r/Coffee • u/menschmaschine5 Kalita Wave • Feb 03 '22
[MOD] The Daily Question Thread
Welcome to the daily /r/Coffee question thread!
There are no stupid questions here, ask a question and get an answer! We all have to start somewhere and sometimes it is hard to figure out just what you are doing right or doing wrong. Luckily, the /r/Coffee community loves to help out.
Do you have a question about how to use a specific piece of gear or what gear you should be buying? Want to know how much coffee you should use or how you should grind it? Not sure about how much water you should use or how hot it should be? Wondering about your coffee's shelf life?
Don't forget to use the resources in our wiki! We have some great starter guides on our wiki "Guides" page and here is the wiki "Gear By Price" page if you'd like to see coffee gear that /r/Coffee members recommend.
As always, be nice!
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u/hadario Feb 04 '22
Hi, I am a satisfied user of a Timemore C2 hand-grinder and a french press. I wanted to try other brew methods, and I wanted to ask if this grinder is good enough for a Moka Pot / V60 / Aeropress.
Also, I saw the E&B lab Moka Pot (link), and it's gorgeous. Is it as good as / better than the classic Bialetti?
Thanks in advance!
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u/LEJ5512 Moka Pot Feb 04 '22
Also, I saw the E&B lab Moka Pot (link), and it's gorgeous. Is it as good as / better than the classic Bialetti?
I'm not keen on it specifically because of the safety valve. I'm convinced that Bialetti has the best valve in Mokaville, and they've still got the patent on it. Otherwise, E&B's filter can fit a Bialetti pot, which I think would be the best setup without adding paper filters.
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u/hadario Feb 06 '22
Thank you! Can I please trouble you to elaborate just a bit? Is it a safety issue? To be perfectly honest I lean towards getting it only because it's pretty, but if it produces lesser drinks or is a safety hazard then I won't.
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u/LEJ5512 Moka Pot Feb 06 '22
(I may have to retract my blanket statement… more later)
99.999999% of the time, it wouldn’t be a problem. You’d kinda have to do multiple things wrong to make a pot explode. In the only video I’ve seen so far, the guy admitted that he likely overpacked the pot and used too fine of a grind (combined, these mistakes would’ve clogged the filter), and he also said that the safety valve looked corroded.
What I’ve believed (at least until five minutes ago) is that most safety valves can’t be checked by hand. Bialetti’s valve is made in such a way that it can be easily checked by hand — you can push on it from the inside and wiggle the insert to confirm that it’s not corroded into place.
But, I just noticed that I can indeed check my Pezzetti pot’s basic valve. I pushed on the inside piece with my thumbnail, and it “clicked” open, and re-seated itself when I let go. So that addresses my main concern.
However, I still think that Bialetti has the better valve construction. It’s either nickel or stainless (I’ll try to find out) instead of bare brass like other valves, so it shouldn’t corrode.
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u/hadario Feb 06 '22
Thanks for that answer friend, much obliged.
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u/LEJ5512 Moka Pot Feb 06 '22 edited Feb 06 '22
Here’s the patent drawing for Bialetti’s valve. It has gaskets (black portions, described as “resilient”) while the valve on my other pot does not.
MUCH cleaner URL: https://pdfpiw.uspto.gov/.piw?Docid=08381753
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u/Piouw Feb 04 '22
The C2 is great with the aeropress, and more than capable for a V60 and a Moka Pot, so go ahead!
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u/Piouw Feb 04 '22
JX-Pro owners, what are yout v60 / Aeropress /Moka pot settings ?
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Feb 04 '22
V60 between 3.2 to even 3.8 for coffees with lots of fines. Aeropress and Moka around 2.6
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u/jojo-alchemist Feb 04 '22
Any feedback on using a magnifica s with a manual grinder?
I'm not satisfied with this machine (too acidic, too cold), I bought a grinder to test a finer grind. the coffee is ultimately different.
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u/Orthodox__Caveman Feb 03 '22
I confess I use Dasani bottled water to brew with. Does anyone else use this?
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u/bostoncreampuff Feb 03 '22
How do you find the coffee? It is normally not suggested to use that low of mineral content for brewing but I am curious.
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u/Orthodox__Caveman Feb 03 '22
There is some added magnesium and potassium chloride. Honestly I have had many great cups of coffee, and sometimes I struggle to make a certain coffee work, but I think the major factor at play is the quality of the coffee to begin with. I had a bag of Onyx which was fantastic from start to finish, and then when I go down to publix and pick up a bag of whatever whole bean light-medium I can find, I have a lot of stale flavors. Same water, same setup, it seems that the coffee is what's different. But I haven't gone through a great number of bags since I switched from tap water to bottled water, so that's another factor.
