HomeRoast Digest


Topic: Espresso Blends (20 msgs / 364 lines)
1) From: sschurman
As I mentioned earlier today, I'm about to embark on creating my own espresso
blend.  What I'd love to achieve is something with the body and dense crema of
the Malabar Gold blend, without the slight bitter taste/aftertaste.  I don't
really care for fruity flavors like I get from Harar.  Rather, I'd really like a
sweet, traditional "coffee" taste.
My plan is to start with a the following blend:
40% Brazil Oberon
25% Sumatra Triple Pick
25% Yemen Mocca Rimy
10% Kappi Royale Robusta
All roasted to the point where oil drops form only after a few days.
I'm thinking I'll also play around with some Djimmah and some Sulawesi Toraja. 
So, please, everyone chime in with comments and your own favorite blend.
Steve Schurman
Whirley-Pop
Rocky
Pavoni/Santos/Chambord

2) From: cationic
Steve,
You may want to try a slight variation: instead of 40% Brazilian, go 20%
Brazilian, 20% Mexican or Guatemalan.
Another variant would be to keep the 40% Brazilian, but put in 25% Mex or
Guat instead of the Yemen.
I have tried the above blends with very good results (in line with what you
want to achieve).
Regards,
Rafael

3) From: Renaud Dreyer
I'm about to place an order at SM. Any more reviews of the Classic
Italian Espresso Blend? As a reference, Malabar Gold and Mokka Kadir 
are my 2 favorite espresso blends, and I'm not a big fan of the 
Monkey Blend (I find it a bit too "bland"...).
Did anyone get a chance to try the Indian Malabar Blend while it was 
being offered, and compare it to Malabar Gold? I assume it was 
pulled because MG went back into stock. Ciao,
              Renaud
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4) From: Michael Allen Smith
Yes, I've had the Classic Italian Espreso Blend (CIEB).  Let me start by
saying that I'm BIG fan of the Malabar Gold (MG).  The CIEB makes a very
good latte.  It's as good or almost as good as MG.  When it comes to
straight shots, the CIEB is clearly better.  It seems a little smoother wirh
less bite.  If you drink both straight espresso and milk-based drinks, order
up some CIEB.
Before CIEB my espresso order was: 10% Monkey, 90% MG
After trying CIEB, my espresso order is: 10% Monkey, 45% MG, 45% CIEB
Hope that helps,
mas
<Snip>
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5) From: Renaud Dreyer
Thanks Michael, I drink almost exclusively straight espresso so I'll 
order a couple of pounds. A couple of weeks I made a MG ristretto for 
a Napolitan friend and he claimed this was the first real 'Italian' 
espresso he'd had outside of Italy. Ciao,
               Renaud
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6) From: Tom Brodrick
 
