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

[coffeecontact]

"since i got the virtuoso i think my coffee pot (the 12 dollar mr coffee) isnt working. Grinder is set on 15 with inside adjustment fine as well. I think it is flowing up and out basket and through body into pot weak ( at least not on floor) anyway wth. Any thoughts? And now the cheap delonghi isnt pulling shots either. They are saying descale it, prime pump, i wonder if its just shat"

One of the first things done when servicing an espresso machine (after testing for 'short-to-ground', is to check the 'water debit'. A pitcher is placed under the water flow from the group (without the portafilter) for a timed 10 seconds. If the water collected is over 2oz the pump is generally good and there is little restriction in the water lines. If the 'water debit' is below 2oz there is a problem with scale buildup or the pump is weak (or needs to be primed).

Your problem may be due to setting the grind in reference to a 'number' on the grinder. A darker roast ground to a specific 'number' will be different to a medium roast ground at the same 'number'. As the ambient temperature or the humidity changes, so will the setting of the grinder need to change. As the coffee ages daily, the grind will have to change.

Good espresso is a moving target, a competent barista will check the grind many times each day and adjust as necessary. The grinder, for espresso, is set by the timing of the shot, not by any number printed on the grinder.

The grind, for brewed coffee, is usually similar to the coarseness of sugar. If you grind too coarse the coffee will be insipid and too weak. If you grind too fine the coffee will be excessively bitter. Small changes in grind will cause large changes in taste. One of the problems with domestic drip brewers is that most of them operate at too low temperature, this cannot be corrected by changing the grind.

It sounds like you are grinding too fine (overflowing basket in brewer and no espresso output). If your 'water debit' is OK, try grinding progressively more coarse until you get a 2oz double espresso , in ~25 seconds.

TerryM

 

[HarborTownBrewing]

Been less active here since company installed wifi filter to prohibit access to websites that promote alcohol.
Nice to see some new folks here.

Bought a book by the founder of blue bottle coffee called blue bottle coffee something or other. It's a really good read for any coffee enthusiast and talks about roasting, growing, processing, brewing, and many other facets of the coffee experience.
TD

Thought you'd been a little absent of late; glad to hear all is well though.

Quick tip, sometimes you can get around filters by going to Goog Translate and entering the web address of where you're trying to go, then open it through the Translate page.

 

[passedpawn]

Been less active here since company installed wifi filter to prohibit access to websites that promote alcohol.

Don't get in trouble. Helps to give some homebrew to your IT guy

Try this. https://www.filterbypass.me/. No signup, nothing to install. Don't have to mess with your network config on your pc. I don't use it, but I've tried it and it seems to work OK.

 

[TrickyDick]

Thanks. I'll check that out. Today I'm working at a site that doesn't use the filter....

I'm not going to get into trouble though. Funny thing is, it's only the wifi that is blocked! If I use a PC plugged into the Ethernet, it's fine (well last I checked). I setup my iPad in front of the computer I work at all day and I find that far more convenient (distracting) however.

 

[jammin]

Kenya Nyeri AA

I recently read an interesting "article" on roasting with constant airflow and using charge temp & gas to guide the roast. Separately I read that keeping a linear roasting environment is a common technique amongst respected professional roast masters. The similar take away to stop fidgeting with the roast. I discovered this to be a good rule of thumb early on after realizing that "knee jerk" adjustments just led to make a bad roast worse. Bad roasts are going to happen, the goal is to learn from them and steer your roaster clear of ice bergs rather than trying to dodge them at the last minute.

Here is a profile from tonight of my attempt to get back to the fundamentals on my new roaster

 

[applescrap]

"since i got the virtuoso i think my coffee pot (the 12 dollar mr coffee) isnt working. Grinder is set on 15 with inside adjustment fine as well. I think it is flowing up and out basket and through body into pot weak ( at least not on floor) anyway wth. Any thoughts? And now the cheap delonghi isnt pulling shots either. They are saying descale it, prime pump, i wonder if its just shat"

One of the first things done when servicing an espresso machine (after testing for 'short-to-ground', is to check the 'water debit'. A pitcher is placed under the water flow from the group (without the portafilter) for a timed 10 seconds. If the water collected is over 2oz the pump is generally good and there is little restriction in the water lines. If the 'water debit' is below 2oz there is a problem with scale buildup or the pump is weak (or needs to be primed).

