Technivorm Moccamaster Cup One

dfk41

MWJB Mark, the coffee dose has remained constant at 20 gms (apart from a couple of attempts at 18gms a week ago). The scales issue was that brew. I will change the batteries but in any case have ordered some more since they were as cheap as chips. SO, if I make another brew using the formula above should I tighten or loosen the grind (being the only variable I am trying to adjust, scales to one side)

MWJB

dfk41 You brewed with 21g a couple of times the other day and got a “Quite tasty” brew on the 2nd go, with a coffee that appeared to lack flavour for the most part.

Sure, go bit finer, but remember the more coffee you use, the more concentrated the drink (as long as you can avoid overflowing the basket).

dfk41

I had forgotten about that brief 21 gm encounter, though in my defence I was just trying to tame a particular coffee. I try to change the grind setting first and only try weight of coffee after that. So, back to these 88 cup score beans…..keeping to 18gms and 290 water what should I do grind wise…..tighten up a couple of notches?

MWJB

dfk41 So, back to these 88 cup score beans…..keeping to 18gms and 290 water what should I do grind wise…..tighten up a couple of notches?

I don’t care for the cup score, even if I did, it’s only a little above median (80).

What is the reason you want to reduce dose, is the coffee too strong to enjoy?

You frequently have mentioned trouble picking up taste & intensity, reducing the dose will make all your coffee weaker (within the range of delicate to intense coffees). Personally, I wouldn’t second guess, I’d stick to a dose/brew ratio that was generally good & maybe make an adjustment where necessary only, based on a typical brew. You’re changing so much & so frequently I don’t think I have seen 2 brews at similar parameters yet.

MediumRoastSteam

@dfk41 - question if you don’t mind me asking: are you drinking more brewed/filter coffee these days rather than espresso? Or a mixture of both? Thanks!

dfk41

MediumRoastSteam My routine used to be an 18gm americano without milk at breakfast. A cappuccino at 11 am and around 2 pm another cappuccino. Since I have bought the Moccamaster I have switched the afternoon from a cappa to an americano. Once I really get the hang though, especially of both tweaking a shot and bean supply I might add a third brew into the days schedule. Unfortunately my sleep patterns vary from poor to unacceptable so I am nagged if I have more than three. That said, I can always tell her it is decaf!

dfk41

MWJB What is the reason you want to reduce dose, is the coffee too strong to enjoy?

Probably my ignorance in brew methods. I thought the increase to 21 was specific to that coffee as opposed to all coffees! So, I am picking up bits of information here, so tomorrow and going forward, I will go 21 gms, sticking with 300 mls water and start all this off at 38 in the morning. I have been writing each brew down again (I missed a couple of days) but I have high hopes of nailing this particular coffee

MWJB

Not 36, as your last brew at 38 was “watery”?

You won’t taste any difference in ratio between 20:290g & 21:300g.

dfk41

MWJB Just checking…..!

dfk41

Right, this morning, 21gms @ 36 with 300 mls of water. Score 7 from 10. Everything is better. Nice mouthfeel……but……..there is a slight taste of what I know not but it certainly ain’t raspberry. The shut off was 3.10 and dry bed 4.38 with a weight of 222. I feel that it is so nearly there!

MWJB

dfk41 Maybe do another brew at the same parameters, you have a lot of retained liquid on this one, be good to see what happens with a more normal beverage weight.

dfk41

I forgot to post this earlier…..21 gms @36, 300 mls water, shut off 3.06, dry bed 4.45……we found the missing water as it weighed 257 gms but the taste was no better/no worse

MWJB

dfk41 The good thing is, if this was no worse than the previous brew (“everything better, nice mouthfeel”, 7/10), then we don’t necessarily need to correct the brew ratio for stronger drinks.

You seem to be in a fairly good spot, you could either make anothere enjoyable brew as you are, think on what you think is lacking, or go a click finer/coarser to see how that impacts the brew?.

Have you always stirred the brew as it fills?

dfk41

Right, coaarsened this mornings brew by one mark, all other parameters the same. The figures were within spitting distance of the previous. Just the merest hint of a fruit but it is far into the distance. I always stir the bed around the 2 minute mark. The was the water is added is not at a constant. It slows up and speeds down but is always saturated around 2 minutes.

MWJB

dfk41 So this brew was less flavourful/enjoyable?

2 minutes in seems very late in the brew to be stirring/agitating. Is it not possible to do this in the first 30-60sec?

MWJB

dfk41 The was the water is added is not at a constant.

From what you have told us, the water is always added between 2:40 (more usually 2:50) and 3:10?

dfk41

MWJB I did not realise that it might make a difference Mark……you have to treat me like an idiot please!

dfk41

MWJB Those figures (2.40 to 3.10) seem to be the figure at which the brew cuts off. Would it help if I took a video of the brew from start to finish? This mornings effort only had the smallest tweak of coarsening the grind one notch so as you would expect the timings were similar, it seemed to retain slightly more water. The flavour was ever so slightly stronger.

MWJB

dfk41 My experience is that stirring agitating late in the brew leads to more silty brews (drier, less clean notes), compared to doing early on. I suspect as the grinds get more saturated they can break down, so if I stir it’s always early on and then disturb as little as possible.

MWJB

dfk41 Sure a video can’t hurt.

dfk41 it seemed to retain slightly more water. The flavour was ever so slightly stronger.

This makes sense. But, you say the fruit note was more faint?

I’d be looking to grind at 35 & either a quick stir agitate as soon as possible, or no stir/agitation.

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