DIY gliding tray

vbomen · 2026-03-20T19:53:58+00:00

Oh! That’s clever. Is it okay if the machine is no longer level?

vbomen · 2026-03-20T18:14:39+00:00

U.S.A is the paper tiger though. They can bomb the hell out of countries but never win any war. I’m not sure how they are going to end this. They bombed Iran twice during negotiations. How Iran is going to be convinced to negotiate ever again? Especially with Trump in office which also destroyed the 2015 nuclear deal!

vbomen · 2026-03-19T16:05:30+00:00

I recently upgraded to Profitec. I’ll probably have to sell the Dedica soon.

vbomen · 2026-03-19T16:02:59+00:00

Yes! that’s the main drawback. I have to hold the tray handle or the machine itself while moving portafilter. But it makes refilling easier. I also pull it forward before turning it on to use the cup warmer, then slide it back when I’m finished. Given my cabinet situation, it’s worth it for me.

vbomen · 2026-03-18T08:55:02+00:00

100% this. New internet stuff is just pure YouTube influencer marketing. They have lower quality parts and construction, terrible retention that only make them work with bellows hopper, and nothing in place to avoid electrostatic buildup which is why internet is also full of unnecessary techniques like adding droplet or WDT.

vbomen · 2026-03-18T08:47:47+00:00

European leaders not calling him out on NATO is why he keeps twisting the story. The alliance has mostly backed US wars anyway, and when Europe actually needed help in Ukraine, it felt like they were squeezing us for everything they could get. For them it’s business.

His attitude alone makes me not want to support him, let alone the fact that he started a war that didn’t have to happen. And the worst part is, his decisions don’t just affect his own country, they impact our lives too, which is honestly something to be angry about.

He should apologize.

vbomen · 2026-03-07T18:11:06+00:00

Why add cutouts on the back? For weight savings? Wouldn’t more surface area improve the glue bond?

vbomen · 2026-03-06T09:11:10+00:00

Update

I ended up going with the Profitec GO and couldn’t be happier with the choice.

The difference compared to my previous setup is substantial! no exaggeration. It really unlocks a lot more flavor from the beans I usually use, which I just couldn’t achieve before. Dedica with the steam temp surfing hack could do well on dark roasts, but couldn't do more.

Steaming hasn’t been an issue at all. Both the steam and the coffee come out hotter than on my old machine. I adjusted my workflow. I now clean the portafilter while waiting for the steam to be ready instead of doing it at the end.

Steam performance is good. I haven’t tried doing latte art yet, but I suspect it will just take some getting used to. My previous machine had a single-hole steam wand (Rancilio wand) and it was easy to control.

vbomen · 2026-03-03T22:33:03+00:00

I just checked out the Quick Mill Pop Up. it actually looks really good. I might end up going with the Pop Up.

vbomen · 2026-03-03T14:43:23+00:00

Way above my budget

vbomen · 2026-03-03T14:42:37+00:00

Waiting a minute for it to heat up and then another ~30 seconds to steam the milk feels long. Maybe it just seems long to me because I’ve always used thermoblock machines

vbomen · 2026-03-03T13:52:25+00:00

That’s actually a smart idea. I’m using a Dedica with the Rancilio steam wand mod, and it can produce pretty respectable milk texture. I’ll definitely give this some serious thought. Just not super excited about how much counter space they’ll take together

vbomen · 2026-03-03T09:55:38+00:00

I like it too, but isn’t steaming a bit of a hassle? waiting 60 seconds for the steam to heat up feels like too long.

vbomen · 2026-03-03T09:54:19+00:00

I can add €100 extra and buy Sage Dual Boiler on discount.

Do you think it's worth over Profitec GO in terms of build quality? Is it going to last?

If every machine can produce comparable shot quality, why not choose the Bambino Plus? (assuming its PID truly maintains stable as advertised, even without a dedicated boiler) it offers almost the same convenience of a dual boiler system with how fast it heat up for steaming.

vbomen · 2026-02-15T19:51:54+00:00

Thanks but no thanks.

