My blog

About the author

Chris is Prima's token hippy, hailing from the Pacific Northwest and newly arrived in Louisville. A degree in music and theology, an enthusiasm for coffee, and a gig as Prima's main blogger hint at how he spends most of his time. He and his girlfriend have a thing for local eateries, craft liquor, and small towns with big charm.

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Boston Translation or: A Soulful Synopsis of SCAA

Written by Chris Elliott on Apr 29th, 2013

Eleven days and a thousand miles separate me from my last morning in Boston. Swag sorted, coffee stashed, and sleep recovered, I'm back to normal life in Louisville. Back to writing at a desk, breathing warm, Kentucky air and sleeping in my own bed. Back to wishing I was in Boston.

SCAA 2013: Boston-bound and It Feels So Good

Written by Chris Elliott on Apr 9th, 2013

Pack your bags and fasten your seatbelts — we're going to Boston! SCAA is back in Beantown for the 25th annual expo and you're invited. Join us!

Save Big with Bobby Bunsen: 20% off Siphons and Burners!

Written by Chris Elliott on Mar 27th, 2013

Ten score and two years ago, little Bobby Bunsen was born. To a nearly neanderthal society he introduced the Bunsen burner, delighting chemists and 19th-century hipsters all over Germany. More than 200 years later, the legacy of Robert Wilhelm Eberhard von Bunsen lives on. We're celebrating Herr Robert's birthday with deals on the coffee gear we know he'd be proud of.

deals

siphon

5 Smashing Coffee Beers for St. Patty's Weekend

Written by Chris Elliott on Mar 13th, 2013

Cheap concoctions of coffee and liquor aren’t in short supply, but craft beverage connoisseurs like us are looking for something else. Coffee beer can be done right, this we knew, so we set out to curate a collection of beany brews that are widely available and wildly tasty. Bottoms up!

Latte Heart Winner Announced

Written by Chris Elliott on Feb 15th, 2013

Does Valentine's Day get you down? Take heart: there's enough love to go around. You sent in 60+ latte art photos this week and, shucks, we're feeling all warm and fuzzy inside! But that's enough fluff — let's talk business.

We've reviewed the entries, tallied your votes, and applied an advanced algorithm to determine who deserves the prize. Folks, we have a winner.

Half Off Craft Coffee!

Written by Chris Elliott on Dec 6th, 2012

This winter we're teaming up with one of our favorite coffee curators to offer an unbeatably delicious deal. Now through January 6th, buy any brewer on our site and we'll give you $12.50 toward a coffee subscription at Craft Coffee. A month's worth of coffee could cost you as little as $7.49!

An Infographic That Says It All: the Prima Tamp Advantage

Written by Chris Elliott on Dec 5th, 2012

Who needs an angled tamper?
Why bend the handle on a perfectly good tool?
What's the deal with the Prima Tamp, anyway?

The Secret Is Out: Introducing the Prima Tamp

Written by Chris Elliott on Nov 15th, 2012

Meet the Prima Tamp, the first adjustable-angle espresso tamper. This innovative tool is designed to reduce tamping-related strain so that you can consistently and comfortably prepare tasty espresso. The angled handle gets out of the way so that your wrist and arm stay straight as you press into the coffee, encouraging natural form and effective technique, tamp after tamp. Being adjustable, any barista of any build can use it at any bar.

We Have A Secret...

Written by Chris Elliott on Nov 9th, 2012

...and it's almost time for show-and-tell. Louisville's baristas and coffee nerds are pumped about the latest and greatest from Prima Coffee Equipment, coming soon to our store. And you should be too. Ladies and gentlemen, you may take the edge of your seat.

Expanded Brewing Guides: The Best of Immersion & Pour Over Methods

Written by Chris Elliott on Nov 1st, 2012

It’s coming up on a year since we released our beginner’s guides to immersion and pour over brewing, and we’re thrilled to expand on these educational materials. We’ve revisited our methods, improved our instructions, and added to our offerings. So what’s new?

We've updated our Beginners Guide to Immersion Coffee Brewing to include several new french presses, a new siphon, and an exciting addition to our Clever lineup. Not sure where to start? We have added suggested grind settings and starter recipes for each method.

Our Beginners Guide to Pour Over Coffee Brewing now includes recipes and grind settings for a number of pour over methods including a fantastic addition to our pour over lineup - the Walkure porcelain brewer.

Get a preview of what has changed below and be sure to checkout the full posts for all of the details.

Tamp Out Breast Cancer with Prima Coffee & the American Cancer Society

Written by Chris Elliott on Sep 12th, 2012

Like you, we’ve all been touched by the tragedy of cancer. Every October, a parade of pink reminds the world of breast cancer’s harm and the hope that is to be had in countering it. Businesses and families suit up to run and to ride, together traveling millions of miles and raising great sums of money — all in pursuit of a cure. Prima is proud to rep the ribbon this year and provide an avenue for action for espresso enthusiasts. If your passion lies in coffee, we invite you to join us.

