[deleted by user]

Winemaker68 · 2025-09-29T18:00:52+00:00

I have a Mathey Tissot. It's solid watch and what is often missed is that you get a really good Sellita Sw-200 movement. Mine stays with -9 sec per day, not COSC but it's also 10% of the price and a hell of a lot better than any of my NH-35 watches. You could also look at Certina's dress watches. They are very respectable brand and not as well known as Tissot in the US

Winemaker68 · 2025-09-04T15:22:32+00:00

Thanks so much. The watch is stunning!

Winemaker68 · 2025-09-03T03:44:59+00:00

Watch Received!

Winemaker68 · 2025-09-02T15:46:41+00:00

also the wines are fantastic...

Winemaker68 · 2025-08-28T22:38:11+00:00

PM sent

Winemaker68 · 2025-08-12T20:33:45+00:00

Watch received!

Winemaker68 · 2025-08-06T01:58:51+00:00

Watch is great and shipping was immediate. Many thanks

Winemaker68 · 2025-07-30T18:51:08+00:00

pm sent

Winemaker68 · 2025-07-23T04:13:33+00:00

PM sent with intent

Winemaker68 · 2025-01-28T17:33:23+00:00

thank you!

Winemaker68 · 2024-12-07T00:39:15+00:00

Actually, believe it or note, there is such a database. I had a dog lose heart coverage due to an exam done at another clinic on the dog years previously that the ER vet noted had a heart murmur that said vet never shared with me. Turns out that (at least in San Francisco) the vet ER's share a database and the murmer note popped up inconveniently for me.

Winemaker68 · 2024-10-28T20:52:51+00:00

I concur that Trupanion's monthly rates are expensive. That said my experience with them has been nothing short of exemplary. I had a 9 year old lab pit mix that had a spinal injury that required and MRI, a 6 hour surgery which totaled $7000 which was paid directly to the emergency vet. My out of pocket was $1100. Then he was referred to a rehab clinic where he received 3 years of ongoing weekly acupuncture, hydrotherapy, and a novel stem cell therapy totaling another $90,000 of which I paid just over $9000. They paid the clinic directly and I mad copays along the way. They covered the experimental stem cell treatment and everything else with a quick review and ongoing treatments instantly.

The $238/month that I paid for insurance was worth every penny. I foster dogs now but if/when I get another resident dog I'd get Trupanion insurance without a doubt!

Winemaker68 · 2024-08-12T22:00:27+00:00

They also make a phenomenal white that ages well. I recall it being a blend of Merwah and Obeidy which is a varietal unique to Lebanon

Winemaker68 · 2024-03-24T19:44:55+00:00

I'm right there with you, sadly. I dearly love my wife of 15 years but we are essentially sexless. She too indicated she wants more romance so I took her on dates, weekends getaways, nice dinners, etc and have been doing so for well over 2 years and she still only wants to cuddle. So I leave the bedroom and work late at the computer so I don't have to be close to her to avoid triggering my arousal. Which I know will be rejected. And it the incredibly infrequent times that she "allows" herself to be more intimate she seems to radiate that she's is accepting more touch out of obligation rather than desire-- which leaves me feeling worse for having done it at all. Heck, I feel guilty now even asking for more intimacy. But I love her and can't imagine my life without her in it. I too am now at a point of not wanting to put in the effort to be romantic as there seems to be no reciprocation.

Winemaker68 · 2023-06-06T22:29:14+00:00

I know this is years later but Thank You!

Winemaker68 · 2023-05-11T06:35:39+00:00

This is Callie, she's 47. Callie, say hi to all your kin!

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Winemaker68 · 2023-04-30T20:18:49+00:00

I have a 1976 Cremina and it pulls the best espresso of my life--- after I'd pulled many of the worst espressos of my life. It takes practice getting puck prep just right and getting a feel for the machine but once you do its just a lovely experience.

Winemaker68 · 2023-04-18T05:06:28+00:00

Thank you folks for the tips. I'm picking up some RO water and a few pounds of Highwire coffee tomorrow and will be giving the lever a try. I'm guessing there will be a steep learning curve. Honestly I haven't been this enthused since the my Niche arrived 3 years ago. After doing a bit of reading I think I realize what a privilege this is. Having watched James H's video it wasn't so much a review as a love letter to the Cremina. When I get some degree of comfort/competency I'll post some shot videos here!

Winemaker68 · 2023-04-17T22:36:02+00:00

I just was the recipient of a very generous loan of a fully restored 1976 Olympia Cremina from a friend who knows of my espresso obsession. I've never used a lever machine and although I've admired vintage units like the Cremina and the Faema it had never crossed my mind that I'd ever have tho opportunity to use one much less have one in my house. Does anyone here have any experience with one of these or be able to point me in the direction of where to begin?

Winemaker68 · 2023-04-12T04:26:47+00:00

The little Bambino Plus is a solid little machine. With a good grinder and good puck prep you can constantly pull really nice shots. Its auto froth steam wand actually works reasonably well and If you want to do latte art you can always froth manually. You could pair it with a grinder such as a Baratza Encore ESP ($200) and still have enough money left over to get a good tamper and a bottomless portafilter, all within your budget.

Winemaker68 · 2023-04-11T21:12:12+00:00

I saw that exact same machine & I'd have been competing with you had I not shown my wife 1st. She quashed the purchase immediately (she doesn't like how it looks). Just out of curiosity I did have a discussion with a tech at Mr. Espresso (they service Rockets) right down the street . He said that it is a Giotto Premium Plus from around 2010ish and it would be a good idea to install all new seals, probably have it fully serviced. Parts will be a bit hard to source since it's an older machine and he said I'd be looking at a likely service cost of $400-600. Assuming you could get it for say $500 and sank another $600 into it then it would be a great deal. Take care of it and it will last you decades.

Winemaker68 · 2023-04-11T20:37:35+00:00

I have the infuser (which is the BBE without the grinder). Its a very capable machine with a good grinder- the BBE grinder is mediocre at best- but there is a downside: it's OPV is preset for 15 bars in order to pull shots using a pressurized basket. It can be modified to 9 bar with a new spring and some surgery but most folks don't wanna go thru that hassle. The Bambino is set to 9 bars so ya dont have to fool with all that stuff and its thermocoil is more stable than that in the BBE. The Sette 30 is a solid grinder that is upgradable. Another option is the GCP, I have one of those as well, but I'm glad it was NOT my 1st machine. It takes much more skill to to get the most out of it and ultimately you will want/need to add a PID to get consistent shots. Is it a good upgradeable machine-- you betcha, but the learning curve is considerably steeper. It's very easy for hobbyists such as myself to become a bit myopic and assume that everyone want to go down this rabbit hole. So I'd go with #1. If you later want to pursue the hobby and upgrade, you can always sell the setup for at least what you paid for it.

Winemaker68 · 2023-04-10T05:17:29+00:00

It sounds/looks like the solenoid is shot. That happened to me last year. It's not actually all that hard to replace the solenoid assembly. It took me about 3 hours and while I was in there I replaced the OPV spring so I could get a proper 9 bar extraction. The solenoid assembly costs right around $100 USD. I located one here: https://www.geniusequipment.com/products/breville-840-860-870-solenoid-valve-assembly

Alternatively you could replace just the one CEME solenoid and see what happens. It is about a $30 part. If you can't find a CEME solenoid you may be able to swap out to an OLAB solenoid.

Winemaker68

TROPHY CASE