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

[Kealia]

I roasted two small batches of the Honduran Lempira for my wife. One using the P-2 auto-setting on the Behmor 1600+ and the other using P-5 manual (high heat all the way) to see if she could taste a difference in the roasting. Both were taken to Full City + (just the first snaps of 2nd).

She liked the 'hot and fast' roast better saying it had more flavor, was richer, etc - commenting on getting nutty flavors.

For those that get carmel and/or chocolate from those beans, do you mind sharing your roasting method and roast level to get that? I know everybody's tastes are different and a lot of folks like lighter roasts on here so I'm wondering if I can tease those flavors out for her.

Cheers.

 

[Br3w4u]

I roasted two small batches of the Honduran Lempira for my wife. One using the P-2 auto-setting on the Behmor 1600+ and the other using P-5 manual (high heat all the way) to see if she could taste a difference in the roasting. Both were taken to Full City + (just the first snaps of 2nd).

She liked the 'hot and fast' roast better saying it had more flavor, was richer, etc - commenting on getting nutty flavors.

For those that get carmel and/or chocolate from those beans, do you mind sharing your roasting method and roast level to get that? I know everybody's tastes are different and a lot of folks like lighter roasts on here so I'm wondering if I can tease those flavors out for her.

Cheers.

I use a popcorn popper but I start with it really hot, add about 300-350 grams and roast on full heat “7” for about 9 minutes or until they start to brown, then I turn my heat down from the 7 setting on my stove to the 5. First crack usually starts around 11 minutes and I will go about a minute or two in and then cool. It’s about a medium roast and I get a good chocolate flavor and smooth roasty flavor every time.

 

[Br3w4u]

Indonesia Sulawesi is gross...just found that out. I started with a medium roast and it tastes and smells like tomato juice. I re roasted to about a French roast level and it tastes like Starbucks. Robust ash tray. I might just use this for espresso. Oh yeah I missed the espresso machine conversation. My dad used to dumpster dive ( he’s dead now ) but he used to dumpster dive because he was freaking nuts but anyway he found an espresso machine in a dumpster and it worked just fine. I traded him my nearly new keurig for it and I still have it today. One of the best trades that I have ever made!

 

[HarborTownBrewing]

For the Honduras @Kealia I've been getting to 1c around 8:45 or 9:00. Which is a little late for my roaster, normally I would get there around 7 or 8:00. When I get to 1c I have tapered most of my power and just let the bean coast; I drop around 14 percent development

 

[HarborTownBrewing]

I hit send to soon. I haven't been doing a slow roast on purpose with this, I think it's just the moisture content that slows it down.

If you can, try to slow the roast a tad during the browning phase. I can't remember how you roast, but just taking the power down a notch for about 30 or 45 seconds will bring out more sweetness in the cup which really helps with those candy flavors.

 

[TallDan]

****. I might end up buying two espresso grinders today.

 

[TallDan]

@HarborTownBrewing did you get the steel burrs from baratza for your vario, or are they different than the ones they sell? (I know you said mahlkoenig, but IIRC, baratza is just the US brand for malkonig)

 

[Kealia]

Thanks for the notes, guys.

 

[TallDan]

One grinder ordered. Will I go crazy and get the second one too?

 

[HarborTownBrewing]

@HarborTownBrewing did you get the steel burrs from baratza for your vario, or are they different than the ones they sell? (I know you said mahlkoenig, but IIRC, baratza is just the US brand for malkonig)

Ordered straight from baratza. They teamed up with Mahlkoening to make the burrs so they are the best of both worlds. It was around $60 but... What are you going to do, you know.

 

[TallDan]

Oh boy. It's official: I've gone mad.

If anyone is in the market for a burr grinder, stay tuned. I don't need three, so one way or another there will be one up for sale. Odds are in favor of it being a Rancilio Rocky with burrs that have only seen a month's worth of moderately light use.

I'll wait to say what I've done until I can post pics. Gotta keep the thread interesting.

 

[TallDan]

I might have to buy some coffee to have something consistent to do some comparisons with.

This will be fun.

 

[HarborTownBrewing]

I REALLY want to know what you've got yourself into.

 

[applescrap]

I use a popcorn popper but I start with it really hot, add about 300-350 grams and roast on full heat “7” for about 9 minutes or until they start to brown, then I turn my heat down from the 7 setting on my stove to the 5. First crack usually starts around 11 minutes and I will go about a minute or two in and then cool. It’s about a medium roast and I get a good chocolate flavor and smooth roasty flavor every time.

sounds good to me.

