Cheap Beans

dfk41

Well, I have thought all day as to what to write on this topic. For those who ask what I am rabitting on about, on the recommendation of @Inspector I visited this site to buy a kilo of their Nicaraguan Decaf for £8.99
https://a1coffee.net/java-caffe-nicaragua-decaf-coffee-beans-1kg.html
This then led me to buy a kilo of these in addition
https://a1coffee.net/planet-java-roasters-selection-coffee-beans-1kg.html
and also a kilo of Xmas Tree shaped marshmallows that were dated July, but were fine for the princely sum of a quid!
Postage was a bit steep but the beans arrived yesterday, as next working day. I decided to open the Espresso Blend this morning.

So, on opening the beans and having a good sniff, the aroma was ‘roasty’. In my experience this can come from older beans and at £5.99 per kilo then I expect that is right. They had a sticker of BB 09/23 which would suggest them having been roasted with September, so no reason to not get stuck in! I tried an espresso first but needed to loosen the grind as was getting a 55 second pour on 17 in. Second shot was not a lot better coming in at around 40 seconds for 30 gms out. The shot had exactly the same smell to it as the beans in the bag and allowing for the fact the pour was not spot on, tasted horrible! I then had the bright idea of adjusting the grind again since a pal turned up who likes cappuccino and made a couple for us. I told him it was a new bean and wanted his honest opinion. He enjoyed it saying it had an odd taste but one he found perfectly fine. I tried to drink mine but could not. In milk, the same strong ‘roasty’ taste came through for me.
So, what can I conclude? It is hard not to be biased when you suspect the beans are probably very old and you had very low expectations. I suspect that to the slightly less discerning coffee lover it is simple. If you can get past the ‘roasty’ taste and find them ok, then they are ok, and vice versa.
I will not drink anymore personally but will keep them to try on other guests. I do not believe in knocking a product just because it is not for me. I look forward to trying the decaf in the next few days and will report back on those!

Inspector

My mate said exactly the same thing that it has an odd taste which he never tasted before but he quite liked it and asked for a second cup.

In milk, it’s really tasty for us, but to drink it straight, yeah you need to drop temp to 89-90 and pull a faster shot. Then they are somehow good. Otherwise roasty. But I definitely can’t complain for £5.99 and even if I didn’t like it I would make it a guest coffee lol

Don’t wanna raise your expectations but Nicaraguan beans are really really good as a flat white or americano.

Inspector

Today I made an experiment by removing lighter coloured beans which I assumed robusta beans. Didn’t change grind setting and shot ran a bit faster. But end product was nothing more/less than a smooth, nutty typical Brazilian. So that odd taste and roastiness might come from robusta beans. Or lighter coloured beans whatever type they are.

dfk41

Inspector thanks for that. |i will try the same!

Doram

Inspector Today I made an experiment by removing lighter coloured beans which I assumed robusta beans. Didn’t change grind setting and shot ran a bit faster. But end product was nothing more/less than a smooth, nutty typical Brazilian.

Interesting! (how much would you charge for removing the light beans from a few kilos of this? 🤣).

PortafilterProcrastinator

Inspector I did notice the description doesn’t say 100% arabica - which their other coffee does, so had assumed the price was due to this.

Very interesting to see the results of your experiment!

CoyoteOldMan

Inspector roastiness might come from robusta beans.

One other characteristic of robusta is that it tends to produce more crema. If the amount of crema went down… it’s a pretty good bet that it was that.

Inspector

Doram

Can’t see me doing it for few kgs 🤣

Inspector

PortafilterProcrastinator

It says Brazilian and Vietnamese, so I assumed Vietnamesed ones were robusta.

Verion

These sorts of prices remind me of Homesense and their odd cheap bean brands.

I saw a Slumberjack Long Haul 1kg bag for perhaps £8. But looking at the label was interesting. Beans from Honduras, Peru, Brazil and Vietnam. 80% Arabica, 20% Robusta. I dread to think how it tastes in the cup. I wasn’t bold enough to buy it to try.

