Oh good lord! I can’t believe I’m reading this. I haven’t been on the forum for a while as trying to detox from social media, popped in just now to have a read and I see this at the top. I am shocked and saddened.
I first came across Dave as the most helpful person on CFUK back in about 2013ish and when I discovered he lived close by, I spent a fair bit of time hanging out with Dave at his place, either in the kitchen, brewing, or in the garage aka roasting den and emporium of espresso gear. He helped me loads, both on and off the forum. I bought a Zenith grinder from him, and later, my trusty R58 which was a very early one which he had bought in order to examine and review for Rocket to develop. I still have it now, and it seems only recently that he advised me where to get it serviced. I am also grateful of his input and review of the Osmio Zero as it meant i could run my R58 through lockdown when bottled water was hard to get. I used to share his roasts alongside a select few, and always used the opportunity to learn from his great knowledge over an expertly prepared coffee or 3. Many a time I left his place with caffeine jitters and a brain full of info, and we would chat about all sort of things, not just an info dump on coffee lore. Dave was a strongly principled man full of expertise on engineering as well as coffee, very generous with his time for anyone prepared to listen and engage.
I am genuinely gutted to discover what has happened since i last looked in. The coffee world just lost a key player and top character.
I hope he’s in charge of coffee in heaven.
Paul.
Ps, please nobody take offence at this, please please don’t. But can we spell his name right on this thread as it’s so important, I am pretty sure (and correct me if wrong), it’s Corbey with an e. Sorry.