I should probably be studying right now, but I want to tell you about the time I had a really cool espresso machine- and why I haven’t purchased another one.
When I had a federal job, I had a nice income- more so now than what I get as a full-time student. This kind of money led me to make some impulsive purchases. See, I had always grown up with a drip coffee maker. Put the Folgers beans in, fill it with sink water, and out pours 8 cups of burnt sludge. It does the job- and I still use a drip machine to this day.
That’s swell and all, but I fell down the home-coffee-enthusiast rabbit hole pretty quickly. Oh, and, this story ends in tragedy- but we’ll get to that.
I remember I was stuck at work on mandatory overtime. You see, if a fire department can’t staff enough firefighters- you simply don’t go home that morning, or even the next. But.. you do make some wicked overtime money. So there I was, stuck at work and no way to spend my money. I hopped online and started browsing espresso machines, and not the sort that you get from Breville, I mean actual prosumer machines. I stumbled across one, it was about $2,000 at the time and I knew I wanted it. So I got it.
And there went the rabbit, down the hole.
Home espresso became an instant hit for me. I loved making coffee drinks for myself and others. I would source beans from all over the world and try different ways to brew them. I would invite people over to my home in North Pole just to make them espresso drinks. My machine was a fun way to relax- especially when I came home from work after a 48-hour (or sometimes 96-hour) shift. There was my machine, waiting for me <3
Oh, and the savings… You see, a latte at a modern coffee shop costs anywhere from $5 to $9. Oh, and there is also the dreaded iPad flip demanding a tip. (I tend to tip baristas well because many of them are in school.) Anyway, you get my point. Lattes aren’t cheap, and eventually, they outpace the cost of owning a wicked-expensive coffee machine. Oh, and you can’t see it in the photo, but you also need a really nice grinder if you are getting serious about espresso. Add another $700 to the bill for a quality grinder. The way beans are ground is vital to the quality of the espresso shot. I mean there are scientific studies about this stuff… seriously.
I said this story had a tragic ending, right? Well, it does.
My wonderful fiancée uprooted my life in Alaska (in a good way) and we moved to the Lower 48. After 7 years in Alaska, I was ready to call it and move on with my life. Sadly, the espresso machine wasn’t in the cards to go with. I was worried that the copper boiler and other sensitive parts wouldn’t survive the journey on Canada’s infamous Alcan Highway.
So we departed. My espresso machine and grinder now reside at Bankstown Bike & Ski in Fairbanks, Alaska. If you are ever in the area, stop by and have a latte for me- and send me a picture of the machine.
Well, that’s the story of my espresso machine. Ever since selling it, I have seen a few for sale in my area. Every time I am ready to pull the trigger and buy the machine, I remember that material objects aren’t with us forever. They come and go, like a comet orbiting the Earth (which is happening at the time of writing this.)
Knowing my machine is being used is enough joy. For now, and for the long term, I will enjoy my $40 Mr. Coffee maker 🙂
Until next time,
Gabe
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