Some questions Id like answered...

[gbatterley]

Hi, Ive been reading the posts from this forum for a few months and its a great resource but Id just like a few niggly questions answered from people more experienced than me if possible.
Im using a Silvia and Rocky and getting some good shots. Today I bought a naked portafilter to try and help my tamping technique.
Ok, my questions...

The 60ml in 25-30 seconds, does the 60ml include the crema? Its just obviously the crema can include 20-30ml when first poured and then after a minute or so of standing the resulting coffee is around 45-50ml.

I hadnt realised how much different beans require different grind settings. Its taking me 2 or 3 goes sometimes to get the right grind. Is this usual? It seems like a waste of a lot of coffee. Do people usually get the same beans from the same supplier to get round this problem?

Can someone explain what blonding is? If, as I think it is, when the stream of coffee changes from hazlenut to light blonde colour then do you always stop when you see it happening whether or not the shot is 60mls.

Lastly, Ive read that people like the rimless baskets which I might get hold of. Can someone explain exactly what the benefit of these are?

Many thanks in advance for any answers to these questions.

[Mono]

Re: Some questions Id like answered...

Hi GB & welcome. Ok, my take on your questions............but it is mine only, not gospel.
1. I include the crema in the 60ml. Beans may be too fresh & the crema is unstable.
2.Yep, one of the reasons to roast your own.
3.Nah, different beans for me all the time.
4.Blonding, yes & yes.
5.not sure here but would believe it is because there is no rim for your grounds to get caught up in.

Steve

[gbatterley]

Re: Some questions Id like answered...

Thanks Steve, much appreciated. Once the wife has got over the cost of the current set up Id love to get into roasting.

[Dimal]

Re: Some questions Id like answered...

Welcome Gb.... [smiley=thumbsup.gif]

Theres some wonderful information on all aspects of espresso to be found on the Home Barista website. Heres a link to an explanation of Blonding... http://www.home-barista.com/espresso...tractions.html

Theres heaps of reading about the topic if you really want to get into it. Happy reading.... ;D

Mal.

[askthecoffeeguy]

Re: Some questions Id like answered...

you will need to change your grind with the same beans as they get older, also, as they loose moisture content, which means that youll need to continually fine your grind

and just to top things of grind also needs to be adjusted according to relative humidity - so if its cool in the morning, a coarser grind is required to stop the shots from choking, and as the day progresses and temperatures rise, grind needs to be fined up again to compensate for moisture loss

still, if youre only making one or wo coffees at the same time each day it may negate some of the above...

[Thundergod]

Re: Some questions Id like answered...

Thanks Steve, much appreciated. Once the wife has got over the cost of the current set up Id love to get into roasting.

Roasting your own saves you money.

You can buy roasted for $50kg.
You can buy green beans from CS for $10kg.

Every kilo you roast yourself saves you money.

[Dennis]

Re: Some questions Id like answered...

Thanks Steve, much appreciated. Once the wife has got over the cost of the current set up Id love to get into roasting.

Roasting your own saves you money.

You can buy roasted for $50kg.
You can buy green beans from CS for $10kg.

Every kilo you roast yourself saves you money.

TG, with due respect, I dont think thats a valid argument for roasting your own, when you can also buy roasted coffee for around $20kg, and greens for over $20kg.

In addition, as the roasting bug bites harder, if a CSer were to look around their home at all the raw coffee and equipment they have, then count up the $s spent, it would probably be a sizeable investment before one starts to consider the value of time taken.

From what I observe, people who roast their own do so because they derive a great deal of enjoyment and satisfaction in the process. And I think thats a good thing!

[bennett]

Re: Some questions Id like answered...

when you can also buy roasted coffee for around $20kg

Is that for real Dennis ? Im assuming youre not including supermarket brands. Where can you get decent roasted beans for $20/kg? I dont roast, and most of the local roasters I have used over the last few years sell for about $40/kg, give or take a few dollars.

I think youre right, most people who roast their own do so because they enjoy it.

[Dennis]

Re: Some questions Id like answered...

Dennis wrote on Today at 21:16:
when you can also buy roasted coffee for around $20kg


Is that for real Dennis ?