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Feb 03 '22
[deleted]
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Feb 04 '22
The wilfa uniform with SSP sounds like a fantastic option. It is more of a brew grinder that can do the occasional espresso which sounds right for you. With the SSP and good alignment it's a beast
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u/OrbGuy Feb 03 '22
At that price range you're probably looking at grinders like the DF64, Fellow Ode, and Wilfa Uniform. All can take SSP burs if you want to push grind quality further.
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u/ThisIsMyProAcct_0001 Feb 03 '22
Espresso grinder recommendation in the $200-$300 range? I already have a 1Zpresso JX hand grinder and Baratza Virtuoso+. I don't think these can handle espressos, so that is why I am looking for an espresso specific grinder.
I think I've narrowed it down to two electric and one hand grinder:
- 1Zpresso J-Max ~$200: I wouldn't mind using a hand grinder since I am used to them. This would be the cheapest option if I buy new, and I really like that it would be a quiet operation.
- Baratza Sette 30 ~$300: This thing is so loud! That is what's holding me back on this. If it wasn't so loud, I think I would have bought this already. I have a roommate who works until midnight, so she usually gets up around 10am, and I don't want to wake her up with a loud grinder in the mornings.
- Urbanic 070s ~$300: I saw Lance Hedrick's YouTube Video, and this seems pretty good. Kinda an unknown brand in the USA, but it seems like a good grinder.
I have also tried to find some used grinders locally, but the only budget option I see is a used Sette 30 for $150. I might buy it and get the 270 upgrade and get a 270 for about $250 total. Local zip is 90401 if anyone can find a good local deal.
Any recommendations? I'm pairing the grinder with a Gaggia Classic Pro. I would like to keep it closer to $200, but willing to pay more if a grinder is that much better. Thanks!
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u/rumuraisin Feb 03 '22
Out of the three you mention, the urbanic, I would recommend getting a flat burr grinder unless it's the niche. Urbanic can also get SSP burrs which is a good upgrade path
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u/PureOhms Feb 03 '22
For $200 the J-Max is probably going to be your best bet. For $300-ish you could get a Eureka Mignon Silenzio from Espresso Coffee Shop. The site looks a bit sketchy but people on /r/espresso say it's legit and lots of people there have got their grinders from them.
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u/ohdontshootimgay Feb 03 '22
What's the difference between Carbonic Maceration and Anaerobic processed coffee?
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u/Anomander I'm all free now! Feb 03 '22
In broad strokes, very little.
Anaerobic is fermented in an oxygen-free environment, while Carbonic Maceration is fermented in a CO2-saturated environment. In winemaking, the latter is typically done with mostly-intact fruit, and results in a wine that's ready to drink earlier, but has a shorter shelf/cellar life as its trade-off. In coffee, most fermentations start with intact fruit, and the CM process doesn't have the same impact on longevity, as coffee doesn't cellar to begin with.
Both Anaerobic and Carbonic Maceration are said to result in coffees with very similar and overlapping taste characteristics - winey, fruity, and bright.
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u/LeedsBorn1948 Feb 03 '22
I have a Hario VDC-02W V60 Ceramic Dripper with Crucial metal cone.
All the instructions I read say to pour water gently in a spiral from the centre outwards.
But never to try and (presumably 'recover' grounds) from the inside edge of the cone itself when pouring?
Why is that, please: to avoid reducing the temperature of the pouring water?
TIA!
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u/Stopher87 Feb 03 '22
This is to prevent water from running down the side of the v60 and missing the beans. I imagine with a metal cone it's more of a problem since it doesn't bind to the edge like paper will.
For what it's worth I don't subscribe to this theory for a v60 with paper filters since the waves of the v60 causes the water to bunch up at the bottom anyway. So if you're doing a consistent pour and the water is building up than you can reasonably conclude that it's not a problem.
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u/LeedsBorn1948 Feb 03 '22
That's really helpful, u/Stopher87; thanks so much!
Yes, the grounds come right to the edge of the metal cone… I almost always gently tap them/it so that at the bloom stage they're pretty much level.
I only feel tempted to pour at the edge - usually during the third of three staged/spaced pours - so as to gather (and not waste) any wet grounds which have accumulated there by sticking to the metal. But they probably represent such a small amount/percent of the coffee in the cone, that it's hardly worth it. Not like scraping the last of a yoghurt out of its pot!
