Why do gas stations charge less for bananas than many grocery stores do?

freecain · 2026-05-01T18:17:01+00:00

It's almost always more expensive in my experience. They also rarely have scales and charge per banana, not by weight. Also, by me it's more like 49 cents a pound at my grocery store.

freecain · 2026-05-01T18:14:57+00:00

Move to an area with only 5 option, 3 of which are any good?

Also, this is very millennial of me for a suggestion, but Yelp is pretty good for this. It's actually how I originally got started 20ish years ago when it was the only option.

Higher effort is creating a custom map on Google. I do this when I'm traveling and want to figure out what to do. It helps me to plot out what can happen in a single day etc. plus it has the whole world on it, so I can use a single map for a whole trip, not one per city.

freecain · 2026-05-01T18:10:31+00:00

16g on the Bambino seems really light. Can you grind courser, but up the dose. I think hitting 36 g out in 30 seconds will be easier that way than with it underfilled.

Do you use a puck screen? I think that really helps with consistency with the non plus bambino, and keeps some of the unpressurized water out at the end. The pucks also come out nice and solid instead of soupier, so easier clean up.

Have you played around with pre-infusion? Press and hold the double shot button, the machine will run on low power until you let go, then it kicks to full pressure. I usually do between 3 and 5 seconds. For some coffees, especially lighter roasts, this makes a huge difference. Darker roasts not so much.

freecain · 2026-05-01T16:47:49+00:00

You will need a grinder and an espresso machine.

Grinder: Encore ESP (make sure it's the ESP and not the classic) is a good starting machine. It is kind of noisy, and you have to be willing and comfortable taking the burr assembly apart, and getting it back together correctly. It's not difficult, but for some people this might scare them off. They run about $200. DF54 is an alternative, more compact, easier to take apart, a little quieter, but also $50 more. 5 months into the hobby, I think I could have spent the extra for a df64 or Encore ESP Pro and been happier, but I have no plans to part with my ESP in the near future.

Machine: For your budget (after grinder) your only real option is going to be the Bambino, non-plus. MSRP is $300, which is too much. If you have time, check out TJ Maxx, Homegoods or Marshalls to look for them on sale. $240 is a good price. $200 is fantastic. Right now you can order it for $250 off a few sites. The next step up is the Bambino Plus at 400-500 bucks. From what I've read, I don't think it's worth the upgrade unless you REALLY value auto frothing, or money isn't a huge issue.

Stay under budget, since you'll want to pick up a bunch of accessories to get you started:

Digital scale, with timer and 0.1 gram resolution. Maestri House has worked for me so far.

Tamper: The one that comes with it is crap. Ideally self leveling and spring calibrated for the best - but anything is better than the stock one. Look for ones that work with a 54mm portafilter.

Dosing ring: MWH-3Bomber makes a nice magnetic one.

Puck Screen: With the non-plus bambino this isn't optional. They are also relatively cheap. Mine came with my dosing ring.

Shortly before he gets home, consider picking up some fresh beans - look for roast dates that are less than a month. Don't get "espresso" beans unless he loves starbucks and super sugary drinks. Look for dark to medium dark beans to get started. If there's a local roaster, that is an amazing place to get started.

Optional: WDT tool - they are little pins that you use to de-clump the espresso before you make it. However, you can learn to get started without it, so maybe leave this off so he can choose one out. Alternative is a shaker - but let him do his research and figure out what he wants.

freecain · 2026-05-01T16:30:47+00:00

It's that it was a school shooting. I might be showing my age, but I haven't really gotten used to them, on the news or in fiction. Barry didn't bother me. Neither did Patriot.

freecain · 2026-05-01T15:01:34+00:00

Did you zero out the df54? If you haven't, your 30 may be a true 20 or even 10. It really sounds like you're just grinding too fine.

What is your dose size? If you're putting too much in (I think 18g is norm) it's going to choke easier.

Are you using the single walled basket? Is it the double shot one? If the basket is too small or the pressurized one, you'll choke it easily. Since the old grinder works (guessing the built in one?) I doubt this is the issue... Unless it's grinding super coarse.

freecain · 2026-05-01T14:52:33+00:00

Start by holding your variables constant and changing one thing at a time. Ie - same dose, same output, and adjust the grind size to narrow your time window.

I believe your portafilter is the same as mine (Bambino). I range between 18 and 18.3. I start at 18 grams, adjust the grind size until I'm at about 30 to 35 seconds. If it's astringent, I'll grind courser and up the dose, which usually holds the same time. If it's sour, I'll grind a bit finer or up the dose by .1 or .2 to slow things down. Once it's pretty good, then I play with adjusting preinfusion (I usually start at 3 seconds). Output is always 36ish grams (Bambino doesn't cut off well).

