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

[TrickyDick]

Been inactive for quite a while.

my Behmor coffee pot/brewer died. It keeps beeping and turning itself on or off, and when brewing it started to prematurely open the water valve that is supposed to open once the programmed water temp is reached. I had a pot of crap coffee yesterday because of this. Was un-drinkable.

hauled my technivorm out of the mothballs, and ran a dry load of water through it. Still works. Brewed coffee this morning and realized why I replaced it.

I had been using a metal reuseable water bottle to measure my brewing water because it was easy and convenient and when brewing on the Behmor, the resultant carafe of coffee would perfectly fill my to-go thermos I carry with me to work. I always measure the coffee on a scale and have dialed in the coffee to my liking on the Behmor.

using same volume of water and same brewing ratio, when I brewed on my technivorm, I got less coffee in the carafe, by at least an estimated 1-2 “cups”. I think my thermos Holds about 6 “cups” worth and was only 3/4 full out of the Technivorm compared to fully filled thermos brewed with same amount of water and coffee out of the Behmor.

I had posted long ago that the technivorm retains a variable volume of water in the reservoir, such that it makes inconsistent coffee, by a considerable and measureable degree.

I need a new, preferrably drip type coffee brewer.
any recommendations?

TD

ooh, forgot to mention, the coffee today tastes OK, but is definitely not a good brewing ratio, and seems like it is rich on the coffee side of the ratio because of the retained water in the reservoir. At least it is drinkable however.

 

[TrickyDick]

In checking out the Behmor site, looks like they have a new roaster out! 1 Kilo electric!
anybody have it yet?

 

[pshankstar]

In checking out the Behmor site, looks like they have a new roaster out! 1 Kilo electric!
anybody have it yet?

They do? Going to check now.

 

[HarborTownBrewing]

Behmor Jake - yes, though its launch has been delayed about 8 times in the last two years. I don't think it's actually available yet.

I have many thoughts on the roaster (and I'll say I absolutely loved my Behmor roaster, I love my Behmor brewer, and I like the company), but my main beef is it's a 2000 watt roaster. That equates to an 18 amp draw; you really shouldn't be running that on 110 v at home, it's above the 80% recommended threshold for 20A outlets (and concerning for most who have 15 amp outlets, or don't know what they have).

I don't understand why they didn't make it induction like the Bullet - it would have been more efficient and you could run it on a standard 110 (15 or 20amp outlets). The price was also just a hair below the Bullet (at least that was what they announced a year or two ago). I wouldn't chose the Jake over the Bullet, especially just to save a couple hundred. A thousand dollars? Yes, but not a couple hundred.

 

[TrickyDick]

Good to know. I‘m roasting on my bullet, but I wish I had my HotTop back but with 1lb capacity. Still learning on the Bullet and been some years…..

back to the drip brewer question. Anybody have a favorite? I’m leaning to the new Behmor Brazen. Hoping they give me a discount cause my older brazen is broken.

 

[HarborTownBrewing]

Good to know. I‘m roasting on my bullet, but I wish I had my HotTop back but with 1lb capacity. Still learning on the Bullet and been some years…..

back to the drip brewer question. Anybody have a favorite? I’m leaning to the new Behmor Brazen. Hoping they give me a discount cause my older brazen is broken.

There is an Aillio Facebook page with an insane amount of knowledge on it. I learned a lot from observing that page, so it may be worth checking out. A lot of pro roasters on there who understand roasting and have tips on modulating the roaster. I quit FB last year but I do miss that page.

For brewers, I love my Behmor Brazen. Not sure if you had the Brazen before or if you had the bluetooth model (I understand the BT model was pretty wonky and glitchy and I see they've discontinued it). If I were to replace it, I would get another Brazen. The only downside is the 8 cup capacity; that's only an issue when I have visitors over though so I just keep on brewing.

 

[TrickyDick]

There is an Aillio Facebook page with an insane amount of knowledge on it. I learned a lot from observing that page, so it may be worth checking out. A lot of pro roasters on there who understand roasting and have tips on modulating the roaster. I quit FB last year but I do miss that page.

