What's the protocol

CYP1A2

So I bought some beans (2 different beans), not cheap mind (although certainly not expensive) from a roaster.
I selected these exact ones because on the website they specified ‘medium’ and I am not a huge fan of super light, I prefer a steady medium natural.

Both bags (1kg each) turned up today and lets just say, medium is a stretch.
I wouldn’t say they were scandi level light, but I don’t think I’d class them as medium by any stretch!

I have bought many beans from this roaster over the years and it seems they get lighter and lighter each time. And for me they just taste a little grassy, even with a month or so resting.

It could be partly due to my grinder, a hand jobby (J series 1Z) that just isn’t up to the job with very light (does it fine, but I don’t feel gets the best out of the bean.

I am going to rest these beens for a while, but after chomping on half a dozen I know they won’t be my cup of tea!

Do I chalk it up to experience and just stop using said roaster, or do I ‘kindly’ feedback that they aren’t medium! They are not a large roastery and I am certainly not bothered about the cost/ make them feel like they have to refund.

Tr90

Tell them nicely, their answer might give an indication of whether you want to keep giving them business in the future.

Cuprajake

what beans are they? process location etc

CYP1A2

Cuprajake

Both washed, Guatamala and Peru.

I have had not great experiences with washed recently, so should have avoided. My issue only really is with the grading of medium. Maybe I have a different view of medium!

MediumRoastSteam

What’s the roster name? Some people here may have experience with specific roasters.

CYP1A2

MediumRoastSteam
I’d rather not name them, as there is nothing wrong with the roast per se

profesor_historia

CYP1A2 so what’s the problem then? You’re bothered about the colour? Did you get good cups?

Cuprajake

i always struggle with Guatamala beans alway horrid. never get anything from them

i was only asking process as some bean can look different to how they are roasted

what colour are the ground beans?

CYP1A2

Cuprajake again I’d say light.
I will try and post a pic later.
If I was being kind I’d say light to medium!

Platypus

I know you don’t want to name the company but if my suspicions are correct and the company rhymes with “Fandango” then they do roast on the lighter side.
I’ve had their beans previously which I thought were under roasted and hollow only to leave them for quite a few weeks and find they were dramatically different and much improved.
I’ve also just received the Guatemalan & Peru but roasting date is only 09/02 so I won’t be opening them just yet .
Ignore this if I’ve got my facts wrong.

CYP1A2

Platypus That’s the one. Need more time I think

LMSC

Beans from Guatemala, Peru, Costa Rica, … are not easily soluble. They require tighter grind size. If filter, we always dosage a bit more or reduce the ratio, say 1:15 to 1:13. I would also give at least 2-3 weeks of rest from the roast date.

Platypus

LMSC
Thanks, that’s really useful.

CYP1A2

LMSC Thanks!
I will try leaving them for another week or 2.

As I said, my gripe isn’t with the beans per se, it’s the description of medium which foxed me.

I am starting to wonder if ‘medium’ is what used to be light as roasters are chasing lighter and lighter roast profiles.

LMSC

CYP1A2 You are on the other end of the roast spectrum. Some of us like light and medium light roasts which we think aren’t easy to find in the UK. Coffee tasting grassy, woody, mushroomy are either under developed or stale, IMO. Your best bet is probably beans with descriptions of nutty, caramel and chocolate flavour.

CYP1A2

LMSC no, I wouldn’t say I was the other end of the spectrum. That would be dark.

I just like a medium (at the moment), still some fruit and acidity but not overpowering and tart.

LMSC

CYP1A2 I wouldn’t say I was the other end of the spectrum. That would be dark.

I meant you are getting beans on the lighter side expecting a medium, while we get them as medium expecting light and medium light. :-)

CYP1A2

LMSC Ah gotcha!

Any roasters you can recommend then? haha.

I actually roast my own mostly, I may mot be as pro, but I get mostly the end result I like!

memzey

While “Light” and “Dark” can be fairly self explanatory, “Medium” is largely at the interpretation of the roaster. I’ve had mediums from that particular one before and they are definitely lighter than those from other, well known, roasters such as Rave, Wogan, Darkwoods, etc. They were very nice by the way, a washed Kenyan and a washed Ethiopian if I recall correctly.

Platypus

Opened the Peru Eucalipto (washed coffee with notes of blueberry, lemon and peach) . There was very little smell from the beans themselves and I tried as an espresso ( I like a challenge 🤣) in the brilliant Graph Stepdown basket. 18g in 41g out in 33 secs. Okay, could be user error but nothing that makes me go “wow”at this moment in time. The body wasn’t bad but then it was pushed through a narrow basket.

Tried as a bit of a turbo as personally I feel it can give an an insight into how it will perform as a pour over? Didn’t quite hit what I wanted but with 18g with a bottom filter paper I ended up with 48g out in 18 secs at 6.5 bar.

Oh dear! This seemed to highlight the lack of any particular flavours even more and that it needs more rest unless I’m doing something very wrong?

This is described as a medium roast on the website but my nose, eyes and tastebuds are telling me otherwise and the Tonino seems a fairly accurate tool. The roast is even and looks good.

I’ll rest it some more as I don’t want to waste any more at this stage but I feel ,as on the other “super long rest times for filter” thread , they need more time?

CYP1A2

Platypus Does that support what I thought then? That medium was a stretch?

I’ve made a few drinks with both. Both ok. I am going to give them another week.

One thing to note, is that these are both washed. I didn’t look closely enough as I normally buy natural from Django and in 20+ different natural coffees have never been disappointed.

I do wonder if I don’t have a worthy grinder for them though.