What's on your Christmas list this year?

[bcj]

Originally Posted by new2subaru

A Child's BB gun. My Grandson got one last year for Christmas.

I think that one with a compass was a special edition.

It's got a sundial to rip your ear off too! Bonus!

[Racecomp Engineering]

Nissan 300zx aluminum brake calipers
VDO gauges
Cobra classic rs seats
SR20DE motor and 5 speed

also a french press for making coffee.

- Andrew

[gramicci101]

Originally Posted by Racecomp Engineering

Nissan 300zx aluminum brake calipers
VDO gauges
Cobra classic rs seats
SR20DE motor and 5 speed

also a french press for making coffee.

- Andrew

Legacy GT calipers can fit STI rotors; they just need a dogbone adapter made to bring them up about 1 cm. Plus they have the same piston sizes as OEM. And the OEM rear caliper can fit an STI rotor already, it just needs an adapter to bring it up as well. That's a project that has been in the back of my head since day one, made moot by the CSG-spec Brembo brake kit.

A French press is only the start of that rabbit hole. It won't make good coffee unless you have a good grinder, good water, and a kettle that can heat to a precise temperature. And fresh-roasted coffee. Blade grinders are worthless. They smash the beans into irregular shapes and sizes, resulting in poor and unequal extraction and shitty coffee. The large pieces under-extract and taste watery, while the small pieces over-extract and taste burned and bitter. Cheap burr grinders are not actually burr grinders, they just smash the beans with the burrs instead of grinding them, resulting in the same problems. A good burr grinder will shave the coffee beans into a uniform size and shape, resulting in equal extraction from all pieces.

Most coffee forums pretty universally recommend the Baratza Encore as the best entry-level grinder, and I have to agree. I have one, bought on their recommendations. It won't do a good espresso grind, but it'll do everything else. You can check Baratza's site for the scratch and dent section, but you'll only save $15 off the price of a new one, so I just bought a new one. If you want actual espresso, be prepared to add another hundred or two to the cost of the grinder.

For water, use distilled water. Get an electric kettle that can achieve and maintain 195-200 degrees F. Any hotter will burn the coffee, any cooler won't brew properly.

For coffee, my go-to is www.westcoastroasting.com. I go there because I was on NASIOC Off-Topic with Nate when he started roasting beans in his oven and started his business. He makes great coffee. That said, support your local roasters. Lots of people make great coffee. Get a vacuum seal container to store it in.

Only grind the amount of coffee you need to brew right then. I use a digital kitchen scale to measure, and I know that my Chemex 8 cup pot takes 1.6 oz of beans. I dump a spoonful in and grind it to flush out old grinds, dump all that, and then grind the beans I'm going to brew with. Once the water's heated up, dump the beans in the press, pour enough water to cover them, give them a quick stir to break up any clumps, and let the coffee bloom for 30 seconds or so. Then top off the press with the water and let it brew.

Fresh roasted, properly ground, properly brewed coffee is on a whole different level from anything store-bought. I've converted a number of people who never liked coffee because they always had Folgers or Maxwell house or similar.


Anyways, rant over. Back to our normally scheduled broadcast.

[FX86]

I was naughty so I ain't getting shit.

[Racecomp Engineering]

Originally Posted by gramicci101

Legacy GT calipers can fit STI rotors; they just need a dogbone adapter made to bring them up about 1 cm. Plus they have the same piston sizes as OEM. And the OEM rear caliper can fit an STI rotor already, it just needs an adapter to bring it up as well. That's a project that has been in the back of my head since day one, made moot by the CSG-spec Brembo brake kit.

This is for a 1968 Datsun roadster, which will eventually have the previously mentioned SR20DE motor swap and so on.

Originally Posted by gramicci101

A French press is only the start of that rabbit hole. It won't make good coffee unless you have a good grinder, good water, and a kettle that can heat to a precise temperature. And fresh-roasted coffee. Blade grinders are worthless. They smash the beans into irregular shapes and sizes, resulting in poor and unequal extraction and shitty coffee. The large pieces under-extract and taste watery, while the small pieces over-extract and taste burned and bitter. Cheap burr grinders are not actually burr grinders, they just smash the beans with the burrs instead of grinding them, resulting in the same problems. A good burr grinder will shave the coffee beans into a uniform size and shape, resulting in equal extraction from all pieces.

Most coffee forums pretty universally recommend the Baratza Encore as the best entry-level grinder, and I have to agree. I have one, bought on their recommendations. It won't do a good espresso grind, but it'll do everything else. You can check Baratza's site for the scratch and dent section, but you'll only save $15 off the price of a new one, so I just bought a new one. If you want actual espresso, be prepared to add another hundred or two to the cost of the grinder.

For water, use distilled water. Get an electric kettle that can achieve and maintain 195-200 degrees F. Any hotter will burn the coffee, any cooler won't brew properly.

For coffee, my go-to is www.westcoastroasting.com. I go there because I was on NASIOC Off-Topic with Nate when he started roasting beans in his oven and started his business. He makes great coffee. That said, support your local roasters. Lots of people make great coffee. Get a vacuum seal container to store it in.

Only grind the amount of coffee you need to brew right then. I use a digital kitchen scale to measure, and I know that my Chemex 8 cup pot takes 1.6 oz of beans. I dump a spoonful in and grind it to flush out old grinds, dump all that, and then grind the beans I'm going to brew with. Once the water's heated up, dump the beans in the press, pour enough water to cover them, give them a quick stir to break up any clumps, and let the coffee bloom for 30 seconds or so. Then top off the press with the water and let it brew.