 

[applescrap]

Cant wait for some pics Talldan!!

 

[applescrap]

I roasted two small batches of the Honduran Lempira for my wife. One using the P-2 auto-setting on the Behmor 1600+ and the other using P-5 manual (high heat all the way) to see if she could taste a difference in the roasting. Both were taken to Full City + (just the first snaps of 2nd).

She liked the 'hot and fast' roast better saying it had more flavor, was richer, etc - commenting on getting nutty flavors.

For those that get carmel and/or chocolate from those beans, do you mind sharing your roasting method and roast level to get that? I know everybody's tastes are different and a lot of folks like lighter roasts on here so I'm wondering if I can tease those flavors out for her.

Cheers.

Super cool you are experimenting. Haha, happy wife, happy life! I think the chocolate is right around where you are at. Just before or right at 2nd crack. But not to much char and preferably by me, none, well unless it helps the taste. Once again its ethiopian iirc. The ethiopians go from fruit to chocolate. The rich chocolaty flavor they have are what you seek.

 

[applescrap]

I saw this posted on Burmans. According to them this coffee is from a single farmer on 30 acres in yirgacheffe near banko. He sends it out for processing. This comes from an area that is known for blueberry and seems the part. Sounds intriguing. I dont know how to feel about the single farmer thing. I think I am going to get some when I get paid. Says 8.36 on page but 7.36 on list?

https://burmancoffee.com/product/co...al-yirgacheffe-gr-1-gedeb-gotiti-top-lot-167/

 

[TallDan]

Super cool you are experimenting. Haha, happy wife, happy life!

This could have directed at me just as easily. I've talked to my wife over the past several days (and on-and-off for MUCH longer than that) about coffee grinders. I'm pretty lucky that she likes me as much as she does. Of course, now @TrickyDick is sending me pics of his hottop too, I might end up seeing how far is too far

I saw this posted on Burmans. According to them this coffee is from a single farmer on 30 acres in yirgacheffe near banko. He sends it out for processing. This comes from an area that is known for blueberry and seems the part. Sounds intriguing. I dont know how to feel about the single farmer thing. I think I am going to get some when I get paid. Says 8.36 on page but 7.36 on list?

https://burmancoffee.com/product/co...al-yirgacheffe-gr-1-gedeb-gotiti-top-lot-167/

That sounds tasty... *checks the inventory spreadsheet* Hmm...

 

[Br3w4u]

 

[applescrap]

Bl is 30 off all Nicaraguans this week. Some of them are nice. Help me understand why you would buy guat, brazil, nic, etc somewhere other than these sales. I mean I understand if its rare or Ethiopian, etc but for your average coffee?

 

[HarborTownBrewing]

Bl is 30 off all Nicaraguans this week. Some of them are nice. Help me understand why you would buy guat, brazil, nic, etc somewhere other than these sales. I mean I understand if its rare or Ethiopian, etc but for your average coffee?

Maybe it's sin to say it but I got to where I found almost every bodhi leaf bean to be just average. Better than any chain coffee shops offerings, but not as good as most of the other beans I was getting from Sweet Maria's, burmans, and Roast Masters. After a while I decided I'd spend the extra $.50 per pound to get beans from suppliers other than bodhi. Especially when I sell beans to people, I couldn't justify how a bodhi coffee I was selling at $14/12 oz bag tasted compared to Ethiopians from SM or RM that I sold for $15/12 oz. They were night and day different.

So there, I said it. And now that I'm the bad guy...Santa isn't real, either!

But, if it works for you that's awesome. I tried beans from Theta Ridge for a while too... Super nice owner, good prices, but I couldn't get any spectacular flavors out of the beans. Yet I know people that love them and I know a roaster /coffee shop owner who sources his beans from there.

Different strokes, I guess.

 

[shelly_belly]

Has anyone purchased beans from https://copantrade.com/ or https://www.genuineorigin.com/ ?

 

[applescrap]

@HarborTownBrewing that makes sense. I am the same now, dont want to save at a cost of quality. I am operating that most Nicaraguan, Brazilian, columbian, guat, honduran, are all pretty similar in taste and quality near the top end. I mean not geisha or some rare lot just the normal. Am I way off?

 

[HarborTownBrewing]

@HarborTownBrewing that makes sense. I am the same now, dont want to save at a cost of quality. I am operating that most Nicaraguan, Brazilian, columbian, guat, honduran, are all pretty similar in taste and quality near the top end. I mean not geisha or some rare lot just the normal. Am I way off?