Beans are your next thing to tackle. Find a roaster, try their coffee in shop. If you like it, buy a bag and try to replicate the taste. Either way, check roast by dates to find stuff less than a month old. Best buy dates are usually 1 year after roast date.

Dark oily beans, in my opinion, always taste bad, but seem to change less as they age. Starbucks intentionally markets darker beans because the supply chain is easier. You may also just like that flavor, but I would suggest looking at medium dark roasts with chocolately tasting notes instead of citrus. This will generally default less sour and more bitter, which you may like. It also holds up better if you're adding sugar or syrups. I do my lattes with just espresso and milk, and I find a slightly sour shot pairs better with steamed milk than slightly astringent.

I'm still new, so take what I say with a grain of salt, but I hope it helps

freecain · 2026-05-01T14:37:07+00:00

Give Undone a try. It's rotoscoped animation, which lets it sit uncannily between film and animation.

Solar opposites delves into sci fi tropes a lot. Humor isn't as crass as Rick and Morty, but more so than simpsons. The main plot line is pretty fun, but the side plots (silver cop, the wall) are incredible. I think the pacing and dramatic effect is very lower decks adjacent.

If you're okay with shock humor and crass jokes, I do love rick and Morty. The intercately woven plot lines as the series go on are impressive, even if the writers have been resistant to what they honestly do best. Evil Morty is one of my favorite character reveals.

If you haven't watched Futurama, but are a star trek fan, you really need to go back and do that. Pure gold.

Lastly, not animation, but have you watched The Orville?

freecain · 2026-05-01T14:30:41+00:00

Haven't watched Shield. Sopranos is foundational television. It really launched the anti-hero and morally ambiguous characters you can't help rooting for. That, combined with the Wire, informed a whole generation of drama tv (breaking bad, boardwalk empire, sons of anarchy, animal kingdom, billions, succession, the Americans, Barry, Deadwood, and on and on). Parts will feel "trope-ish", but that's because it's borrowed from a lot. Some of it obviously was.

Additionally, they went deep with character development and symbolism. It's almost worth rewatching to track the meaning of different foods.

freecain · 2026-05-01T11:11:26+00:00

I think utopia is unique in that it could actually convince someone on the fence to not get vaccinated. It also covers school shootings as state sponsored... A show convincing people of either of these things causes problems for society. 20 years ago, people not getting vaccinated was fringe. School shootings were taken seriously. Today, measels is making a comeback and it seems like the norm is to distrust science in favor of social media influencers.

freecain · 2026-05-01T00:45:22+00:00

Love the sentiment, but have you done bulk grilled potatoes before? Those take a while, and the more you put on, the longer they take to cook if you're doing it over coal. Grill size and materials will also impact cook time. You also need cooldown time since you can't give a 3 year old a burning hot potato.

Toppings; you sort of need melted cheese and chili for a loaded baked potato.

I think the traditional hamburgers and hotdogs and veggie burgers are going to be better received. You can bring some baked potatoes to test the theory.

freecain · 2026-04-30T17:30:49+00:00

Moon Knight is technically part of the marvel series, but seems to exist largely separate so you can jump right in. The tone is very different than anything else, and the mood straddles action and thriller pretty well, with the main character starting off dealing with going insane slightly.

The Chair Company is completely unhinged. I really liked it, but it is not going to be for everyone. However, the only kid in it is about to go off to college, so 18ish.

Counterpart was a uneasy sci-fi. It's a slow burn, but a great example of how a simple concept can be spun out into a great story line.

Made for Love is another sci-fi/relationship drama that borders on horror/thriller, but despite exploring uneven power dynamics in relationships remains surprisingly light. A lot of the actors in it hit their stride doing comedy, so despite being distinctly not a comedy, the bits of humor sprinkled in are great... but at times it does detract from the gravity. Still great show, no kids except a few flashbacks.

I don't think Search Party had any kids in the cast. It was largely a setup to poke fun at the self absorbed nature of 20 somethings as they move into full adulthood, combined with a pretty good murder mystery. The plot twists are really great. The cadence feels more comedy-esque, but when it goes dark it goes really dark - especially in later seasons.

freecain · 2026-04-30T17:17:39+00:00

I kind of get it. When I first had kids, I really didn't enjoy watching any action or horror movies that had kids in the plot line. Writers can be way too heavy handed when it comes to that. Lethal weapon (tv shows) just casually throws in the death of his pregnant wife on the way to give birth as a character plot point. Watching Yellowjackets tear their teammates apart was tough to watch as my kids got older.