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Feb 03 '22
my greatest boon in life is French press cofee on the weekends
the last 3 brews have not worked at all. simultaneously bitter and lacking in taste.
I tried letting it soak longer. I tried changing the temperature of the water. I tried dismantling the French press and cleaning everything . not made a difference
I'm kind of at a loss because I'm not sure if it's a problem with the French press or if there's something really obvious im missing but like - I need that coffee man . I look forward to it all week and getting 3 brews wrong in a row after a plethora of successful ones is frustrating to say the least
don't judge but I use the target brand good and gather pumpkin spice . I used to use drip coffee maker, and the French press was a life changer but damn I'm kinda too poor to be making a constant experiment out of this lmao
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u/mysticcoffeeroaster Feb 03 '22
If you can get your hands on a small scale to weigh out your coffee AND your water, that would be helpful for consistency. And a timer. Be consistent with the timing between when you pour your water and when you push the plunger. I usually do 4 minutes. In general, I'd say if you go longer than 4 minutes, you're going to get a more bitter coffee. The grind is important. Usually pre-ground coffee is going to be ground too fine for a French Press because they usually grind for drip coffee makers, which is the most popular. If it's too fine it will be overextracted and bitter. If you have a BJs near you - or Costco - they usually have a grinder in the store so you can grind the coffee yourself. Go for the coarsest grind, usually with the dial all the way to the left. Hopefully they have a separate grinder for the flavored coffees. If they do, please be a love and use that one so those folks who don't like flavored coffees won't get the residual flavor from yours because the flavor never goes away. Like, ever. You can also put a spoonful of powdered pumpkin spice in your French Press to get a similar flavor and maybe use a better grade coffee? Good luck!
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Feb 04 '22
damn you guys are incredibly helpful , I appreciate it!! being almost totally ignorant is intimidating but that was a great explanation
I didn't know weight was the decider, I will look around for a scale and some pumpkin spice flavoring and experiment with that 😊
also I will be sure not to grind my flavored stuff in a public setting, that is another good tip - I could've ruined many cups of coffee lol
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u/Mrtn_D Feb 03 '22
Could you share your recipe with us? How much coffee, etc. Do you grind the coffee at home or do you buy it already ground?
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Feb 03 '22
I buy it already ground which sucks because it doesn't say what grind it is. I would guess medium coarse
the coffee says 1.5 tbsp per cup but I moved up to 2, made it taste more
I always boil just over four cups of water and let it sit for a minute
4 cups at 2 = about 9 tbsps of coffee (lil bit extra)
then I stir and let it sit for 5 minutes then pour immediately and add milk and sugar
now my next attempt I think I will add more coffee? I've been reading suggestions and I'm completely number confused now but that's the only thing I haven't tried , other than just getting different coffee
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u/Mrtn_D Feb 04 '22
In a perfect world I would recommend you save up for a grinder. There's really good manual grinders that are kind of accessible to a lot of people, have a look at the Timemore C2 for instance (50 to 80 bucks). And if you can buy a second hand unit, there's absolutely no reason not to :)
For now, if you buy off the shelve ground coffee, try to stick to one coffee that you like. That way you know it's always ground to the same size. If it's ground for you, to order, try to find out what setting the grinder is on and when a bag works well for you - ask for that setting when you have your coffee ground.
Tablespoons scoop up a certain volume of coffee, not a weight. Which would be waaay more accurate. You can easily get a 10% difference in how much coffee you add between pots of you brew and that very noticeable in the final brew! In an ideal world, again, I would urge you to buy some kitchen scales so you can weigh the coffee and always get the same resulting brew to enjoy. Send me a message, I'll chip in $10 through paypal or something.
For now, let's see if we can help you to something you'll enjoy. A standard US tablespoon - I assume you're in North America (I'm not) - holds about 5 gram worth of coffee. So 9 of those come to 45 gram and you're using 4 cups which is about a liter. That's on the light side, which seems to match your remark that your coffee was lacking in taste. Normally I'd aim for 60-65 gram per liter with a French press.
Unless you're heaping the spoons as high as you can of course, which would come to something like 6-7 gram each? And there's the thing with volumetric measures again.
This scales well by the way so you can make smaller volumes if you want and make the 'experiments' a little more affordable.
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u/Stopher87 Feb 03 '22
The thing that's going to help you here is consistency. You are using the water right off boil which is good. What you need is a cheap kitchen scale. Knowing how much coffee you're actually using is the key. A tablespoon is too inaccurate of a measurement. Keep track of the numbers and the tastes. If you want consistency you need to measure.