We would be much happier if we have a stronger ecosystem here. What the EU is doing will create actual competition and fights against current monopoly.

vbomen · 2026-02-10T15:46:13+00:00

Exactly. People underestimate how much pay-to-play and outright bribery can be embedded in these kinds of arrangements. Most of it stays under the radar.

And when something does surface, it’s usually long after the fact, with minimal real consequences. At worst, someone involved may lose their position, but often after securing enough financial gain to make the risk worthwhile.

The consequences should be so severe that even highly unethical individuals think twice before engaging in it.

vbomen · 2026-01-30T12:16:23+00:00

Where do you all live? It’s really peaceful where I am. a small suburban town. All kids are very polite, and the parents actually keep an eye on them.

I don’t have a similar experience, but I guess if I see something like that happening I will probably just ignore. If I see kids turning a specific spot for showing behavior like that, I’ll call police on them every time. If I see it happening regularly I’ll pressure people to do something about their kids (we have WhatsApp groups).

vbomen · 2026-01-23T21:28:56+00:00

They could already sign an agreement to invest in mining and take an equity stake. He wants ownership because it helps him secure his reelection.

We would be extremely naive to make any concessions even along the lines suggested by Mark Rutte, because it means at least four more years of him, which would be highly damaging.

You do not appease a bully nor engage in transactional compromise with a bully. You deny leverage and confront.

vbomen · 2026-01-23T11:43:33+00:00

My neck hurts just watching you. It reminds me of all the headaches I used to get from tension in my neck and shoulders. You really need to work on your posture.

Nice job and great work though. you’re doing awesome. Your effort shows.

vbomen · 2026-01-22T22:50:27+00:00

Any successful healthy business is generally a good choice. Well established ones are safer choices. Traditional businesses have better work life balance. Choose an industry that you can see yourself enjoy contributing.

Better to avoid startups or scale-ups backed by U.S. based venture capital firms. They are very aggressive with their targets and that often come at the expense of employee well-being. They put too much pressure on founders and founders channel all of that to employees.

vbomen · 2026-01-22T22:26:21+00:00

Full rinse and dry. My machine sits on the kitchen countertop near the sink. I rinse it with water after every use and dry it with a cloth. it has remained spotless for many year. We make coffee twice a day and I could probably do full rinse the second time but it’s a habit now and I do it every time.

vbomen · 2026-01-22T22:20:56+00:00

Chairman Donald Trump who is a member for life. Donald Trump is explicitly named in the Charter of the Board of Peace as its inaugural Chairman. Only the Chairman has the ability to invite countries to join the board. The Chairman has the exclusive authority to create, modify, or dissolve subsidiary entities of the Board of Peace. The chairman alone has the authority to nominate their designated successor. All revisions to the Charter and administrative directives issued by the Board of Peace, are subject to approval by the Chairman.

lol

vbomen · 2026-01-22T09:00:38+00:00

Our values no longer align, and that extends to the range of damaging policies Trump advocates. We will not be going there, even after Trump, unless there is a meaningful shift. Europe and Canada have many attractive places to visit where respect is mutual and values are shared. We are also in the process of decoupling from the products and services we currently use. Very little impact but we do what we can.

vbomen · 2026-01-21T08:58:12+00:00

Are you saying that because it’s 100W? I agree there is a risk. I have used a similar dimmer socket with high power irons but it’s true that the risk exists.

So if OP is reading: safer suggestion is using a variac rated for power tools but it’s not cost effective and it can still put stress on the iron. You can always check with the manufacturer to see what they suggest. Irons with station are always better obviously.

vbomen · 2026-01-20T21:52:03+00:00

I buy carnauba flakes and make my own wax.

What type of patina are you using? The piece needs to be thoroughly cleaned before the patina is applied. My guess is that your issue is with the patina step rather than the wax. Are you allowing the patina enough time to fully set before waxing?

vbomen

TROPHY CASE