years old I kind of had a solid visual in my mind’s eye as to what she (my future wife) would look like. And it was as if in the intervening years we were slowly moving closer together in space and time.
By the Fall of 1993 I knew that I had met my life-long soul mate. Within a few weeks of our first serious date in the summer of 1993 we were engaged… and married in the Summer of 1994!
In the year 2010, it is as if we have only just met. We’re lucky. I know it. Few couples are this blessed.
I have a colleague, a few years younger that me… a great guy – and he is waiting for the woman of his dreams to arrive. And yes, he has been waiting longer than I ever did. Decent guy. Athletic. Full time job. Cleans up well. Never married. No kids. No baggage. And sadly alone and lonely. Especially on the weekends… in April.
I spoke to him this week… and I said:
“Have you visualized the woman of your dreams?”
And he said…“Well, yeah… of course…” His expression was one of Dude, what are you leading up to here?
I followed up with: “Do you know or do you ever think about… where she is right now?” “I mean, when you think about it… I am sure she exists… you just have not met her yet, yea?”
He said…“No, I have never thought about it like that…”
And I concluded…“Then maybe you should… and think about where she might be… because time is passing… and she is alone… and lonely… on a beautiful April day… in the year 2010.
Today… right now… is for lovers… and the lonely.
My wish is that we all get together – because it is just too beautiful out there to enjoy it alone.
So get out there. Love is in the air. She (or He…) is waiting… Watching…
For you.
Comment [3]
Rites of Spring #4 - Queen Kong Nyeri Kenyan AA from RocketFuelCoffee.Com · Friday March 26, 2010 by colin newell
Coffee of Kenya – noted for its cooperative system of production, processing, milling, marketing, and auctioning. For the average North American consumer, Kenya is one of the most recognized next to Colombia and Brazil – It stands out because of its flavor profile; overarching astringency – bright lemon flavors – medium body – snappy flavors with some hints of orange, citrus and, of all things, cedar wood.
About 70% of Kenyan coffee is produced by small scale share holders in this burgeoning and historic agro-dependent society.
And no self-respecting purveyor of exotic coffees would complete their inventory of great coffees without the inclusion of at least one great Kenyan.
Lisa Rotenberg of RocketFuelCoffee.com has a nose for great coffees and picked Gikanda Farmers Coop Nyeri regions signature Kenya AA as her African representative.
And she picked well – The coffee has a wonderfully appealing lemon crispness with hints of oak, spice and hints of blueberry. For me it is not the in your face pucker up in the cup that I normally associate with bold Kenyan coffees – and I like that. It is more complex than the average AA and is worth the investment.
More of an afternoon and dinner coffee, Kenyan Nyeri “Queen Kong” from RocketFuelCoffee.Com wins on balance, nuance and subtlety.
Thanks Lisa. Good work!
Rites of Spring #3 - El Socorro coffee from RocketFuelCoffee.Com · Wednesday March 24, 2010 by colin newell
We are brewing Guatemalan El Socorro y Anexos coffee in our lab today.
From a sample from RocketFuelCoffee.com of Toronto – arguably one of Canada’s premiere suppliers of 100% exotic specialty arabica coffees.
El Socorro y Anexos has been awarded the prestigious Presidential Award Cup of Excellence (COE #4). And that says something. A tremendous amount of care and attention has gone into this coffee.
We found the coffee rich with a deep & fruity body – reminiscent of plums, dates and darker fruit.
This is a perfectly balanced cup with no distractions or surprises – a big morning coffee suited to drinking black (as if anyone would be silly enough to defile this with sugar or cream.)
Our morning brews tend to be drip from a Newco OCS-8 thermal carafe brewer – a clear ruler among coffee brewers.
This afternoon we will follow up with a large 4-minute Bodum press.
Afternoon report
4 minute press revealed a much more subdued cup with less fruit volume and more flower notes… some hibiscus and spice (sage, cinnamon).
Overall impression This is a superb example of a well tended Guatemalan coffee. Perfect for coffee drinkers who like the flexibility of a bold filter brew or a sedate and balanced French Press. Top marks!
