Posts

Coffee-Tech FZ94 element change

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After 7 years and 1033 roasts one of the three heating elements has died. Luckily Michael Wong sent me a report about how he replaced heating elements back in 2018: http://kostverlorenvaart.blogspot.com/2018/09/coffee-tech-fz94-cleaning-roast-chamber.html I had ordered two elements and a couple gaskets way back in 2017 so I was well prepared, if a little stressed out to embark on this task.  To my great relief it proved to be very easy! Here's a self explaining step by step photo report.  PS I ordered extra parts for next time!

Clove aroma coffee enhancement?

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Tried to find out if the strong aroma of cloves, kept in a container with coffee beans for a week, enhances the espresso experience. The effect is very subtle. Can't say if it's advisable. Keeping some cinnamon with the beans could also be interesting.

Sounds from the Amsat QO-100 Es'hail2 stationary satellite

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    Over the last 1-2 years several radio enthousiasts have mentioned the Amsat QO-100 Es'hail2 stationary satellite but so far I had no clue where to begin receiving signals from it. There seems to be no shop selling a complete kit so one has to source and assemble the parts. Tije de Jong helped by building me a custom stand for the satellite dish, Hans Holsink ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDBIMjCUKtY   / www.hybridpretender.nl ) gave me some tips over the mail as did William Lagerberg, a fellow radio enthusiast who has built a small forest of antennas around his home. In preparation I looked for pages and videos of other setups but often what I found was way too technical for me, or focused on one or two aspects while skipping over everything else. So I gathered material from different sources, gleaned information from several websites and videos. But above all I had the help of Tije, Hans and William who enabled me to get there. One shortcut that I thought I was taking in t

Tije's grinder makeover

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LONDINIUM group service

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LONDINIUM Vectis fill valve sevice

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December Days in Germany

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Last week I was in Germany for a few days. Checked into a nice hotel in a small city where nothing much is happening. Enough stuff to read, some videos to watch in my room where I also installed the basic equipment to prepare fine espresso.  Listening to podcasts I hiked the (mostly quiet, rainy) streets.  The shopping street had a small Xmas market where people could drink Glühwein and other alcoholics and eat snacks like spicy mushrooms fried in butter. gas station cake Espresso gear set up old town view Xmas market drinks Fried mushrooms, garlic sauce, bun Hairdresser telling folks NOT to sit there Thinking of buying a home here? Collage of clippings in a display window of deserted store Hate speech spilling over from Twitter on to a wall A man and his belongings, writing. I offered him money but he waved his arms wildly gesturing for me to stay away from him. Next to a garbage pail, in the rain, some discarded art work Picturesque old cobble stone streets Espresso in room 304 Fairl