Your problem may be due to setting the grind in reference to a 'number' on the grinder. A darker roast ground to a specific 'number' will be different to a medium roast ground at the same 'number'. As the ambient temperature or the humidity changes, so will the setting of the grinder need to change. As the coffee ages daily, the grind will have to change.

Good espresso is a moving target, a competent barista will check the grind many times each day and adjust as necessary. The grinder, for espresso, is set by the timing of the shot, not by any number printed on the grinder.

The grind, for brewed coffee, is usually similar to the coarseness of sugar. If you grind too coarse the coffee will be insipid and too weak. If you grind too fine the coffee will be excessively bitter. Small changes in grind will cause large changes in taste. One of the problems with domestic drip brewers is that most of them operate at too low temperature, this cannot be corrected by changing the grind.

It sounds like you are grinding too fine (overflowing basket in brewer and no espresso output). If your 'water debit' is OK, try grinding progressively more coarse until you get a 2oz double espresso , in ~25 seconds.

TerryM

Thanks! I am going to send the machine in anyways for new pump if nothing else. I think using these pressurized, is probably their only option at this price point.

 

[applescrap]

+1
I keep coming back to this through trial and error. Every time I screw around I feel like i mess with the crack. In fact even moving the heat gun and not even adjusting power is like a huge scratch on a record when the wrong person shows up at a party. Full power and find a place to pull it. However last time I did two roasts in a row, the roast went rapidly into second crack.

 

[jammin]

If I was roasting for espresso or wanting a nice, chocolatey basic bish coffee I'd snag 5#'s of this. The "hefty body" would have sold me - not common on a Brazilian. I bet this would pull a gnarly ristretto with a well developed Full City roast. Surely a crowd pleaser by the pot at City level.
https://www.sweetmarias.com/product/brazil-dry-process-pedra-branca-5293

+1
I keep coming back to this through trial and error. Every time I screw around I feel like i mess with the crack. In fact even moving the heat gun and not even adjusting power is like a huge scratch on a record when the wrong person shows up at a party. Full power and find a place to pull it. However last time I did two roasts in a row, the roast went rapidly into second crack.

Keep fighting the good fight; it's all we can do

 

[HarborTownBrewing]

I was doing pour over in the v60 yesterday at work, in a hurry before a meeting. The coffee clumped when I poured water in, and it brewed in about 30 secs, which is way way too fast.

So I thought about it for a sec, felt my mug, and realized I never heated the water.

Turns out that makes a big difference!

 

[jammin]

I was doing pour over in the v60 yesterday at work, in a hurry before a meeting. The coffee clumped when I poured water in, and it brewed in about 30 secs, which is way way too fast.

So I thought about it for a sec, felt my mug, and realized I never heated the water.

Turns out that makes a big difference!

How do you like your v60? It's about the only pour over I haven't used. Been thinking about getting one. Do you notice that it offers greater control over draw down times? I hear you can control this with the v60 better than say a melitta, chemex or Beehouse style dripper

 

[HarborTownBrewing]

How do you like your v60? It's about the only pour over I haven't used. Been thinking about getting one. Do you notice that it offers greater control over draw down times? I hear you can control this with the v60 better than say a melitta, chemex or Beehouse style dripper

I think it's a fine brewer, slightly better than the Melitta. Thing I don't like about the Melitta is the flat bottom, whereas the V60 has a coned bottom.

I picked up a plastic one on Amazon for maybe $6, and for the price it makes great coffee (so does the Melitta, but for the extra money I think it's better). I think it does a fine job of bringing out the more sweet flavors and high notes in East African beans. Definitely not as clean a cup as a Chemex, but that goes without saying.

As far as control, yes it provides a bit more control. I prefer to add just small doses of water at a time in it, whereas some people will load it up, let it drain, then pour in more water, let it drain, etc.

