Markarian Senior Member Joined: 27 Jun 2012 Posts: 475 Location: Seattle Area Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Modded Nuova Simonelli Oscar Grinder: Vario-W, Mazzer Super Jolly Drip: Moka, Aeropress, Melitta 102 Roaster: Wear-Ever Popcorn Pumper
Posted Tue Feb 26, 2013, 6:11am Subject: Are the beans bad if...?
Beautiful cone, 30 second pull, ridiculous amounts of crema...but the aroma seems off, a little earthy and unusual to the beans. I figured they were stale but I thought gauging crema volume was a good way to tell (I'm probably wrong). Thoughts? I'm also curious what makes one blend give a tidy pour with every shot, and another ends up runny and with endless channeling. I know these are broad questions, but I'm always trying to figure out if my technique is ever at fault before I blame my beans.
calblacksmith Moderator Joined: 25 Nov 2007 Posts: 5,761 Location: Riverside, Ca, U.S.A. Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: ECM Veneziano A1 Grinder: Many different commercial Vac Pot: 40s era Silex Drip: Milita, Bunn&Curtis... Roaster: Cast iron pan, gas burner
Posted Tue Feb 26, 2013, 9:08am Subject: Re: Are the beans bad if...?
There are some blends of beans I really do not like. FTO from Klatch is the main one, to me it tastes like dirt. Perhaps it is your blend you do not like.
In real life, my name is Wayne P.
Feed the newbs, starve the trolls and above all enjoy what you drink!
dspear99ca Senior Member Joined: 17 Jan 2013 Posts: 88 Location: BC, Canada Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Gaggia Coffee Grinder: Mazzer Mini
Posted Tue Feb 26, 2013, 9:52am Subject: Re: Are the beans bad if...?
I had the same reaction a couple of weeks back after roasting some of my own Sumatran. Not bad, just... off. I've come to realize it's a characteristic of the coffee and in fact have grown to quite like it. One poster here noted that he often got the comment "why doesn't this taste like coffee?" when he served up different varieties to the masses... maybe they're not all supposed to taste the same. What type of beans do you have?
germantownrob Senior Member Joined: 2 Dec 2007 Posts: 2,040 Location: Philadelphia Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Duetto 3, A Dead Oscar Grinder: Vario-W, Preciso w/Esatto,... Drip: Brazen Roaster: Diedrich IR-1, HT B
Posted Tue Feb 26, 2013, 10:51am Subject: Re: Are the beans bad if...?
Not a ton of info to go on. I may be way off but I am trying to put together a string of threads, are you trying out an Imported ItLian Roast? Did you get the issues with your grinder sorted out? Have you figured out the routine that fits the mods you did to your machine? Any of those questions may be the answer as well.
I have had a few unruly beans that needed the most anal prep to get them to behave but if dose, grind, prep, and water temp where all correct it made all the sink shots worth it, if it isn't that special it is compost when the challenge is over. I am not a fan of single dosing only because it allows for error, a Vario was designed for the hopper to be filled, grind changes even when it goes below 1/2 full and becomes unpredictable below 1/4 full IMO. I never liked stock NS baskets, almost anything was more consistent. Good baskets, consistent grinder, consistent shot prep and proper technique for equipment, and being consistent with water temp management of equipment being used where the things I learned to make great espresso everyday. There will always be a curve ball and I even look forward to them, it makes coffee always interesting.
Markarian Senior Member Joined: 27 Jun 2012 Posts: 475 Location: Seattle Area Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Modded Nuova Simonelli Oscar Grinder: Vario-W, Mazzer Super Jolly Drip: Moka, Aeropress, Melitta 102 Roaster: Wear-Ever Popcorn Pumper
Posted Tue Feb 26, 2013, 12:16pm Subject: Re: Are the beans bad if...?
The blend I'm using is a Kona Blend. I think it was roasted about 12 days ago, so it is getting a little long in the tooth. I just figured if it was going bad, it would be show in the shot.
I do single dose almost exclusively and find the Vario to be a challenge. I watch the levers jiggle ever so slightly against their stops when grinding on occasion and I always feel like I'm chasing the settings. It's one of the reasons I've stuck with the Kona, because it seems to make perfect (looking) shots each time on the same grind setting with the same tamp, etc. I really love trying different coffees day to day. Is the Vario-W the wrong choice for this?
One of my favorite coffees is SO Tanzanian Peaberry (I know, weird). I used to be able to make perfect shots with it, but now all I get are sprites and more channeling than DirecTV. I don't use the stock NS baskets anymore, I use a ridgeless VST 18g. I gently sift the grounds directly into the basket before giving a firm, nutating tamp. It works perfectly on the kona, works well on the Organic Sunrise Blend from Cafe Tierra, seems to piss off my SO's and cause messy pours with partial donut extractions.
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