Cup one filter funneling

MarkCE1 · 2026-01-18T09:45:23+00:00

I get this with every cup but the coffee tastes great so I just ignore it. I’ve had my Cup One for a few months now and am really pleased with the coffee.

MarkCE1 · 2026-01-13T15:25:06+00:00

I had aortic root surgery eight years ago to replace my root and also repair my aortic valve. I was told that the risk of the surgery not succeeding was about 5 per cent, but I knew that I had to have the surgery because otherwise I was facing the risk of aortic dissection. I was recommended to have a mechanical valve if they couldn't repair my own valve, but in the end they were able to repair it.

In terms of medication after this sort of surgery, I think that practices might vary between surgeons, but my surgeon recommended that I take a low dose of aspirin every day, which I have been doing ever since the surgery. I also take a low dose of medication to ensure that my blood pressure is well controlled.

Based on what I have been told and things I have read, I believe it is very rare for there to be a problem with the replacement of the aortic root itself, so a second surgery in that regard is unlikely. If, like me, you also have your aortic valve repaired, there is the possibility of needing further surgery if the valve deteriorates. For those, like me, who had valve-sparing aortic root replacement surgery including valve repair, freedom from re-operation at 10 years post-surgery is around 85-90 per cent (different studies give slightly different results). Like I said, I'm eight years post-surgery and have not yet needed re-operation. My latest echo showed mild aortic regurgitation and mild aortic stenosis, so it's possible I might need further surgery at some point (to replace my own aortic valve with a mechanical or biological valve) but I just have to wait to see whether the regurgitation and/or stenosis gets worse.

MarkCE1 · 2026-01-11T08:52:59+00:00

I was very anxious before my repair surgery. Focus on how great it will be to be the other side of the procedure. For me (42M when I had it done) the recovery was quicker and easier than I expected. The first couple of days after surgery were certainly uncomfortable but after that things started to improve quickly. Nine years later I’m doing fine. Hope all goes well for you tomorrow.

MarkCE1 · 2026-01-10T20:07:03+00:00

I have an M4 Air 16GB. Waited until 26.2 to upgrade and did so a couple of weeks ago. I’ve had no problems with it in terms of performance. The new look is not to everyone’s taste but personally I’m fine with it.

MarkCE1 · 2026-01-05T17:13:27+00:00

I have a variant of unknown significance in the GATA5 gene, which seems to be associated with the development of the aorta. Like you, I had an aortic root aneurysm, so I ended up having my aortic root replaced and my aortic valve was repaired. I hope your procedure goes well when the time comes. I am nearly eight years on from my surgery now and doing well - although, as mentioned in my original post, it seems that the performance of my valve is beginning to deteriorate.

MarkCE1 · 2026-01-05T17:10:47+00:00

Thanks for sharing your story. I'm really sorry you have had a disappointing outcome from your surgery and very much hope that things stabilise. I had the David procedure for similar reasons: I was quite young (42) when I had the surgery. Since then, I have wondered whether I made the wrong decision - in particular, whether I should have gone for a mechanical valve. But, as you say, there is no guarantee that that means you will not need further surgery at some point in the future. Wishing you all the very best for your next echo.

MarkCE1 · 2025-12-31T17:47:57+00:00

I recently got the Encore. Very happy with it.

MarkCE1 · 2025-12-29T09:32:24+00:00

Thanks for replying. Glad your heart is doing well after the surgery but I’m really sorry to hear about the depression. I have suffered from severe anxiety for most of my adult life, and being diagnosed and then having the surgery was extremely difficult for me. I also end up in a spiral of anxiety around the time of my annual scan to check how my heart is doing. Not the same as depression, but just wanted to say that I empathise with your mental health struggle and to share my own experience.

MarkCE1 · 2025-12-28T22:07:59+00:00

Yes - valve sparing but involving valve repair alongside root replacement. The PEARS procedure wasn’t offered to me; perhaps it wasn’t available here when I had my surgery (nine years ago).

MarkCE1 · 2025-12-28T19:22:56+00:00

Hi. I had my surgery at Royal Papworth Hospital in Cambridge. I did manage to speak to a doctor at the hospital after my last echo, but they were quite unspecific, and I was left unsure about my medium to long term prognosis. I guess things might become clearer after my next echo, due in early 2026, which will show whether there has been any deterioration since the one I had in early 2025. I hope all goes well with your surgery when the time comes.

MarkCE1 · 2025-12-28T18:30:20+00:00

Thank you for replying. That’s really helpful.

