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

[TallDan]

IIRC, when the v3 silvia came out, they were all multi-hole steam tips. Customers complained, and Rancilio responded with a single-hole tip. Could have been a Silvia-specific issue though.

Although I've never used a multi-hole steam tip, my understanding is that while the multi-hole is easier to use initially, the single hole is better with a little practice.

 

[JonW]

A single hole steam tip is better? You better tell that to La Marzocco, Faema, La Spaziale, etc. because every professional machine has a 3 or 4 hole steam tip. Single hole tips are usually only on the smaller consumer machines. It may be that the smaller machines are not able to effectively drive a multi-hole tip due to the small size of the boiler. I never tried a multi-hole tip when I had my Gaggia machines, but my La Spaziale machine has a 4 hole tip and I would never go back.

 

[HarborTownBrewing]

I wonder if it's machine specific. I was reading elsewhere about using single hole steam tips for the Silvia and the Classic.

 

[jammin]

It's absolutely due to the small (single) boiler.

 

[JonW]

After a quick google search on boiler size, I'm now really thinking that these machines can't support a multi-hole steam tip due to the size of the boilers. Looks like the Gaggia only has just over .1 liter capacity and the Silvia has .3 liter. At that size, you might run the boiler dry very quickly or it just wouldn't have enough pressure to drive a multi-hole tip.

 

[HarborTownBrewing]

Blending. I don't do it, really, ever. Thought I'd try it today though.

Blended a Guat I've been really digging, and a Kenyan. It was way too much flavor. Interesting though.

 

[BrewinHooligan]

Blending. I don't do it, really, ever. Thought I'd try it today though.

Blended a Guat I've been really digging, and a Kenyan. It was way too much flavor. Interesting though.

Try a Guat with a Brazillian. 2/3 Guat to 1/3 Brazil. I love it myself, but tastes are definitely subjective. I have been having a ton of fun blending recently two different coffees can be very good on their own, but once blended can become magnificent.

 

[HarborTownBrewing]

That's a good idea. I just picked up some of the Brazil Bodhi ran on special for like $2.75/lb, so I'm sure it could use a little blending.

 

[HarborTownBrewing]

I did a 50/50 espresso with the Guat and Kenyan I had tried brewing before. It's delicious. Nice body but great citrus acidity from the Kenyan.

On another note, I think my co-workers are getting tired of my coffee shipments always coming to the office. Every time I get a package they lug the 20 lb box to the back of the suite, and say "MORE coffee?!" Buying is almost as fun as drinking.

 

[TrickyDick]

I placed an order at SM's and in addition to what I ordered, they included an empty coffee sack. Unsure why they do this. I'm not really sure what to do with it. Thoughts include camping laundry bag, well, I guess thats the only thought so far. Looks like burlap. will it rot if it gets wet? Would like to find something to put in truck under hood to load some mothballs- rats/squirrels recently chewed up wiring to the tune of $950 to repair. Anybody else receive one of these and have a suggestion?

 

[ChefRex]

Blending. I don't do it, really, ever. Thought I'd try it today though.

Blended a Guat I've been really digging, and a Kenyan. It was way too much flavor. Interesting though.

Try a Guat with a Brazillian. 2/3 Guat to 1/3 Brazil. I love it myself, but tastes are definitely subjective. I have been having a ton of fun blending recently two different coffees can be very good on their own, but once blended can become magnificent.

Been blending quite a bit lately , mostly playing, some good, really hit it!
I need to place another order soon.

 

[passedpawn]

I placed an order at SM's and in addition to what I ordered, they included an empty coffee sack. Unsure why they do this. I'm not really sure what to do with it. Thoughts include camping laundry bag, well, I guess thats the only thought so far. Looks like burlap. will it rot if it gets wet? Would like to find something to put in truck under hood to load some mothballs- rats/squirrels recently chewed up wiring to the tune of $950 to repair. Anybody else receive one of these and have a suggestion?