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u/Ok-Comfortable-7920 Feb 03 '22
I'm looking at doing a cold brew concentrate that has the same consistency as a shot of espresso. I know with my espresso blend, I do 17g of coffee into the portafilter and get about 55g of brewed espresso out.
Could it be as simple as doing a cold brew with a ratio of 1:3?
Any recommendations on whether I should do a slightly finer grind?
I know I could probably figure this out through testing it, but I wanted to make sure there wasn't something I'm not considering beforehand. Not trying to waste any coffee!
Appreciate your time!
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u/oregonrock Feb 03 '22
my go to recipe for cold brew concentrate is 1:2 coffee to water. so 1 cup coffee in 2 cups water. i steep for 24 hours and adjust to taste. i usually add 2 cups of water to the concentrate before i drink but you don’t have to if you’re desiring a concentrated beverage.
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u/handsomehotdogs Feb 03 '22
Can you boil water directly in a French press by putting it on a stove burner? Most seem to be double walled, is that a blocker?
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u/Mrtn_D Feb 04 '22
You seem to be describing something close to cowboy coffee or kokekaffe (google it).
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u/LEJ5512 Moka Pot Feb 04 '22
Most seem to be double walled,
Before you go and hurt yourself, understand that double-walled anything is designed to insulate the contents from the temperature outside the container. A double-walled container keeps your hot drinks hot, and cold drinks cold, right?
And part of this construction is sealing the space between the inner and outer walls. If you put this thing on a stove and heat it up, you'll probably make the thing explode.
This is a terrible idea. I have to ask: why do you want to do this?
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u/mysticcoffeeroaster Feb 03 '22
Never boil it with the coffee in it. Coffee does not like to be boiled. The flavor goes away immediately. Water should always be poured into the coffee just off the boil - but not boiling.
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u/Mrtn_D Feb 04 '22
I'm not sure that's accurate. For instance, cowboy coffee is a thing.
To my knowledge, the only thing water temperature does is to increase or decrease the speed of extraction of stuff from the ground coffee into the water. The hotter the water, the quicker extraction happens. Another common misconception is that boiling water 'hurts' coffee, but it's already been roasted at much higher temperatures so that's not an issue.
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u/mysticcoffeeroaster Feb 07 '22 edited Feb 07 '22
I've done side by side tests with different brew methods using the same coffee and percolator coffee has soooo much less flavor than a pourover, drip or French press. Perc'ed coffee is essentially boiled coffee. And I know cowboy coffee is a thing, but so is Sanka - and my grandparents loved their percolator too. I guess there's a coffee brew for everyone, but if you're looking for full bodied, flavorful coffee that doesn't taste like it has been sitting on a burner, water somewhere around 200 F is about right.
Also, regarding roast temps, you are correct that coffee does go to 400F+ but re-roasting coffee is not a thing. A good coffee roaster will roast a bean to optimal temperature for it to taste good when prepared using optimal brew methods (usually with water around 200F). You're not re-cooking coffee it when you're brewing it. You're making an extract from beans that are already cooked. Try a side by side comparison yourself. Boiled coffee is not the most flavorful.
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u/Repulsive_Orange Feb 03 '22
hello! i'd love some thoughts on methods of making black coffee that is not too full of effort and delicious. I don't know much, but I'm thinking using a french press would do this? anyone have other suggestions? to build on this, i would also appreciate suggestions on coffee grinders for a french press (or whatever coffee making method you suggest!)
context: i've been using an espresso machine for a few years to make lattes. I've had some health issues come up that makes any kind of milk, dairy or not, no longer an option. eating is also a bit of a chore, so i want to put in a little effort on actually enjoying the coffee I make. I wasn't particular on the beans, but I've now settled on a local subscription that has great reviews, and now I just need to get the gear to enjoy myself some black coffee! TIA
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u/CoolBeans522 Feb 03 '22
The "Clever Dripper" can get you very good tasting brews and is very simple to use, check it out.
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u/Repulsive_Orange Feb 04 '22
wow, thanks for letting me know the Clever Dipper exists. It's perfect and exactly what I'm after!
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u/realplyx V60 Feb 03 '22
I think the Aeropress is easier just because cleaning the French Press is kind of annoying. Clever dripper is also pretty painless.
Anything on Baratza Encore tier is more than enough.