For brewers, I love my Behmor Brazen. Not sure if you had the Brazen before or if you had the bluetooth model (I understand the BT model was pretty wonky and glitchy and I see they've discontinued it). If I were to replace it, I would get another Brazen. The only downside is the 8 cup capacity; that's only an issue when I have visitors over though so I just keep on brewing.

I quit Facebook also, but haven’t deleted my account. I have been on that page you are talking about and agree lots of knowledge there. I think that it’s a double edged sword for me: higher capacity on bullet means I can make more at once, and spend less time roasting. Less capacity on hottop meant more time roasting to get same amount. The result is I spend less time roasting, and am not as good as I was on the hottop, because I don’t roast as much. Often will roast three pounds in three consecutive sessions and then that lasts me like several weeks. Forgetting everything I learned in between. I’m the sole coffee drinker in my house. I don’t often have guests, and so it isn’t a problem as far as capacity for me, other issue with bullet is the insulation makes it hard for me to hear the cracks, especially if coffee is starting to get older.

Behmor cutting me a deal on the new model buying direct. Saves me about $75 over ordering on Amazon.

oh and also, I had the basic brazen, not the one with Bluetooth or wifi. I didn’t see the purpose. I mean why would I grind beans the night before? May as well drink the swill at the office break room! gimmicky for sure.

maybe ought to spend to some time on the aillio page and study some more, Lately thouh been spending most of my free time doing reloading and playing new far cry game.

 

[pshankstar]

@TrickyDick I have the Bonavita Connoisseur coffee maker that is our daily workhorse. I have been very happy with it and it's simplicity. I wouldn't hesitate to buy another one if needed and would recommend it to others too. Good luck!

 

[TrickyDick]

Anyone using the breville drip brewers?

 

[MaxStout]

In checking out the Behmor site, looks like they have a new roaster out! 1 Kilo electric!
anybody have it yet?

MSPR is $2500. Ouch. Looks nice, though. But the update sheet states a 220V model TBD, which might be better given its claim of 2000+ W heating power, and that's not even taking into account what the motor and control system draws. It might be very close to max ampacity on a 120V 20A circuit.

 

[TrickyDick]

Which is why I bought the 220v Bullet. Still waiting for the new 220v power board that will allow me to take advantage.

 

[TrickyDick]

That’s why I got the 220v Bullet. Don’t think that they have released the upgraded power module for 220v yet to take full advantage of it yet.. anybody hear otherwise?

$129 shipped for the new Behmor Brazen 3.0. Can’t pass that up.
overall been very happy with everything about the Brazen except for one complaint. the lid on the carafe is made of two pieces and can get intermittent coffee that finds a way into the hollow void between the pieces. Tedious to take apart. I am considering epoxy on it, but it does use a gasket which might cause a problem, Mine is almost 6 years old. Would have wished it lasted longer

oops on partial duplicate post

 

[applescrap]

I'll let you know how the ninja pans out. I left a reviewast night in case you missed it. The breville was my other choice maybe but consider this, its sca certified, makes tea drinks, makes cups like a Keurig and froths milk. The cnet winner was my main choice that oxo looks small, compact, and like a good workhorse. Ultimately this ones more clever albeit more expensive.

I am tasting char, I never taste char, wonder if the proper brewing temp is drawing flavors out of my roast that the cheap ones didnt!

 

[TrickyDick]

SCA cert is meaningless to me. My technivorm was at one point the only SCA certified, but it has ****** water delivery design as I detailed. Impossible to hit the marks or tune a brew on the UBC because it’s so erratic. A well built machine is all that matters to me and if it can reproduce the results Time and time again.

also for $129 to my door hard to pass up the Behmor v3.

 

[TrickyDick]

As far as the Ninja review, yeah, I read it, sounds like a nice machine. I only brew black coffee and don’t make other things, so a lot of the features I wouldn’t use. id do French press every morning if I had the spare time and skip the machines, but I don’t have the time. Drip convenience I do enjoy.

