☕ Coffee ☕: Ingredients, Roasting, Grinding, Brewing, and Tasting

[applescrap]

Wow, light roasted Kenyan. Curious what you are tasting.

 

[applescrap]

Drank through one pound of the banko. Week one it had, maybe, the strongest chocolate flavor and smell ever. Week two, degraded more than most coffees do in one week. I may have been congested, but it seemed to lose a little pop week 2. Yesterday roasted some more and I think lighter. It started one loud crack at 1030ish and then I felt it started later. Pulled 30 seconds after that under a minute from first crack. Didnt heat down at that point so I think some tipping occured. I think I am congested still but cant wait to try it as I dont smell chocolate!? Hopefully I didnt leave any green hiding in it.

 

[applescrap]

Doh!

 

[jammin]

I am hoping to roast that Banko again today as well. I’d like to get the roast done in under 8 minutes. I’m not satisfied with the amount of berries I’m getting so far and almost feel as if this coffee wasn’t quite as advertised. I have been getting some good milk chocolate notes like you as well, Apples.

Went old for this mornings cup & busted out the paper Chemex filters. Rinsed then like crazy bc they really pack a punch if you don’t. Total brew time w/30s bloom was 3:43 which I was happy with.

 

[applescrap]

Ok I am going to go brew some because this coffee is surely light. I'll report back. I think it is a little more flavorful then the average but berry overrated in that regard. See what I did there.

 

[HarborTownBrewing]

I've been pretty absent and bad about checking in around here lately. I haven't had too much excitement but did have a bit of a roasting breakthrough recently. I started playing around with slowing down my development just a tad and then getting on the heat once the beans have hit the yellowing phase. This has really improved my roasts on the fruitier coffees, bringing out more floral and fruit flavors in the Ethiopians and other African coffees I've been roasting.

It's easy to get set in your ways once you have a process down (which I did) but a little experimenting can change everything. I just have to remember to leave my comfort zone every once in a while.

Current coffee I've been digging is from Rwanda (Bufcafe). It's nice and winey, like a silky cabernet.

 

[bleme]

I finally got around to taking a photo of the grind I’m getting. Now I realize that I should have put in something for scale...

Is it normal to get this much variation from a burr grinder?

 

[pshankstar]

I finally got around to taking a photo of the grind I’m getting. Now I realize that I should have put in something for scale...View attachment 641943

Is it normal to get this much variation from a burr grinder?

I don’t think so but I’m no expert. Is that grind for a French Press or something else? My Encore bought used in great shape is very consistent.
What burr grinder are you using?

 

[bleme]

I don’t think so but I’m no expert. Is that grind for a French Press or something else? My Encore bought used in great shape is very consistent.
What burr grinder are you using?

It's a Mueller hand grinder that I use for cold brewed coffee. I filter through a Wilserbrew hop sack after steeping in the fridge for 24 hours.

 

[applescrap]

It's a Mueller hand grinder that I use for cold brewed coffee. I filter through a Wilserbrew hop sack after steeping in the fridge for 24 hours.

I have only heard good things about hand grinders. That grind is pretty coarse so it is hard to tell for me.

 

[TallDan]

I finally got around to taking a photo of the grind I’m getting. Now I realize that I should have put in something for scale...View attachment 641943

Is it normal to get this much variation from a burr grinder?

I’m going to say no. Is it possible that you just have it set way too coarse?

I have only heard good things about hand grinders. That grind is pretty coarse so it is hard to tell for me.

There are good and bad hand grinders. Nothing about a hand crank makes it better. They have a good reputation because there are some very well made hand grinders available for reasonable prices. That does not make all hand grinders good.

 

[applescrap]

Reporting back on banko. I know it's a good fruit roast. I know it. Right on the edge of green. I just didnt get much.

So the pot sits cold in the office, I turned off junky mr coffee hot plate on coffee second it's done or it ruins it. And it sits an hour or so. Buddy comes down I say try this, it's supposed to be blueberryish. And he starts going whoa man blueberry for sure. Heavy blueberry. Unmistakable. Wow this is so good. So there you go. To me I get the rare and pleasurable tea like quality in the light roast. Floral, earl gray tea maybe. After writing this I reviewed the burman notes. And it makes more sense now. I am not convinced the chocolate covers the fruit. I think it frames it in actual fact and brings out a nice red fruit jammyness. I must not have gone light enough for the lemon acidity. But if you have never had a dp really light they can be like a lemon bomb.

