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

[TallDan]

Negative. The upgrade is definitely coming to the Brazen, not sure about the Connected. Both Brazen and Connected have been around for a couple years.

The new models have more SCAA certs than the previous model did.

Hmm. Well, BBB price plus 20% off coupon ends up being cheap enough that it was goofy to even try the ebay deal in the first place. So, it's tempting to just go ahead with the connected brewer, but, maybe i should hold off for a bit and see what's coming...

 

[pshankstar]

I found a brand new De’Longhi Espresso Machine with a Frothing Pitcher, Glasses, Tamper for $40 today on Craigslist. The seller was asking for more but said would consider any offers. So I offered $40 and they said yes. I plan to pick it up after work today.
I know it’s not a Gaggia or another well known espresso machine, but for a newbie like me and wanting to dip my toes into espressos I couldn’t pass it up. Plus I think @applescrap has one and speaks highly of it. For $40 brand new in the box with those extras is a no brainer!

 

[HarborTownBrewing]

My parents have something similar and it does just fine. It's not at the level of a Gaggia/Rancillo, but for $40 that's a low risk thing to try out. You could probably sell it tomorrow for $50 to the right person.

I've messed around with my parent's machine a bit. I pulled some Ethiopia Dulima on it and have to say, I could NOT believe the amount of blueberry I got through their machine. And it probably hadn't been run in 15 years.

Looking forward to hearing how you like it.

 

[pshankstar]

Yeah that’s the thing for $40 it’s such a low risk to go down this rabbit hole of espressos.
Now I need to figure out how to get it back home since this trip I flew instead of driving. On top of the beer I bought last night too.

 

[TallDan]

Yeah that’s the thing for $40 it’s such a low risk to go down this rabbit hole of espressos.
Now I need to figure out how to get it back home since this trip I flew instead of driving. On top of the beer I bought last night too.

I don't think you're estimating the risk correctly here. $40 isn't a risk, it's gone. What you're risking is the $400 or $4,000 that follows.

 

[HarborTownBrewing]

I don't think you're estimating the risk correctly here. $40 isn't a risk, it's gone. What you're risking is the $400 or $4,000 that follows.

(coming from the guy who just ordered two grinders on the same day....) hahaha!

 

[pshankstar]

$40 and they are all brand new. Now I have to research espresso more.

 

[HarborTownBrewing]

Heck the glasses and pitcher are worth about $25 alone.

 

[TallDan]

Heck the glasses and pitcher are worth about $25 alone.

Yeah, I like those glasses. Nice score, @pshankstar.

 

[pshankstar]

Heck the glasses and pitcher are worth about $25 alone.

Yeah, I like those glasses. Nice score, @pshankstar.

Thanks guys! When I saw all they were including and new asking $55 or best offer I couldn’t not inquire. I figured I would offer $40 and see where it went. They accepted without any issues. Too good of a deal to resist trying to get.

 

[applescrap]

That's it, the Ubiquitous EC155. I had one that I busted up and they replaced it at the drop of a hat only wanted the cord. They are to inexpensive to Repair so they just replace. There are some mods that make the steam Wand work better. If you go back through on this thread I have spoken quite a great deal about it. Glad to hear you got 1. If you are going to use the PPF then don't pack the coffee too hard.. Or grind it to fine. The PPF will make a decent shot but not near as good as removing it. If you remove it just put the stainless steel screen back into the washer. I fill it to the top and no more And then tamp it really hard. I have found I can get consistent shots this way. So glad you got one and can't wait to see how you like it. It's definitely a learning curve so don't get frustrated.

 

[applescrap]

Two bad roasts, hope they turn out. Ugh, pulled a little early. Just don't have the best tester. Need a smaller one. Mine is a quarter (1/8th maybe) cup "on a steek. Need a tablespoon? Anyways about 1min past 1c each. Worried to light. One I turned heat down to dry. So hoping it will work out. Other idk. While I might have dried them out better, full heat seems to smell better. But a little scorching is possible.

Update... I have now drank through about 3 or 4 pounds of that coffee now. The blueberry yirga . While the blueberry and fruit notes when there are exquisite, when they are not there the coffee is good but could be better. The roast did turn out great. At about 3 minutes I noticed some browning yet some were still green. I dropped heat until they were all a nice even light brownish and then went full power. It cracked at 1250 and I pulled at 1340. Because I dried it so well no green at all and strong berry flavors. Just the lightest hint of scorch if at all.

 

[applescrap]

Sorry for the trifecta, bodhi is offering 30 percent off all Guatemalan. Two are 7 dollar and one is a 14 dollar a pound geisha. At 10 a pound I might give it a try

 

[Ruint]

Got my first seasoning roast on the bullet accomplished last night about 9:35 pm. By 10 minutes to 10... I had successfully got all the smoke out!!! LoL!!! That thing smokes like a monster!!!

 

[Ruint]

Just roasted 510 grams, and you would have thought I had roasted 8000 judging by the amount of smoke. Took my time with a very slow roast, being it was the first one and all....about 17 minutes and 35 seconds to completion, which was fully past 2nd crack.... longest I've ever done!! They were all uniformily black with a very noticeable oil....lol

 

[HarborTownBrewing]

Just roasted 510 grams, and you would have thought I had roasted 8000 judging by the amount of smoke. Took my time with a very slow roast, being it was the first one and all....about 17 minutes and 35 seconds to completion, which was fully past 2nd crack.... longest I've ever done!! They were all uniformily black with a very noticeable oil....lol

That's great to hear. Yes, it's a smoking monster, especially with those 1lb+ loads.