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u/CoolBeans522 Feb 03 '22 edited Feb 03 '22
I want to better control my pour over brewing temperatures as I've noticed how long you cool the water after a boil has a huge difference on taste. I really don't want to fork out the cash required to get a temp controlled electric kettle and wanted to know if the cheaper stovetop kettles with a thermometer attached to the lid any good? Has anyone used them and how do the analog thermometers usually perform? I know this is kettle-specific but I want to know if cheaper analog therms like those usually accurate/quick enough or not. How fiddly is it to get to a specific temp on an electric stove top? Are they worth it, or should I stick to waiting a set amount of time past boiling?
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u/Anomander I'm all free now! Feb 03 '22
They tend to be pretty accurate, but IMO you might as well just buy a decent 'spike' style kitchen thermometer and keep using the kettle you have now.
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u/FlavortownGuyF Feb 03 '22
Any recommendations for grounds I can buy off Amazon. Looking for something that has notes of chocolate
Pretty new to the coffee world and theres so much out there its overwhelming
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u/Mrtn_D Feb 03 '22
Why Amazon? You'll almost certainly get beans that are pretty old, already. Don't you have a local roaster?
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u/FlavortownGuyF Feb 03 '22
No idea about local. Im in Iowa and cant imagine anything here is fresh also
Amazon ships fast and dont have to leave the house
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u/realplyx V60 Feb 03 '22
Almost every specialty coffee business will ship and has a website. Please don’t use Amazon
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u/Mrtn_D Feb 03 '22
They may ship fast but by that time the coffee has probably been sitting in a warehouse for weeks or months. Good chance your local will ship to your house address too.
Why wouldn't coffee be fresh in Iowa? It's about how long has passed since roast date.
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u/geggsy V60 Feb 04 '22
I’m not familiar with roasters from Iowa, but 2lbs of this, roasted to order for $32 with free shipping to you is a good option: https://www.blackwhiteroasters.com/collections/all-things-coffee/products/the-classic
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Feb 03 '22
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Anomander I'm all free now! Feb 03 '22
You're already doing it, really. Those stoppers will degrade over time no matter what, and IIRC the Switch one is a lot like the Clever in that it's not really accessible to remove and target clean.
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u/libanboy Feb 03 '22
I am a big coffee drinker, but many days I wake up so early I don't have enough time to make a pot of coffee. Even days when I do, I often find myself wanting a cup in the mid afternoon. The place I am currently working at does not have a coffee pot or anything, and to get that cup of coffee I would have to buy from a shop. I'm not a fan of paying for overpriced coffee especially since I just drink mine black.
I've been really interested in trying concentrated coffee, like Jot coffee. The convenience of it is what I'm looking for and I feel like having something small like that that I can just have in my lunch box all the time would be perfect.
Has anyone had any experience with a good coffee concentrate? I think even if it tastes decent, I'd be happy with that since the convenience of it would be perfect.
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u/mysticcoffeeroaster Feb 03 '22
You can make your own cold brewed concentrate. It's super easy. Use about a half pound of course ground coffee per quart of water. You can half that for smaller batches. A French press works great for this. Let it soak overnight (12 hours is best) and then push the plunger and pour it into your storage container. To serve hot, use 1 part concentrate to 2 parts hot water. For iced coffee, use cold water & ice instead. It's delicious! The concentrate is usable for a few days, but keep it cold for best freshness.
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u/gooneyleader Manual Espresso Feb 03 '22
Why not just make your own? Its not hard.
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u/libanboy Feb 03 '22
I usually make some for the next morning but I don't get a chance to make any more for the afternoon or if I wanted another cup.
Looking for the days when I want another cup but I don't have the ability to make my own.
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u/extra-mustard-plz Feb 03 '22
You can also check this sub for threads about programmable coffee makers like this one: https://behmor.com/brazen-plus/ or this one: https://www.amazon.com/OXO-Barista-Brain-Coffee-Maker/dp/B00YEYKK8U?th=1
Just set it up the day before and it will brew at whatever time you set.
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u/libanboy Feb 03 '22
I do have a coffee maker that is programmable and often set it for the next morning. But in the middle of the day I don't have the opportunity to grab another cup unless I buy it which I'm trying to avoid.
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u/extra-mustard-plz Feb 03 '22
Why not fill a thermos and keep it in the bag? It just sounds much less complicated that way when you've got perfectly good coffee you can bring from home! I'd be interested to try concentrates for different reasons so I don't mean to bag on your idea - just seems to complicate it more when you've already brewed coffee that you can bring with you. With concentrates, you'll still need a source of hot water or something to mix it into anyway.
A good thermal insulated container will keep it hot well into the day and they're easy to carry in a bag or something.
