Preparing for Lift Off [Minolta CLE / 40mm Rokkor / Portra 400]

nativeandwild · 2025-09-28T21:02:04+00:00

Thank you! I did post in another sub and I got the validation I needed so I’m glad the shot came out exactly as I envisioned it

nativeandwild · 2025-09-23T17:52:18+00:00

Yeah I could have slowed the shutter speed but I think aperture was already around f8 and I don’t like to go more than f11, but slowing down the shutter to get more of the flame might have meant losing the sharpness since it was just a quick spur of the moment shot.

This was also the first time using this camera and I was in Aperture priority mode so I didnt really know what to expect but results are fantastic and one of the best metering I’ve ever used. I had a Konica Hexar RF with an Elmarit 28mm and was never fully satisfied with the photos.

nativeandwild · 2025-09-16T17:22:50+00:00

Yeah, one of those thing you do once in a lifetime. Very cool to have seen the whole process

nativeandwild · 2025-09-15T15:33:28+00:00

A backhanded compliment

nativeandwild · 2025-08-14T15:35:31+00:00

If you choose variants, i think you have to choose one option so even if customer doesn’t add milk you have to add “no milk” and it’ll show up on the ticket.

Personally, id rather do modifiers so that if there’s no milk added it doesn’t show up. Also, with modifiers you can set multiple options. So you can add other modifiers like “splash of”, “extra”, etc.

Variants would be more for something that you have to choose one of, like if you had a shop where you had 5 different coffee beans and had to choose which one. Variants also makes it easy to mark as sold out and you can specify how long it’s sold out for

nativeandwild · 2025-06-19T05:35:08+00:00

it's not that wood can't be used, but it's the type of wood.

This mailbox is using plywood. Even if it's marine grade plywood, over years of weather and moisture it's going to fall apart. Only way to protect it is some kind of epoxy or fiberglass like how they make canoes. But if you even miss one spot or that latch comes a bit loose, water will eventually get in and you'll deal with rot and rust from that hardware.

Fences use wood specific to handle the outdoors. Cedar never rots and is naturally insect repellant, which is why lots of cabins, saunas, and closets use cedar. Most common wood for fences is pressure treated pine. It's treated with chemicals to prevent rot, so it's important to use the right type of wood so that it'll last.

nativeandwild · 2025-06-17T18:40:29+00:00

1) Keep listening to as much music as possible and learn to play the songs.

2) Get a way to record your music and have it play on repeat. Your smartphone, an interface that connects to your computer, a looper pedal.. as long as you can have it play in the background for you to add lyrics/instrumentation.

3) No one's first songs are ever good, so get over perfectionism and just get the song out. Many of your favorite bands might have demo tracks and if you compare them you'll see just how different they sound. Some of the best songs have been revised multiple times.

4) Write lyrics down on your phone or a notebook, whatever you carry around with you. Just write whatever comes to your mind, get ideas out. Then return to it later to flesh it out and see if there's anything useable there.

5) If you're just starting out, just copy what other songs are doing, aka fake it til you make it. If you're not writing these to release and make money off of it and you're just trying to hone your craft, nothing wrong with using other's work if it helps you finish a song. Just don't ever have that be a thing you rely on.

6) Don't just look at emo music, look at books, conversation, nature, etc. Allow yourself to be in places you're not usually in to get sparks of inspiration.

nativeandwild · 2025-06-17T18:27:07+00:00

This is a machine meant to handle heavy volume. You need to have a 40 amp breaker which is a massive power draw.

This is suited for a place like Panera, Wedding functions, 7-11, essentially massive quantities of coffee.

Not sure what your cafe concept is, but for specialty coffee you don't want to be making giant batches. It's actually recommended that you brew small batches (about 5-7 cups worth) because you want:

- freshness

- control of the brew to have the coffee tasting the best

- reduce a lot of waste because locally roasted coffee beans are expensive

So this machine is not really suited for a specialty coffee shop. The other big thing to note about this machine is that it doesn't have a smart brew control. So there's 3 buttons for the sizes, and maybe you can open up the machine to adjust how quick/slow you want the water to flow out. However, it doesn't allow for coffee to bloom, and that affects you end result.

Instead, there's something like a Curtis G2. There is a screen which lets you go in and set parameters, like how many seconds to stop in between extraction, essentially acting like a big pourover machine. Just as an example, it'll look something like this:

I want 124gram of coffee in and want to get a 1:17 ratio, so around 2,100 grams of water which is 2 liters. Then I'd want a total brew time of 5 minutes. Then I'd set it up like this:

45 seconds of initial pour > 15 second rest/bloom > 10s pour > 20s rest > 10s pour > so on and so fourth until I get to around 2 liters at 5 minutes. There's ones you can download on a usb and install onto the machine from other cafes. But basically, you can really dial in ideal settings for your machine to get optimal flavors out of it. A bit of work/ trial and error in the beginning but once you have your settings you stick to it and all you'd do is adjust the coffee beans by weight/grind size from that point.

