Here is an excerpt from Craig LaBan's online chat:
Craig LaBan: I want to comment on the arrival of a relatively new brand of espresso machine to the city's coffee scene - made by Seattle's Synesso. After two separate experiences, I'm not sure I'm thrilled with it. First, my long-held nominee for the city's best espresso pull - La Colombe - is in jeopardy. They replaced the old La San Marco machines with two gleaming Synessoes. I'm told the old SM machines, rebuilt and refurbished numerous times, would occasionally electrocute the baristas. My first single shot from the new machine on the right was noticeably thinner and less intense than usual. A second pull, from the machine on the left, was significantly better - apparently it's kept at a hotter temperature. So remember: you want your La Colombe short shot pulled from the left machine, save the cooler machine on the right for cappuccino. Across town that very day, I popped into an adorable new pocket cafe on Head House Square, Bodhi, serving Stumptown espresso from a handsome Synesso machine-only to have a similar experience. The coffee itself was richer but it was also lukewarm, too cool to even melt the sugar. Coincidence? Early machine (or barista) glitch? With old standby La Colombe still figuring out its new machine, are there any new candidates out there, chatters, to be crowned the city's top shot espresso?