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2013 Holiday Bean Swap
allenb
Top  #61 Print Post
Posted on 12/19/2013 10:48 PM
Found a very aromatic package on my doorstep this afternoon. After opening the package I had chocolate and blueberries all over the house, wow! So I immediately measured out around 11 grams of Rich's Yirgacheffe Konga and did a traditional cupping of it. Dry fragrance was off the chart cuban cigar, dark chocolate and blueberries. Wet aroma was similar but with much more intensity.

Taste did not disappoint and produced what the aroma told me it should cup like.
Very intense chocolate and blueberry notes with a super rich syrupy body.

Another nice thing about the roast was the total absence of astringency which some Yirgs display if rushed after first crack.

Rich, thanks for an excellent holiday swap coffee to enjoy through my time off!

christmas tree
1/2 lb and 1 lb drum, Siemens Sirocco fluidbed, presspot, chemex, cajun biggin brewer from the backwoods of Louisiana
 
RAG
Top  #62 Print Post
Posted on 12/20/2013 10:24 AM
Allen,
Thanks much for the kind words and assessment (although I'm not sure cigar in coffee is a good thing). I'm going to go roast some more and see if I can taste any of that.

Do you have any suggestions as to how I might roast this batch differently?

Some people have a Symphony of taste buds to access with, I think I got a recorder.
Thanks,
Rich
 
ginny
Top  #63 Print Post
Posted on 12/20/2013 10:39 AM
Sent out coffee this morning to Rich.

I think he will enjoy it and if not he will clearly let me know.

g




christmas tree
 
snwcmpr
Top  #64 Print Post
Posted on 12/20/2013 11:03 AM

Quote

Some people have a Symphony of taste buds to access with, I think I got a recorder.

I have a Kazoo!!!

Ken in NC
--------------
Backwoods Roaster
"I wish I could taste as well as I wish I could roast."

As Abraham Lincoln said "Do not trust everything you read on the internet".
 
allenb
Top  #65 Print Post
Posted on 12/20/2013 11:04 AM

Quote

RAG wrote:

Allen,
(although I'm not sure cigar in coffee is a good thing).

Do you have any suggestions as to how I might roast this batch differently?



Rich, no cigar ended up in the tasting, only aroma/fragrance which is not a negative and I find this in many African coffees. The cigar aroma reference is not a lit cigar but is walking into a humidor with lots of fine high end cigars on the shelves which to me is a wonderful sensory experience.

Suggestions? To me, at the roast level you hit, I wouldn't have any idea how it could be improved but for a variation, I would take it a bit lighter to add some additional acidity for more of that Ethiopian wine-like character.

Oh, thanks for the bag of unroasted Yirg as well!

Allen
1/2 lb and 1 lb drum, Siemens Sirocco fluidbed, presspot, chemex, cajun biggin brewer from the backwoods of Louisiana
 
ginny
Top  #66 Print Post
Posted on 12/20/2013 12:05 PM
my car smells so good I would sleep out there buts it too darn cold..

got a big box from BDL and if smells are any indication, I am in love.

ginny

roar
 
boar_d_laze
Top  #67 Print Post
Posted on 12/20/2013 12:34 PM
"... and as she fell past the third floor window she was heard to say, 'So far, so good.'"

BDL
USRC 1lb Roaster, Chemex+Kone, Espro, Various FPs, Royal Siphon Vacuum, Yama Ice Drip Tower, Bunnzilla, La Cimbali M21 Casa, Ceado E92.
CookFoodGood
 
ginny
Top  #68 Print Post
Posted on 12/20/2013 2:45 PM
you bet BDL...


I sucked out the beans I had in my superauto and filled it with the wonderful blend
and about 3AM tomorrow I will enjoy...

ginny

7th floor coming...

woohoo
 
rick carter
Top  #69 Print Post
Posted on 12/20/2013 6:46 PM
So Allen, rich, or anyone else what pointers might you pass a long for that konga?

My very first batch came out pretty nice but they have been getting progressively worse, lol!

I stretched everything and was very gentle on the first one,6 min dry, 10:30 FC, 13:45 drop just at the edge of SC. Just lucky I guess because try as I may I can't hit those results again even with the same apparent profile. The hints of blueberry are there and some c hoc plate but mostly just a jumbled brown flavor that is slightly fermented :(

Any pointers appreciated!
 
RAG
Top  #70 Print Post
Posted on 12/20/2013 6:56 PM

Quote

rick carter wrote:
..... a jumbled brown flavor that is slightly fermented :(


That is a flavor note I recognize ;-]

I am a new roaster but I believe Allen has the key, keep it light. Verge of 2nd crack really looses a lot of flavor but maybe more appealing to the masses. That bean packs a lot of notes if you keep it light.