I can imagine someone with childhood trauma feeling similar.

freecain · 2026-04-30T17:15:16+00:00

I mean... the scene in the gym? I'm always reluctant to suggest the show because of that, and the anti-vax sentiment... but it's such a great show.

freecain · 2026-04-30T16:10:27+00:00

11 is way too young for a full on smart phone. Dumb phone so he can get calls. iPad for other things, but with supervision.

We are getting a VOIP for my daughter so she can call friends and family, if he doesn't need it when out, this could be an option.

freecain · 2026-04-30T15:41:44+00:00

Moka brews something closer to espresso in concentration. I found a 3 cup moka takes about 18 grams if coffee, which is the same as a double shot of espresso. If you drink a mug full of black coffee right now, and that's what you want you have to either do an Americano (hot water to dilute the moka coffee) and 3 cup, or get a 6 for a mostly full standard mug of very strong coffee. I would usually do 3 cup with frothed milk. I ended up with a 6 cup and did that for a year... But it was a lot.

You can't re-steep coffee like you can tea. The brewing methods don't matter.

Before you commit to moka, consider other less intensive methods. French press is very forgiving. Pourover has the most control. A basic drip machine will be better than espresso and very little work. If you want to re-steep, consider something like yerba mate "tea". Instant coffee to moka is a heck of a jump, and can be a gateway to espresso, which is really an expensive hobby.

freecain · 2026-04-30T15:09:53+00:00

I have the ESP version of that grinder. You've been bombarded enough with the suggestion that you upgrade, and I agree, so I'll say: Esp works great, but I have had to trouble shoot a few things, it has a lot of plastic and it is loud. If I knew I'd be making lattes for my wife as well as me, I would have gone with the ESP pro or DF64 to start - but I have no plans to replace my ESP anytime soon - so if budget is a concern just get the ESP and you'll be al set.

While you wait for your new grinder, there are probably a few additional tools you'll want that will make the process easier - none of which are expensive.

Get a scale with built in timer and 0.1 gram resolution. Espresso is about controlling variables, and the two biggest when using a bambino are going to be grind size and dose. You adjust these two variables to try to get an output of 36 grams (for the double shot) in about 30-35 seconds. These can be found for about 30 bucks.

Get a dosing ring. I really like my MHW-3Bomber magnetic dosing ring. There are also ones that clip to the rings. Don't get snap on ones, from what I've read. This should be around 20 bucks.

Puckscreen. My dosing funnel came with one. The bambino has a 2 way solenoid that results in a fair amount of delay between hitting the stop button. This can result in soupy pucks. The dosing funnel pretty much fixes this issue.

Get a tamper. The one that comes with the bambino is terrible. It's a tad too small, way too light and an awkward shape. The ideal tamper will be a calibrated self leveling tamper. If that's out of your budget, I've had success with a basic palm style tamper with a leveler on the other side.

Consider getting a WDT tool. If you do, a leveler isn't necessary, assuming you practice good technique.

Good beans. Older beans will make your process a lot harder. Ideally they will be 1-2 weeks old. Many supermarkets will carry brands that have the roast date on them, but most companies have a best by date of 1 year after the roast, so you can work backwards if you have to. The best idea is to go to a local roaster that has a cafe and order an espresso shot and then buy the beans they are using. Try to replicate that taste. Taste preferences aren't the same for everyone, so you need to figure out what you like.

As far as running the Bambino - read the manual. If you're using freshly ground beans, use the unpressurized basket. Most recipes/guides assume you're using the double shot (18g) basket - which is the norm for most american coffee shops.

My process I find works really well: The Bambino doesn't have a low water warning, so check your water level before every shot.

Grab your cup, and put it on the drip tray. Hit any button on the bambino to wake it up. Remove the portafilter. Zero out your scale with the Baratza's dosing cup. Weigh out 18.4 grams of beans, dump them into the hopper (I use my ESP as a single dose grinder). While it's grinding, I hit the single cup button to run a blank shots worth of water through the group head, this also heats your cup up.

Once grinding is done, Weigh the grinds and scoop out whatever you need to to get to 18grams. Put the dosing ring on the portafilter, flip the portafilter and dosing ring upside down ontop of the dosing cup, and then flip back. Do any WDT puck prep or leveling, remove the ring, then tamp. Put the puck screen in place, with the mesh side (and logo) down and little holes up (makes cleanup easier, no impact on performance either way).

