Mmm, coffee

My latest favorite coffee beans for my french press. Delicious.


https://javaloveroasters.com/products/bad-ass-brew

I used to think decaf was blasphemy, until the doc Px'ed bp meds and said no more caffeine.  Heck with that I still love coffee decaf or no makes no never mind to me.

Sweet Maria's green Ethiopia Gera Jimma SWP Decaf.  Roasted in alternating pairs of ancient Westbend Poppery's 5 seconds into 2nd crack, full city for a decaf bean.

I used to think decaf was blasphemy, until the doc Px'ed bp meds and said no more caffeine.  Heck with that I still love coffee decaf or no makes no never mind to me.

Sweet Maria's green Ethipia Gera Jimma SWP Decaf.  Roasted in alternating pairs of ancient Westbend Poppery's 5 seconds into 2nd crack, ie well into full city for a decaf.

Me loves SM African's and Island findings.

Enjoy your decaf beans. I have learned that there is actually some functionality to decaffeinated beans. There was a few recent batches of Columbian decaf beans I had locally ground and then 24hr steeped via a Toddy cold brew method. It makes a concentrate that you then store in the fridge and cut either with cold or hot water. The taste could be very smooth if you want a hot cup of black coffee in the morning. If you like iced coffee, you can cut it with ice and cold water and it is very tea like and refreshing. I am lucky to know a couple roasters who are within distance that the coffee I can make is pretty close in proximity.

What was the flavor like on your Ethiopian SWP brew like?

...What was the flavor like on your Ethiopian SWP brew like?

Good question, don't pay too much attention after the first batch. Will put on the analytical hat tomorrow and get back.

I used to think decaf was blasphemy, until the doc Px'ed bp meds and said no more caffeine.  Heck with that I still love coffee decaf or no makes no never mind to me.

Sweet Maria's green Ethiopia Gera Jimma SWP Decaf.  Roasted in alternating pairs of ancient Westbend Poppery's 5 seconds into 2nd crack, full city for a decaf bean.

I've been a Sweet Maria's customer for about 20 years now, best beans out there IMO. I used the Poppery for about 5 years back in the early years. It makes an awesome roast, very fast and a little messy. I progressed to some smaller hearth ware roasters for a while and have been using a HotTop for a number of years now. I like it but a bit more pricey than a hot air popper. I did my first roast in a cast iron pan about 30 years ago. It wasn't too bad either, a Sumatran as I recall. I like roasting, I get a pretty good cup and thats a great way to start the day.

All right I am having a tough time describing coffee taste.

About all I can say is this batch has a chocolaty flavor and consistency akin to Trader Joes 72% in the red wrapper. There's a earthy quality to it, it's reasonably bright or acidic enough to be satisfying but not as much as my recollection of American coffees. Kind of like a decent black tea but not as herbal or as sweet. If I was to pick one other thing it would be blueberries.

All right I am having a tough time describing coffee taste.  

About all I can say is this batch has a chocolaty flavor and consistency akin to Trader Joes 72% in the red wrapper.  There's a earthy quality to it, it's reasonably bright or acidic enough to be satisfying but not as much as my recollection of American coffees.  Kind of like a decent black tea but not as herbal or as sweet.  If I was to pick one other thing it would be blueberries.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts! Sounds good. I like chocolate and citrus notes in general from beans.

All right I am having a tough time describing coffee taste.  

About all I can say is this batch has a chocolaty flavor and consistency akin to Trader Joes 72% in the red wrapper.  There's a earthy quality to it, it's reasonably bright or acidic enough to be satisfying but not as much as my recollection of American coffees.  Kind of like a decent black tea but not as herbal or as sweet.  If I was to pick one other thing it would be blueberries.

Ethiopians often have a fruity, blueberry vibe to them - a number of years ago Sweet Maria's had an Ethiopian they called Blueberry Harrar. It was the blueberry-est Ethiopian coffee I've ever had before or since. I bought 5 lbs of green and wish I'd bought more. Its the bean by which I measure all Ethiopian beans and while some have come close none have matched that magic bean. Thats ok because the one thing I love about coffee generally and home roasting specifically is variety. Even if a bean was excellent, if I had to drink it every day for the rest of my life I'd get bored of it eventually.

Roasting in my Poppery's doesn't yield what /could be/ from Sweet Maria's beans compared other methods. That said once the the CO2 off gases it almost always shows better than even locally roasted beans off the shelf. I think that's a testament to SM's commitment to good beans. And the freshness of homemade goods.

Years ago I read an article about home roasting and the author compared it to growing tomatoes in your own garden. It is something that never fails to pay off, it's proves it's worth with the first cup and consistently satisfies.

I would have liked to try that Ethiopian. Sounds.... well... legendary!

Roasting in my Poppery's doesn't yield what /could be/ from Sweet Maria's beans compared other methods.  That said once the the CO2 off gases it almost always shows better than even locally roasted beans off the shelf.  I think that's a testament to SM's commitment to good beans.  And the freshness of homemade goods.  

Years ago I read an article about home roasting and the author compared it to growing tomatoes in your own garden.  It is something that never fails to pay off, it's proves it's worth with the first cup and consistently satisfies.  

I would have liked to try that Ethiopian.  Sounds.... well... legendary!

I don't have any experience roasting but would love to sit in on someone doing a batch. What is a bit of a catch 22 for me as of late is I haven't had the craving for coffee quite as much. I am doing due diligence to change my diet and as much as I wan coffee, I haven't been craving it to the point where I get it just to have it. Maybe part of it is I don't work as a barista anymore. I truly miss playing with the grinder and running stats on dialing in the different beans. Not having the access to an espresso machine (La Marzocco) has slowed down my experimentation. I'll share a recipe for a drink I came up with.

Gibraltar glass (4.5oz cup)

6 grams condensed milk

4 grams caramel (we had a alcohol sailor jack rum infused caramel that was very yummy)

dash of agave (less than 2 grams)

1 shot of espresso (at the time of the recipe I was using a blend of 60% Guatemala and 40% Kenya for milk chocolate, nut, and various citrus notes)

steamed whole milk (or milk alternative like almond or oat but personally I enjoyed the whole milk the best)

do your latte art and then dust the top with nutmeg

If I have a chance to make this some time in the near future I will do some pictures and share it here.

Cheers and enjoy your joe gentlemen!