espressoaddict Senior Member Joined: 18 Mar 2009 Posts: 346 Location: Seattle Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Rancilio Silvia V3 (Primary)... Grinder: Baratza Vario 2009 and... Vac Pot: None Drip: Melitta Single Cup, Bodum...
Posted Thu Apr 2, 2009, 3:53pm Subject: Alternative to Black Cat Espresso
I just finished a pound of Black Cat Classic Espresso. That was probably the best straight espresso, I have ever had in my life period.
Anybody living in the Seattle area recommend any good espresso beans locally available? Keep in mind, I drink my espresso without sugar. That is why Black Cat is so perfect it has the perfect sweetness and is not bitter.
If you can recommend something that is very similar to Black Cat. FYI - I have tried Cafe Ladro's Signature Espresso Blend and I like this one, but I'm looking for a new blend to my list of untried. I've tried Allegro Bel Canto and did not enjoy this one as well as Cafe Ladro and Black Cat.
Here is my future bean list: Zoka Paladino Velton Bonsai Espresso Blend Stuptown Hair Bender or Holler Mountain Blend Vivace Espresso Dolce
Any suggestions you can make, I will highly appreciate.
Iluvdabean Senior Member Joined: 7 Mar 2005 Posts: 1,071 Location: California Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: La Nuova Era Cuadra/Gaggia... Grinder: Baratza Preciso/K-A Pro... Drip: Capresso MT 500/Pour Over Roaster: Nesco 1010/Behmor 1600
Posted Sat Apr 4, 2009, 8:06am Subject: Re: Alternative to Black Cat Espresso
My brother just sent me a pound of this from where he lives and Im drinking it now in a Latte and its pretty darn good.
A medium roasted espresso. Sweet and opulent, with maple, dried fruit and chocolate notes. A blend of semi-washed and washed coffees, the Old World Espresso features a dry-processed Ethiopian, semi-washed sumatra, Peru Jaen, and AAA Bolvian Cumbre. Wonderful tiger-striped crema awaits!
As far as Black Cat goes the original was better but even then there isnt really one roaster thats always perfect,like a good resturant they go through phases,arent always dialed in and often just loose it all together. Ive eaten at places I simply loved and then the Chef leaves and the owner tries to compensate but there is more than cooking to following a recipie,probably the same with roasting I imagine. Ive experienced differences in whats supposed to be the same coffee from many of the places Ive ordered from,not a lot but enough to be noticed from time to time.
From thier website
"We aren't pretentious or ignorant enough to call ourselves "master roasters" but we feel confident in our ability to coax the nuances of every coffee we roast. (In our travels we've met about 4 people who are genuine "master roasters" and they all have one thing in common: 25+ years of experience.)"
arcangel6 Senior Member Joined: 30 Nov 2008 Posts: 39 Location: Brookfield, WI Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Expobar Brewtus III-Rotary Grinder: Mazzer Mini E Type B Vac Pot: Bodum Santos
Posted Mon Apr 6, 2009, 9:04pm Subject: Re: Alternative to Black Cat Espresso
Hi,
I never tried the original Black Cat but I do like the current iteration. However, I have become a BIG fan of Belle Espresso from Klatch roasters. It has a remarkable flavor profile that really lights up my palate (in a good way).
o3 Senior Member Joined: 21 Apr 2008 Posts: 125 Location: MI Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Izzo Alex Duetto II Grinder: Mazzer Super Jolly
Posted Thu Apr 9, 2009, 4:57pm Subject: Re: Alternative to Black Cat Espresso
Current fav is this http://www.coffeereview.com/review.cfm?ID=1683 Outstanding in milk drinks...I'm also a real fan of Paradise Roasters Espresso Nuevo as well as the Espresso Classico...but especially the Nuevo. I got an email from them recently saying they have tweeked the blend....anyone try the new Neuvo (echo...echo...echo....)?
espressoaddict Senior Member Joined: 18 Mar 2009 Posts: 346 Location: Seattle Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Rancilio Silvia V3 (Primary)... Grinder: Baratza Vario 2009 and... Vac Pot: None Drip: Melitta Single Cup, Bodum...
Posted Mon Apr 13, 2009, 10:36pm Subject: Re: Alternative to Black Cat Espresso
Thanks all for the suggestions. This is very valuable information and adds to my future espresso bean list. There are just so many to try in the local area, but when I'm done I'll give those a shot.
Just tried some Stomptown Hairbender espresso at my nearby Whole Foods supermarket. Apparently, they supply them with fresh beans regularly. The roasted date was dated April 1. I bought it on the 8th, so it was still fairly on the fresh spectrum. Ideally, wanted to buy it on the 3rd or 4th day for optimal freshness. I can't complain though.