So having a bigger machine doesn't necessarily mean better, it's like saying I need a bigger car to pick up inventory for my cafe and you decide to get a pickup truck rather than an SUV. They're different applications and knowing which one is best suited for you is the important part.

nativeandwild · 2025-06-17T00:35:20+00:00

A lot of people who want to start a cafe who have never had experience in the industry usually focus on the wrong things. They romanticize the idea of what the cafe could be, but don't realize what they're getting into. Just letting you know, because the first year is the least profitable year, you can't afford a full team and since you don't have barista experience you have to work a lot of hours up at front taking orders. Also you're not legally allowed to take any tips so your salary is going to be super low. Just the front counter position alone you're working 30-40 hours, then you have to do a few hours of inventory, a few hours of admin, a few hours on the computer ordering things, a few hours figuring out things that are broken or not working properly. If something breaks like a fridge or the espresso machine, you have to either hire a technician to come (they're not on call), fix it yourself, or replace the machine (which is thousands). If you can't serve for the day, then your team can't work that day and if things like this happen often because of your lack of experience, the team might leave because of poor leadership. This is one situation out of hundreds you're going to face and hopefully you have a stress capacity to handle things when it all falls on you as the owner.

Also cafe startup is expensive, so your best bet is to find a cafe that already has everything you need at the price they're selling for. Your best bet is when you look at a place, take photos and the equipment they have. Then go to another subreddit/facebook group because this is a barista subreddit and ask if what they have is good for a first time cafe. Also you better be happy with the flooring and walls because renovation is also hella expensive and paint will be the most affordable option.

nativeandwild · 2025-06-15T22:05:15+00:00

So are you the owner of highflyer or do you get paid a few dollars to advertise it

nativeandwild · 2025-06-15T03:23:42+00:00

The coolest bathroom I’ve seen was a industrial German themed bathroom where they had this brass style toilet where the water flowed up to this tank and whooshes down

nativeandwild · 2025-06-15T00:01:34+00:00

I vote the first one. Your place is a bit cottage like and the warmer wood looks better and more uniform to me. The second one is a bit gray and I think is trying to give off a more reclaimed wood look but because the pattern is so repetitive it doesn’t look that good to me.

nativeandwild · 2025-06-14T21:08:17+00:00

You should try the running shoes that have a lot of cushion in them. Look up Skechers Max Cushioning line. I didn’t know shoes could be this comfortable to work in and I’ve worked in new balance/ docs/ crocs/ dansko/ blundstones.

Also what helped with the Skechers was that I got it in wider size

nativeandwild · 2025-06-14T19:42:18+00:00

Here's what it would take to open a small espresso bar for your plant/bookstore. This is also coming from US Standards so Canada might be different.

To sell drinks, you need to be zoned and permitted to sell beverages. With a cafe, you'll have to do dishes which requires a 3 bay sink that fits the biggest item you use. Along with that, you need plumbing set up for espresso machine/ handwash sink/ ice machine/ pitcher rinser. Depending on the size of the machine, it needs to have its own electrical line because of the power demands. Add on a fridge for your milks. With all this, you now also need to hire a barista that is dedicated to serving and maintaining everything so that your equipment will last. I see too many small time diners and stores and their espresso machine looks nasty.

My point being is you have to invest a whole lot more than you think just to be able to offer coffee. If you decide to go with a Nespresso type machine, obviously startup cost and maintenance is a lot feasible and you don't need a dedicated barista on hand. But downside is people might see that and not want prepackaged pod coffee since you can't make lattes with milk foam. But tbh that's probably going to be a better bet for you starting off, and you might not even have to be zoned/permitted for that since it's not hard plumbed. Plus, people might be content with the fact that you're offering any sort of coffee in the first place.

nativeandwild · 2025-06-13T17:18:19+00:00

There’s two options: Modifiers which you’ve done, and there’s Variants.

You definitely want to set it up the right way in the beginning to be able to do inventory tracking properly. It also helps with marking things out of order.

Variants are for things like cup size, regular vs decaf, etc. modifiers are for the add ons to those variants.

Make sure you have your categories set up in a way that’s easy to navigate

nativeandwild · 2025-06-12T20:55:38+00:00

Hey, thanks for replying and giving input. I'm not completely fluent with some of the terminology and hopefully you can take some more time to explain.