 

[applescrap]

Check out that oxo, it's pretty sweet and I have seen it at 150. I'm all excited here to play with different coffee drinks. Cold brew, iced coffee and such. Tastes different, I wonder if I prefer the colder extraction?!

 

[ba-brewer]

Anyone using the breville drip brewers?

I have been using one of the fancy ones for a little while now. I got it because of the volume it can brew more than anything. With an 8 cup machine I might need to brew two pots to get my first cup as there are people here that drink coffee by the pint. I also thought the programmability would be nice and did make my own profile but I don't think it is any better than the defaults.

I really miss my Mr Coffee with the removable water reservoir, did not need to pull the coffee maker out to fill with water. If it did not get clogged every now and then and make a mess if I put too much coffee in it I would of got another.

 

[applescrap]

Any change is big change. I mean on average we drink a pound a week, almost always Ethiopian natural and have since joining the thread, from a mr coffee type 180 degree brewer. I am all but certain and I just cant drink another cup, let's see, that's maybe 10 cups this morning, that the lower extracted tastes better. The hot seems to lambast the sugars and fruits and extract all kinds of other sour and bitter notes. I read on home barista someone saying yeah, coffee isnt suppose to be sweet. Not sure I agree, so pulled old coffee maker out and tasted same. I think at this point I either a, have had to much to tell a difference or b,have sour notes stuck in mouth. More to come, but whilst clearly extracting well, not sure the golden number provides the cup I like best .

 

[pshankstar]

I brewed the Ethiopian Wush from Klatch yesterday and wow what a Blueberry bomb with some chocolate notes!!! This coffee is delicious to me and I’m so happy I bought 10lbs.
Even the wife commented on how blueberry forward this coffee is.

 

[MaxStout]

As far as the Ninja review, yeah, I read it, sounds like a nice machine. I only brew black coffee and don’t make other things, so a lot of the features I wouldn’t use. id do French press every morning if I had the spare time and skip the machines, but I don’t have the time. Drip convenience I do enjoy.

A bit like my morning routine--I drink it black. I really like a press of coffee, but most days I opt for the Keurig with inserts to save time. Not optimal, but it makes good coffee. And my roasting--for bad or good--has the most impact on flavor in the end. Weekends (and slower weekdays) I do a 1L press.

As I work on my roasting-fu, I don't want to overlook the brewing side. Picked up a copy of Craft Coffee: A Manual, by Jessica Easto. I've been comparing her 8 minute French Press method versus her 5 minute method. In the past I usually brewed 4-5 minutes in a press. I now tend to lean toward the 8 minute version--the extraction seems about right--but need to decant the press right away, otherwise the last cups will become over-extracted. Eight minutes then press & pour seems to be the best. My wife agrees, as she will tell me when my coffee sucks!

 

[MaxStout]

Just ordered 10 lbs. Ethiopia Sidama Ayla Bombe from Mill City Roasters.

Excited to try it, now that I am getting more into light roasts.

 

[TrickyDick]

Been adding an extra "cup" of water to the reservoir on the Technivorm to account for the retained water. Seems to have helped. Tomorrow is last day until the replacement Behmor arrives.
#applescrap - Do let me know what your thoughts are about brewing temps for Ethiopian natural. That is pretty much all that I buy anymore.

 

[TrickyDick]

So new Behmor Brazen 3.0 arrived today. Looks identical to my old one.
Manual suggests brew water temp 197-199 for African natural bright city city+ fruity and island coffee types 203-205 for darker roasts and other origins.

interesting.
May have to do some experimentation.

their website said it had a pulse mode to simulate pour over brewing. Well…. Yeah kinda.
It has a manual release button. So the concept of this brewer is the reservoir sits above the filter basket and has a solenoid type valve the opens when it reaches desired temperature to wet the ground coffee below. No significant water retention like me Technivorm. Some steam and small residual water is still left but it is insignificant compared to technivorm which had 4.5-7.5 oz. see video

The manual release lets you open the vslve
Manually and it sprinkles brewing water onto the coffee as you push and hold the button it seems. More like a food processor pulse mode than an automated brewing mode.

