What coffee are you drinking just now?

[Hassan I Sabha]

There are some great Brazilian coffees at the moment

Brazil - Fazenda Terra Preta - Natural - Direct Trade

Tasting Notes: Sweet orange, caramel, cocoa SCA Cup Score: 86 What does this mean? Processing: Natural Varietal: Catucai 2 SL Growing Altitude: 970masl What is it good for? Super espresso with a fruity edge or really bring out the tropical fruit with a pourover brew. Additional Notes: Terra...

www.blackcatcoffee.co.uk

Organic Brazil Sitio Grota Sao Pedro **Micro lot** - James Gourmet Coffee

Organic Brazil Sitio Grota Sao Pedro **Micro lot** .Delicous and complex fruity single farm micro lot., from Claudio, the Godfather.

jamesgourmetcoffee.com

Above 2 are great, Black Cat are especially on top of their game at the moment

There are some great Colombian beans around at the moment, especially Anerobic fermentation method.

 

[gentlegreen]

There are some great Brazilian coffees at the moment

Brazil - Fazenda Terra Preta - Natural - Direct Trade

Tasting Notes: Sweet orange, caramel, cocoa SCA Cup Score: 86 What does this mean? Processing: Natural Varietal: Catucai 2 SL Growing Altitude: 970masl What is it good for? Super espresso with a fruity edge or really bring out the tropical fruit with a pourover brew. Additional Notes: Terra...

www.blackcatcoffee.co.uk

Organic Brazil Sitio Grota Sao Pedro **Micro lot** - James Gourmet Coffee

Organic Brazil Sitio Grota Sao Pedro **Micro lot** .Delicous and complex fruity single farm micro lot., from Claudio, the Godfather.

jamesgourmetcoffee.com

Above 2 are great, Black Cat are especially on top of their game at the moment

There are some great Colombian beans around at the moment, especially Anerobic fermentation method.

I'm a bit rubbish when it comes to shopping, so left it till the last minute and just searched for "chocolate" at my usual place.

Curious that even my bourbon option has turned out to be "natural" ...

 

[Hassan I Sabha]

If you like chocolate try Black Cats Chocolate Point blend

 

[gentlegreen]

Fresh beans for Monday

Three different beans and 3 or 4 combos to try.

First up is :-
Nicaragua Finca Limoncillo Pulped Natural Caturra
Milk chocolate, hazelnut, Nutella hazelnut chocolate spread £7.50

As usual I didn't get all that - perhaps being overwhelmed by the first fresh beans in nearly 3 months, but definitely at the chocolatey end of the spectrum and with just enough acidity to stop it being cloying .
When I used to regularly buy Nicaraguan coffee 30 years ago, I thought of it as a rich yeasty stew - almost like the smell of a home brew beer kit - and this had a fair bit of that
Ironic that I always have my coffee with bread spread with yeast extract which undoubtedly biases my palate.

 

[gentlegreen]

day 2 of the coffee tasting extravaganza ...

El Salvador Finca Argentina Natural Bourbon
Cocoa nib, almond, date, brown banana £6.50

Super frothy - or dusty ?
Quite a bit of resistance to press through the filter.
At some point I'm going to have to evaluate the grind I'm getting with my 10 year old burrs...

Initial impression was of a very high roast and I thought it was going to be a disappointing breakfast experience, but eventually I was able to rationalise it as very dark chocolate - and once I'd started on my toast, I confirmed that.

I must order another bag of the Twoday El Borbollon to compare if they still have it. That one was so chocolatey I couldn't actually cope with it by itself, but if the third coffee from this delivery isn't a bit more "Brazilian", I would have to order yet another coffee to blend it with.

At least with winter encroaching, the beans should store reasonably well ...

 

[gentlegreen]

If you like chocolate try Black Cats Chocolate Point blend

To be honest, sometimes coffees can be too chocolatey !
It's the somewhat "thin", relentlessly acidic coffees I avoid - though I've learned to appreciate them in a blend.
But the fact that I actually have 250g of year-old beans for dire emergencies is testament to something ...