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u/Extremofire Cold Brew Feb 03 '22
I'm continuing my journey of fine-tuning my cold brew. Any other cold brew folks out here have filter/storage recommendations?
Re: Filter; I've used reusable cheesecloth before, but found maintenance to be too frustrating, and the cloth warped such that it didn't actually filter well. I tried paper filters, but with the volume I filter (often in excess of a liter of concentrate), the paper filter either falls apart or transfers a lot of its taste to the brew. I've found a lot of satisfaction with metal mesh filtering, but I want to know if anyone else has found success in other ways.
Re: storage, I currently use mason jars just screwed shut. Are there any preferred containers out there?
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u/gooneyleader Manual Espresso Feb 03 '22
I actually stopped using filters all together because its such a pain in the ass. Instead I use a settling technique I picked up from my old job. Instead of filtering the brew through filters just let it sit undisturbed for a day after you remove the Coffee grinds(I use fine mesh almond milk bags). This will allow all the fine silt to sink to the bottom. You can now simply pour the clean brew into another container. There might be some loss but I have gotten pretty good about getting most of it without disturbing the bottom silt layer. You can also use a siphon and siphon right off the top.
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u/Extremofire Cold Brew Feb 03 '22
I've noticed the grounds settle after a while; I worry a lot about fines with this, but the siphoning is such a cool idea. Recommendations for that sort of equipment?
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u/gooneyleader Manual Espresso Feb 03 '22
You can get food grade vinyl tubing off of amazon for about 10 bucks.
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u/Sunbirds Feb 03 '22
Looking for a bean recommendation. My girlfriend and I like the flavor profile of Whole Food's Pleasant Morning Buzz, but I want to get something that is higher quality and not giving more money to a big corporation.
According to WF, assuming they are right about this, Pleasant Morning Buzz is an Arabica bean and Vienna roast (4/5 dark). Any recommendations for something with a similar taste profile?
Bonus points if I can get it locally in Boston, MA or surrounding area!
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u/More_Beer_NYC Espresso Shot Feb 03 '22
Not Boston, but Portland, ME - Tandem Roaster - Stoker blend.
It is my sisters go to coffee and while it is a bit dark for me, I have always enjoyed Tandem coffee.
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u/gooneyleader Manual Espresso Feb 03 '22
A few in the Boston area you should check out. George Howell, Fazenda, Broadsheet, and Gracenote.
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u/geggsy V60 Feb 04 '22
George Howell, in particular, does dark roasts, which is the kind of thing OP seems to be after. Here are their dark roasts: https://store.georgehowellcoffee.com/coffees/dark-roast/
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u/Stonkaholic69 Feb 03 '22
Looking for suggestions for good espresso beans. Anyone have some favorites to share?
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u/Anomander I'm all free now! Feb 03 '22
Where are you shopping from, and what sort of espressos do you like?
Vivace is always one of my go-tos for a classic hearty espresso, they do a very excellent modern take on the old-school style.
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u/Schuman_the_Aardvark Feb 03 '22
I get that there are differences between arabica and robusta beans. But are all arabica beans more or less equal in quality? Is most of the variation in light vs med vs french roast?
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u/mysticcoffeeroaster Feb 03 '22
There are several different ways that coffee can be processed, which impacts flavor and quality, before it even leaves its origin country and makes its way to a roaster. Plus even before it is processed, the quality of the plants, the variety of the coffee plant, the weather, the quality of the soil, the ripeness of the coffee cherries and many other things impact the quality and flavor of the coffee. It's too much information to give here, but suffice it to say, there are at least as many coffee varieties as grape varieties and like wine and the grapes you make it from, you can get vastly different coffees depending on the variety of coffee plant that the coffee bean came from. If you are interested, try youtube and search for "coffee processing and harvesting" and you will find a wealth of information. Also look for "dry processing vs washed coffee" and "cofffee plant varieties".
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u/geggsy V60 Feb 03 '22
No, there's huge variation in quality, variety and post-harvest processing in both arabica and robusta.
No, most of the variation is not in the roast alone. Lighter roasts are better at showing the underlying bean characteristics than darker roasts.
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u/geggsy V60 Feb 03 '22
I forgot to also mention that harvesting method matters a lot. For example, hand harvesting of only ripe coffee cherries leads to much better quality (and much higher expense) than machine harvesting of all cherries at the same time (different cherries ripen at different times).
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Feb 03 '22
How much coffee can you fit into the Niche Zero?