<Snip>
This i what Tom wrote to me and said about his Indian Malabar blend:
...I added 12.5% Brazil Oberon and 12.5% Indian Pearl Mountain Peaberry to 
what is essentially the Malabar Gold formula...
(Tom, sir, I hope I'm not treading were I don't belong! Please let me know 
if I am!)
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7) From: John Roche
on 6/1/01 6:30 PM, Renaud Dreyer at rdreyer wrote:
<Snip>
Does anyone else find that the classic blend needs a very long resting
period? I've only roasted in once or twice and on both occasions found it
best at 4-5 days post roast.
john
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8) From: Michael Allen Smith
<Snip>
I agree, but it does taste better at day 2 & 3 than MG.
mas
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9) From: Mike DeZelar
On Fri, 01 Jun 2001 18:47:20 -0700, Renaud Dreyer wrote:
<Snip>
Congratulations on the nice validation of your roasting and espresso
making skills.  Of course, a great blend helps a lot!
-- 
Michael DeZelar        Elk River, Minnesota, USA
O-
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10) From: Renaud Dreyer
<Snip>
It was all in the blend, of course! :) It passed the "sugar on crema" 
test, which I'd never tried myself since I drink my espresso 
straight.
Now I need to decide if it's the right time to upgrade from a FR to 
an Alp. I love my FR and the close control I have of it, but I'm 
getting tired of the close attention it needs (I cool the roast down 
every 2 minutes for 15 seconds to get a nice full-bodied roast for 
espresso) and the small batches.
So the Alp looks good now, but with the bigger capacity Heathware and 
FR coming out eventually, maybe I should wait. Ciao,
             Renaud
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11) From: Mike McGinness
Hi Alex,
I'm a proud fanatical hopelessly addicted to fairly new owner of Miss
Silvia. Been home roasting a little over a year and have around 40 different
greens. So far, my favorite single origin for straight shots is Uganda and
Timor, roasted light full city. I've tried a few blends for shots but none
as good, IMO. I could give you a list of SO I don't like as shots, but are
great Cafe' Crema but that's another story! I just ordered a # of Tom's
Monkey Blend to see what people are raving about...
MM;-)
Home Roasting in Vancouver, WA USA
Exploring the Art & Science of coffee excellence - learning more and knowing
less each day.
From: "Alex Garant" 
<Snip>
I've
<Snip>
by
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single
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a
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12) From: John - wandering Texas
Alex,
    You will get some superior answers to this one - but like most I started
with a single source because it was easier to learn to roast.  But it didn't
take long to graduate to blends.  Tom offers several really great blends -
his Monkey Blend is becoming my favorite but there are many.   Lots and lots
of us blend - and I'm not that far ahead of you  - but the folks are very
willing to share their formula with you.  Hang on I'm sure they are right
behind this :O)   And welcome to the greatest hobby going!
John

13) From: Jim Schulman
Hi Alex,
Welcome to the list.
My favorite SO espressos are Puerto Rican Yauco Select roasted full city 
with no oil, and Uganda Budadiri or Bugisu roasted full city/vienna with a little 
oil showing. Yemens and DP Ethiopians also make great SO shots, but 
these are a bit more extreme in terms of taste.
Tom's Monkey Blend is a much more balanced cup, albeit without the 
"character" of SO shots. It also is a terrific blend for a beginning roaster -- it 
roasts evenly, first and second crack are distinct and well separated, and it 
works very nicely for espresso from everything between a light full city to a 
dark vienna. IMO, It's the best place to start for understanding the espresso 
taste differences different levels of roast produce.
Jim Schulman
On 6 Mar 2002 at 0:23, Alex Garant wrote:
<Snip>
I've read reviews on individual coffees posted on this
<Snip>
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14) From: Alex Garant
I'm new to the list and new to roasting. I recently picked up a Hearthware 
Precision, and would like to start roasting specifically for espresso. I've 
read reviews on individual coffees posted on this list, but it seems that by 
and large people don't blend much. Can you get a good espresso from a single 
origin coffee? Would the characteristics of a combination of origins make a 
more interesting cup? I'm looking for a strong cup with lots of body, and 
not too acidy. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance.
Alex.
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15) From: Michael Geis
Is there any concensus on which is the best of Tom's
espresso blends?
Mike
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16) From: Rick Farris
About as much as there is on which is the best car.  What were you
thinking, man?  ;-0
-- Rick

17) From: jim gundlach
Mike,
      Different people like different blends.  My advice is to build 
your own set of one pound samples and see what you like.
        Jim Gundlach
        La Place, Alabama
On Tuesday, August 5, 2003, at 02:46  PM, Michael Geis wrote:
<Snip>

18) From: Michael Geis
Good plan.
Mike
--- jim gundlach  wrote:
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19) From: Les & Becky
I doubt it!  But in my book the Monkey Blend is the best!
Les

20) From: jim gundlach
On Thursday, August 7, 2003, at 01:33  AM, Les & Becky wrote:
<Snip>
I would agree but my wife likes the new Amber and my son-in-law loves 
the classic Italian.  They are all worth trying.
Jim Gundlach


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