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  • Indian and Harrar just not working..

    Hey all,

    Been roasting for a little while now and have recently roasted up some indian, ethiopian harrar & costa rican beans.

    I leave the beans sit in the open for 3-4 hours to allow the release of CO2 then I bag in an airtight bag (without gas release valve).

    Cupping went well, and after 8 days took the beans into a friends coffee shop (hes got the espresso machine that I cant afford) and got some varied results:

    Costa Rican = very chocolatey niceness and easy to work with on the espresso machine. Happy with result.

    However, the Indian & Harrar was a bit of a disaster. They both started pouring well out of the espresso machine, but blonded out quite early and seemed quite gassy. Both had the same undesirable smell and taste (acidy and bitter).

    Both coffees were dosed with quite a full dose in the basket so dont think its the dose and pretty sure the grind was good.

    Any ideas on what could be causing the problem? My friend thought it might be to do with the resting and storage of the beans prior to use. Im a bit perplexed! Any ideas would be great.

    Thanks,
    Beanbag.

  • #2
    Re: Indian and Harrar just not working..

    Welcome BB, if the indian you refer to is monsooned malabar then do a search for the bean as heaps has been posted about it. I have never tried it or roasted it but it seems that it requires a MUCH longer rest period and prior to that it is....well less than ideal.

    Steve

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    • #3
      Re: Indian and Harrar just not working..

      How long have you been roasting? I think im around the 1 year mark now and still get bad batches now and then. I find sometimes my harrar tastes brilliant and other times it tastes dirty and burnt.

      My pour is pretty consistsant and i think its my roasting profiles that need the work. I think some beans are just easier to roast than others.

      Re. the malabar, i give it 2 weeks rest at quite a dark roast and it comes out wicked. Def a fav.

      I always bag as soon as theyve cooled, never tried sitting them out for a few hours. Another thing ive noticed is sometimes i have a pour that tastes ashy/bitter, so i just try again in a larger cup (although i always have a double ristretto shot). The extra milk (if thats how u have it) seems to mellow it out and sometimes it ends up being great. Some coffees are stronger than others i guess...

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      • #4
        Re: Indian and Harrar just not working..

        Originally posted by 1C3B3F303C3F395E0 link=1309414653/0#0 date=1309414653
        They both started pouring well out of the espresso machine, but blonded out quite early and seemed quite gassy

        Sounds like some beans I roasted and hadnt rested long enough. After a few more days they were great, much to my relief ;D

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        • #5
          Re: Indian and Harrar just not working..

          Originally posted by 5056414A50574F4D240 link=1309414653/3#3 date=1309417238
          Sounds like some beans I roasted and hadnt rested long enough. After a few more days they were great, much to my relief ;D
          Thats what it sounds like to me too.... 8-)

          Definitely worth grabbing some 1-Way Valve Bags for storage and then bagging/sealing while the beans are still warm.

          This avoids the tendency of the roasted beans trying to re-absorb moisture from the air while you allow them to degas. Roasted beans are very hygroscopic in nature and moisture is not something you want back in your freshly roasted beans....

          Mal.

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          • #6
            Re: Indian and Harrar just not working..

            Thanks Mal,

            I didnt know about the bagging when warm, I did it with my last batch because I was impatient ;D

            Until I saw it with my own eyes I would have said my beans were stale. I had rested them 5 days and thought that was enough. A couple of days later they were acting like good fresh beans.

            I would have thought 8 days was enough but it would be worth checking them again every 2nd day to see when they come good.

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            • #7
              Re: Indian and Harrar just not working..

              Originally posted by 4D60646865090 link=1309414653/4#4 date=1309418353
              Roasted beans are very hygroscopic in nature and moisture is not something you want back in your freshly roasted beans....
              I have seen roasters mostly having the beans stored in silos ready for sale however a couple actually have the beans in wooden buckets with no covers, I wonder when would the beans stop being hygroscopic?

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              • #8
                Re: Indian and Harrar just not working..

                Originally posted by 3C3A22222A3D2C3D2A222E4F0 link=1309414653/6#6 date=1309429319
                I have seen roasters mostly having the beans stored in silos ready for sale however a couple actually have the beans in wooden buckets with no covers
                Id be keeping a wide berth from these particular vendors.... Unless these are just props for display purposes of course...

                Originally posted by 5F594141495E4F5E49414D2C0 link=1309414653/6#6 date=1309429319
                I wonder when would the beans stop being hygroscopic?
                When theyre saturated...

                That is, when they are at equilibrium with the ambient Relative Humidity....

                Mal.

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