Espresso Coffee - Mysore Nugget (Extra Bold)

Mysore Nugget

Well I used some of the Mysore Nugget to make espresso with; I think I am finished with the Espresso for awhile. I am having a very difficult time tasting any real difference in the flavors of espressos - maybe that is by design but it all pretty much tastes the same to me. So, unless I am not particularly fond of a bean I think I will refrain from wasting it.

With that said. The Mysore Nugget was not bad but not exceptionally appealing either. I will rate this espresso as a 5 just to be neutral but that is about all I can do.

Espresso Coffee - Washed Bourbon A

Washed Bourbon

The other night I roasted some of the Rwandan Washed Bourbon to use for Espresso. I did not enjoy this cup as much as I enjoyed the Finca San Jose because the Finca San Jose seemed a touch sweeter and inviting but it was much much less bitter than the Flores Bajawa.

So for these reason I give this bean a 5 rating.

Espresso Coffee - Finca San Jose

Finca San Jose

I used the Nicaraguan Finca San Jose tonight for Espresso. A couple of things that is noticeably different from last nights Flores Bajawa is that 1) it tastes better, less bitter and difficult to get used to, in a very-strongly-roasted sort of way, it was actually quite good and 2) I feel the kick of caffeine where I did not last night. Either this specific bean has more caffeine content or I am more open to the effects of caffeine tonight.

However, Compared to last night's rating of 5 out of 10 I rate this espresso a 7.5 out of 10. I am actually thinking that I would like another cup of this brew.

Espresso Coffee - Flores Bajawa

Flores Bajawa

This is the Primula Aluminum Espresso Coffee Maker

I often tell people that coffee is an "acquired taste" and people agree - especially those people who do not like coffee. But now I think the most honest statement is that "coffee is an acquired taste and espresso is at best tolerated."

Wow! Espresso coffee is coffee times 10. I've been using 2 oz. of grounds for a 12 cup pot but with the espresso maker I use 1 oz. of grounds for just one cup of coffee. It is not so much the caffeine jolt but the flavor is potent. I wish I could say that it tastes good but all I can taste is dark-roast. There seems to be no flavor from the bean at all. I am sure this is by design but I am still going to try the various coffee beans as espresso just to see if there is any difference between them.

I made my first cup of espresso with the Flores Bajawa. As I said I could taste nothing but very strong espresso roasted coffee. Since I do not know what "good" versus "bad" espresso tastes like I am going to rate this first brew a 5 out of 10 just to give me a base line to start from.

NOTE - I have since rescinded this rating of 5 to a rating of 3 because as I learned what to expect, I learned that this espresso was just too bitter to be considered good.

Tres Rios La Magnolia

Costa Rica

I roasted this bean to a City to Full-City and the smell of the beans was sweet and syrupy - like caramel corn. The ground beans were a bit less caramelish but it was still possessed a sweet smell that promised a very rich cup - it did not renege.

The aroma of the brew was very aromatic and pleasurable. It smelled sweetly fragrant, almost like milk-weed, and deep like a coffee shop smells.

This Costa Rican was very rich with a fine balance as the sweetness was evident and the complexity kept me guessing at what sort of flavors I was experiencing. Although this cup was not as distinct as the Peaberry it had a distinction that commands an audience of its own. I am looking forward to someday brewing this cup next to some of the other beans and making a side-by-side comparison

From 1 to 10 I rate this coffee a 8.

Sumatra - Mandehling Gr. 1

Indonesia

The aroma of this Sumatran Mandehling stands out to me as a firm coffee that is classic but far from basic. As I took in its fragrance I could detect the rich earthiness that is imbibed in the flavor.

I roasted this as a City roast (removing the beans from the fire just seconds after the First Crack) as I desired to experience the raw flavor of this bean (I do that sometimes). The flavor is long and earthy which is free from any hint of bitter. Although it is not listed as one of the attributes I sensed a hint of butter, though that could just be the creamy feel of the body upon my tongue.