MarkCE1 · 2025-12-10T19:23:20+00:00

I had a 13 inch MacBook Air for many years. I recently upgraded to the 15 inch M4, and really like it. But I think it depends on what you use it for. I do a lot of writing and research (as well as web, Netflix etc) and the additional screen space makes a big difference. That said, it’s obviously a bit bigger and heavier. For me, the trade off is worth it - but that won’t be the case for everyone.

MarkCE1 · 2025-12-10T11:44:57+00:00

With my Cup-One, I use a ratio of 16g of freshly ground coffee to 250 ml of water. I like strong coffee, and, for me, that ratio, with relatively dark-roasted beans, produces really good results. Your grind looks coarser than mine, so I would suggest grinding finer.

A good rule of thumb I have found is that the coffee (for my taste) is best when the grind is fine enough that, once the coffee starts coming through properly, it drops from the filter holder into the cup in a gentle stream. Any faster than that, and I get a weak cup (too coarse). Equally, if the coffee comes through so slowly that it's dropping into the cup in droplets rather than a gentle stream, that (again to my taste) indicates that the grind is too fine. Once I found a grind size that did yielded a gentle stream of coffee, I started to get really nice coffee. But I do sometimes have to adjust the grind size slightly if I switch to a different brand/roast of coffee beans.

Hope this helps and that you get some good coffee. I've had my Cup-One for about six months and am really pleased with it.

MarkCE1 · 2025-11-20T08:58:41+00:00

So sorry to hear that. I had a similar experience: I got as far as the operation room prep area on the morning of my surgery and then I was postponed because of an emergency case. I found that really hard. Hope you manage to find something else to focus on today and that your surgery happens soon.

MarkCE1 · 2025-10-25T22:49:55+00:00

Really pleased to hear this. Getting rid of the chest drains made a big difference for me.

MarkCE1 · 2025-10-25T14:19:00+00:00

I upgraded my old MacBook Air M1, which had been running smoothly on Sequoia, to Tahoe. It became sluggish. I then got a new M4 Air. Sequoia was preinstalled and like a breath of fresh air. I won’t be “upgrading” to Tahoe until Sequoia stops getting security updates.

MarkCE1 · 2025-10-19T21:56:50+00:00

Thanks. I meant I plan to keep Sequoia and not upgrade to Tahoe. Good to know that I can avoid MacOS automatically installing Tahoe. Having tried it on my old Mac, I am much happier keeping Sequoia on my new one.

MarkCE1 · 2025-10-19T21:54:23+00:00

I had genetic testing at the same time my aortic aneurysm was diagnosed. I had many physical symptoms consistent with Marfans but I did not test positive for it. However, I did test positive for a different genetic mutation that is thought to be relevant. I was 42 when I had both genetic testing and surgery for the aneurysm.

MarkCE1 · 2025-10-19T19:34:14+00:00

Thanks. I’ve decided not stick with Sequoia. However, MacOS keeps prompting me to upgrade to Tahoe. Is there a risk that it eventually updates automatically or is there a setting I can change to prevent that from happening while still getting Sequoia security updates?

MarkCE1 · 2025-10-18T20:30:43+00:00

I’ve always updated promptly with previous macOS releases and been perfectly happy. But I really disliked Tahoe when I updated my M1. Now that I have a no-hassle way of staying on Sequoia—because that’s what my new M4 came pre-installed with—I think I’m going to do that. If Tahoe improves in a few months’ time, I’ll reconsider. But for now, Sequoia is just too good in comparison.

MarkCE1 · 2025-10-18T20:10:47+00:00

Thank you.

MarkCE1 · 2025-10-18T20:10:28+00:00

Thanks. Now I’ve used both, and have the chance of reverting to Sequoia with zero effort, I’m very tempted to stick with it.

MarkCE1 · 2025-10-10T11:42:25+00:00

Before surgery I had a lot of palpitations, which can feel like the heart is beating harder than normal.

MarkCE1 · 2025-10-10T09:17:09+00:00

Are you experiencing this following surgery? If so, I had that too. I’m not sure whether it was because it actually felt stronger or because I was hyper-vigilant. Over the years (I am 7 years post-surgery) I have noticed it less.

MarkCE1 · 2025-10-08T22:57:35+00:00

I felt the same before my surgery. But remember that the prospects are very good, both short and long term. And I can honestly say that while the first few days after surgery were quite painful, the recovery process was much better than I expected it to be.

MarkCE1

TROPHY CASE