Another Mystery Coffee Bean Exchange!

[HarborTownBrewing]

I'm starting to understand why some beans are called "peaberry"....

 

[shelly_belly]

I got a package from @Ruint yesterday. I've got 3 great looking/smelling mystery beans to figure out. It'll have to wait until this weekend though as I'm swamped with work at the moment. Thank you, brother!

 

[Ruint]

Fantastic shelly_belly. I will be keeping an eye out for your attempts to identify. May you find each one, very enjoyable!

 

[pshankstar]

@shelly_belly Wow, just wow!!!! I'm speechless! I wonder if the beans you sent me are great with an Aero Press??? I'll have to try them in the Bonavita Drip, my Delonghi espresso machine and now the Aero Press.
I have almost pulled the trigger on an Aero Press multiple times! I'm so excited to use it this weekend, but I need to get my beans for @Inkleg roasted first. Well maybe I can drink some coffee from the Aero Press while I roast. The beers are much appreciated too! I haven't tried any of them nor does the brewery look familiar. So excited to try them! Although the sour my wife will want to try it or drink it and let me try it. HAHA
Is it 5 o'clock yet? I want to wrap up work, crack open a beer and clean the Aero Press so I can start using it.
Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!! This is very much appreciated!

 

[shelly_belly]

HaHa! It looks like the roasted beans are still giving off gas as that bag was brick hard vacuum sealed when I put it in the box. They were roasted on Oct 1. Enjoy, my friend!

 

[pshankstar]

HaHa! It looks like the roasted beans are still giving off gas as that bag was brick hard vacuum sealed when I put it in the box. They were roasted on Oct 1. Enjoy, my friend!

I was wondering if it expanded b/c of the off gassing. I’ll move them into a valve bag before it pops in the cabinet and scares the wife and kids. Haha
Thanks again bud!!

 

[pshankstar]

I moved the roasted beans from the balloon to a bag with a valve. This way the family and three dogs wouldn’t wake up to the balloon popping in the middle of the night. Haha
Wow the smell amazing and the uniformity of the color is excellent!
By the aroma of the beans I’m guessing a South American bean but it’s not my final answer. I’ll brew it in the morning and enjoy it at my daughters lacrosse practice. There I’ll give it some good attention. Can’t wait!

 

[pshankstar]

@shelly_belly I get a lot of earthiness and wood character from this coffee. After having a few sips while watching lacrosse practice and trying t to stay warm it makes me think it’s an island bean like Sumatra, PNG or others. I’m still thinking it over but that’s my first impression so far.
I’m still in awe of the uniformity of the beans color. They look amazing! How are you roasting these beans?

 

[shelly_belly]

I use a popcorn popper, 3oz at a time. I stir continuously during the roast which can range from 5 to 8 minutes long. I usually sacrifice the first roast for my son's cold brews and to bring the popper up to equilibrium. The second and subsequent roasts are quicker than the first but close to the same. Your batch looks darker than I remember but it's getting difficult to roast light when it's almost 90F in the mornings here. That bean was going from start of first crack to start of second crack in just under 1 minute. There are probably a small percentage of beans in your batch that made it to second crack. Please send the cold weather my way!

 

[shelly_belly]

I have to say I'm kind of struggling to identify my mystery beans. They were all roasted light to medium light and roasted very evenly. They are all very good.

A. Has light to medium acidity, some fruitiness and some spiciness. A little bit syrupy. Overall a classic cup taste.
I guess Columbian

B. This one is more acidic, more fruity and more spicy. It's also more syrupy.
This one seems more like an Ethiopian

C. This one seemed really bizarre as my first impression was mint but that resolved to floral like rose hips. Ive never had one like this.
I'm going to guess Guatemala for this one (even though the small bean size makes me think Ethiopian)

I think I have a long way to go before I get any better at this!

Thank you, @Ruint

 

[Ruint]

I know I didn't make it easy on you shelly_belly. I chose beans close to the same size, and color...except for C! They were darker green and smaller.
A = Legacy Farms, Honduras, Lempira lot 22 full natural...they say "Light hints of chocolate with a great fermented taste that highlights a sweet cherry flavor." I was impressed with all the coffee I got from these folks. I do pick up on more caramel flavor with these mixed with chocolate.
B = Burman Coffee Traders, Colombia, Huila Supremo… they say "A good everyday drinker – this Huila coffee is very smooth with pretty low acidity. A sweeter soft fruit tone at a nice medium roast balancing with a bit of chocolaty nutty factor. Medium bodied at the medium roast mark." This was the first time I purchased from these guys, and this Colombian showcases well with a more chocolate base to me....ymmv....
C = Royal Coffee Crown Jewel, Ethiopia, Banko Gotiti Jibicho raised bed double washed they said this "flavors of peach, apricot and jasmine honeysuckle, as well as, grape, hints of raspberry, rose and tropical fruit", as well as this "fruit notes of apricot, plum, blackberry jam, mandarin orange, white peach, and raspberry, in addition to the sparkling acidity of lemon and lime." Not an easy coffee to describe, and it really does depend on the roast profile....I really enjoy how clean and smooth it is, and I get a mild chocolate, peach (every once in a while it reminds me more of nectarine), hints of red berry (can't decide between strawberry and raspberry), and a very soft rose in the way backdrop.
Now the fun part!!! You get to see what you get on your roasts!!! Hope you enjoyed.

