Introduction...

Welcome once again to the EspressoParts.com newsletter. We have recently made an upgrade to our eccomerce software that will allow us to more easily make and send our newsletters. Our hope is that the newsletters will now be sent out on a regular monthly basis so that we can bring you up to date on all the latest equipment, tools and toys that make your life easier and your coffee more consistent. The recipients of this email have all signed up for our newsletter list or checked the sign up link during an EspressoParts.com internet purchase and check out. If you believe that you have recieved this email in error there is a unsubcribe link at the bottom please use it. We loathe SPAM and would hate to think we are "Spamming" anyone with unwanted materials.

**Updated Espresso & Coffee Tutorials Section**

We have been adding archive articles written by our own Terry Z for the old "Techno Jolt" column in Fresh Cup to the Espresso & Coffee Tutorials Section of our website. If you have been in the espresso and specialty coffee business for a while you might recall having read them and may want to reminisce. If you are new to the game you might feel like brushing up a bit. Whatever the reason with lots of relivent, informative technical articles our Espresso & Coffee Tutorials Section is worth a good look.

Recently Added Articles:
Espresso Grinder Maintenance - Fresh Cup Magazine Techno-Jolt Archive February 1999
Espresso Carts, Machines & Electricity - Fresh Cup Techno-Jolt Archive ?
Espresso Machine Water Pump Systems - Fresh Cup Techno-Jolt Archive - March 2000
Technology & Espresso - Fresh Cup Magazine Techno-Jolt July 2002

Updated Articles:
Beware of the "Deal" - Buying Used Espresso Machines | Fresh Cup February 2002

Coffee Fest Seattle 2005

Its that time of year again, another Seattle Coffee Fest is just around the corner. For EspressoParts.com it will mean a lot of work and preparation. If you plan on attending and don't have tickets yet give us a shout out. We'll send you an Discount Admission Coupon good for up to 6 Free Admissions if filled out and mailed to Coffee Fest Headquarters, or registering online at http://www.coffeefest.com using the coupon's "unique code" by 10/07/05.

Come to Seattle, drop on in and say hi to the EspressoParts Crew, find out what is new, talk espresso, or just see the booth that won "Best Booth at SCAA Show last Spring. As always small wares such as Espresso Tamps, Knock Boxes, Cleaning Detergents & Brushes will be available for purchase. Hurry, we'll be on a first come first serve basis and stuff goes fast at these shows.

NEWSLETTER DISCOUNT CODE:
Since we are preparing the Seattle Coffee we'll make this newsletter's discount code SEACF05

FEATURE ARTICLE
Espresso Machine Thermofilter Temperature Device - EspressoParts.com Exclusive

Thanks to the efforts of one very enthusiastic and talented coffee guy, we have the opportunity to bring you the device of the year.

Mr. Greg Scace, The inventor of the Espresso Machine Thermofilter Temperature Device and Espressoparts.com are proud to join in an effort to get this highly acclaimed tool into the hands of espresso machines techs, engineers and coffeegeeks everywhere.

Aficionados and experts alike know the importance of temperature when it comes to brewing espresso. The temperature of the brewing water must be kept within narrowly defined parameters in order to obtain the best taste. If one properly prepares the coffee and brews under the correct temperature and pressure conditions, then the customer experiences coffee nirvana. However if the brewing temperature is different from that required by a specific coffee and degree of roast, then sour or bitter tastes spoil the experience.

Brewing temperature must be the same time after time in order to produce consistent results. Unfortunately, the brew temperature produced by many espresso machines varies with frequency of brewing (duty cycle), making it difficult to produce top-notch drinks. Expert barista understand the shortcomings of their machinery, and compensate for them

A person seeking to produce the highest quality coffee may have many temperature related questions such as these:

• How do you know if your machine brews at the temperature recommended by your roaster?

• How do you learn to brew at the correct temperature over a variety of duty cycles?

• How can you easily and quickly learn the flaws in your machinery and then learn to compensate for them?

• When machinery is serviced or replaced, how do you know that your new equipment is performing properly?

• How can you diagnose problems when things don't seem right? These questions are easily answered with a portafilter thermometer (Thermofilter).

Thermofilter Description: A pft has three main components residing inside of a standard 58mm brew basket, the temperature sensor, an insert, and a flow controller. The sensor measures the water temperature immediately below the shower screen and above the coffee. The insert and flowmeter produce temperature and pressure conditions nearly identical to actual brewing conditions. The insert mimics a coffee cake in volume so that the same amount of water exists above the insert that exists above the coffee during actual brewing. And the inserts thermal properties are similar to those of a water-saturated coffee cake, insuring that the temperature measured by the Thermofilter will accurately reflect actual brewing temperature. The flow controller regulates the water flow rate through the pft. It meters the amount of water required to produce a double espresso shot in 25 to 30 seconds, plus the amount of water absorbed by a dry coffee cake. The flow resistance of the controller simulates an actual coffeecake, so that the water pressure builds to actual brewing pressure. The pft fits most commercial espresso machines, since it employs a 58mm brew basket. Just snap it into the appropriate bottomless portafilter in order to measure brewing temperature of different machines.

Thermofilter applications: The Thermofilter is an excellent diagnostic tool. Measuring and adjusting the brew temperature is a snap with a Thermofilter, allowing one to quickly dial brew temperature to that which gives the best taste, as determined by the barista or specified by the roaster. Daily temperature measurement using a Thermofilter provides a quality check on your brewing equipment, insuring that your espresso machine is still performing as expected. Establishing a program of periodic temperature measurement can quickly uncover pressurestat performance changes, accidental set point shift, lime scale buildup, and other causes of temperature change in your equipment. A Thermofilter allows one to easily change out equipment with no quality loss. Using a Thermofilter, it becomes almost trivial to reproduce the desired brew temperature in replacement espresso machines. The Thermofilter improves understanding of espresso machine behavior. The brew temperature of all espresso machines is sensitive to brewing frequency (duty cycle). Depending on the type of machine, e.g. heat exchanger or twin boiler, the brewing temperature of a machine that has been idle for several minutes will be hotter or colder than desired for producing optimum taste. Typically, a flushing ritual is used to cool or heat the group so that the optimum temperature is achieved in intermittent duty. Using a Thermofilter, temperature data is easily obtained quantifying the effects of duty cycle on brewing temperature for specific machinery. Information gained by using a Thermofilter can be used to develop better barista techniques. Since temperature measurements may now be easily obtained and repeated, it is a simple matter to develop group flushing rituals specific to one?s own machinery.

The Thermofilter enables accurate and systematic machine comparisons. Systematic test protocols, such as those adopted by the World Barista Championships (WBC) enable performance comparisons of equipment from various manufacturers. The results of these comparisons may be used as a basis for equipment selection. Within product lines, data obtained by systematic test methods employing Thermofilters provide a sound statistical basis for evaluating machine changes, enhancing the ability of engineers to improve espresso machine performance.