Fresh roasted, properly ground, properly brewed coffee is on a whole different level from anything store-bought. I've converted a number of people who never liked coffee because they always had Folgers or Maxwell house or similar.


Anyways, rant over. Back to our normally scheduled broadcast.

I'm looking forward to going down this rabbit hole. I only really drink coffee on weekends, so I'll have the time to do it right. Thanks for the tips!

- Andrew

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by gramicci101

Legacy GT calipers can fit STI rotors; they just need a dogbone adapter made to bring them up about 1 cm. Plus they have the same piston sizes as OEM. And the OEM rear caliper can fit an STI rotor already, it just needs an adapter to bring it up as well. That's a project that has been in the back of my head since day one, made moot by the CSG-spec Brembo brake kit.

A French press is only the start of that rabbit hole. It won't make good coffee unless you have a good grinder, good water, and a kettle that can heat to a precise temperature. And fresh-roasted coffee. Blade grinders are worthless. They smash the beans into irregular shapes and sizes, resulting in poor and unequal extraction and shitty coffee. The large pieces under-extract and taste watery, while the small pieces over-extract and taste burned and bitter. Cheap burr grinders are not actually burr grinders, they just smash the beans with the burrs instead of grinding them, resulting in the same problems. A good burr grinder will shave the coffee beans into a uniform size and shape, resulting in equal extraction from all pieces.

Most coffee forums pretty universally recommend the Baratza Encore as the best entry-level grinder, and I have to agree. I have one, bought on their recommendations. It won't do a good espresso grind, but it'll do everything else. You can check Baratza's site for the scratch and dent section, but you'll only save $15 off the price of a new one, so I just bought a new one. If you want actual espresso, be prepared to add another hundred or two to the cost of the grinder.

For water, use distilled water. Get an electric kettle that can achieve and maintain 195-200 degrees F. Any hotter will burn the coffee, any cooler won't brew properly.

For coffee, my go-to is www.westcoastroasting.com. I go there because I was on NASIOC Off-Topic with Nate when he started roasting beans in his oven and started his business. He makes great coffee. That said, support your local roasters. Lots of people make great coffee. Get a vacuum seal container to store it in.

Only grind the amount of coffee you need to brew right then. I use a digital kitchen scale to measure, and I know that my Chemex 8 cup pot takes 1.6 oz of beans. I dump a spoonful in and grind it to flush out old grinds, dump all that, and then grind the beans I'm going to brew with. Once the water's heated up, dump the beans in the press, pour enough water to cover them, give them a quick stir to break up any clumps, and let the coffee bloom for 30 seconds or so. Then top off the press with the water and let it brew.

Fresh roasted, properly ground, properly brewed coffee is on a whole different level from anything store-bought. I've converted a number of people who never liked coffee because they always had Folgers or Maxwell house or similar.


Anyways, rant over. Back to our normally scheduled broadcast.

Or...

[Leonardo]

COFFEE = LIFE

Rancilio Silva, Vario grinder, assorted coffee essentials...

[Ultramaroon]

I've discovered that the secret to the french press is to stir frequently and wait for most of the crumbs to saturate and fall to the bottom. Then press s-l-o-o-o-o-o-w-l-y.

I grind the shit out of my french roasted beans with a blade grinder and yes, it sucks. Still, I've been universally complimented for my coffee skill.

Looking forward to tasting @gramicci101's coffee someday.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by Ultramaroon

I've discovered that the secret to the french press is to stir frequently and wait for most of the crumbs to saturate and fall to the bottom. Then press s-l-o-o-o-o-o-w-l-y.

I grind the shit out of my french roasted beans with a blade grinder and yes, it sucks. Still, I've been universally complimented for my coffee skill.

Looking forward to tasting @gramicci101's coffee someday.

I get fancy with coffee as well.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by Norville Rogers

Oh dear.

[Ultramaroon]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

I get fancy with coffee as well.

Nothing wrong with that. Coffee places don't stay in business by brewing shitty coffee.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by Norville Rogers

Doe!

A deer.

[Cole]

Let's see...

A new putter to replace the one currently in my bag. A lob wedge, because not having one really fucks with your short game.

I've asked for a few alcantara interior pieces. Shift boot and hand brake boot. Plus the arm rest. Not the slidey one, the flippy one.

Asked the girlfriend for a few shirts from dirtynailsbloodyknucles.com

A Milwaukee heated sweater. Which pop's has got me already.

And of course, the classic underwear and socks, because you can never have enough.

Though, at this point, I'm more excited for the gifts that I'm going to be giving. I got my dad a new sand wedge, since he's been bitching about the one that came with his iron set he bought this year. Getting my mom some gift cards, cause I'm terrified of buying her something she doesn't like. Getting the woman a lululemon sweater and leg warmers (dancers, amirite?). And getting my brother 200 dollars in gift cards for Home Depot, since he recently started an apprenticeship and still needs to buy tools. For friends, I'll be inviting them to the cottage for a weekend and slapping a Texas mickey down on the table and telling them to go wild.

[gramicci101]

Originally Posted by Racecomp Engineering

I'm looking forward to going down this rabbit hole. I only really drink coffee on weekends, so I'll have the time to do it right. Thanks for the tips!

- Andrew

There are coffee forums out there with a lot of good information. Coffeegeek is a good one.

Originally Posted by Tcoat

Or...
Folgers
Boiling water

Heathen.

Originally Posted by Leonardo

COFFEE = LIFE

Rancilio Silva, Vario grinder, assorted coffee essentials...

Very nice! Mine isn't nearly as impressive, but it works well enough for me.

Originally Posted by Ultramaroon

Looking forward to tasting @gramicci101's coffee someday.

Whenever you're in the area, let me know.