Metrosexual Mini Forum

I don’t change based on whether or not I am in an ongoing relationship. A good question actually, as it separates the guys that are only doing it to try and get women from those that are doing it for them selves.

If I am going to work on the car or build a retaining wall my first priority is wearing clothing I won’t miss if they get trashed. So from a co-coordinating clothing point of view my standards are mutable. My personal hygiene standards are not.

Other metrosexual issues:

Do you guys have a French press, cappuccino maker, and coffee grinder on hand even if you don’t drink coffee? How about a gas stove rather than electric?

I could not change even if I wanted to because Ive been doing it way too long and its already in my blood. ( maybe in my DNA too!) :chuckle: Although I will admit that women are the main motivation for all the things that other non-metros would consider excessive but I think it gives me the edge over all the other guys so almost anything that might make me more appealing to a woman and gived me the edge is game in my book….thus the reason for PE!

What’s a French Press?

I have an expresso machine and coffee grinder. Use them both every day, wouldn’t have coffee any other way.

I would have a gas stove if I could, but am stuck with an electric.

Am I a metro?

I’m sort of both metrosexual and suburbasexual — or more accurately for me because I live in the city, a “yuppiesexual” or MAPpiesexual (middle-aged urban professional). But I might be an anomoly because I lead two different lives fairly separately. I’m in a marriage where we are just good co-parents. We aren’t intimate (so I could probably leave off the -sexual suffix and just call myself a yuppiedad.) I mow the lawn and remodel the bathroom and go to Home Despot at least once a weekend.

Then I have another life where I go out late at night to bars and clubs, sing in bands, promote other musicians, and have close, often sexual relationships with gorgeous women.

The two lives rarely intersect, except with things like the clothes I buy to go out, the stuff I have around the bathroom, and the fact that I’m a really good cook. I also am rarely able to get out and be the social butterfly until after the rest of the household is in bed.

Oh, and I have a french press, a coffee grinder and a gas stove. An espresso machine would be a waste for me. First, I prefer drip. Second, I think I’m like most people in Seattle who get their coffee at a shop, instead of making it at home. There are seven places to get espresso within two blocks of my house, and 15 places within three blocks.

What’s a french press? Excuse me.

French press

I have three french presses (also known as infusion brewers), two or three mocca brewers, one old italian vintage mocha brewer I bought in a flea market in Florence, an electric coffe grinder and I used to roast my own coffee mixes in the household oven (mostly Ethiopia and Kenya beans). I kind of fell out of that a few years ago. Today it is 99% drip filter. But that doesn’t make me a metrosexual - that was more of a hobby. But it did impress girls.

Thanks Iamaru.:) Used to have one of those.

[off-topic]
I’ve been a French Press/ whole bean ground at brewing guy for almost a decade, and genuinely prefer it to electric drip machines, which leads me to my story.

When NYC was dark during the blackout of August 2003, all the local cafes were shit out of luck because even the little italian cafes on MacDougal St use electric coffee and espresso machines, so when the sun broke that next morning all the poor folk who had nowhere to go wandered about searching fruitlessly for some brew. Even my friends were without.

I of course chuckled to myself with a note of satisfaction- I didn’t need electricity- I had a french press and a tea kettle and a gas stove.

So I filled up the kettle and turned on the gas. Took the beans out of the fridge, and left them on the counter as I stepped into the shower. When I stepped out I heard the kettle’s whistle and smiled as I thought of all the poor suckers who had made themselves dependent on Con Ed [the local power company] for their morning juice.

I pulled the french off of the shelf as I turned off the stove.

I thought of how good that coffee was going to taste- I even had a little cream that I had stashed in the freezer as soon as the power fritzed.

I placed the press on the counter as I reached for the coffee beans.

Did you catch that- the coffee beans.

The coffee beans.

And fell the fuck out laughing at myself. Because I used an electric coffee mill.

Moral of the story- don’t count your coffee before it is brewed.

Final note- I could have gone downstairs and bought a can of Bustelo, but I felt that going without was just punishment for my Hubris.[/off-topic]

You actually mean you don’t own a pestle?!!!!

Any self-respecting gourmet (metro gourmet?) should own a pestle. Please don’t tell me you prepare your “Pasta al Pesto” with a blender.

…and you had enjoyed your coffee in the blackout.

BTW, the best expresso machines are the manual kind that were used until the 50’s. I’ve hunting for one for quite some time. They had these long handles that you pulled down building pressure, then release and they returned slowly up, producing the finest cup of coffe I’ve ever tried.

The pestle wasn’t the issue- hell, it’s currently up to 7.25”;) . It was a mortar I lacked that morning:mwink: !

Actually, I thought of that for a moment, but the idea of pounding beans by the teaspoon for a quarter hour didn’t appeal. If I really needed the joe that bad, I wouldn’t have denied myself the prepacked ground from the grocery downstairs- I mean a little self- discipline is one thing, but self abuse?

Every MetMet [metro- gourmet] has a mortar and pestle, so that you can make your own gremolata to drizzle over whatever midnight snack you’re prepping for your squeeze of the moment. I’ve used mine to create the base for my own variation of Argentine chimmi-churri steak dressing- if anyone cares let me know and I’ll post it on the Thunder’s cookbook thread [just beware, I have a thing for anchovies].

I used to have a Zassenhaus Knee Mill Hand Crank Manual Coffee Grinders (conical burr.) My X has it now. Zassenhaus used to make larger wall mounted unites that you don’t need to hold between your knees, expect you could find a used one on Ebay.

ZASSENHAUS since 1867

If you travel consider getting a Zassenhaus Turkish Mill:
The handle and knob are solid cast brass. The side are solid brass with decorative traditional scroll designs. Inside are chromed tool grade steel Zassenhaus burrs. It holds enough coffee for a 4-6 cup brew. The grind is adjustable for anything for Filter Drip and finer. Not cheap but you will have it for a lifetime. Height without handle is 7 inches, diameter is 1.75 inches

http://www.swee … /prod.zas.shtml
A good coffee link with some information on Zassenhaus as well as all things gourmet coffee.

I am not a Zassenhaus affiliate, (they don’t do that crap), just a fan of high quality, old world craftsmanship. Zassenhaus, since 1867!

I love this thread. It’s great watching you gentlemen discuss these things back and forth.

Oh, and SSI is very well groomed, masculine and charming :)

Thanks Rita! :kisskiss:

Guys,
TPS is a luckyman! Rita oozes with sex appeal from every pore!

I see the thread has turned its attention to Gourmet Coffee and the devices to make it.
Unfortunately I dont drink coffee! :) so I cant really comment.

You’re no slouch either Rita.

I have to say I did take a second look as I was zooming by you on my way out of The Film Centre two weeks ago.

Who’s the hot babe in the leopard print blouse? Rita, Lovely Rita…that’s who.