Help me blend

[PhatBoy]

Hi. Ive been blending with a hand ful of this and a handful of that....kind of like my cooking. And have had mixed results usually only average.
Some assistance would be fantastic. Ive been roasting all my beens to just on 2nd crack...Is this ok?


I have :
Kenya AA
Columbia Volcan Galeras Supremo Bold
Sumatra Mandheling
India Monsoon Malabar
Brazil Yellow Bourbon
and a little bit Java Express 200g to use up

[HD]

Re: Help me blend

Nice beans you have there Phat Boy. Just on second crack (where, by the way - on the first few snaps, a bit more, or new years eve fireworks?) is a good start especially if its for your Silvia.

My experience with blending usually starts with getting to know each origin. May I suggest, if you havent already done so, just trying each origin as single origin espresso. Then see if the origin elicits any of the following responses:

1) I really really like this. I can have this on its own with just a little bit of something else - congratulations, you can continue enjoying this bean on its own, but youve also just found your base upon which you can start building a blend by adding other beans
2) I like this, but its too loud on one aspect - you may have stumbled on a highlight bean. You need to maybe think how you can tone the volume down to make it work
3) I like this, but its so so - dont give up, some good blends are the sum of so so single origins, they can act as fillers.

Blending is a wonderfully complex and exciting labyrinth to get lost in. So get lost and enjoy.

HD

[nunu]

Re: Help me blend

Beware the Minotaur in that labyrinth. Unless you keep some sort of notes, youll get lost in your own labyrinth of blends.

I concur with HD. Really get to know your origins. Find out which you like best and which you think are average. KEEP NOTES.

From there, toy with a little SO blending. Roast half into rolling 2nd, and the other half just prior to 2nd. Let them rest a bit together and give it a try. You might find that will be enough to satisfy your blending appetite.

Apply KISS principle to blending with multiple beans. The more origins you have in a blend, the more likely you might get a cup with none of a particular origin at all (especially if the batch is small). Try to maximise the qualities of SOs in your blend. If an origin has a rich, full body and excellent mouthfeel as a SO, you might only need to add another bean to compliment it on the front-end.

Have fun and keep good records, you might come up with a winner youd like to share.

[Fulcrum]

Re: Help me blend

PB

It also depends what you want in the blend. I have had great success with Malabar/mandehling blends. This gives a nice full bodied flavour but with a dry or earthy finish which is not to everyones taste. I have also added up to 10% Ethiopean Sidamo to make it less dry on the finish.(You could try some of the Kenyan instead)

Definitely make sure you are happy with each SO roast before blending. Knowing what each bean tastes likes will help you tweak the ratios to get the blend you are after.
As the others have said keep it simple. Start with 2 beans and just vary the ratios.

Gavin

[PhatBoy]

Re: Help me blend


Thanks for the help guys. Going to keep it simple from now...trying the SOs and then going to add a dash of Malabar to see what happens.