Claire carelessly dies whilst cataloguing the TV Gallery acrylic triangles. SPC, soon to be PC, Lacey takes control of the crime scene ... or something like that.
Tomorrow the team *might* actually do some work, but for now they seem happy. Best not to disturb them.
Following on from my last post, I have conducted some research into the "professional" way of making an Americano.
To start off, yesterday we went to Starbucks, where I ordered an Americano and watched to see how they made it. And do you know what? They completely cheated! They poured it out of the big metal coffee vat that lives at the back of the counter! Straight into the mug, and no espresso in sight. Surely that's a filter coffee and not an Americano? More importantly, it wasn't very nice. And they claim to put two shots of espresso in it? Do they hell...
However, today we went into Costa, and I ordered an Americano for comparison purposes. And I'm pleased to report that they do it properly in there. Two shots of espresso, into little shot glasses, which are then poured into the cup, and topped up with hot water. Perfect. And good flavour too.
Starbucks pikeys. Bah.
So last week, I acquired a Krups XP4020 espresso machine to replace my recently deceased Morphy Richards. It's a bit of a highly-strung beast, but it makes great coffee (providing you treat it with due deference and make sure you do everything "just so").
But my question is this. Americano coffee - shot of coffee in first and then pour the hot water in, or the other way round? How do they do it at Starbucks? I've never watched them. We must keep an eye on their technique at lunchtime.
Haven't cracked how to froth the milk properly yet either.
But if you want a really awesome straight-up-no-messing-about espresso, I'm your man...