Inspector

Btw i reordered yesterday and shipping was again £4.79 for 2.5kgs of beans. I wonder why you paid above £6 @dfk41

dfk41

Inspector I must have selected Next Day @£8.39! I have to say, I opened the Nicoraguan Decaf yesterday and I was pleasantly surprised by them. Am about to have a cappa now and tomorrow will try them as americano and report back, but you may have unearthed a gem here Inspector!
Very happy to confirm, that 17 in 30 out in about 32 seconds. I preinfused for 10 seconds and no drips, but the pour started om releasing the lever and behaved as I would have expected. These are a slightly darker bean and very good value @£8.99. I will be buying more of them but will be more careful when selecting the postage option!
Cheers @Inspector

Inspector

Oh true they have few options for delivery.

I am glad you liked them. We were also suprised how good they were (plus friends), especially considering price.

I dose 19gr in a 18gr basket and pull 40 out in 38 seconds with 12 seconds preinfusion. I will try your recipe next:)

We might keep this thread also for the other beans they sell, when i open Santos and Guatemalan i will report back here.

I am also wondering how their consistency from batch to batch. I will also report back how this bag of Nicaraguan decaf i just received compares to my previous order.

dfk41

Inspector Tomorrow I will play around with dose and basket when I have more time, but I think these beans have more to offer yet! For anyone wondering what we are talking about…..Nicaraguan Decaf, Water Process, Medium strength, £8.99 per kilo
https://a1coffee.net/java-caffe-nicaragua-decaf-coffee-beans-1kg.html

dfk41

Right, I made an americano that I am still sipping with breakfast. I upped the dose to 18gm as @Inspector suggested and that resulted in slowing the pour down by about 15 seconds. I also took 36 out as opposed to my usual 0 from 17. The drink definitely has 2 things. 1) Nothing unpleasant at all and 2) as opposed to having layers of taste that you get with SO beans it has a single pleasant taste but I cannot put my fingers on it.
I intend to play more with this bean but cheers to @Inspector for bringing it to our attention. All we need now is someone else to dare an 8.99 bean!

Pompeyexile

Just ordered the Planet Java Roasters Selection from your link at £5.99 for 1kg and was charged £3.99 next day postage.

CoyoteOldMan

Pompeyexile £5.99 for 1kg and was charged £3.99 next day postage.

You like living dangerously… (I hope it’s a great coffee, but when postage is almost as expensive… I wonder if we are all being ripped off!) 😉

Pompeyexile

CoyoteOldMan You like living dangerously… (I hope it’s a great coffee, but when postage is almost as expensive… I wonder if we are all being ripped off!) 😉

I normally have to spend £25 to get free postage so I can’t balk at £3.99 for delivery. As I’m not a coffee conniosseur or at least don’t have the refined palette to be one, if it produces a decent cup i.e. anything better than instant, then at that price it is worth a punt… especially from the reviews of dfk41 and Insepctor who are far more knowledgeable than me.

Inspector

Ok today I had a play with Guatemalan and Brazil beans.

On both packs roast looks uniform, both had an amazing smell and they both roasted in October.

Guatemalan Niche 12, 19gr in 50 out I found the best so far. Still not getting a lot of sweetness from it but it’s quite smooth.

Brazilian Niche 11 18gr in 45 out was ok. This is your typical Brazilian Santos. It is mellow and nutty aftertaste.

I will try them in a few days again with preinfusion as I have a feeling they can offer more.

Haven’t opened decaf yet as I still have some in freezer but will report back when I open them.

dfk41

Inspector Be careful, you may start a trend amongst those who like a bargain!

Inspector

dfk41

I’m just afraid they will become popular and prices would go up 🤣

Doram

Inspector dfk41

I’m just afraid they will become popular and prices would go up 🤣

You should have kept quiet: they upped the price of the decaf by 35%… 🥴