This coffee is fun. Darker and chocolatey or lighter and tea like. It can go so many ways. I am addicted to chocolate and the word shouldnt be used in my presence. I am going that route again. I am certain this is the chocolateyist coffee I have ever smelled or tasted.

 

[jammin]

That’s awesome, Apples! Great feeling to get feedback like that. Also a great reminder how much the cup can change as it cools. I’ve found this coffee to be fun, challenging & somewhat frustrating. Similar to how you feel after a great shot on the golf course, I’m anxiously looking forward to giving it another try!

 

[jammin]

i installed a 48,000 grain water softener in the house a couple days ago. this morning is the first cup brewed with the softened water. seems like there may be a slight difference in the cup, perhaps a little smoother/sweeter. could be placebo who knows. looking forward to seeing how the kettle fights off scale moving forward. same for washing the chemex & other glasses.

anyone else running a whole house water softener? our municipal water is about 8 grains in my area. what are you dealing with?

 

[TallDan]

There's a bullet for sale over on h-b if anyone's in the market for one:

https://www.home-barista.com/buysell/bullet-r1-roaster-t60354.html

 

[Br3w4u]

My Behmor is on it’s way. Any advice from other Behmor owners?

 

[TallDan]

My Behmor is on it’s way. Any advice from other Behmor owners?

Try not to overcaffinate yourself in September.

(former behmor owner)

 

[pshankstar]

My Behmor is on it’s way. Any advice from other Behmor owners?

Get some cheap beans to do a few roasts with first. This way if you over or under roast them it won’t be so bad. My first couple of batches were all over the place.
Congrats.

 

[Br3w4u]

Get some cheap beans to do a few roasts with first. This way if you over or under roast them it won’t be so bad. My first couple of batches were all over the place.
Congrats.

I still have about 2 lbs of the Honduras and the Behmor came with an 8 lb sampler so I think I have room for error . Any tips on roasting?

 

[pshankstar]

I still have about 2 lbs of the Honduras and the Behmor came with an 8 lb sampler so I think I have room for error . Any tips on roasting?

The automatic modes never seemed to work for me so I always use the manual mode for better results.
I haven’t maxed it out at a full pound, 3/4 of a pound is the largest amount of green beans I’ve roasted.
Preheating the unit seems to help in the cooler months.
If I can think of anything else I’ll let you know.

 

[TallDan]

With the behmor, I never did batches bigger than 1/2lb. Much of what I read about it said that was best, but I never experimented myself with bigger batches. I started with the programs to get used to it, but switched to manual mode. I remember following some getting started type guides, maybe sweet maria's?

Best tip I have is to keep a shop vac nearby to clean up the chaff that will get everywhere. I have one of the really small ones that stayed in the kitchen for this purpose when i had the behmor, and still stays by my roaster now.

On another topic:

I'm kind of tempted by this new grinder by option-o:
https://www.option-o.com/lagom-p64

 

[jammin]

Damn ... that is straight up IP theft from KafaTek.

That said, SSP makes a heck of a 64mm flat burr if theirs aren’t up to snuff

 

[TallDan]

Damn ... that is straight up IP theft from KafaTek.

That said, SSP makes a heck of a 64mm flat burr if theirs aren’t up to snuff

Not sure i'd agree that it's IP theft. I actually think looks a little closer to the niche than the monoliths. Both are kind of a "leaning tower" design and rounded. The kafateks have a more substantial base and are boxier.

Seems to me like the redspeed upgrade for $110 is a no brainer if you're spending the ~$1500 on the grinder. At least it would be for me.

 

[jammin]

Honestly the industry is so far behind on Single Dose grinders that its refreshing to see more options popping up. The absolute fever/craze for Monoliths is a solid indicator how dialed in the Home Barista is currently. Folks have recognized the value of instant grind adjustment feedback. Even with the On Demand, doserless/hopper fed grinders, you have to waste a lot of coffee to adjust the grind & get your shot to flow to taste. The grind paths on these commercial units hold so much ground coffee that you'd have to make 2 or 3 shots to see what adjustment made. Ive seen countless Mazzer-E's on the BST that are essentially brand new after the rich barista finally realizes how inefficient it is in a home setting.

I spent years "thwacking" away on the doser of a behomoth Compak K10 PB (had 2 actually). For what it was, it worked really good. Shots were exceptional. At the time, the only single dose option on the market was the Versalab M3. I swooned over that thing for a very long time but couldn't cough up the dough for it's extraordinary price tag. If it weren't for all of it's early problems with belt slippage & sweeper alignment, etc I surely would have got one. It's still a very attractive piece of kitchen jewelry IMHO; that Red knob just sells the whole thing.