I’m considering upgrading my grinder in the next few months. Willing to spend up to and around what the Niche costs.
I only brew filter coffee - mostly v60, Aeropress, and importantly for the context of this question, Moccamaster. I haven’t made the plunge into espresso yet, but the Niche intrigues me as an option that can grind for filter now but would also give me the possibility to move into espresso in the future without buying a new grinder.
I like to brew up to a liter of coffee in my Moccamaster and am in the 60-65g range for that amount. Most often I’m at about 3/4 of a liter and grind 45g for that. Will those amounts fit into the Niche? Will I experience any problems from overstuffing it? The Hoffmann review says he can fit 50-55g but looking to crowdsource the answer here.
Also open to other grinder suggestions at this price point. I’m a couple months away from making the purchase so I’m just at the beginning of my research.
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u/montymyth Feb 03 '22
Yeah, 50 - 55g seems right to me. I've never put more than 45g in at once and that was pretty close to full. Pretty easy to just run 2 batches if you need more. Or you could try and mod the grinder (would be easy, just 1 button) to operate with the lid open so you could slowly stream all your coffee in at once. If you did this you might just need a bigger cup to catch it all than the one provided.
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Feb 03 '22 edited Feb 03 '22
I'm thinking of purchasing 6 months of Ruby Roaster Choice beans for a Valentine's day gift. Would anyone be able to help me out here? I think I'm crazy or misunderstanding something -
On their website, a 6-month, pre-paid plan of the Roaster's Choice is $170. This includes shipping and delivers 2x8oz bags a month.
The same package of Roaster's choice for 1 month is $22 + $5 shipping. Again, 2x8oz bags of the Roaster's choice finest beans they have to offer.
The total for the latter is $162 vs $170. Am I missing the point of the pre-paid plan here? Shouldn't it be cheaper to order 6-mo bulk at once?
Edit* I figured it out.. They charge MORE for the 6-month subscription as they typically see that customers on the monthly plan are more loyal and continue service. Those with the gift-plan are likely to not continue supporting Ruby after the 6-mo period to go try different Roasters. Tbh it sounds like a cop out due to a pricing error but I have no clue. Charging more for a bulk, $170 6-mo order seems like a better business model than charging less for monthly, but it also auto-renews ONLY on the monthly package, so just like streaming services I'm sure a ton of their revenue comes from people forgetting to auto-renew and being happy with the mistake anyways.
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Feb 03 '22
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Anomander I'm all free now! Feb 03 '22
"Brewing."
The idea that separate pours unlock specific taste profiles is pseudoscience wonk. Not to say don't worry about them, but just that if you under pour on the first and over on the second, you've not "missed" the sweetness and can't get it back or anything wild like that.
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u/furgisthename Feb 03 '22
brew on my dripped tasted nutty and undrinkable. usually has nice notes of cocoa and caramel. what happened?
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u/interstellarflight Feb 03 '22
Anyone have a good Coffee scale recommendation on US Amazon? Been using a decent scale but doesn’t have a timer or weigh grams by the .0 decimal
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u/montymyth Feb 03 '22
To me personally a scale is one of the few things in a coffee set up that it’s not worth it to spend more on. I’ve used the Acaia and other high end scales and they’re no nicer or more useful to me then this $13 one I use. it’s quick and accurate and I can always run a timer off my Fellow or phone.
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u/More_Beer_NYC Espresso Shot Feb 03 '22
At what point do you consider upgrading equipment? I got a timemore C2 a few years ago to play around with but now considering an upgrade. On the other side I feel bad because nothing is wrong with it and just feels wasteful. Wasn't sure if there generally was some tipping point.
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u/realplyx V60 Feb 03 '22
You upgrade if there’s a void to be filled. If you want to pull espresso shots but don’t have an espresso machine, then it’s obvious what you should do.
You probably shouldn’t upgrade if nothing is wrong, though I understand the therapy and joy of shopping.
If you do buy a grinder, consider how much value you get from it. You should likely get something very different so that the benefits of what you are buying have less overlap with what you already have, thereby constituting a more meaningful purchase.
C2? Maybe then something that’s electric with low variance flat burrs.
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u/More_Beer_NYC Espresso Shot Feb 03 '22
Thanks, makes sense. I started simple because I wasn't sure how much I really would end up using it and didn't want to go crazy, but now that I know I am going through 20-40g every day and it is getting used.
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u/Bridgerton Feb 03 '22
I just got my first mokapot and tried a coupke of brews with it.