Haven't gotten one. I order quite a bit from them

 

[HarborTownBrewing]

I ordered some valve bags from Burmans since they had them for the cheapest ($.33 for 12 oz bags) and I've been going through a lot. Ordered about 10 lbs of coffee while I was at it to bring down the shipping price. Couldn't believe shipping was only about $6.50.

We'll see how they taste! Never ordered from them before.

 

[steveoatley]

Hello HBT Coffee gurus !

I have recently gotten in to Cold Brewing coffee.
And i am looking to Up Grade some equipment already !! ( sound familiar ? )
I have a Toastmaster Bladed Coffee "mill" Blade kind - Model 1119 i believe
Just like in the pic

And i was wondering what you Coffee Gurus would recommend for an up grade??

I am looking for a good "medium" grind - better for Cold Brewing
I am getting too many Whole Beans surviving this Toastmaster, and then i hit
that button again, and i have powder and still a few whole beans

So I am looking for a "reasonably" priced coffee mill.
Any suggestions ?
Thanks in advance !

Steve

EDIT - i should mention that i own a Monster Mill 2 for my All Grain BEER brewing set up
Is there any way i could use that ??

 

[HarborTownBrewing]

Welcome, @steveoatley

You'll find a variety of different answers on this topic. The best thing to do may be to figure out for yourself what would work best for your uses and future uses. For instance, do you make espresso or anticipate making espresso? That would require a certain range of grinders for fine grinds.

Your budget and preference of used vs. new will also help your decision. You could check out the Baratza line, or maybe look at Oxo - I believe @PassedPawn has one from them he likes a lot.

 

[HarborTownBrewing]

Regarding water:

The last couple days I've noticed my water has a smell to it. I'm not sure what the smell is - part of me wants to say eggs, or something.

So it makes me wonder - did the water treatment gurus do something significant recently? I'm on water from the city of Chicago - generally fantastic for brewing beer and coffee. But I was reading they recently found elevated lead levels, with Flint on the mind.

Well today my pour over Guat did not taste good, while just a couple days ago it was fantastic (and it's only 3 or 4 days old).

I'm just wondering if the water is affecting my coffee. AND I wonder if it's going to affect my brewing, because I'm brewing this week and I'd hate to have my water chemistry playing games with me!

 

[JonW]

Sounds like you might want to go with bottled water until you can get some answers on what's up with the tap water. No sense potentially wasting a brew batch with bad water.

 

[ba-brewer]

Hello HBT Coffee gurus !

I have recently gotten in to Cold Brewing coffee.
And i am looking to Up Grade some equipment already !! ( sound familiar ? )
I have a Toastmaster Bladed Coffee "mill" Blade kind - Model 1119 i believe
Just like in the pic

And i was wondering what you Coffee Gurus would recommend for an up grade??

I am looking for a good "medium" grind - better for Cold Brewing
I am getting too many Whole Beans surviving this Toastmaster, and then i hit
that button again, and i have powder and still a few whole beans

So I am looking for a "reasonably" priced coffee mill.
Any suggestions ?
Thanks in advance !

Steve

EDIT - i should mention that i own a Monster Mill 2 for my All Grain BEER brewing set up
Is there any way i could use that ??

I have one of these, been using it for a few months and am happy so far(pour over and drip). According to Sweet maria's it is not appropriate for espresso.

http://www.amazon.com/Capresso-560-01-Infinity-Grinder-Black/dp/B0000AR7SY

 

[steveoatley]

I have one of these, been using it for a few months and am happy so far(pour over and drip). According to Sweet maria's it is not appropriate for espresso.

http://www.amazon.com/Capresso-560-01-Infinity-Grinder-Black/dp/B0000AR7SY

Thanks ba-brewer !

I will look into that one

Cold Brew Coffee, needs a much more course grind than Espresso
So, i am looking for "bad" reviews from espresso drinkers, in a grinder !

Steve

 

[TallDan]

Thanks ba-brewer !

I will look into that one

Cold Brew Coffee, needs a much more course grind than Espresso
So, i am looking for "bad" reviews from espresso drinkers, in a grinder !