 

[chilango]

and

 

[chilango]

I've just made my last mug of the Las Delicias. Nice and easy going daily cup.

The Finca Licho has a more memorable flavour without being at all challenging.

 

[gentlegreen]

The Finca Argentina produced a decent second infusion which brought out more acidity, so perhaps I should try brewing longer ...

 

[gentlegreen]

Day 3 ...

Guatemala El Limon Black Honey x Natural
"Hazelnut, golden sugar, digestive biscuit" £7.50

Beans are apparently San Ramon and Catimor. and "Black Honey" is the cleaning process.

I could smell the acidity in this one, but it's not at all overpowering or unwelcome.
I still get chocolate - i.e. none of the above ....but not like the previous ones ... perhaps "thinner" and low treble rather than bass ... and perhaps even a "smoky" note in there somewhere ... a bit like Lapsang Souchong tea...
Quite an unusual coffee - like nothing I've ever had before.
A definite hit of dark fruit in the second infusion.

I'm going to have to try these coffees separately a few more times before I think about blending.

 

[farmerbarleymow]

Better make the most of your coffee now gentlegreen - this isn't a cheerful article about the future of coffee plantations. Fungus threatens them and sadly lots of farmers will suffer.

Coffee Rust Is Going to Ruin Your Morning

Coffee plants were supposed to be safe on this side of the Atlantic. But the fungus found them.

www.theatlantic.com

 

[gentlegreen]

So after a few cups of each ....

Nicaragua Finca Limoncillo Pulped Natural Caturra
Milk chocolate, hazelnut, Nutella hazelnut chocolate spread
This one stands by itself - gutsy. I'd definitely buy this one again.

El Salvador Finca Argentina Natural Bourbon
Cocoa nib, almond, date, brown banana
This one is also well-balanced - though with a little more acidity.

Guatemala El Limon Black Honey x Natural
Hazelnut, golden sugar, digestive biscuit
The wildcard - less body - I'll probably try to blend it with the Nicaragua.

 

[gentlegreen]

First blend - the hearty Nicaragua plus the "thin" Guatemala. 50/50
Very nice indeed.

 

[chilango]

I've another bag of the Finca Licho on the way. It'd better arrive in the next hour or so or I'm gonna have to hand grind some old beans

 

[danny la rouge]

Lavazza Oro.

 

[gentlegreen]

I've another bag of the Finca Licho on the way. It'd better arrive in the next hour or so or I'm gonna have to hand grind some old beans

I haven't had Costa Rican for years - but used to really like the one they sold locally - and the description scares me, but what does it really taste like and how do you prepare it ?

 

[Hearse Pileup]

If it wasn't for having laryngitis ATM I'd probably be drinking Vietnamese no 3 roast. I like it black from one if the little drip devices, though it is rather good with sweetened condensed milk

 

[Hearse Pileup]

Instead it'll be a hot ginger and honey drink for me. Though I've had this thing for over two months now, so part of me is wondering why I'm bothering being good lol.

 

[gentlegreen]

Instead it'll be a hot ginger and honey drink for me. Though I've had this thing for over two months now, so part of me is wondering why I'm bothering being good lol.

Weirdly I've had a very slight bacterial(?) thing going on since March that means a continuously slightly snotty nose and occasionally gives me enough sinusitis to justify half a soluble co-codamol ... the worst of it was moderate labyrinthitis which was rather inconvenient when I was crawling under desks at work back in the summer.
I wonder if my anti-viral prevention measures have limited my exposure to beneficial organisms ...

 

[danny la rouge]

Weirdly I've had a very slight bacterial(?) thing going on since March that means a continuously slightly snotty nose and occasionally gives me enough sinusitis to justify half a soluble co-codamol ... the worst of it was moderate labyrinthitis which was rather inconvenient when I was crawling under desks at work back in the summer.
I wonder if my anti-viral prevention measures have limited my exposure to beneficial organisms ...