I didnt mean they were premium quality for that price. It was intended to show that there is a huge difference in prices. I simply dont think TGs comparison was fair. I could have said that I have never had a home roasted coffee that I would pay $50kg for, but look forward to that day.

[bennett]

Re: Some questions Id like answered...

I didnt mean they were premium quality for that price.

Fair enough, just checking. I thought there may have been a magical coffee bean fairy, that only a few CS members were privy to who dished out premium roasted coffee at a bargain basement price. ;D

[Dennis]

Re: Some questions Id like answered...

I thought there may have been a magical coffee bean fairy

There is. PM me with your address and let me know when next youre running low on coffee and Ill send you a couple of bags....free!

[GregJW]

Re: Some questions Id like answered...

Roasting your own saves you money.
You can buy roasted for $50kg.
You can buy green beans from CS for $10kg.

Every kilo you roast yourself saves you money.  

You dont have to pay $50/kg for roasted coffee (I dont think I have) and you can pay more than $10/kg for greens (yeah, ok, I have), but TGs point in respect of the OP is valid.

Home roasting can be very costly (certainly to start with) or can be done on the cheap (ie. popper - corretto) and, as TG suggested, end up being very cost effective. Ive probably saved hundreds, even thousands, of dollars over the past 2-3 years by roasting my own. I must admit, it is one of the attractions.

However, its not the main reason I do it. I do it because I enjoy it, its a passion. If it wasnt, I wouldve given up all the fiddling around it involves long ago. And sometimes it can be a bit hit and miss, but I enjoy trying new beans and profiles - some work out, some dont. When they do work, it adds an extra level of satisfaction to the morning cuppa. The quality and consistency of my roasting (subject to the slight limitations of my equipment) has improved with time and Im very pleased with the general standard. Sure, I would be VERY happy to drink World Blend or Espresso Wow all the time, but the extra enjoyment from roasting my own beans makes up for the occasional deficiencies in comparison.

Back on topic, the potential cost saving can be a good argument for doing home roasting (every shot you pull saves you money!), but only if its something you really want to do and are prepared to put a bit of time into. Some CSers arent attracted to it, others (like me) definitely are.  

you can also buy roasted coffee for around $20kg

I didnt mean they were premium quality for that price

;D Fair point, Den.

[Thundergod]

Re: Some questions Id like answered...

Den, the OP mentioned the cost factor in relation to his wife (hence my quote).

My response was simply to that.

I agree theres much satisfaction to be derived from home roasting but that wasnt necessarily going to sway his wife.

As for the costs I quoted, I do pay up to $50kg for roasted beans and just grabbed $10 as a round figure for comparison.

To justify that number one can look at BeanBay right now and the first 3 beans are $8.00kg, $10.50kg and $9.00kg.
Its true you can pay a lot more, and I have, but I think it was a fair comparison.

And as for valid arguments, $20kg green beans are probably going to sell for a lot more than $20kg, possibly more than $50kg.

[Dennis]

Re: Some questions Id like answered...

Once the wife has got over the cost of the current set up Id love to get into roasting.

Get a heatgun, stainless bowl, a whisk, and starter pack from Beanbay for perhaps an outlay of $70 and give it a go. Most people find it fun and rewarding.

Dont expect to save $40.00kg though!

[beanflying]

Re: Some questions Id like answered...

I started playing as Dennis said with the bowl and spoon and for the next week or so thats what I am back to while the Hottop is in for brain surgery

Back to the OP Yep grind varies from bean to bean and it also varies across ther life of a given bag for home use where it may be opened for a week to consume. Also variations due to humidity as well. The key here is to remember if you do try different beans roughly what you needed last time as to grind to save creating sink shots for the first one or two.

ve read that people like the rimless baskets

I am assuming you mean Ridgeless baskets? The ridged ones can get leftovers in them especially if your pucks finish up wet but mine on the Izzo dont cause me to many problems and a wipe with a cloth works as needed.

Blonding yep stop it if you see it, go back to playing with grind (normally finer to fix) dose and tamp.

The key to all of this is do YOU like what you are producing and if you try varying ONE THING at a time does it taste better or worse.

Enjoy the journey