I have another super-manual espresso rig: it's called a Portaspresso. It's a bit delicate, so I keep it packed in a Pelican case. (Of course that's an excuse. I actually just like packing things nice and neatly.)

But it needs more infrastructure, eg. a high pressure floor pump.
https://mastodon.social/media/FI92Yuaw6JZoeoG0F7M

**Ben Zanin** @gnomon · Jul 03, 2017, 03:38

**Ben Zanin** @gnomon · Jul 03, 2017, 03:38

Jul 03, 2017, 03:38

Ben Zanin @gnomon

Very specific long and boring coffee stuff Show more

Alas, since the EspressoForge uses direct pistonic force instead of a pneumatic pressure cylinder, its physical form is dominated by its big old tube shape. That makes it a bit difficult to pack away.

Fortunately the portafilter group head unscrews from the barrel, so it least it can pack down relatively flat, just not in a very compact way overall.

So today I did something about this whole state of affairs!

**Ben Zanin** @gnomon · Jul 03, 2017, 03:44

**Ben Zanin** @gnomon · Jul 03, 2017, 03:44

Jul 03, 2017, 03:44

Ben Zanin @gnomon

Very specific long and boring coffee stuff Show more

I picked up a bicycle rack bag that's just about long enough to hold the barrel and piston; four foam pad knee rests; a pool noodle; and a little HDPE pill bottle.

I cut two similar sections from the noodle. One I slit to accept the barrel. In the base of the other I wedged the pill bottle to hold the piston, then cut a slot across the top to fit in the T-handle. Both of those pieces worked out basically perfectly.

**Ben Zanin** @gnomon · 2017-07-03T03:50:07Z

Ben Zanin @gnomon

Very specific long and boring coffee stuff Show more

The group head was fussier to fit, mostly because of the manometer head sticking out of it.

I cut four foam knee rest pads in half, stacked them, then excavated appropriately shaped cavities to tuck everything securely in place. By happy coincidence the six layers lift apart cleanly at the halfway point; the knee pad handles even line up! I just need to work out a fastening system to keep them all together. (Straps?)

Jul 03, 2017, 03:50 · Tusky · 1 · 1

**Ben Zanin** @gnomon · Jul 03, 2017, 03:56

**Ben Zanin** @gnomon · Jul 03, 2017, 03:56

Jul 03, 2017, 03:56

Ben Zanin @gnomon

Very specific long and boring coffee stuff Show more

Now I just need to find some way to tuck in the grinder, scale, thermoprobe, portafilter(s), tamper, and beans, and I'll be set.

Oh, and the tripod, I suppose; but not this particular one. It's not very good, and it doesn't collapse easily enough. I think I'll order an appropriately sized laboratory tripod ring stand instead. They tend to be quite affordable.

Then I should be set to lug this whole ridiculous thing around. Huzzah!