Steve

Coarseness is just an adjustment. A bad review from an espresso drinker likely means an *inconsistent* grind more than it means a coarse one. Inconsistency is bad for any type of brewing, it's just the most obvious when using a fine grind.

 

[jammin]

Thanks ba-brewer !

I will look into that one

Cold Brew Coffee, needs a much more course grind than Espresso
So, i am looking for "bad" reviews from espresso drinkers, in a grinder !

Steve

This is the best bang for your buck for coarse grind. Not a lot of good performers on the market really and this one absolutely excels. Contact baratza for a refurb unit to save a good chunk of change

http://www.baratza.com/grinder/virtuoso/

 

[steveoatley]

This is the best bang for your buck for coarse grind. Not a lot of good performers on the market really and this one absolutely excels. Contact baratza for a refurb unit to save a good chunk of change

http://www.baratza.com/grinder/virtuoso/

Jammin

$185 for a re-furb grinder....... sorry but that is out of my range

I gots me enough pennies & dimes for about $100.oo
And i'll have to sneak it into the house past the wife at $100.oo

thanks for the info
Steve

 

[arturo7]

$100 or less, your best bet is a hand cranked burr grinder. Check out Zassenhaus.

 

[HarborTownBrewing]

@steveoatley for under $100, auto, maybe check into the Capresso Infinity: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0000AR7SY/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

Bed Bath Beyond has those, and you can use 20% off. Or, the Baratza Encore is about $129 but you can find discounts through a few different sites (Seattle Coffee Gear or something like that).

 

[steveoatley]

@steveoatley for under $100, auto, maybe check into the Capresso Infinity: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0000AR7SY/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

Bed Bath Beyond has those, and you can use 20% off. Or, the Baratza Encore is about $129 but you can find discounts through a few different sites (Seattle Coffee Gear or something like that).

Thanks Harbor Town

That was the one i was really looking at ( Capresso 560 )
Since i can get them at BBB, and not have to pay shipping.

Seems to be some positive reviews on these....
Not too complicated....

That's probably the one I'm going with.....

Steve

 

[HarborTownBrewing]

I had some George Howell coffee today, Guatemalan. It was very underwhelming. I know there is a lot of hype about this guy but this was not good at all.

Maybe it was just one bad cup.

 

[TallDan]

Any great green coffees out there currently that I should jump on? All out of decaf for the wife, so I should place an order this week. Still have 7 pounds of regular for me, so it might just be a decaf order from SM if there's nothing out there worth jumping on for myself.

 

[jammin]

Any great green coffees out there currently that I should jump on? All out of decaf for the wife, so I should place an order this week. Still have 7 pounds of regular for me, so it might just be a decaf order from SM if there's nothing out there worth jumping on for myself.

Roastmasters has a nice looking Bolivian microlot & an interesting Colombian. They have a few African coffees to round out a solid order as well

 

[HarborTownBrewing]

I took part in a home roasted coffee exchange through a FB group, and it was really fun to taste someone else's stuff. I got a really nice Ethiopian that was really well roasted.

Always fun to taste other home roasted stuff.

 

[UndeadFred]

Cool, I'm the guy on the Facebook Home Roaster's group who decided that right now he was too busy to do an exchange. I'd have to pull out the stops and roast like I used to instead of making the everyday morning stuff in my hurried 1.5 lb. batch.

I was going to post that on that group there is an extensive list of places to buy from. I'm starting to try other places than SM and my mainstay Burman's because I have to admit, the interesting green has been a little slow in 2016. I am working on some beans I got from MoreBeer (to fill out an order to get free shipping) and on some from Happy Mug. So far I'm actually a bit underwhelmed by the Costa Rica La Minita.. Both my wife and I like La Pastora a lot better...

So next roast will be the Happy Mug Peru that was praised.. but there hasn't been much lately that I couldn't live without. I'm still waiting for some super Africans to come out, but they haven't been all that good for about two years now.

So I'll be interested in following this is someone finds something that is special, please post it.