That is my novice opinion.

Good luck.
 
rick carter
Top  #71 Print Post
Posted on 12/20/2013 8:01 PM
LOL, it's a flavor I know all too well.

Thanks for the suggestion. SM recommends city + to full city so that's why i tried to hit the edge of sc.
 
allenb
Top  #72 Print Post
Posted on 12/21/2013 10:39 AM

Quote

rick carter wrote:

So Allen, rich, or anyone else what pointers might you pass a long for that konga?

My very first batch came out pretty nice but they have been getting progressively worse, lol!

I stretched everything and was very gentle on the first one,6 min dry, 10:30 FC, 13:45 drop just at the edge of SC. Just lucky I guess because try as I may I can't hit those results again even with the same apparent profile. The hints of blueberry are there and some c hoc plate but mostly just a jumbled brown flavor that is slightly fermented :(

Any pointers appreciated!


Rick,

Join the club! I brewed both of the coffees sent to Rich (RAG), one yesterday and one today and neither hit where they should have. Both were missing the notes that I'm accustomed to tasting and left them a little flat. I could also pick it up in the dry aroma. The roast profiles were almost dead on what I was doing before so go figure.

Sorry Rich Shock

Allen
1/2 lb and 1 lb drum, Siemens Sirocco fluidbed, presspot, chemex, cajun biggin brewer from the backwoods of Louisiana
 
boar_d_laze
Top  #73 Print Post
Posted on 12/21/2013 10:46 AM
Ginny, I'm thinking that blend ought to be drinkable at day fie or six (today, IIRC), but I'd expect some harshness. It should sweeten out by around day eight or nine.

Rich (BDL)
USRC 1lb Roaster, Chemex+Kone, Espro, Various FPs, Royal Siphon Vacuum, Yama Ice Drip Tower, Bunnzilla, La Cimbali M21 Casa, Ceado E92.
CookFoodGood
 
Lawnmowerman
Top  #74 Print Post
Posted on 12/21/2013 5:17 PM
Airhan I just finished off the rwanda you sent me and it was nothing short of amazing! Although the roasted were prabably a little too far advanced, upon roasting the 500grams green: wowee! Ive never had sm beans before to roast and it was a real pleasure. The way the beans expanded was simply eye-popping! More than three times expanded from green. Im not very good at drscribing flavors but i was quite impressed! Also Im pleased to here that you enjoyed the png I sent you. I beleive yours was probably of higher quality than where i get mine in general and if i had any doubts about sweet marias there is certainly no room for that now. Thanks again!ThumbsUp
Bad coffee prevails when good coffee roasters stand by and do nothing.
 
jkoll42
Top  #75 Print Post
Posted on 12/22/2013 3:02 PM
Well, after finishing off all of Bodka's roast I actually got the time to roast his! Probably the last person in the swap but what are you gonna do.

Enjoyed pulling shots from Bodka/s roast - first off I was extremely happy to open a bag of espresso blend and not have Exxon Valdez oil slick beans! It was a light roast and the pulls were bright but not bracing and very enjoyable straight. Thanks Bodka!
-Jon
Honey badger 1k, Bunn LPG-2E, Technivorm, Cimbali Max Hybrid, ECM Synchronika w/ Flow Control
 
rick carter
Top  #76 Print Post
Posted on 12/23/2013 9:50 AM
snwcmpr,

The El Sal was very nice also!

Mandarin orange acidity that was light and shone around the edges.
a nice cocoa center with just the right sweetness and an undertone of aromatic wood, a very enjoyable roast that alas, is all gone smile

Thanks so much!

you did a stellar job on both roasts.

I think you got the better end of this deal !
 
snwcmpr
Top  #77 Print Post
Posted on 12/23/2013 10:02 AM
Wow Rick, that is nice.
I am not in a place to get much feedback on my roasts unless I send it somewhere. I can get a bit here, locally, from a couple of places, but, I am not very good at defining tastes.
I did believe these, that I sent you, to be what I call 'good' or 'very good', and am very glad you enjoyed them both.
I think that is why we roast, to pull the most enjoyment of coffee from these beans as possible.

Cheers for a very happy holiday season,
Ken in NC
--------------
Backwoods Roaster
"I wish I could taste as well as I wish I could roast."

As Abraham Lincoln said "Do not trust everything you read on the internet".
 
snwcmpr
Top  #78 Print Post
Posted on 12/23/2013 1:52 PM
I got the pkg today.
It is way too busy with 4 grandkids today, so I will bring out my kazoo tomorrow and play the music.