All in all, it's a consistent brewer that works great for the price. I don't know if I'd go out replacing a Melitta with it though, unless the Melitta breaks. Great thing about Melitta is you can pick up the filters at any grocery store, whereas I have to order the V60 filters (or find them at a speciality store).

 

[TallDan]

I was just thinking about the melitta pourover last night when i was in my wife's office. She has an electric kettle there and commented about wanting coffee but not having any k-cups (they have an office keurig). Only missing piece is a grinder since grinding in the morning at home requires knowing exactly how much coffee she'll drink at the office that day.

So, any inexpensive (i don't know if she'll get good use of this or not) grinders out there that would be servicable for single cup pourover? I'm kinda thinking a manual one, but i've never used one so I have no idea if they are quick and easy or the exact opposite.

 

[HarborTownBrewing]

I was just thinking about the melitta pourover last night when i was in my wife's office. She has an electric kettle there and commented about wanting coffee but not having any k-cups (they have an office keurig). Only missing piece is a grinder since grinding in the morning at home requires knowing exactly how much coffee she'll drink at the office that day.

So, any inexpensive (i don't know if she'll get good use of this or not) grinders out there that would be servicable for single cup pourover? I'm kinda thinking a manual one, but i've never used one so I have no idea if they are quick and easy or the exact opposite.

I got my parents this grinder for Christmas https://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/st...-supreme-grind-automatic-burr-mill/1013265020. After the 20% off it was only $40. For grinding for drip coffee or pour over, I don't think you can beat it for the price - at least without getting a hand crank model. It actually does a fantastic job for drip and press. The one caveat is it is very loud - louder than my Baratza is.

I use the V60 at work, and usually I will just grind up a dose or two or three in the morning before I leave home. If I get to all the coffee the same day I ground it that's great; but I don't stress about it anymore if I'm drinking a coffee that's been ground 30 hours previously or whatever. I don't think my office would tolerate the noise of a grinder, plus then everyone expects coffee.

 

[TallDan]

I got my parents this grinder for Christmas https://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/st...-supreme-grind-automatic-burr-mill/1013265020. After the 20% off it was only $40. For grinding for drip coffee or pour over, I don't think you can beat it for the price - at least without getting a hand crank model. It actually does a fantastic job for drip and press. The one caveat is it is very loud - louder than my Baratza is.

I use the V60 at work, and usually I will just grind up a dose or two or three in the morning before I leave home. If I get to all the coffee the same day I ground it that's great; but I don't stress about it anymore if I'm drinking a coffee that's been ground 30 hours previously or whatever. I don't think my office would tolerate the noise of a grinder, plus then everyone expects coffee.

$40 is about as inexpensive as it gets for a grinder. Even the hario slim is $30. Noise probably wouldn't be a problem in her office, it's not like she'd be running the grinder more than a couple times a day at the very most. Nice thing about a manual is that if she doesn't use it I have something portable for myself.

We've talked about her grinding in the morning before, but she doesn't seem to do it. I think it's that her coffee use in the office is inconsistent enough that she may not use it for a few days. So, taking several doses of whole bean coffee might work better since it would still be good for a week or more.

 

[HarborTownBrewing]

We've talked about her grinding in the morning before, but she doesn't seem to do it.

We didn't need to get personal, TD!!

But seriously, my wife is the same way. I offer to send a kettle and cone with her to work, and will roast beans for her. But it's too much hassle for her and she'd rather walk to a cafe and pay $2.25 for a cup. Ughhhhhh.

 

[TallDan]

We didn't need to get personal, TD!!

But seriously, my wife is the same way. I offer to send a kettle and cone with her to work, and will roast beans for her. But it's too much hassle for her and she'd rather walk to a cafe and pay $2.25 for a cup. Ughhhhhh.

Ha!

This isn't really about the money. Although there was a time when her starbucks budget was concerning, she's better about it now. She also appreciates the difference between fresh roasted fresh brewed coffee and the k-cups. Yet somehow she still ends up with a fair amount of both of those.

