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.

We Want to Hear from You!

Have a topic, craft category, or craft company you’d like to see us cover? Email us here to share those or any other thoughts you have about CRAFTED.

RELATED LINKS:

Blister Craft Collective

Become a BLISTER+ Member

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)

SEE OUR OTHER PODCASTS:

Blister Cinematic

Bikes & Big Ideas

GEAR:30

Blister Podcast

BLISTER NEWSLETTER:

Get It & Our Weekly Gear Giveaways


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.


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: 109

CRAFTED
Podcast Episodes
The Vinyl Revival, Records, & Turntables w/ Michael Fremer [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:19:27
In this episode, we get a crash course on the vinyl revival and why spinning records on a turntable is a more engaging way of listening to music. Our guest, Michael Fremer, is regarded as one of the premier experts in th…
Sage Cattabriga-Alosa on Pizza Making & Big-Mountain Skiing [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:23:15
One of the greatest big-mountain skiers of all time is also seriously passionate about making great pizza. So what’s the story here, and what do pizza and skiing have in common? What has Sage learned about the art of mak…
La Marzocco Product Designer, Stefano Della Pietra [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:46
La Marzocco is the most iconic espresso-machine maker in the world, and last month, Jonathan went to the La Marzocco Accademia to talk with their head product designer, Stefano Della Pietra, about the history and core pr…
Coffee Gear, Pt. 4: “Hero Espresso” & Jonathan’s Current Setup [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:27:29
After much deliberation, we’re revealing the machine that Jonathan ended up going with on his quest to create daily doses of “hero espresso” — a phrase coined at the end of this conversation. Simon Stewart joins Jonathan…
Cast-Iron Cookware w/ Blister reviewer, Simon Stewart [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:01
Today we are discussing a product that people get very passionate about — and even more opinionated about: cast-iron cookware. Jonathan is joined by Blister senior bike editor, Simon Stewart, who has been using cast-iron…
Our Reviewers’ 2023 Craft Obsessions & 2024 Curiosities [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:25:31
To wrap up the year, we are sharing the craft categories that most captivated our Blister reviewers in 2023, and some of the categories they are most curious about heading into 2024. This is a fun one, and it certainly f…
Shaking Up the Wine World: Revelshine founder, Jake Bilbro [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:10:47
Over 30 billion bottles of wine are consumed each year around the world, and today, we’re talking about why we need to — and can — move away from ‘business as usual’ in the wine world. Our guest is Revelshine founder, Ja…