Siliconslave's how to make espresso thread

Treated myself to some coffee from hasbean at Christmas and was really disappointed :(. Don't even think I can force myself to have any more of it.

I went for the 1973 blend as I thought it sounded like a good all rounder. It was really tangy and weak. The tangyness was unbearable though, didnt even taste like coffee.

I'm guessing there is nothing wrong with the coffee and its just my tastes differing from others as I have always had good coffee from there before.

Would that tangyness be acidic? Just need to know what to look out for in future. Can anyone recommend a coffee that is not at all acidic?


It also looks like they have changed the recipe now as its called the MKII. I wonder if thats because it wasn't well received?
 
Made it in my aero press at first, then tried with less water as I heard pushing a lot of water through it can increase acidity. Then tried a courser grind in my cafetiere and that was the same.

It was touted as an "everything blend" which I assumed would be a balanced taste, rather than highly acidic/tangy.

"In the cup expect an amazing amount of balance, we're talking an acrobat on a highwire kinda balance here! Heaps of sweet chocolate work alongside a really nice controlled acidity while lurking in the background there's a lovely natural funkiness."

I'm guessing its the natural funkiness I dont like lol..

They have changed the blend now, just checked my pack that I bought on the 16th Dec:

50% Costa Rica Finca de Licho yellow honey Vila Sarchi
30% El Salvador Finca Alaska
20% Ethiopia Yirgacheffe Kebel Aricha Natural

to:

40% Brazil Cachoeira De Grama Pulped Natural Yellow Bourbon
40% Guatemala El Libano Washed Caturra
20% Ethiopia Yirgacheffe Kebel Aricha Natural
 
I'm using 1973 in my espresso machine ATM. It's not bad but others are better. If you're using aeropress or cafetiere I'd stay away from blends and stick with single origin. Go for some of the west African or Ethiopian. Yirgacheffe region have some lovely stuff.
 
No that's right, singles are too fussy for espresso. When I was using singles I had to recalibrate nearly every time I used the machine, with blends I can just calibrate once the first time I get a new blend and it will have enough leniency that the taste won't be that bad by the time I've finished the bag.
 
Dj_Jestar said:
No that's right, singles are too fussy for espresso. When I was using singles I had to recalibrate nearly every time I used the machine, with blends I can just calibrate once the first time I get a new blend and it will have enough leniency that the taste won't be that bad by the time I've finished the bag.
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That's the biggest PITA about trying new beans every single time. When I order from Hasbean/Rave i stay away from blends, mainly because I see using these places are the biggest reason to try the best coffee so single estate for the purist form.

Currently I have actually enjoying this place, apparently the only wood fire roaster in the UK. Lol, I realise it's a blend but i got it from town.

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UE are great. Had a couple of different single origins and blends from them. Place locally is using them too, but they're a health food place so I try not to go in there often. All soy or almond milk rubbish. Shame, the espresso is good. They're just ruining it with that garbage. ;)

Even took a couple of bags of UE to San Francisco with me to drop off as presents for a couple of people. Seemed to go down well. :D
 
You took coffee to San Francisco? That's like talking ice cream to Milan or... Coffee to Milan! :p

Re: single v blend, it also doesn't help that singles aren't always in stock as well, forcing you to get new beans frequently. This is a bonus for filter/press because I love trying out new stuff all the time and brew method is "one size fits all" but a pain and a waste for espresso for me as I am compelled to get the best I can which means lots of test shots.
 
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I definitely have to recalibrate when moving from bean to bean (or even from bag to bag if they weren't ordered together) but not whilst on the same bag of beans. I have reasonably high standards but probably not quite as high as yourself I guess :)
 
Dj_Jestar said:
You took coffee to San Francisco? That's like talking ice cream to Milan or... Coffee to Milan! :p
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Yup. Mainly as gifts for people. Did a bit of a worldwide coffee exchange. But it turns out that San Francisco's coffee scene is way behind London's.

There are some excellent cafe's there though. But many more are pretty meh.

Can completely recommend Ritual, Four Barrel, Sightglass and Flywheel.
I'd personally avoid Blue Bottle. Just too much dark roast for me. You can get that almost anywhere else, in little cafe's with bulk brew. No need for an 'independent' to do it really.

And for an odd coffee experience - www.funraniumlabs.com - Black Blood of the Earth. Vacuum cold brew. I brought a couple of litre bottles from Phil *we met up in Berkley*, and damn it's good.
 
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