I wish you would either a) take a medical degree or b) stop reading medical things on the internet.

Sorry for your labyrinthitis though, I get that periodically. It’s miserable.

 

[danny la rouge]

If it wasn't for having laryngitis ATM I'd probably be drinking Vietnamese no 3 roast. I like it black from one if the little drip devices, though it is rather good with sweetened condensed milk

Millennials.

 

[gentlegreen]

Millennials.

The robusta coffee sounds interesting - though it sounds like it might benefit from condensed milk to offset the acidity ...

 

[Hearse Pileup]

Millennials.

The funny thing is it's the way the vietnamese have been having it for aaages. A vietnamese drip machine is pure utilitarian communist design, and as we live near deptford I just wonder into the nearest viet store and pick my coffee fix up.

Bang to rights on the millenial thing though; guilty as charged

 

[gentlegreen]

I wish you would either a) take a medical degree or b) stop reading medical things on the internet.

Sorry for your labyrinthitis though, I get that periodically. It’s miserable.

well it's just weird.
When I was exposed to humanity I had some spectacular viral infections with hardly any secondary symptoms ...
I've never had such prolonged sinussyness before - especially in summer ..

I'd hoped that cycling to work would blast my pipes through.
The other two factors are not catching viral infections and hand-cleaning ...

It may not be scientific, but it's all I have...

 

[danny la rouge]

well it's just weird.
When I was exposed to humanity I had some spectacular viral infections with hardly any secondary symptoms ...
I've never had such prolonged sinussyness before - especially in summer ..

I'd hoped that cycling to work would blast my pipes through.
The other two factors are not catching viral infections and hand-cleaning ...

I get what you’re saying: if I’m doing the hand washing, distancing, mask wearing, minimising face touching, how am I seemingly getting viruses?

Och, I’m not going to complete that thought, because it’ll seem combatant and I don’t mean to. I just don’t want other readers to wander off down your idiosyncratic rabbit holes. Best of wishes. Hope you get over your ailments.

 

[gentlegreen]

I get what you’re saying: if I’m doing the hand washing, distancing, mask wearing, minimising face touching, how am I seemingly getting viruses?

Och, I’m not going to complete that thought, because it’ll seem combatant and I don’t mean to. I just don’t want other readers to wander off down your idiosyncratic rabbit holes. Best of wishes. Hope you get over your ailments.

I'm not complaining - the symptoms are only token.

Weirdly I just had my surgery phone to offer me a flu jab and I declined for the same reason.
(Actually the main reason is I'm trying to avoid going anywhere near the medical profession)
Having retired, I only expose myself (oo er missus) in 3 local shops where I'm taking all necessary precautions.
Were I to catch so much as a sniffle, I would know my precautions are ineffective. as such things are less easy to catch than covid.

 

[chilango]

I haven't had Costa Rican for years - but used to really like the one they sold locally - and the description scares me, but what does it really taste like and how do you prepare it ?

You only get the merest hint of raspberry on the nose.

It tastes fresh and sweet, but subtle. No great acidity or anything though. Nice straight forward coffee imo.

(12 -14g in 300ml of off the boil hard water in a v60 ftr)

 

[danny la rouge]

The funny thing is it's the way the vietnamese have been having it for aaages. A vietnamese drip machine is pure utilitarian communist design, and as we live near deptford I just wonder into the nearest viet store and pick my coffee fix up.

Bang to rights on the millenial thing though; guilty as charged

Oh I’ve got one, I just don’t tell anyone.

 

[Artaxerxes]

Blue Volcano ground coffee from Black Sheep Coffee. Thought fuck it and just got something decent for a change, it's what I usually get if I'm around Liverpool at on a weekend.

 

[chilango]

Anybody got any good alternatives to Hasbean?

At similar price point £7 or £8 a bag. Good range of interesting coffees etc etc.

I'm very happy with Hasbean and get the occasional bag from Pact or Tamp Culture but but wonder 8f I'm missing anyone?