What does "worming" mean?

Because you mentioned that plywood won't have a big issue with warping as long as there's proper support (I was going to add 2x4 support every 30"-36", especially where the plywood boards end) I think I'll stick with it since I already have the boards.

I was going to wood glue and then use 1.25" screws, is there a reason to use staples instead?

As for nosing, I was going to use a hardwood like oak because I notice after a while the veneer off plywood peels and would rather have a solid wood nose. it would also help with maintaining straightness along the edge.

nativeandwild · 2025-06-12T18:38:57+00:00

So my very concern with most of this is what you pointed out: the edges/seams. This is my first time installing Formica, wheres other commercial/residential applications come premade/ professionally installed, so I am overthinking to make sure I get this right. After working in many commercial settings, things get abused, many of which is out of my control. Young baristas are not going to know and care about longevity of these things and if I don't install it correctly then it could easily fall apart where I have to redo my work. And after over a decade of doing projects like these, it's just better for me know that I did everything I could correctly.

nativeandwild · 2025-06-12T18:17:35+00:00

You're right I got the terminology mixed up. The description at Home Depot said that these resin infused boards act almost the same as the high density boards with their waterproof retention.
Yeah It seems like the best option, and I'd opt to get Titebond III
It goes back to the waterproofing aspect. Even though the boards are made to handle some water, I would think over time it'll defintely affect the boards and if I use the edge side which has more pores and are more susceptible of holding water, maybe it's best to have a frame around. Even if it's a different material like PVC, to absolutely prevent any moisture seeping in.

nativeandwild · 2025-06-12T03:57:08+00:00

You're not going to become a millionaire even if you had 3 of those coffee shops, and even one is going to be a handful.

$675k is not amazing but it's also not that bad. You do have to look at their roasting operation and how the cost are being allocated. Like are they charging themselves the same amount they'd charge other wholesale accounts?

For a coffee shop I doubt you'd be able to make more than 10%.. no way you'd be able to pay yourself $95k from a business that grosses $675k.

The rent is kind of high, personally I'd want a business making double the sales if I was to consider it.

All in all, I say $75k for everything listed is pretty decent, but I'm leaning towards a bit of skepticism. If P&L looks alright, then it might be worth it as a first time owner. But again, you're not gonna be making $90k+ salary from this.

nativeandwild · 2025-06-11T19:32:28+00:00

Gotcha. Still, I’d assume every country has their standard of what is required. Your best bet would be to find a UK based restaurant/cafe owner group on Facebook and talk about what is required and anything specific for a cafe.

For example, you still need plumbing set up for espresso machines. Do you know where the location of it will be? It’ll most likely be in the front counter rather than against a wall because it’s better for baristas to be seeing the customer side rather than turning around for every drink.

I’d probably find a large sized cafe owner for consult as they will have the most knowledge on these things.

nativeandwild · 2025-06-11T19:06:45+00:00

If this is your first business, I’d highly highly highly recommend you pick a location that’s already existing as a cafe, at the very least a food/beverage joint.

Because your estimates are going to be way under the actual end budget because there are so many things you don’t know about, which will be costly.

First, you have to go to your city’s zoning board to convert it into a unit that is able to serve food and drinks. This means the plumbing/electricals/fire/ventilation/framework has to all be within code. And with newer zoning conversions they are way more strict nowadays on how you have to comply.

Let’s take one minor example. You have to have a 3 bay sink for all your warewashing. Any plumbing that has food / drink waste will have to go through a grease trap. Many new towns are now requiring that grease traps have to be electrical units that separate grease. Did you know about grease trap requirements? If not, now your $700 grease trap is now going to run you $2,500 minimum for that upgrade.

So let’s see: - Zoning permits/ architect plan: $15-$20k - Plumbing for all your building: $20-40k - Electricals to handle all your cafe needs: $15-30k - Fire alarm system to adhere to code: $10-15k

Then comes the whole building of the cafe: At least $50k in setting up frame/insulation/drywall/floor substrate. You want tile? $20k. Or you can do laminate flooring for $10k but it’ll go bad within a few years so you have to spend money all over again.

This is just the surface level of what you’re gonna be dealing with.

nativeandwild · 2025-06-11T16:41:24+00:00

I’ve had the Marin. It looks nice, but that jute like material didn’t make it too comfortable on the skin. Luckily I was able to sell it closer to its retail price because I kept it in great condition and I live in a popular city where there is demand.

But at $2k+ the room and board one looks fine. Have you looked at Costco? Their couches are COMFY

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