Hario Remix: Fresh Beats for the Third Wave

Written by Chris Elliott on Sep 7th, 2012

Something has been stirring in Japan... and it finally made it stateside. Hario has been reimagining means of coffeemaking for years, and their methods are now totally mainstream. But the latest Hario shipment to arrive in Louisville included more than just the classics: we’re bringing aboard an exciting new lineup. Take a look at the latest from Hario, available soon for purchase.

New Product: Bonavita's Variable Temperature Kettles - A First Look

Written by Chris Elliott on Aug 30th, 2012

How Bonavita's Electric Kettle Just Got Better

As we observed in a previous post, the 21st century is witnessing a remarkable truce between all things artisan and all things automatic. Two movements – the “do-it-yourself” and the “already-done” – progress rapidly toward the same goal: an excellent brew. State-of-the-art machines continue to wow the world of coffee, but manual brewing hasn’t seemed to take a hit. It’s actually picking up speed.

What Everyone Ought to Know About Iced Coffee & Cold Brew

Written by Chris Elliott on Jul 26th, 2012

The Battle Between Ice and Cold Brew Coffee

Iced Coffee Vs. Cold Brew

In a Twitter-based tug-of-war, this year has witnessed a wave of kinetic conversation about coffee on ice — and all of this before summer hit. It’s a polarizing topic that has invaded social media and intrigued coffee lovers around the world.

Many are torn between methods, having known magical moments from both ice and cold brew, and we can’t help but agree. To navigate the discussion, we’ve explored the two main categories of iced coffee-making and asked what their loyal fans have to say in their defense. We won’t be lifting the arm of a single champion, but we’ll dance around the ring and let readers decide who deserves the belt.

Slain Yet Soaring: New Strides For Sunergos

Written by Chris Elliott on Jul 10th, 2012

slayer espresso machine picture at sunergos downtown by emarie photography

Who Else Is Excited About a Slayer in Louisville?

For most, a conversation about Kentucky doesn’t conjure images of chic coffee shops and young connoisseurs sipping espresso. Things like horse racing, fried chicken, and college basketball have obscured the complex identity of the Bluegrass State, but there’s actually a bit more to it. As a fledgling Louisvillian, newly arrived from the West Coast, I’ll confess arrogance and admit that my expectations of Kentucky’s coffee scene weren’t high. I wondered, "What could Louisville have on San Francisco, Seattle, Portland, Vancouver, or Los Angeles?" But to my surprise and delight, the quaint collection of coffee shops around here is really taking flight.

4th of July Filter Sale - Brewed in the USA

Written by Chris Elliott on Jun 27th, 2012

fireworks for 4th of july sale at prima coffee

Image used with permission by eMarie Photography

We're mighty proud of these United States.

From the start, Americans have been inventors, artists, and entrepreneurs. And to this day they glory in what they make and do. In anticipation of Independence Day, we're saluting a few of those products that are made in the USA by making them more accessible to you — with a discount!

French Press Face-off: A First Look at the Espro Press

Written by Chris Elliott on Jun 20th, 2012

Picture of Espro Press and traditional French Press

Were the Espro Press just an ordinary press pot, it’s arrival in our office wouldn’t have been accompanied by anything special. You see, we’re no strangers to French-pressed coffee. In fact, it was nothing other than a rich and full-bodied cup produced by a traditional French press that wooed several of us right into the world of specialty coffee. Since then, however, many coffee-lovers have replaced their presses with siphons, Chemexes, V60s, and the like. Why? Mainly, the silt. Sediment. Mud. Call it what you will, but it’s a dealbreaker for many. Thankfully, the Espro Press is not just an ordinary press pot, and, to the delight of many, it claims to solve the problem.

Manual Brewing: On the Rise or On Its Way Out? Barista Magazine Takes a Look.

Written by Chris Elliott on May 11th, 2012

In the automated age, convenience and complexity reign as kings. Simple human tasks are readily handed over to advanced machines that carry them out with eerie precision. Robots replace factory laborers, guitar strings are tuned at the press of a button, and Will Smith doesn’t even drive his own car around (or was that just in the movies?). Yet even as technology takes over, the do-it-yourself movement explodes and artisans emerge in nearly every industry. Twenty-first century baristas and homebrewers must ask, “In which of these directions is coffee headed?”

Latte Art Competition Series Continues in Colorado

Written by Chris Elliott on Apr 23rd, 2012

Calling all Coloradan coffee makers...

Colorado’s latte art competition series continues this week with a Thursday Night Throwdown at The Brewing Market in Lafayette. With only a $5 buy-in, any barista with the prowess to pick up a pitcher can let off some steam and go head to head with the best in the Denver area. Keep it simple with the sharpest rosetta, or dare to pour Andy Warhol’s “Eight Elvises” – your call.