So i've always wondered, where is Baratza in all this? They cater specifically to the higher end home user and yet they don't have a purpose built, espresso forward single dosing grinder. I realize the cut of the 270's jib falls squarely in this space but it built to be hopper fed. I'd really like to see a sub $500 unit made by them. Flat burrs, metal collar adjustment (no plastic shives), solid porta-filter holder, low height/counter+cabinet friendly that's reasonably fast & quiet. Couple the majority of those items with the best burr set you can squeeze in (75mm Mythos ideally but 64mm Mazzer would work) and you'd have production lag for a few years straight

 

[jammin]

Re: Banko 19' roast n' learn

cracked the whip on another batch last night which is perhaps my 5th attempt? this bean is quite reluctant to take on heat during the browning phase. as a general rule i like drying% to be > brown%. while this batch doesn't meet that benchmark, it IS a sub 8min roast which was my other goal.
I brewed a cup on the Aeropress (2min steep -> press) after a short 24hr rest and it's unquestionably my best roast. Loads of sweetness, mild acidity & very clean/light/sugar cookie fruit essence in the cup. If anyone is looking to give this bean a different angle, i'd encourage going faster than you're used to and ending the roast shortly after the first few snaps of first crack:

 

[TallDan]

Honestly the industry is so far behind on Single Dose grinders that its refreshing to see more options popping up. The absolute fever/craze for Monoliths is a solid indicator how dialed in the Home Barista is currently. Folks have recognized the value of instant grind adjustment feedback. Even with the On Demand, doserless/hopper fed grinders, you have to waste a lot of coffee to adjust the grind & get your shot to flow to taste. The grind paths on these commercial units hold so much ground coffee that you'd have to make 2 or 3 shots to see what adjustment made. Ive seen countless Mazzer-E's on the BST that are essentially brand new after the rich barista finally realizes how inefficient it is in a home setting.

I spent years "thwacking" away on the doser of a behomoth Compak K10 PB (had 2 actually). For what it was, it worked really good. Shots were exceptional. At the time, the only single dose option on the market was the Versalab M3. I swooned over that thing for a very long time but couldn't cough up the dough for it's extraordinary price tag. If it weren't for all of it's early problems with belt slippage & sweeper alignment, etc I surely would have got one. It's still a very attractive piece of kitchen jewelry IMHO; that Red knob just sells the whole thing.

So i've always wondered, where is Baratza in all this? They cater specifically to the higher end home user and yet they don't have a purpose built, espresso forward single dosing grinder. I realize the cut of the 270's jib falls squarely in this space but it built to be hopper fed. I'd really like to see a sub $500 unit made by them. Flat burrs, metal collar adjustment (no plastic shives), solid porta-filter holder, low height/counter+cabinet friendly that's reasonably fast & quiet. Couple the majority of those items with the best burr set you can squeeze in (75mm Mythos ideally but 64mm Mazzer would work) and you'd have production lag for a few years straight

I think baratza might just say that you can easily single dose any of their grinders. They are at the higher end home user market, but really aren't in the hardcore espresso enthusiast market. I'm sure they sell more grinders in a week than kafatek sells in a year. It would be interesting to see what they could do if they introduced a $1500 halo model though.

 

[TallDan]

Third cappuccino of the day while cooling wort.

 

[pshankstar]

Third cappuccino of the day while cooling wort.

View attachment 642569

Whatcha brewing?

I’m roasting some Ethiopia Dry Process Guji Hangahi (GCX-6039). I need to find time to start brewing beer again.

 

[Kealia]

Re: Banko 19' roast n' learn

cracked the whip on another batch last night which is perhaps my 5th attempt? this bean is quite reluctant to take on heat during the browning phase. as a general rule i like drying% to be > brown%. while this batch doesn't meet that benchmark, it IS a sub 8min roast which was my other goal.
I brewed a cup on the Aeropress (2min steep -> press) after a short 24hr rest and it's unquestionably my best roast. Loads of sweetness, mild acidity & very clean/light/sugar cookie fruit essence in the cup. If anyone is looking to give this bean a different angle, i'd encourage going faster than you're used to and ending the roast shortly after the first few snaps of first crack:

View attachment 642295

This is similar to how I roasted my last test of this bean, too. Trying it tomorrow.

 

[jammin]

Whatcha brewing?
I’m roasting some Ethiopia Dry Process Guji Hangahi (GCX-6039). I need to find time to start brewing beer again.

Had a terrific cup of Hangadhi myself this morning - great stuff!