This is certainly a pleasurable cup.

From 1 to 10 I rate this coffee a 5.

This coffee press makes a single regular sized cup of coffee. It was $9.99 on sale at Meijer. It works and cleans pretty well but because I have nothing to compare it to my assessment might be skewed.

I have been using it to make a cup of Maxwell House when I don't have a pot of my own roast brewed. For the most part the flavor has not been enjoyable and quite bitter. But I have discovered that this is because of user error. I have been making the coffee in the press with water from the tap. I know the importance of using filtered water when making coffee but for some reason I have been too lazy to get water from the fridge when using the press.

Yesterday I made a cup of Maxwell House using the press and I used filtered water. What a difference in the flavor. While I find Maxwell House to be a boring/common coffee it is a stable blend and the basis from which I compare all coffees. Using the filtered water the flavor is not bitter and pretty much without quality flaw. The flavor is still common and unimpressive but it is not bad. The press is a nice way to make a quick cup of coffee but filtered water is still a necessity.

Palhu Huehuetenango SHB

Guatemala

The Huehuetenango is a good solid cup of coffee that seems almost classic. The body is thin enough to leave the mouth clean and hearty enough to not be confused with tea. I've been drinking Maxwell House these past few days and really enjoy the departure from the normal bitters that exist in that roast.


From 1 to 10 I rate this coffee a 4.

Antigua Pastoral

Guatemala

The Antigua Pastoral is a bust. I think I made it too weak. I usually make coffee 2oz. to a 12 cup pot but I made this one at 1 oz. to a 6 cup pot and I think it was too weak. It smelled good but also too weak.

This Guatemalian is said to have a "big" chocolate taste although I did not notice it to be that big. The body was too thin and drank more like a watery tea than a full-bodied coffee. I was disappointed but again, I think I made it wrong.

I will brew this coffee again and add my updates in the comments.

From 1 to 10 I rate this coffee a 4.

Mocca Matari

Yemen

This is a great cup of coffee! The Mocca Matari has an exquisite aroma, from its ground City roasted bean to the hot brewed cup. It smells like warm chocolate pudding just like mom used to make which beckons the drinker to eagerly sample the cup.

The flavor is full and complex but most of all chocolaty! There are undertones of spice upon the finish but without doubt the chocolate flavor wins the day. The Yemen, Mocca Matari is a must try for all enthusiasts who want to know what it's like in Yemen.

From 1 to 10 I rate this coffee a 8.

McDonald's Coffee

Uh oh, I think I really am becoming a coffee snob. I just had a cup of McDonald's coffee and I was quite disappointed with it. I used to like the stuff, in fact I was quite impressed with it when it was first introduced in the market. However, today's cup had no body and the strong flavor came only from the roast itself. It tasted like it was burned, not quite charcoal, but burned.

I used to be happy with coffee, any coffee, the good, the bad, the ugly. Now I actually taste it and know the difference between a good brew and a brew that is not so good. I think I liked it better being ignorant but alas I know that I will never go back. I am sure that a snob I will forever be. Ah well, I guess there are worse things to be snobbish about.

El Conquistador Tarrazu

Costa Rica

As I have seated myself and am preparing to write this review I ask that you would bear with me a bit while I go get another cup of this Tarrazu.

O.K., I have returned. Thank you for waiting.

As a Full-City+ roast I find this cup to be very pleasing. The aroma is strong and spreads around the house like a fine linen blanket that invites you to snuggle in while it brews. Very smooth with a strong fragrant scent.

The flavor is very earthy, and (as someone else describes it) pleasingly straightforward. Straightforward is a great term that describes the flavor in this cup because other adjectives do not seem to identify the quality here. It really is a flavor that has to be experienced to be understood. I read that the Tarrazu is a classical bean that is known for its fruity and nutty attribute but I am afraid that the nut is lost on me - all I taste is the pleasing fruitiness that seems to make this cup "straightforward".

From 1 to 10 I rate this coffee a 6.