You may be surprised when you try other stuff. I thought Brazil and Colombian were boring until a few months back during the coffee exchange when @jimmyson sent me some Brazil and it was eye opening. Turns out I had just been buying poor quality beans before that

 

[pshankstar]

You may be surprised when you try other stuff. I thought Brazil and Colombian were boring until a few months back during the coffee exchange when @jimmyson sent me some Brazil and it was eye opening. Turns out I had just been buying poor quality beans before that

I had a similar experience with the Ethiopian beans myself and a few others got in on with @jammin a few weeks back in the group buy. Then I roasted some Mexican beans a few days ago and started making some coffee with it and my wife and I really enjoy it. She even said it’s her favorite so far! Normally she’s not one to take notice like this. Either it’s good or not as good as the last one, or it’s ok. Those are the responses I usually get from her but she puts milk and sweetener in her coffee. I don’t judge her for it, although she would kick my butt if I did. Haha Since I bought it from the local coffee shop down the road I’ll probably go back and get more of it to have on hand.
Now I want to better understand the quality of the beans that I’m buying online. More research to come after I get this class out of the way for work. The rabbit hole goes deeper and deeper.

 

[jammin]

It’s been an abysmally bad year (2018
to date) for coffee. I’m sorry you did not enjoy the Ethiopian I selected. 2017 was seemingly raining incredible coffees. True 90+ Ethiopian & Kenyans popping as quickly as you could order them. This has been worst run of quality coffee I’ve ever experienced. Fingers crossed that this year’s fresh crop has some winners.

 

[TallDan]

It’s been an abysmally bad year (2018
to date) for coffee. I’m sorry you did not enjoy the Ethiopian I selected. 2017 was seemingly raining incredible coffees. True 90+ Ethiopian & Kenyans popping as quickly as you could order them. This has been worst run of quality coffee I’ve ever experienced. Fingers crossed that this year’s fresh crop has some winners.

Glad you made this comment. I had really been wondering lately if it was my roasting and/or my taste. It was like everything I ordered in the last half of 2017 was killer and everything since then just hasn't been exciting.

 

[pshankstar]

It’s been an abysmally bad year (2018
to date) for coffee. I’m sorry you did not enjoy the Ethiopian I selected. 2017 was seemingly raining incredible coffees. True 90+ Ethiopian & Kenyans popping as quickly as you could order them. This has been worst run of quality coffee I’ve ever experienced. Fingers crossed that this year’s fresh crop has some winners.

Oh no I think my typing wasn’t in sync with my mind. I was recovering after my first ride on our new Peloton bike while typing that message.
I really enjoyed the Ethiopian beans I bought a few weeks back from you. It’s those Ethiopian beans and the recent Mexican beans that have been my top two beans to date since I started roasting 14 months ago.
Sorry if I came off the wrong way on that in my last post. It seems like you and others here have great knowledge of what to look for when buying beans. I want to be there soon myself. I know I’ll continue to jump in on those group buys in the future.

 

[TallDan]

Oh no I think my typing wasn’t in sync with my mind. I was recovering after my first ride on our new Peloton bike while typing that message.
I really enjoyed the Ethiopian beans I bought a few weeks back from you. It’s those Ethiopian beans and the recent Mexican beans that have been my top two beans to date since I started roasting 14 months ago.
Sorry if I came off the wrong way on that in my last post. It seems like you and others here have great knowledge of what to look for when buying beans. I want to be there soon myself. I know I’ll continue to jump in on those group buys in the future.

I wasn't sure, but thought that you liked the beans based on your post. I like them as well, but they're not the Pacamara and Banko Fuafuate we had in 2017. Those and (applescrap's favorite) Ethopia Konga a lot of us got from Roastmasters around the same time were all so flavorful that I think only the most crude and inexperienced attempts at roasting them could completely ruin them. The beans I've been roasting lately seem like I need to nail the roast to get something I really enjoy.

 

[ba-brewer]

I saw this posted on Burmans. According to them this coffee is from a single farmer on 30 acres in yirgacheffe near banko. He sends it out for processing. This comes from an area that is known for blueberry and seems the part. Sounds intriguing. I dont know how to feel about the single farmer thing. I think I am going to get some when I get paid. Says 8.36 on page but 7.36 on list?

https://burmancoffee.com/product/co...al-yirgacheffe-gr-1-gedeb-gotiti-top-lot-167/

thanks for the tip, perfect timing I was in need of more coffee so I gave it a shot. Also ordered the Yirgacheffe Gr. 1 Koke Co-Op Honey Processed, Indonesian RFA Org. Balinese Kintamani Natural and Mexican Org. Terruño Nayarita Washed.