I'm more hoping that if i set her up with a little office coffee system that she will enjoy the coffee I roast for her more often. it's just an added benefit that it would be a cost savings in the long run.

EDIT: I'm leaving out what's probably the most relevant aspect: It's an excuse to buy some additional coffee gear.

 

[HarborTownBrewing]

EDIT: I'm leaving out what's probably the most relevant aspect: It's an excuse to buy some additional coffee gear.

I really want new stuff right now too, but I can't justify it! Next thing for me will likely be a grinder, then eventually a new roaster but that's probably a year out.

 

[TallDan]

I really want new stuff right now too, but I can't justify it! Next thing for me will likely be a grinder, then eventually a new roaster but that's probably a year out.

I should replace the burrs on my grinder (rancilio rocky). I'd kinda like to replace it, but don't think the upgrade is worth the cost.

I'd also like to replace the PID on the espresso machine (rancilio silvia) to a newer auber one that controls steam temperature and has a cleaner mount. Again, not sure it's quite worth the cost.

New roaster and a better espresso machine are both wants as well, and they'd have a more measurable improvement on my coffee, but they're in a different cost category.

I'm pretty happy with my overall coffee situation though. Something like a portable pour-over setup seems like reasonable way to get some new toys to play with without spending $1k+

 

[jammin]

Chris Baca puts out some great content on YouTube. I really like this video where he talks about a few tenets of roasting that I completely agree with. Check it out if you have some time and let me know what you think -

https://youtu.be/HC085AYyR8w

 

[applescrap]

I liked the video a lot, thanks. Just no time to comment right now. I'm actually 10 minutes from passedpawn right now. Definitely nice weather.

 

[passedpawn]

I liked the video a lot, thanks. Just no time to comment right now. I'm actually 10 minutes from passedpawn right now. Definitely nice weather.

???

 

[jammin]

???

Look out of your bedroom window :fro:

 

[applescrap]

Haha, yeah legoland. My family goes to a timeshare north of west palm every year. Last year we got rained out of legoland so we went back this year and decided to not fly home out of west palm but instead tampa. Anyways i thought i saw your city was a suburb. Was going to say i wanted to beg you for hb and your charcuterie but in the end thought that was weird. Guess what i typed was weirder, lol. As interesting and studly as you are, rest assured im not looking for you from my airport hotel sanctuary with my family. That being said there are some great beers around here. Kinda sad that oskar blues bought out cigar city, but dont know why really. Love sunshine city ipa.

 

[jammin]

@applescrap - I've heard that Cyle brewing & Cage brewing are great. Not sure how close they are too you but maybe you can google map them and find some great brew on your vacation if nothing else, know that I got snowed on last week and it will drop below freezing for the next 2 nights over here

 

[passedpawn]

Nowhere near freezing around these parts

There are a lot of breweries around here. I mean, a TON.

Jammin, I think you meant Cycle.

 

[ChefRex]

???

Looks like you have a stalker?

Roasted some Congo beans I got from green coffee buying club today,View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1491188910.117832.jpg

 

[applescrap]

Yeah, snow today, welcome back kotter. Melted, then more. Nothing like roasting in a snow storm.

View attachment 1491363352021.jpg

 

[TrickyDick]

Anybody had any great green coffee beans lately? Looking for some more like the EYC hambela natural that jammin informed me about probably last year sometime. Had great berry flavor and aromas as I recall. I believe my stash is all gone.

TD

 

[TrickyDick]

Anyone have tips on roasting the Maui Mokka beans? They are about 1/3 the size of most Ethiopian beans, extremely small, smallest eans ive ever seen.

Thinking that a lower charge temp and less overall heat application will be best for these low elevation beans. Not sure what the flavor profile of these are supposed to be, but I like a bit of acidity in my beans. Maybe I start crunching a few as I near the drop point to see if I like them. I believe I have only 1/2 pound left, and the first half I didn't care much for. Near impossible to hear the cracks.
TD.

 

[HarborTownBrewing]

Bodhi just put their Burundi Gahare on sale for about 4$a pound with code GAHARE. not sure how good it is but I bought 5lbs since its so cheap. And I love Burundi coffee