Back when I had my Behmor I didn't vent it or anything and my lungs would be in pretty rough shape with 2+ roasts. Eventually rigged up a vent system and it made my health a lot better. There's a lot of dust that floats around, too. I rigged up the Bullet with a similar vent system and I can't imagine not using one.

The only smoke I want in my lungs is from a cigar

 

[MaxStout]

With my last order of brewing supplies from William's Brewing, I added a 2lb bag of Sumatran Golden Gayo. Roasted 1/2 lb today to about medium, using the heat gun & bowl. I stopped just at the beginning of 2nd crack and the beans have no oil on the surface. Maybe full city or so? I ground some and made a cup. It was rather grassy tasting, just didn't taste right. Not sure what I'm doing wrong here or if the beans need to rest to improve flavor. I'll let the beans outgas a day and try some more tomorrow.

 

[HarborTownBrewing]

With my last order of brewing supplies from William's Brewing, I added a 2lb bag of Sumatran Golden Gayo. Roasted 1/2 lb today to about medium, using the heat gun & bowl. I stopped just at the beginning of 2nd crack and the beans have no oil on the surface. Maybe full city or so? I ground some and made a cup. It was rather grassy tasting, just didn't taste right. Not sure what I'm doing wrong here or if the beans need to rest to improve flavor. I'll let the beans outgas a day and try some more tomorrow.

Those island beans don't always take heat very well, and I would guess it's possible the outside roasted faster than the inside of the bean resulting in a slightly underdeveloped inside which will give it that grassy flavor.

If it's more mossy or mildew, that could just be the coffee because Sumatra is like that.

 

[MaxStout]

Those island beans don't always take heat very well, and I would guess it's possible the outside roasted faster than the inside of the bean resulting in a slightly underdeveloped inside which will give it that grassy flavor.

If it's more mossy or mildew, that could just be the coffee because Sumatra is like that.

Yeah, it was kind of fast. About 3:30 to 1c and 2c at 4:30. I should try again with the gun nozzle farther away and see if that roasts more consistently.

The Legacy Farms Honduran I had been working with before seems to do well fast and furious like that. But your point of island beans not liking the heat sounds like a good explanation.

 

[applescrap]

Yeah, it was kind of fast. About 3:30 to 1c and 2c at 4:30. I should try again with the gun nozzle farther away and see if that roasts more consistently.

The Legacy Farms Honduran I had been working with before seems to do well fast and furious like that. But your point of island beans not liking the heat sounds like a good explanation.

You need a bread machine, I think.

 

[applescrap]

Payday, yay. I'm going to get 5 pounds of that geisha I think.

 

[pshankstar]

First shot.

Second shot.
First go around with the new espresso machine.

 

[jammin]

91.5 point Ethiopian posted @ SM’s today. Not a fruit bomb but I had to snag 5lbs. first 90+ coffee they've posted this year i think

What’s everyone roasting this weekend?
@TrickyDick sent me the last of his 2017 Kenya Nyeri Gathaithi that I'm looking forward to roasting again. The Ethiopia Guji Garacho Sun Dried Natural from the GCBC showed up on the same day. Gonna have to do a pound of that as well. Been roasting more than I need lately to push through some of the stash and simply just enjoy the experience

 

[MaxStout]

Going to take another shot at some of the Sumatra Gold Gayo tomorrow. Will try to ramp up temps a little more gradually and hopefully avoid the grassy flavor this time. Will do 1/4 lb. so I don't ruin too much at a time.

 

[applescrap]

91.5 point Ethiopian posted @ SM’s today. Not a fruit bomb but I had to snag 5lbs. first 90+ coffee they've posted this year i think

What’s everyone roasting this weekend?
@TrickyDick sent me the last of his 2017 Kenya Nyeri Gathaithi that I'm looking forward to roasting again. The Ethiopia Guji Garacho Sun Dried Natural from the GCBC showed up on the same day. Gonna have to do a pound of that as well. Been roasting more than I need lately to push through some of the stash and simply just enjoy the experience

Those ethiopians that aren't fruity are still awesome imo. I kind of miss their body. I am going to get the bl geisha in a few minutes. I roasted some more of my guji maho Christmas stash. And the blueberry bombastic bogali. All I have is the bogali and the maho.

 

[applescrap]

@pshankstar super nice looking shots. That Carmel color on top is what I like. Unbelievable really for first few shots.

 

[applescrap]

Got 5 pounds not expecting too much.

 

[TallDan]

Ran myself right out of (regular) roasted coffee here this morning. The real bummer is that the first shot I pulled was ground too fine and was a dumper! Just roasted a batch of that Columbia La Sampadrena. ~20 hours rest will have to do for tomorrow. I think a batch of the Hambela Alaka is next.

 

[MaxStout]

Took the advice of @HarborTownBrewing and applied more gradual heat on some more of the Sumatran today. Held the gun nozzle farther away, about 3" above the beans (instead of the 1-1.5" distance I used previously). About 5 mins to 1c, 7 mins. to 2c. Made 1/2 lb. of a medium roast, about full city or Vienna level. Tasted MUCH better--no grassy off-flavor.

 

[jammin]

Ethiopia Sidamo (natural process) posted @ the GCBC. Berry notes are supposed to be easily detected in the cup with a light Blueberry that shows after a week+ of rest. I went in for 5lbs but I'm biting at anything that sounds interesting right now and roasting all sorts of sh|t to a find a decent cup of coffee lately.


$36/5lbs or $66/10lbs (including shipping)
Cupping notes
Link for purchase: Organic Ethiopian Natural Sidamo