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I snuck into a Latin class once.
Our school went co-ed and only the girls had ever studied Latin.
My long hair kept me camouflaged, so Ive had all of 40 minutes study.
Well my old school motto would be more appropriate for your job as " a qualified Process and Quality Management Systems auditor"..... (and anyone who wants to make good coffee )
Originally posted by Wushoes link=1165794956/0#13 date=1167538156
Id rate Barista skill close to last even though it is still very important. Doesnt matter how good your skills are....if you got crap beans, youre not going to get good coffee. Barista skill and machines come in very close to each other....almost inseparable.
Barista Skills are more than just making a coffee.
A good barista knows how to get the most out of the equipment he/she has.... and ensuring it is suitable for the task at hand. Part of the skill set is ensuring the ingredients are suitable - and that includes the freshness and the selection of beans etc.... So those with good skills will always use the best and most suitable beans they can..... The barista skill set - which is so important- is more than just the technique......
Unfortunately, in the real world, many Baristas wont be able to use their skills to their full potential -- try telling the owner of a small cafe they should have a synesso - or they should change from their contracted "stale" bean / espresso machine supplier because the coffee would be so much better.
We, on the other hand, are the masters of our own destiny
Originally posted by JavaB link=1165794956/0#3 date=1165803650
Hi Larry and welcome to CoffeeSnobs.
Basically you need a good grinder and generally the $100 wont cut it (pun intended ).
You really need a quality burr grinder which allows fine adjustment of the grind size. Being here in the great "down under" Im not familiar with what is available in the US...... Javaphile would have a far better finger on the pulse over there and a better feel for what is good value for money.
In order of importance in making great coffees:
Barista Skill
Good freshly roasted beans
A good grinder
Coffee Machine.
The grinder is very important - if you get a good one initially it will last you a lifetime (with only a burr replacement required - if at all)
Id rate Barista skill close to last even though it is still very important. Doesnt matter how good your skills are....if you got crap beans, youre not going to get good coffee. Barista skill and machines come in very close to each other....almost inseparable.
Originally posted by robusto link=1165794956/0#10 date=1166097280
So, twice in six weeks, shock horror, into the supermarket, discard my self respect and any semblance of coffee snobbery and dive into the packaged roasted beans.
Only buy 250 grams, of the cheapest possible. (somehow, by inverse psychology, that lessens the guilt. Theyre cheap beans so of course they wont have any pretence at unattainable excellence, will they? Theyre cheap stale beans, so they wont disappoint, will they--cos you lower expectations to suit)
Geez.... robusto
Next it will be instant....
Then we will have to call on Java and the coffee police
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Guest replied
Re: Looking for a Grinder
I have ended up in the same predicament today, ran out of roasted beans
But I am not going to stoop to the inferior. Instead I roasted some up today and plan to go to the Sea Bar with my laptop and work tomorrow and let someone else make me coffee with fresh beans for the morning. Than I can return home with laptop in front of the cricket. Sometimes it is a hard life, but someone has to do it
Yep. This is all way off topic, I know, but..... Calculating when to roast the next batch to allow for resting and not to run out of current batch is becoming a pain in the proverbial.
The almost-depleted beans look as though theyll last two to three days longer. But will they? And will you really have time to roast --with work and other commitments which may preclude doing so at the optimum time?
Normally I get it right. But in the last 6 weeks or so Ive miscalculated badly. Twice. Im out of town a lot, for several days at a time. When I should be roasting Im miles away instead.
So, twice in six weeks, shock horror, into the supermarket, discard my self respect and any semblance of coffee snobbery and dive into the packaged roasted beans.
Only buy 250 grams, of the cheapest possible. (somehow, by inverse psychology, that lessens the guilt. Theyre cheap beans so of course they wont have any pretence at unattainable excellence, will they? Theyre cheap stale beans, so they wont disappoint, will they--cos you lower expectations to suit)
On a positive note, one then appreciates even more the perfectly roasted, beautifully hued fare which emerges from the barbecue drum at the next and earliest opportunity.
Originally posted by Boldor link=1165794956/0#8 date=1165891334
Java, on the subject of resting how do you determine the best resting period for different beans. Does it all just come down to taste?
Yup! The optimum resting time will vary with each bean type, the degree of roast, the storage container, and the ambient conditions.
Most beans need 1-2 days of rest to reach optimum flavor with a few needing a week or even more. Heres a link to a discussion of beans needing a longer rest.
Originally posted by Javaphile link=1165794956/0#7 date=1165883800
Remember that freshly roasted beans have to sit and rest after roasting before they hit their peak flavor. Be sure to figure that into your roasting schedule so you dont run out of beans before the new batch is ready for use.
Java, on the subject of resting how do you determine the best resting period for different beans. Does it all just come down to taste?
Originally posted by justintime link=1165794956/0#6 date=1165881055
Hey! Im used to store bought grinds, 1 week old has to be better, No?
OK I will do as you say.
Actually what I meant to say was I would only Roast 1 weeks worth. I will grind them as I need them.
Larry
Thats the way to go!
Remember that freshly roasted beans have to sit and rest after roasting before they hit their peak flavor. Be sure to figure that into your roasting schedule so you dont run out of beans before the new batch is ready for use.
Hey! Im used to store bought grinds, 1 week old has to be better, No?
OK I will do as you say.
Actually what I meant to say was I would only Roast 1 weeks worth. I will grind them as I need them.
Originally posted by justintime link=1165794956/0#4 date=1165806238
Since I will only grind a weeks worth at a time which is about 20 cups max.
No o o o o o o o!!........
You ONLY grind beans as you need them!!!! The "life" of ground beans is 3 minutes!!!! After that they start to lose their flavour and begin to go rancid!!!
There is a rule of 3s which is the "bible" of coffee and it relates to the life at each stage
Green beans 3 years
Roasted beans 3 weeks
Ground beans 3 minutes.
So please grind them just as you need them.... or you will get nothing like the flavour you should.
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