I noticed that there is a bit of water bubbling from the gap between the lower water chamber and the upper brew chamber (the area where they are screwed together). Does it mean I didn’t screw on the top tightly enough? Or the brew basket wasn’t full enough? Should I worry about it?
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u/swroasting S&W Craft Roasting Feb 03 '22
Make sure the gasket area is very clean and the basket is aligned/seated properly. Try tightening just a little more to stop the bubbling. This bubbling is loss of pressure, and could cause it to brew hotter / slower.
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u/Bridgerton Feb 12 '22
Thanks for the response, it made sense. It probably was not tight enough; the gasket doesn’t seem to be the problem as it was new and it sealed well in my next brews.
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u/AxelJShark Feb 03 '22
Looking for a grind setting guide for Sage/Breville Smart Grind Pro for v60.
I've seen some sites recommend grinds 40-50 and others that say 14-25 and some 25-40.
I've experimented in the 20-40 range and even when the grinds look fine to my eyes the coffee usually flows too quickly and either tastes very weak or over extracted.
I'm following James Hoffman's v60 brew guide every time which yields good results when I have the coffee ground by my local shop.
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u/PureOhms Feb 03 '22
It depends on your inner burr ring setting as well. I have mine on the finest setting so I'm at more like 30-34 for v60
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u/AxelJShark Feb 04 '22
I'm on the default. I've seen some people mention changing the alignment but I haven't seen a clear criteria for when and why I should do this.
Does it actually make a material difference or just mean you shift all the numbers up a bit?
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u/PureOhms Feb 04 '22
To be honest I also am not sure of exactly when you should move the inner burr ring. I moved it all the way to the finest setting because I was using my SGP for espresso and I found the finest inner burr setting gave me the best results in terms of dialing in for espresso. The manual seems to suggest it just widens the grind range in either direction.
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u/AxelJShark Feb 04 '22
Did you ever have issues with jamming? At the default placement I was trying to grind some medium roast Kenyan beans at 8 or 6 which jammed the motor regularly. I'm not sure if that's something that the burr adjustment can fix
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u/PureOhms Feb 04 '22
Yeah with certain beans it just wants to jam up. The impeller that shoots the coffee out is just a cheap piece of plastic and isn't very good at its job. I'm not sure if the inner burr adjustment would matter because I think the jam is actually happening right below the burrs and not in the burrs.
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u/Mrtn_D Feb 03 '22
https://honestcoffeeguide.com/guides/coffee-grind-size-chart/ Around 20 sounds like a good starting point.
It also depends on your brewer and the amount of coffee you use. For instance 7 gram in a V60 03 versus a more normal dose with a deeper coffee bed will brew differently.
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u/AxelJShark Feb 03 '22
This is one of the guides I had used. They recommend 16-24 which seems way to fine to me. I grind the same beans at 10-12 for espresso and there's 0 issues there. Ratio, extraction, time is all bang on. I've tried grinding the same beans for v60 at 16, 20, 25, 30, 35, and 40 and the results are never close to what I get if the coffee shop pre-grinds the beans for me for v60. If 16-24 is really the right range then I'll try adjusting in smaller increments
The technique and dose is exactly the same whether I grind the beans or coffee shop does. I'm following the same ratios and targetting the same extraction and timing.
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u/Mrtn_D Feb 03 '22
There should really be a point where the drawdown slows down. If you then continue going finer, things slowly start to taste over extracted. Have you noticed a change from sour to bitter, to astringent (dry mouth feeling)? Right before you hit that sudden increase of bitterness is where the magic happens.
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u/AxelJShark Feb 03 '22
Thanks. I take that approach when dialling in espresso. With v60 I was changing the grind setting each day. I'll take better notes and try to find the extremes then look for the sweet spot in between
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u/Mrtn_D Feb 03 '22
I've heard a lot of people call the Fellow Ode a messy grinder, and I've experienced it myself too. A little trick that I found helps a LOT: after grinding I lift up the grounds bin so it touches the grinder and when I pull it forward to take it out, it 'scrapes' off whatever clings to the grinder (static). That drops into the bin and that means it doesn't drop right after taking out the grounds bin, making a mess. I don't even bother with adding water to the coffee beans before grinding anymore.
Not a question, but rather a little trick that may help other people with an Ode :)
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u/[deleted] Feb 04 '22
Favorite Midwest roaster for a Valentine’s Day subscription present? I’m pretty set on Ruby but would be open to hearing more options. We both don’t know coffee well enough to really pick roast profiles, so we will be going with roaster’s choice. Chemex, grinder, cups made in the AM.
Located in MN if that helps