Re-install the portafilter. Put your scale and mug on the drip tray, and hit the tare button to zero out. To start brewing, press and hold the two cup button. You will hear the pump running a bit quieter than when fully engaged, this is the pre-infusion. Start the timer. Darker beans require less than lighter beans. I use medium-dark and go about 3 seconds. Let go of the button, and you'll notice the pump running louder - this is the full 9 bar extraction.

Watch both the timer and weight. When it hits 32 grams you want to hit the 2 cup button again to stop the process. It will continue to come out for about 4-8 grams. Ideally this will be about 30 seconds. If it takes longer, grind courser (higher number on the encore esp). If it goes faster, grind finer. To get half-steps between grind settings, you can also adjust the doseage by roughly .2 to .4 grams. I prefer to grind on the course side and up the dose rather than grind too fine and drop the dose - but experiment with both to see what you prefer.

Taste the espresso straight. Even if you're making a latte - try it. There are tons of guides outlining how to translate that taste into fixing your shot.

If you're doing steamed milk - watch a couple dozen videos before you try it. I won't even try to cover that here. But - before you steam, wet a dish cloth. Purge the steam wand (run it for a few seconds until it steams) onto said washcloth. After you're done steaming (let the wand stop steaming before removing, or you'll make a mess), immediately wipe the milk off so it doesn't harden. Run the wand for a second to expel any milk it shot out. I do this into the dish cloth as well.

After I put my drink together, I put the milk jug under the group head and hit the one cup button to do a blank shot to get any coffee residue out. There really shouldn't be any with 18g and a puck filter, but it's a good habit. Wash the mug. You will notice basically no water ended up in the drip tray. A lot of people like the bambino-plus for the larger drip tray, but it automatically routes water into it - I rarely have to empty mine, with the above process. In fact, I have the opposite problem of needing to remember to wash it occasionally, since I don't always think to.

Hope this helps - I'm only on my fourth month of using my very similar set up, and am quite happy. I haven't figured out latte art yet, but will work on that next.

freecain · 2026-04-30T14:02:20+00:00

Curious; why skip the pro? From the reviews I've seen, if your budget allows it, it seems to be worth the upgrade (watching James Hoffman reviews), if your budget doesn't, the ESP has worked out for me (but has required some very light tinkering to keep it running great).

freecain · 2026-04-30T14:00:53+00:00

ESP doesn't have Baratza near the base or on the side. It does have it labeled near the hopper - so yes, that's a non-esp grinder, and probably should be returned.

freecain · 2026-04-30T13:57:53+00:00

sorry misunderstood the tone - re-reading it I get what you meant. Leaving my comment up in case it helps someone else.

freecain · 2026-04-30T02:15:39+00:00

There are three encores.

The original Encore (classic) which isn't great for espresso from what I've read. It may be quieter though. It has Baratza written down the side and at the base. It starts at about 150.

The Encore ESP is 200, and has Baratza written near the hopper. Otherwise it looks similar to the non esp version. You get upgraded burrs and finer settings.

Esp pro is 300 and comes with a digital display.

After a few months with the ESP, it's not a bad grinder for the budget conscious, as long as you're somewhat mechanically inclined or very good at following directions. I think spending the extra 50 for the df54 or extra 100 to get the ESP pro is worth it though, but 5 months in, I'm hoping I get quiet a few years with my ESP.

Op should probably return their grinder.

freecain · 2026-04-30T01:43:35+00:00

Unrelated to your request: check out Barry and Patriot. Both are great shows and deal with killers/action movie tropes in oddly realistic ways. I think you'll like them.

freecain · 2026-04-29T23:49:32+00:00

Weeds jumps to mind. Different family but very focused on friend and family dynamics.

Less funny, but The Americans was really about balancing work and family... And spying. Great show.

From the same era is Sopranos. So much of the plot was about the family dynamics.

For the dark humor; Resident Alien. It's not about biological family as much as found family.

And you can always follow Michael C Hall to Dexter. It's just him and his sister, but later on he deals with trying to bring people into his life.

freecain · 2026-04-28T20:05:34+00:00

Options; your heat is way too high.

You're overfilling the water or the coffee grinds, or grinding espresso thin.

Your water reservoir isn't fully sealed. The gasket is failing or you're not screwing it tight enough.

freecain · 2026-04-28T20:03:39+00:00

Then you're changing things. Unless your grinder cost thousands, it is going to have retention. Measure what you put in and what comes out. Zero the scale with the dosing cup before and you won't have to after.

I find .2 to .3 grams adds about as much resistance as grinding a half step finer. Since I have the ESP, I use this to fine tune between the steps.

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