 

[shelly_belly]

I should have gotten the Honduran right as that is what I've been drinking for the past week. Of course my roast is a lot darker than yours. The Honduran is one of the few that I'm able to get to second crack in the popcorn popper without it burning. At this roast level it's more chocolate tasting with fruit jam and cinnamon. I also won't be able to get a uniform light roast until the temperatures get back down below 40F.

One of the neat things I've found out doing these swaps and receiving some of the same beans that I have roasted is that the different roasting machines can impart (or not) different flavors to the same bean. That's pretty cool and will influence what I purchase down the road.

This is fun!

 

[pshankstar]

@shelly_belly I’m glad you’re enjoying this trade! I too find it so much fun.
Tomorrow I’m going to make some of your beans with the aero press and then give my answer/guess to what region those beans are from.
I will say I brewed it again in the Bonavita drip and still got the earthy and woody character. Maybe some nuttiness too but it wasn’t as present.
I can’t wait to roast the beans later this week and see what I get from them.

 

[Inkleg]

@jimyson your package left this morning and should be to you by Wednesday. There is something in the box that you don’t get in the mail everyday and I’m curious on its condition when you get it. You’re kinda my beta tester/Cavia porcellus for future mailings.

 

[HarborTownBrewing]

@jimyson There is something in the box that you don’t get in the mail everyday and I’m curious on its condition when you get it.

It's a cat, isn't it.

RIP, kitty.

 

[Ruint]

Smh!!! And lol...

 

[jimyson]

It's a cat, isn't it.

RIP, kitty.

If only you saw his message to me. I’m a bit concerned here. Poor kitty.

 

[Inkleg]

It's a cat, isn't it.

RIP, kitty.

So vacuum sealing to keep it fresh was not the best choice?

 

[Inkleg]

If only you saw his message to me. I’m a bit concerned here. Poor kitty.

Had to go back and read that message. Forgot I put that in there.

 

[Ruint]

Received the beans in the mail today HTB! Thank you! The package was fairly beat up...but still contained everything. I will most likely wait for the weekend to try them, to ensure they get the attention and focus needed and not the get up and go-go slam it down in the morning rush mode coffee.

 

[passedpawn]

@Br3w4u, Got the beans, brewed two days straight. Both days it's been the "A" beans.

First day I want light on the coffee/water ratio. SOLID blueberries. It was very bright, which I think is acidic. I do get that typically when I do a light roast. Second day I used more coffee and the cup had a richer flavor (which I like) but the blueberry was subdued. I could smell it on the first sip, but then it was gone.

Anyway, my guess: Africa. Ethiopia.

Tomorrow I'll brew the "?" coffee. Looking forward to it.

 

[passedpawn]

BTW, it looks like everybody here is a better roaster than I am. The beans I've received always are exceptional. I roasted tonight (for my recipient) and it's uneven, and there is chaff sticking to some beans. Gawd.

 

[Inkleg]

BTW, it looks like everybody here is a better roaster than I am. The beans I've received always are exceptional. I roasted tonight (for my recipient) and it's uneven, and there is chaff sticking to some beans. Gawd.

Need to borrow one of my chaff lickers? Ones on the way to @jimyson, but I have 3 more. This was Half Pint warming up while I was roasting.

 

[passedpawn]

Need to borrow one of my chaff lickers? Ones on the way to @jimyson, but I have 3 more. This was Half Pint warming up while I was roasting.
View attachment 647325

I tried "washing" roasted beans once. It was a mess. The beans absorbed a lot of water and needed to be dried out in the oven. Lesson learned.

 

[Br3w4u]

@Br3w4u, Got the beans, brewed two days straight. Both days it's been the "A" beans.

First day I want light on the coffee/water ratio. SOLID blueberries. It was very bright, which I think is acidic. I do get that typically when I do a light roast. Second day I used more coffee and the cup had a richer flavor (which I like) but the blueberry was subdued. I could smell it on the first sip, but then it was gone.

Anyway, my guess: Africa. Ethiopia.

Tomorrow I'll brew the "?" coffee. Looking forward to it.

View attachment 647313

I’m glad you like it. That was the legacy farms honey process bourbon. I usually go with a darker roast on that one and I get a smooth chocolate flavor. I don’t have the best palate though. The ? is a blend that I made up. I like it a lot. Looking forward to your thoughts on it.

 

[Inkleg]

Received word that coffee and cat are out for delivery. Good luck!

 

[HarborTownBrewing]

Received word that coffee and cat are out for delivery. Good luck!

I hope to never receive a package from you for one of these exchanges. My wife would absolutely love to have another kitty but the two we have are plenty!

 

[jimyson]

I hope to never receive a package from you for one of these exchanges. My wife would absolutely love to have another kitty but the two we have are plenty!

On the contrary! (Unless there is a cat in the bread, or he is trying to poison all OSU fans [emoji23])

Tell me more about this loaf, @Inkleg!

Looking forward to the A & B trials. And of course the beer. [emoji6]

 

[jimyson]

 

[pshankstar]

@shelly_belly I’m having a cup from your beans made with my French press. I still get a nice earthy and woody character from it. Maybe even a little leather and tobacco too. No acidity and very smooth.
With that bean said I’m going to guess it’s a South American bean. How far off am I? Haha