Thread: Coffee Enthusiasts

One thing i found is that a local; roaster may be roasting daily, but they throw the fresh beans on top of the old beans in the five gallon size hopper dispensers.

I did find a work around...there is just enough room above the bins to get a coffee cup in after sliding the top to one side. Then i can get a few cupfuls out and into a bag. Then I replace the top on the bin. I do miss home roasting and now usually have to buy commercial unless I can st up with a friend to use his heated shop space to roast. Thirty miles is a bit far.
Enjoy!
~Richard

I'm in no way saying I'm a professional roaster or even really good yet. But I am getting the hang of it I believe.

And since I'm buying from Burman coffee, and only 3 pounds at a time, I believe the beans are staying fresh.
I also am buying 3 different coffee's to find what we like the best. To me this is the fun part of this hobby. Trying coffee's that you probably can't really enjoy without doing your own roasting.

just got my hands on this little espresso maker... put a scoop of Bustelo in it for its first run. very good cup...

OOoh, this thread got me going; CAD strikes again!...
Just bought a Baratza Sette 270. Use report next weekend.
~Richard

Originally Posted by Geezer

I have been taught that beans that are ground should set a few days and then be good brewing for ten days..

Bitter brew is too hot a brewing water for the particular beans and Sour brew is using too cool a water for the beans.

Darker beans require less heat to bring out their flavor, Lighter beans require hotter brewing water.

Buying your own green and roasting them yourself can remove some of the difficulties. It took me a year before I could consistently roast beans to the levels I prefer. Also, buy only a couple weeks' supply of green. It does get stale and dries out, leaving less flavor to enjoy. You may decide that you don't like the beans and so they go to waste.

As to costing for a setup, there are established coffee parts houses that offer a bundle of grinder and machine at a significant saving. Even better when they offer a discount code along with it!
JMO
~Richard

Hmm

Green beans can stay "forever" at room temp as long as you keep them in a breathable bag like cotton or burlap. I've seen cupping tests done on green beans almost a year old and "the experts" couldn't tell which were "old" and which were new. However they usually recommend to use them within 6 months of processing.

Also bitter brew most likely comes from the wrong grind for the coffee or brewing type you have.

Ground coffee goes stale within hours of grinding. Roasted whole beans are fresh for up to two weeks depending on your storage routine.

I've never heard that about brewing temp for regular brewing not talking espresso here. The SCAA recommends a specific coffee ratio to water and specific brew temp for all beans. No adjustment from bean to bean.

You usually adjust you roast to the specific beans. If you want to taste the subtle flavors in the brew you need a lighter brew for most beans. The old roasters trick is buy cheap beans and over-roast them so you get that heavy smokey flavor which hides the defects in the coffee.

I'm no coffee expert but this is what I've read over the years from various coffee sites and books I've read.

Originally Posted by Geezer

OOoh, this thread got me going; CAD strikes again!...
Just bought a Baratza Sette 270. Use report next weekend.
~Richard

I think I bought my Breville conical burr grinder about a dozen years or so ago. While it's showing signs of things starting to go wrong (grind cycle stopping for no apparent reason being the main one), it owes me nothing! I think I'll take it all apart one of these days, clean everything up, and see if I can't stretch it out for a few more years yet. In the world of grinders, I know it's nothing fancy. But even it as a moderately good but well-made machine shows the benefit of paying a bit more for something that will last.

However, just in case my attempts at resurrection go horribly wrong, I'm looking forward to your report!

Originally Posted by Cangooner

But even it as a moderately good but well-made machine shows the benefit of paying a bit more for something that will last.
However, just in case my attempts at resurrection go horribly wrong, I'm looking forward to your report!

You have stated a most important thing about grinders. After a cheap espresso machine and grinder, when a person finds out they like the "espresso" routine, then is the time to spend a decent price for a better grinder. Now, this seems to begin about $400 or so. I bought the new "Vario" back in 2008 when they first arrived and don't regret it. I replaced the flat burrs once about a year ago. It replaced a Mazzer "Super Jolly."
~Richard

Most folks starting out don't realize how important a good grinder is.

You be right Richard when you transition to espresso the grinder really gets important.

The only problem with the Vario is it doesn't give a good coarse grind. I have a newer one and changed the ceramic burrs for stainless but I wound up buying a virtuoso to get the grind I need.

Apparently the Sette will have another burr set available, after market so to speak. Not available now. wrong>>>see posts below<<<<
Referring to getting a good grinder first; the difference between old and new is huge, even on the old machines.

For the record...I am not pushing any particular make of grinder.

I just got a wild hair and it tickled!

~Richard

Originally Posted by Geezer

Apparently the Sette will have another burr set available, after market so to speak. Not available now.
Referring to getting a good grinder first; the difference between old and new is huge, even on the old machines.

For the record...I am not pushing any particular make of grinder.

I just got a wild hair and it tickled!

~Richard

Richard, I'm surprised that you went in on the Sette. I assumed that the Vario was a better grinder. I have a Sette as well. I had one of the very first that came off the assembly line when they were released. I had some problems with mine. I had to contact Bartza twice about it and but they replaced it for me. In general, I love the grinder. Its fast and efficient. Cleaning it is a snap. A couple weeks back I got the coarse grind burr. It sounds like a lot to change the burr between drip and espresso. But because its so easy to swap them out, its really no problem. Plus, doing so gives you an excuse to clean them when you pop them out. A real coffee geek might not find the Sette suitable for coarse grinds but at some point you have to settle for what you have. While I was not 100% pleased with my first version of it, I'm happy with it overall. But you might find your Vario better. You'll have to let us know.