Ken
--------------
Backwoods Roaster
"I wish I could taste as well as I wish I could roast."

As Abraham Lincoln said "Do not trust everything you read on the internet".
 
rick carter
Top  #79 Print Post
Posted on 12/23/2013 2:01 PM
4 grandkids and Christmas!

what a joy! My package can wait.

I have 3 kids ages 11 months(B), 3 years(B), and 7 years(G).

the two older kids can sing Frank Sinatra's "The Coffee Song" without missing a thing, they even carry the tune pretty well.

It's so great! LOL!
 
RAG
Top  #80 Print Post
Posted on 12/23/2013 3:00 PM
Just received Allen's shipment. My wife caught me walking round with my nose in the bag of Costa Rica roast. Smells great. Hope to taste it this pm.

So we both sent about the same coffee, at the same time, the same priority and shipper.(2 day delivery) I get mine 4 days later than you. USPS. I guess I should have given the post man a Christmas present. She's not getting one now.

Thanks,
Rich
 
snwcmpr
Top  #81 Print Post
Posted on 12/23/2013 7:10 PM
My 2 grand kids are in Indiana. We have 6 total.
This is a small cabin, if you can imagine ... it is filled tonight to the rafters.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all.

Ken
--------------
Backwoods Roaster
"I wish I could taste as well as I wish I could roast."

As Abraham Lincoln said "Do not trust everything you read on the internet".
 
boar_d_laze
Top  #82 Print Post
Posted on 12/28/2013 7:17 PM
I received 2, nicely bagged, foil/valve bags of coffee from Ginny yesterday. Their origins are so far unidentified. Sent an SOS to Ginny, and we hope they are in her notes.

We tried the first today.

Brew method: Chemex + Kone; 60g coffee, 1kg water at 200F

Dominant taste: "Coffee." Very, very much coffee.
Acidy notes: Subtle, hard to identify
Bitter/sour: Very slightly bitter. Pleasantly so. NO sourness.
Acridity, smoke, or other unpleasant notes: None.

Good morning coffee. Excellent coffee to introduce someone to specialty coffee. I'd be ecstatic if it were served to me in a restaurant for breakfast OR after dinner.

I expect that vac brewing will bring out it's best points better than pour-over, press or espresso. I'll try espresso and vac tomorrow.

Overall: Pleasant and straightforward. Sophisticated.

Rich
USRC 1lb Roaster, Chemex+Kone, Espro, Various FPs, Royal Siphon Vacuum, Yama Ice Drip Tower, Bunnzilla, La Cimbali M21 Casa, Ceado E92.
CookFoodGood
 
ginny
Top  #83 Print Post
Posted on 12/29/2013 12:12 PM
Rich:

The white bag was the Ethiopia Dry-Process Chelelektu Yirga Cheffe from Sweet Maria and it was roasted FC + as you know; it fell apart a bit too and I have never had that happen even at a FC roast.

I kept some and got some citrus and chocolate...

The silver bag I need to go back in my stash book and look.

gin

rockon
 
snwcmpr
Top  #84 Print Post
Posted on 12/30/2013 10:54 AM
I am sorry it has taken so long to reply.

I got 2 coffees from Rick. Both are excellent.
Kenya Nyeri Tegu AB ("The edge of city +")
Guatemala Huehuetenango La Viuda Estate (City)

We are not very proficient at identifying what we call the 'nuances' in the coffee we drink, so please excuse my inability to explain how really good these coffees were. (Yes, they are gone)

The grounds exploded with aroma and the bloom gave notice of things to come.

We did have a few words.

The Kenyan had an unusual, very pleasant, taste to me. I could not name it, but my wife said spice and cherry. The body, mouth feel and after taste were wonderful.

The Guat was also excellent. But again we are limited in words. Nikki was surprised at how much she loved this central. She usually doesn't.

I do know an excellent cup of coffee, and these are. Rick did a great job of pulling the pleasure out of these beans.

The Holiday Swap was a winner for me.

Ken in NC
--------------
Backwoods Roaster
"I wish I could taste as well as I wish I could roast."

As Abraham Lincoln said "Do not trust everything you read on the internet".
 
rick carter
Top  #85 Print Post
Posted on 12/30/2013 2:41 PM
Ken,

Thanks for the kind remarks!

I'm glad you enjoyed the roasts.

No worries on the time to respond, it's the Holidays and the most important aspect is relaxing with family.

Wishing you all a happy and prosperous New Year!
 
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