Changing of the guard for in house coffee.... Something new and very much off topic. At least it's OT if you were looking for imaging content...

 

When I last visited Montreal I stayed in a wonderful hotel in the middle of the old town. It is called, the Hotel Gault. There were many things I liked about this small and out of the way hotel. The proximity to a lot of interesting areas of Montreal in which to photograph. The modern finish out and amenities of the rooms. The fact that a Leica store is within easy walking distance. But for this post I have to call out that there was a Nespresso coffee machine in my room. While I have always been enamored of pour overs and drip coffee my week of solo photographing there, and the close proximity to a wide range of espresso based coffees which could be brewed in minutes, caused me to at least appreciate the dark roast culture that so many Europeans swear by. A good espresso shot can be quite a nice thing upon waking and prepping for a day of walking around with a camera and a couple of lenses. 

I forgot about my good experiences with the hotel's Nespresso machine and the little coffee capsules until this past week when I was suddenly and unexpectedly gifted my very own Nespresso Vertuo machine and an assortment of different types of coffee capsules for the same. Now I'm having a sea change about espresso-based coffees and am currently having as much fun experimenting with different types, roasts, sizes and flavors as I would have on taking delivery of Leica lenses. The machine is simple to use and so far, quite reliable. 

Today I took delivery of 20 "Double Espresso Dolce" Vertuo capsules directly from Nespresso. The capsules are constructed of aluminum which the company claims keeps the coffee fresher. The capsules are edge coded and tell the machine exactly what they are and how they need to be brewed. They also sent along several pre-labeled and pre-paid bags that I can put the used capsules into and send them back to the company. According to the website all I have to do is drop off the sealed bags at any UPS store and they'll take care of the rest. The company will recycle the aluminum and compost the spent coffee grounds. That means there is no cost to me on the backend. And hopefully some relief for the landfills.

Right now I'm in the honeymoon stage with the new machine and the new universe of coffees. Who knows when or if the thrill will wear off?

At first I thought the capsules were expensive at around $1.25 to $1.50 per but I started thinking about how much I currently pay for a basic cup of coffee or cappuccino at a local shop. The "base" cost is about $4.50 to $5.00 per cup but I have to add to that the expected tip for the barista which is usually a dollar on top of the base price. So, averaging it out I've been paying about $5.50 for a cup of coffee. And the quality can be a bit variable. So each time I brew via the machine at home I'm "saving" about four dollars. Seems like a good thing. 

But frankly, since I was already paying for coffee and didn't mind doing so it's not the dollar savings that appeals to me the most; it's really the combination of a good quality cup of coffee and the three minute convenience of the machine. Add to that is the charm of being able to select exactly what kind of coffee you want in the moment. 

None of this is earthshaking news. Not relevant to most people's lives. But I had that fun, close-up image of a hand holding a coffee cup and I thought it would be nice to use it here. 

That's all I know about my new Vertuo machine. I don't intend to learn anything else about the machines, the company or the nuts and bolts of it all. I'm happy when machines work and I'm even happier when coffee tastes good. I've already discovered a breakfast coffee capsule I like that brews a 7.7 ounce coffee as well as the aforementioned Double Espresso Dolce that's a fun booster of energy in the afternoons. 

thanks.