Comments on: Illy iperEspresso & The Francis Francis X7 http://gearpatrol.com/blog/2009/07/08/illy-iperespresso-the-francis-francis-x7/ Wed, 06 Jan 2010 09:03:12 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: sleepdoc http://gearpatrol.com/blog/2009/07/08/illy-iperespresso-the-francis-francis-x7/#comment-85840 sleepdoc Tue, 14 Jul 2009 19:22:05 +0000 http://gearpatrol.com/blog/?p=10821#comment-85840 By the way, espresso has LESS caffeine than coffee because the longer you roast the lower the content. You get more flavor, hence the sensation of a stronger coffee, but significantly less caffeine than in a city roast. That being said, espresso (or "expresso" for my Nu Yauk friends) is the way to go. Double shot with hot water and you have an Americano, the best substitute for a regular coffee. By the way, espresso has LESS caffeine than coffee because the longer you roast the lower the content. You get more flavor, hence the sensation of a stronger coffee, but significantly less caffeine than in a city roast.

That being said, espresso (or "expresso" for my Nu Yauk friends) is the way to go. Double shot with hot water and you have an Americano, the best substitute for a regular coffee.

]]> By: bbowers http://gearpatrol.com/blog/2009/07/08/illy-iperespresso-the-francis-francis-x7/#comment-81667 bbowers Thu, 09 Jul 2009 16:42:41 +0000 http://gearpatrol.com/blog/?p=10821#comment-81667 Actually those are hand me down Wusthof's : ) Actually those are hand me down Wusthof's : )

]]> By: dan finkelstein http://gearpatrol.com/blog/2009/07/08/illy-iperespresso-the-francis-francis-x7/#comment-81665 dan finkelstein Thu, 09 Jul 2009 16:38:43 +0000 http://gearpatrol.com/blog/?p=10821#comment-81665 great review! i owned a machine that required the whole messy process of tamping and cleaning and used it about twice. the x7 looks like a very nice setup that is very easy to use and clean. btw, your cutco with the pearl grips in the background, brings back memories of selling those knives to all my friends and family after high school :) great review! i owned a machine that required the whole messy process of tamping and cleaning and used it about twice. the x7 looks like a very nice setup that is very easy to use and clean.

btw, your cutco with the pearl grips in the background, brings back memories of selling those knives to all my friends and family after high school :)

]]> By: bbowers http://gearpatrol.com/blog/2009/07/08/illy-iperespresso-the-francis-francis-x7/#comment-81655 bbowers Thu, 09 Jul 2009 13:59:12 +0000 http://gearpatrol.com/blog/?p=10821#comment-81655 I've used that very same machine on several occasions and really appreciated that it had the flexibility to take both the ESE and ground coffee. I'd also tend to agree with you that ground coffee makes for one hell of an Espresso, although I do think you'd be surprised at just how good a cup the iperEspresso pods can spit out as well. The enviro impact is something to really consider though, especially if you've got a compost pile to dump the used ground coffee in. Unfortunately my love for the drink has not yet evolved to grinding my own beans...but I'm sure I'll be there shortly. I've used that very same machine on several occasions and really appreciated that it had the flexibility to take both the ESE and ground coffee. I'd also tend to agree with you that ground coffee makes for one hell of an Espresso, although I do think you'd be surprised at just how good a cup the iperEspresso pods can spit out as well. The enviro impact is something to really consider though, especially if you've got a compost pile to dump the used ground coffee in. Unfortunately my love for the drink has not yet evolved to grinding my own beans…but I'm sure I'll be there shortly.

]]> By: Jason http://gearpatrol.com/blog/2009/07/08/illy-iperespresso-the-francis-francis-x7/#comment-81540 Jason Wed, 08 Jul 2009 21:38:44 +0000 http://gearpatrol.com/blog/?p=10821#comment-81540 Nice machine! I have an older Francis Francis X5 that has portafilter inserts for both ground coffee and the Illy ESE pods (filter paper, not plastic). I love it. It has made consistently golden espresso time after time for over five years with little maintenance. These machines are so worth the extra dough up front rather than buying the plastic underpowered Krups models that end up in people's basements or at garage sales. I eschew pods though on several principles - enviro, cost, taste and aesthetic. The best and easiest way to get good coffee is to get it as freshly-roasted as possible. I recommend filling a Capresso burr-style grinder with fresh beans weekly. Dial in the perfect grind with none of the chipped chaff you get from spiing blade grinders. Nice machine! I have an older Francis Francis X5 that has portafilter inserts for both ground coffee and the Illy ESE pods (filter paper, not plastic). I love it. It has made consistently golden espresso time after time for over five years with little maintenance. These machines are so worth the extra dough up front rather than buying the plastic underpowered Krups models that end up in people's basements or at garage sales.

I eschew pods though on several principles – enviro, cost, taste and aesthetic. The best and easiest way to get good coffee is to get it as freshly-roasted as possible. I recommend filling a Capresso burr-style grinder with fresh beans weekly. Dial in the perfect grind with none of the chipped chaff you get from spiing blade grinders.

]]> By: DrewH http://gearpatrol.com/blog/2009/07/08/illy-iperespresso-the-francis-francis-x7/#comment-81536 DrewH Wed, 08 Jul 2009 21:10:53 +0000 http://gearpatrol.com/blog/?p=10821#comment-81536 Shiny. My current machine might have to have an "accident" soon. Shiny. My current machine might have to have an "accident" soon.

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