Not oily, a brownish color -- very similar in appearance to Black Cat. Tried using the same grind setting (5.5) as with Black Cat, but this was too coarse for my pull. Seems like 3.5 was the ideal setting for that day. Also noticed the beans seem more dense than Black Cat.
After about two tuning shots later, a perfect 25 second extraction was delivered with results strikingly like Black Cat. Yes, the flow had rat tails. Don't have a naked PF yet, but monitoring the color from the flows revealed a gradient of colors. The shot has about 2/3rds of crema and the surface had tiger stripping with the very fine speckles of espresso. The overall taste was excellent. It did have the chocolate notes, bitterness was not even considered bitter, but a tad bitter mixed with a potent sweetness similar to Black Cat. However, I would still have to give Black Cat the decision on the taste. Not saying Hairbender is not as good or worst, it's most likely the bean age was not at optimum as compared to when I pulled the Black Cat which was at 5 days old. Yeah there was only a 3 day difference. What was missing was the intensity that Black Cat delivered and the syrupy feel to the mouth. If 5 was the highest and 1 the lowest, I would rate Black Cat a 5 with Hairbender a solid 4, not too bad. This deserves a re-test once I get my hands on a fresher Hairbender.
How did it fair as a latte? Well, the lattes were amazingly tasty. Keep in mind, before pouring the shot into milk, each shot is tasted for bitterness to ensure the coffee, not the bitterness is tasted in the latte. Sure enough, the espresso and latte combination was surprisingly very excellent. The milk volume was about 8 oz + 2 oz shots of Hairbender. Added about two teaspoons of sugar. Starbucks or any other lattes in my area of lower standards did not even compare. Keep in mind, most lattes in Seattle are overly powered by strong bitterness by how they prepare espresso. Were referring to the main-stream places and not the high-end espresso shops. To be on the safe side, adding more than 8 ozs may mask Hairbender's flavor.
Posted Sat Apr 18, 2009, 7:46am Subject: Re: Alternative to Black Cat Espresso
Typically Black Cat doesn't hit its prime until 8-10 days past roast. Did you notice an improvement between day 5 & 10 or did you use it all up before then?
espressoaddict Senior Member Joined: 18 Mar 2009 Posts: 346 Location: Seattle Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Rancilio Silvia V3 (Primary)... Grinder: Baratza Vario 2009 and... Vac Pot: None Drip: Melitta Single Cup, Bodum...
Posted Wed May 6, 2009, 11:21pm Subject: Re: Alternative to Black Cat Espresso
JVBorella Said:
Typically Black Cat doesn't hit its prime until 8-10 days past roast. Did you notice an improvement between day 5 & 10 or did you use it all up before then?
This being my first exposure to Black Cat, it tasted the same for me on the 5th and days following that. You must have more experience with Black Cat than myself.
malachi Senior Member Joined: 5 May 2002 Posts: 1,761 Location: SFCA Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Monster Mia (for now)_ Grinder: Monster Cimballi Junior Vac Pot: Not any more Drip: never Roaster: Ecco, Stumptown, Intelli,...
Posted Fri May 8, 2009, 11:16am Subject: Re: Alternative to Black Cat Espresso
Hairbender is best at a lower brew temp and higher dose than Black Cat. I'd suggest giving it another shot.
If you like Black Cat, you might want to try Big Truck from Olympia Coffee roasting. Of the "local" beans you have access to, it's probably closest to the Black Cat.
Beavis Senior Member Joined: 2 Mar 2005 Posts: 122 Location: Denver Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Quickmill Alexia Grinder: Baratza Vario Drip: French Press/Clever Dripper Roaster: Want a Behmor!
Posted Fri May 8, 2009, 7:03pm Subject: Re: Alternative to Black Cat Espresso
Bonsai Blend Espresso
Origin: Not disclosed.
Notes: Located in Everett, Washington, north of Seattle, Velton's Coffee is a quality-focused small-batch wholesale roaster. Visit www.veltonscoffee.com or call 206-250-6130 for more information.
Blind Assessment: Co-taster Byron Holcomb (94): "On the nose, I got inviting, complex floral and strawberry notes. The body was vivacious - I could have said round, sweet, with a little savory edge, comforting, but vivacious will do." Both Ken (94) and Byron found chocolate and malt in the flavor, with an assortment of additional descriptors that testify to the complexity of this blend: "cedar, butter" (Ken), "lemon bar, spice" (Byron). Both were impressed by the big, sweet, chocolaty bloom in milk, which Byron found was complicated by a continued, brightening hint of lemon zest. It appears that a very controlled, judicious use of cleanly fruity-fermented dry-processed coffees contributed to the round, sweet, complex richness of this versatile blend.
Who should drink it: Everyone: round, rich mouthfeel, natural sweetness, great complexity, suave presence in milk.
This was the just on COFFEE REVIEW and it's in Everett, WA.
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