 

[TrickyDick]

Well maybe not exactly like that but here is the manual.

 

[TrickyDick]

Sorry for goofing up the sideways photo. Think I’ll stick to drip or use a real pour over setup like my Kalita Wave or Clever for when I want to try.
I do think I’m going to dial brew temp back to 198 though for my Ethiopian coffee (95% of what I drink)

 

[applescrap]

That's a sweet machine Td! Yeah I think the hot temps blasts the keytones, hope that's the right word, and other delicate flavor particles. I will be more certain as I experiment more.

One issue I found since last posting was the small cups were part of the problem. The coffee is so carrying in size, moisture, etc., that one cup blueberry, one cup chocolate, one cup tannic so to speak. So a larger pot has the mix of all three, it seems, where the small cup brew has less balance because it has less coffee to create balance. A half cup of grinds is going to be a .ore consistent brew then 2 tablespoons. Just another theory.

Speaking of balance I dont drink much french press. I prefer the clarity of a drip cup. But an ethiopian natural can be a very memorable french press. Not to murky for me, and a little larger grinds. I like clarity in my french press as well.

My machine does same, soaks, wets, squirts a little here and there, doesnt disperse till hot, it makes all kinds of robotic noises. I think it locks the carafe in when on.

Last but not least, not that any of you would doubt the scrappy 's roasting ability (brewing maybe) but I did get top ten in bodhi roasting comp. Honestly I had already shoed myself in with a good chance of winning, but I think the fact they got it 2 or 3 weeks ago killed its mojo. Still super happy to be in top ten. The feedback was the whole team loved the roast.

 

[TrickyDick]

That’s pretty cool achievement!

how much did the ninja coffee brewer cost??
I’m going to experiment with using the gold filter basket vs paper and different brew temps for my Ethiopian. I had nice filter bed but noticed this morning after letting it sit a long time on some commercial coffee after brewing that the filter bed was cratered. Maybe too much presoak. Was a boutique small batch roaster from a nearby town. Patriot I think is the name. They do a nice Columbian light roast that enjoyable to mix it up.
Had read that vcone filter better for fruity and African coffee and that basket better for darker or chocolate and South American coffees. This according to the Breville coffee brewer claims.
TD

 

[MaxStout]

I roasted a 7 oz. test batch of the Ethiopia Sidama I recently bought. Heat gun/bowl method. First crack started at 8:10, I stopped at 10:10 and quickly cooled. The beans are much smaller than many of the other varieties and more roundish. I'll let them rest overnight and try some tomorrow.

 

[Ruint]

Happy for you Scrappy!!! I roasted 3 different batches for that. An early, a middle, and one stretched way past fc. Taste tested all of them, and ended up sending the middle roast, as I thought it presented the best for that bean. Must be my taste doesn't compare to theirs.

 

[TrickyDick]

Today was my first ever pre-emptive efforts to keep my greens fresh. I had done this back when I was way overstocked, but that was AFTER the green beans had been sitting out too long and started to notice serious muted 1C sounds.
Mylar vac seal with oxy absorber divided into 1# parcels and sealed and then into the deep freezer on the day after I received them. Even wrote the date on the bag. This did end up reviving somewhat the older beans by the way. I also have a large USPS flat rate box of high quality but old beans, now perhaps stale from 2017-2019 perhaps for break-in of a new roaster, I can ship to anyone if they pay the shipping costs.

So todays beans, which I will roast this weekend (2 pounds new crop and 1 pound old crop from deep freezer is what I typically do) are from SM's Ethiopian Organic Dry Process Bookkisa and Guatemala Antigua Finca Pavon.

Wondering who else has had these and any suggestions on roast profile? I used to try to get the Ethiopian DP beans just past 1C and then stop, but I find that leaves many rough flavors and a bit too "bright" so I tend to carry out past 1C a bit longer now.

TD