Coffee Gear, Pt. 5: One-Year Update on Jonathan’s Coffee Setup & Journey

Coffee Gear, Pt. 5: One-Year Update on Jonathan’s Coffee Setup & Journey

Author: BLISTER August 21, 2025 Duration: 1:17:25

What happens when an obsessive gear reviewer dives headfirst into the expansive world of espresso? It’s now been over a year since our last update on Jonathan Ellsworth’s coffee journey, so Eli and he talk about what’s new in his setup; what he’s learned (or rejected) from the depths of coffee videos and online forums; and whether this whole thing has been a brilliant pursuit of flavor, or just an expensive rabbit hole.

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In Search of the ‘Best’ Coffee Gear, Pt 1 (Ep.19)

In Search of the 'Best' Coffee Gear (& Ski Boots), Pt. 2 (Ep.20)

Drinking Gold: Coffee Gear, Pt. 3, with ON3P Skis’ founder, Scott Andrus (Ep.25)

Coffee Gear, Pt. 4: “Hero Espresso” & Jonathan’s Current Setup (Ep.43)

TOPICS & TIMES:

The Significance of Coffee Gear (1:14)

Espresso Techniques and Preferences (4:19)

Exploring Coffee Beans and Roasts (8:33)

Adjusting Techniques for Optimal Flavor (17:23)

Consistency in Coffee Preparation (21:40)

Decaf Discoveries and Coffee Preferences (30:28)

Espresso Pressure: The Great Debate (30:28)

Personal Taste vs. Internet Trends (33:00)

Reflections on Coffee Gear Purchases (38:59)

The Importance of Quality in Coffee Gear (47:02)

The Importance of Precision in Espresso Making (51:32)

The Role of Milk in Coffee Drinks (56:30)

Exploring New Coffee Techniques and Equipment (59:43)

Finding Happiness in Coffee Rituals (1:02:00)

Return on Investment in Coffee Equipment (1:04:02)

The Impact of Coffee Chains on Quality (1:08:33)

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There's a particular kind of conversation that happens when someone has dedicated their life to making something tangible, driven by obsession over details most of us overlook. CRAFTED, from BLISTER, is built on those conversations. Each episode moves beyond a simple product review to explore the entire ecosystem of creation, whether the subject is a meticulously roasted coffee, a complex whiskey, a precision timepiece, or a bold new wine. You'll hear directly from the individuals who define these fields-brewers, distillers, founders, and artisans who started their ventures not because it was easy, but because they couldn't imagine doing anything else. This podcast digs into the raw materials, the failed experiments, the business risks taken on a principle, and the quiet triumphs that happen long before a product reaches a shelf. It’s about the philosophy embedded in the process as much as the technical skill. Tuning in feels less like listening to an interview and more like pulling up a stool in a workshop or a tasting room, offering an intimate look at the patience, setbacks, and unwavering standards that transform a simple idea into a crafted object. The stories are specific, but the themes of creativity, resilience, and entrepreneurial spirit are universal, connecting anyone who appreciates the depth behind a well-made thing.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

CRAFTED
Podcast Episodes
Amateur Hour: Camera Gear w/ Jonathan Ellsworth and Justin Bobb [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:02
Recently, Jonathan has been going deep down the rabbit hole of camera gear and lighting, and the strikingly handsome Justin Bobb has been his spiritual guide. So today, we’re broaching these topics with all of you, and y…
Caviar 101 with Black River Caviar [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:25
Caviar. Is there any word — or food — that more quickly conjures up associations of luxury and opulence? But caviar isn’t just a thing to serve on the yacht you don’t own, caviar has a rich history. Once a snack only for…
The Whiskey that Set a Land Speed Record: Montgomery Distilling [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:15:48
Not every distillery owner has a land speed record to their name, but Ryan Montgomery of Montgomery Distilling does. So Eli talked with him about all things spirits, from the Montana-grown grain that helped power that la…
HiFi Audio, Aesthetics, & Design w/ Heaven 11’s Itai Azerad [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:00
A famous philosopher once said, “Without music, life would be a mistake.” We agree. And while music is all around us, it’s easier and easier to take it for granted, or to have a very diluted experience of it. So, how do…
“Get Thee To A Cheese Monger!” Cheesemaking w/ Jasper Hill Farm [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:10:19
Jasper Hill Farm is one of the most respected names in American artisan cheese, and in today’s episode, Jonathan & Eli talk with Zoe Brickley — Jasper Hill’s “Minister of Culture” — about how a struggling Vermont dairy m…
Jonathan Gagné on Astrophysics, Coffee, & The Physics of Espresso [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:22:15
Jonathan Gagné is producing some of the best work in the world in terms of increasing our understanding and appreciation of coffee. And his new book, The Physics of Espresso, is incredibly smart, impressively easy to und…