Better after replacement
Back in my undergrad days, I happened to sample a psychology course that presented the basic tenets of Gestalt. I continue to accept them. Especially when it comes to my personal coffee preparation. Around here, the machine AND the ground coffee AND the water all come together to produce something better.
At least, until this summer, when son #1 pointed out that the flavour from our Saeco was anemic. He has the same machine; I accept that he speaks with authority. And after careful examination, I noticed that an important gasket in our portafilter was Kaput.
We’ve had the machine since 2004, and with small exception we’ve been very satisfied. Hence, my willingness to repair rather than start over. Online, we found several sources for portafilters, and based on price and delivery options, we placed an order. The new one arrived in today’s mail. I think it IS new. Shiny. Properly adjusted. A good buy.
And as importantly, the coffee is better, both visibly (crema) and flavour-wise. I can’t think of many other appliances that see daily use around here, so the investment makes sense. When I get out of bed, tomorrow morning, I’ll do so with assurance, because there’ll be decent coffee available in the kitchen.
For those who are unfamiliar with the equipment, I’m throwing in a photo of a shine portafilter. No source named, but your online research should focus on compatibility and “53mm”. Oh, and choose your delivery options carefully. No sense enriching the coffers of a courier, when your tax-supported postal system can do the heavy hauling. Yes, the replacement piece is heavier than the original, which is also important.
