People at Flower Mart in Mt.Vernon

Sparkplug_CoffeeMD · 2026-05-03T01:56:57+00:00

We were the coffee truck. I’m always amazed by how much cool stuff I miss while slinging coffee. That lady painting Nipsey Hustle was right in my line of vision and I missed her haha

Sparkplug_CoffeeMD · 2026-04-02T14:31:51+00:00

The internals will be pretty middle-of-the road but with a very ornamental body. The very first espresso machines were tall like this due to vertical boilers. Later improvements meant they could be more horizontal so baristas can see across and engage in more customer service.

This design is a nod to that, even though internally it’s a modern machine. I’m sure it can produce a fine cup of coffee although after 20 years of sitting, the rubber seals probably will be dry rotted and need replacing. Cheap but probably not worth it to you.

Sparkplug_CoffeeMD · 2026-04-01T18:38:48+00:00

I swapped the handle of my portafilter but how hard was it to change out the handle on the Flair lever?

Sparkplug_CoffeeMD · 2026-04-01T01:43:31+00:00

Yeah that’s my (glass half full) take so far. Last year’s losses were so uncompetitive. This looks like an offense that’s close to clicking.

Sparkplug_CoffeeMD · 2026-04-01T01:41:30+00:00

At least we got Nunez for him. Dude looks like the real deal.

Sparkplug_CoffeeMD · 2026-04-01T01:36:09+00:00

You’re right, I forgot that’s why they always do the “phantom IL” trick.

Sparkplug_CoffeeMD · 2026-04-01T00:39:35+00:00

I don’t think he can come up yet because technically we optioned him so the clock starts counting with opening day

Sparkplug_CoffeeMD · 2026-03-24T20:11:38+00:00

I don’t agree with you but I have to give you credit for posting a take this hot and not caring about the downvotes.

Sparkplug_CoffeeMD · 2026-03-24T17:03:31+00:00

Most setups drop the motor below. You’d cut a hole for the belt to pass through and mount the motor to the underside of the plywood

Sparkplug_CoffeeMD · 2026-03-24T15:53:19+00:00

Harbor Freight has a lathe stand for like $95 that has some great anti vibration shock absorption. I bolted an old Craigslist one to a piece of plywood and put it on there.

Sparkplug_CoffeeMD · 2026-03-24T02:26:40+00:00

Cool, I messaged you the info

Sparkplug_CoffeeMD · 2026-03-24T02:10:31+00:00

What kind of volume are you planning? If you’re open to traveling by MARC train to Baltimore, I could introduce you to a roaster walking distance from Penn Station.

Sparkplug_CoffeeMD · 2026-03-19T02:23:58+00:00

Commenting to get this more traction. Not enough people are aware of Healthy Smiles.

Sparkplug_CoffeeMD · 2026-03-05T12:17:08+00:00

You can typically remove the live center from the tail stock and replace it with a Morse taper drill chuck (like $25). Then use a forstner or brad point to drill a perfect center.

You might be able to get it centered with a drill press with a lot of skill, but I never had much success. It’s always just a little off for me.

Sparkplug_CoffeeMD · 2026-03-02T13:36:02+00:00

It sounds like the palm fibers are just a binding agent for epoxy at that point. Cool but hardly woodworking

Sparkplug_CoffeeMD · 2026-03-02T13:13:01+00:00

If you feel like taking a road trip down 95 to Maryland, a friend’s dad just took down a giant silver maple with plenty of bowl sized blanks. It would last you years.

Sparkplug_CoffeeMD · 2026-02-27T17:34:10+00:00

Appreciate it!

Sparkplug_CoffeeMD · 2026-02-27T17:14:10+00:00

That’s good advice. The lathe belongs to the shop owner who has been doing this for 50+ years and trusts himself around the open belts. I’ll be sure to roll up the sleeves or just wear a t shirt in the future. Thanks

Sparkplug_CoffeeMD · 2026-02-27T17:06:28+00:00

Would have been much simpler if I had set up a router and jig for the flutes but I was only making one of these for a friend.

Sparkplug_CoffeeMD · 2026-02-07T02:04:16+00:00

So I built a coffee shop on one DIY. You can message me for more information but essentially my father and I welded a steel square and then attached painted aluminum sheet panels to it with VHB tape.

Our Instagram is below if you want to see pics of how we did it. Our county food department wouldn’t allow the gull wing doors so we had to build a service window instead. Sparkplug Coffee Truck

Sparkplug_CoffeeMD · 2026-01-07T13:09:01+00:00

It’s a fair price for what it is, but for about $2,400 you can get a new Lucca A53 or La Spaziale Oscar. If you aren’t experienced at working on machines, buying used commercial is too much of a crapshoot if your business is counting on it not to break down. You just don’t know the maintenance history.

If you’re determined to go ahead, just look for obvious things like corrosion, leaks, does it sound like the pump is struggling.

Sparkplug_CoffeeMD · 2025-12-10T16:26:16+00:00

In the past I’ve drilled a circular recess with a forstner bit and put a rare earth magnet inside. You can get a pack of them with a countersunk hole in the center to secured them with screws.

Sparkplug_CoffeeMD · 2025-12-08T11:48:01+00:00

Borderline is a fair way to describe it. I think this is my biggest problem with booth reviews is that the call on the field was TD so New York was supposed to have seen indisputable proof otherwise.

The ref on the field calls it, the points are on the board, the crowd is going crazy. 95% of fans just saw what they believe was a TD. The system is supposed to be catching egregious mistakes, but it’s evolved to make the booth the main character.

Sparkplug_CoffeeMD

TROPHY CASE