They say there are four ingredients in putting together the perfect cup of espresso – the miscela, mano, macchina, and macinzaione – which roughly translates to the blend, the barista, the [espresso] machine, and the grinder.
Well, after four years of faithful use, la macchina is finally done.
The death knell came as I've been growing more and more towards the exotic, having just brewed a cup of Stumptown hairbender blend, ready to froth a pitcher of Claravale raw (i.e. unpasteurized) milk. As I was turning the steam knob, the catch that usually stops around the fourth or fifth turn and initiates the steam function broke loose. And no steam = no more lattes.
That said, I'd say the timing couldn't be better. I get married in march. And while it's been fun brewing my own lattes in the morning, my entry-level Starbucks Sirena is a relic of a life past.
For now, my trusty French press will have to hold me over until I decide on the new machine.
