Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Joseph Robertson on July 19, 2010 at 10:46am

It's not a coffee shop it's a coffee factory. Not my cup of Tea. ;^) either. Sounds like a version of the *$'s SuperAuto. Sad , very sad. Oh where, oh where has my wonderful craft gone. Gone to hell in a hand basket IMHO.
Joe

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Chris on July 19, 2010 at 12:51pm

Was there a giant yellow 'M' over the entrance and emblazoned on everything else in the shop? Was there a clown? Are you sure? Did the PBTC have on a paper hat?

These are all good questions to ask when ordering an espresso based drink.

If you get good answers to all of these, start with;
Is there yellowing crust on the steam wand? Does the grinder run only when an order is being prepared? Are the baristi looking at the shots, the milk pitcher, you, each other? Is anyone smiling or having a good time?

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Joona Suominen on July 19, 2010 at 1:05pm

What's your point? Are you looking into getting one of these machines?

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Kendal Calquhoun on July 19, 2010 at 1:16pm

the magority of starbucks use them, a few small shops that thingk that thers big $ in the coffee biz.. allso a lot of restraunts use auto machine's too.. yea its sad ='[

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Kevin Ayers on July 19, 2010 at 3:40pm

It's called a SUPERAUTOMATIC machine. They have been around forever. While I don't think they make good coffee, the fact that he set the steam pitcher down makes a pretty small difference at that point. There is a temperature probe in the steam wand which shuts off at a desired temp. Also the steam tips are designed to swirl the milk even if you just set it (the pitcher) there. It's unfortunate, but, they make a lot of money for a lot of people and not everyone (in fact, very few) give two $h1ts what there coffee tastes like as long as it has caffeine in it. Don't forget that we are in the minority as far as caring about coffee quality goes...

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Brady on July 19, 2010 at 6:33pm

Like they said earlier, its a SuperAutomatic. It contains the grinder, a brewing chamber (kinda like a portafilter basket), a little can to catch the spent pucks, and a fascinating mechanism that has been precisely engineered to replace you, kinda.

Some come with automatic steamwands - some of which swirl the milk, many include venturis in the internal tubing to draw air into the steam, and then into the milk. Some come with little milk fridges and siphon tubes, so that the PBTC doesn't even have to bother with a pitcher. If cleaned properly, they are perfectly safe, though they seldom are.

Very popular in high-turnover locations and places that want to serve espresso but don't want to train or hire baristas.

Though many are built with great components, they usually produce espresso that is somewhat-to-very inferior to a well-trained barista. The milk has a much longer way to go - tends to be bumpy and soap-bubble-like.

Manufacturers have been working hard to build better and better versions. They are getting closer - at this point, I'd say the best ones produce lattes that are better than a good portion of indie and chain stores. Once the sole domain of chains, they are now starting to show up in indies as well.

Hope that helps.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Nicole on July 20, 2010 at 5:28pm

Joona Suominen said:

What's your point? Are you looking into getting one of these machines?

My point is that I've never seen one of those before, and if anyone else had. I wouldn't ever get one of those, lol, I actually enjoy making my lattes the "old fashioned way."

Why bother getting anything made out of machine like that? Sure, many people wouldn't know the difference it it hit them in the face, but whatever. I wanted to ask for a straight shot just to check if there was even any crema, haha.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Oscar Nyman on July 21, 2010 at 10:36am

I thought you Americanos were used to the superautomatics? When I am in US I can hardly find anything but superautomatics: at the airports, malls or high street locations, unless I track down a special coffe palce, it's really hard to find places that DON'T use the supers? In Sweden we still, thankfully, mostly rely on skills and using our hands, even at the chains, but I am sure that once Starbucks enter our market for real they will bring with them their super autos?

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Nicole on July 21, 2010 at 2:51pm

I personally only do everything manually. I honestly think that if you want good espresso then you need to hit a coffee shop that does it that way. The president needs to veto those super auto thingies. Lol.



Oscar Nyman said:

I thought you Americanos were used to the superautomatics? When I am in US I can hardly find anything but superautomatics: at the airports, malls or high street locations, unless I track down a special coffe palce, it's really hard to find places that DON'T use the supers? In Sweden we still, thankfully, mostly rely on skills and using our hands, even at the chains, but I am sure that once Starbucks enter our market for real they will bring with them their super autos?

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Joseph Robertson on July 21, 2010 at 5:13pm

Nicole,
I totally agree. Start a petition and many of us with experience will sign it for you.
:^)

Nicole said:

I personally only do everything manually. I honestly think that if you want good espresso then you need to hit a coffee shop that does it that way. The president needs to veto those super auto thingies. Lol.



Oscar Nyman said:

I thought you Americanos were used to the superautomatics? When I am in US I can hardly find anything but superautomatics: at the airports, malls or high street locations, unless I track down a special coffe palce, it's really hard to find places that DON'T use the supers? In Sweden we still, thankfully, mostly rely on skills and using our hands, even at the chains, but I am sure that once Starbucks enter our market for real they will bring with them their super autos?

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Joseph Robertson on July 21, 2010 at 5:19pm

Oscar,
In America, there are two distinct coffee worlds, ( at least two ) One is the one you mention at air ports and big chain store coffee shops. This is the corporate coffee world. Then you will find the small craft coffee shops. Often owner operated and owner present and on site shops.
I'm a small craft coffee roaster cafe. We offer an organic whole wheat bakery. All flour is milled just before baking. Coffee is offered as fresh roasted as possible. Barista work is by me and my partner. All manual and craft brewed.
sincerely,
Joe


Oscar Nyman said:

I thought you Americanos were used to the superautomatics? When I am in US I can hardly find anything but superautomatics: at the airports, malls or high street locations, unless I track down a special coffe palce, it's really hard to find places that DON'T use the supers? In Sweden we still, thankfully, mostly rely on skills and using our hands, even at the chains, but I am sure that once Starbucks enter our market for real they will bring with them their super autos?

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Oscar Nyman on July 21, 2010 at 5:52pm

Thanks Joe, I am fully aware of and appreciate the great specialty/quality/artisan/craft/3rd wave/4th wave coffee scene in US, many of my best coffee experiences have been in the US, and you guys took the WBC trophy in London so no one can question the quality of the American baristas. :-) I was just surprised that Nicole could have missed how the reality looks like in what you call the corporate world, where most of your coffee is consumed.

• ▶ Reply

▶ Reply to Discussion

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• 2
• Next ›
• Page