Melon with Toffee

dfk41

I am a sucker for tasting notes (exagerations). One of the newest bags I have bought promise

This coffee has a delightful, characteristically Ethiopian natural processed aroma, in fact, taking in the aroma of these beans is almost as enjoyable as drinking it! I say “almost” as the taste is even more enjoyable, the most obvious taste notes being melon and toffee, with some subtle spicy background notes.

I shall let you know tomorrow!

dfk41

I have had 2 brews with this bean. First was the standard Switch recipe of 12.5 gms to 225 mls water. It was pretty thin and tasteless but not unpleasant. Next I tried the Aromaboy at 22.5 gms to 350 mls water. For the cup I use I need to reduce the volume a little which I will next time. I let it cool a bit and as expected, it definitely became more flavoursome as it cooled. Not quite getting the suggested Melon and Toffee but I live in hope!

I am toying with the idea of buying a Duo. Why? Simple, the dial takes all the guesswork out of it. I like the Zero in every way other than the guessing once you go off the dial. See what happens!

MWJB

dfk41 First was the standard Switch recipe of 12.5 gms to 225 mls water.

I’m not aware that there is a ‘standard’ Switch recipe, it can be used in so many ways & ratios. Your ratio is very low, no wonder it was thin. How long did you steep for? I’d be expecting 30min+ to get up to typical brewed strength, by which time it’ll be cold.

I have just finished this morning’s Switch brew:
16.7g coffee, 88 on a Niche Zero (using a second marker at zero, whilst the original is at 50, plus 38). Or, one full anti-clockwise turn from original marked Zero (85.5). plus 2.5

Pre heat the Switch and empty as brew water comes to the boil.

Close valve.

Coffee in 1st, 142g water poured quickly mixing the coffee.

Leave until 1:15, break crust.

1:30 draw down. (Today it was 38s, but this is not prescriptive).

Sweetest coffee I have had in a while, even compared to the prior Chemex brew, good intensity (despite the fact it was a Gesha) & reflective of the notes.

You can scale up at 1:8.5 ratio (same grind & timings) if you want more in the cup.

dfk41

MWJB Mark, I thought that you had told me 12.5 gm to 220 mls, 2 mins and dump! I have looked for it and of course cannot find it! Back to the drawing board! It is only by telling my learned friends of my issues I can learn…..remembering is another thing, hence I prefer lack of faff! My notes for the Aromaboy are:

I set my Niche Zero to 67.5, 22 grams of coffee, 330g of water in the water tank. This will give 270-280g in the cup. I don’t stir, nor intervene in any way in the brew.

Last water into the cone around 3:20-3:40, total brew time is 4:00 plus or minus 20s, mostly.

I don’t really know why I do it, but when I fold the filter paper I have the folded seam away from the drain hole in the cone.

SO that is roughly what I will aim for!

LMSC

MWJB Coffee in 1st, 142g water poured quickly mixing the coffee.

Leave until 1:15, break crust.

1:30 draw down.

That’s a very strong cup for me. Is it a brew turbo ? Haha

MWJB

LMSC It’s a very low extraction 13-14%, so strength in the cup was 2.12%, compared to my typical 1.45-1.65%?

The low extraction, fast brews don’t have the same intensity as a normal extraction 1:15 ratio brew, so being a bit more concentrated bolsters them up as bit, but without tasting like undiluted fruit cordial.

So, in that respect it’s different to a ‘turbo’ (fast 1:2.5 espresso shot), because that would still be at a typical extraction level.

dfk41

When I was brewing this afternoon, I forgot to close the lid. After about 2 minutes I glanced and noticed a patch in the grounds that were barely wet, so I grabbed a spoon and stirred. Is that normal? Does it suggest the wrong grind?

MWJB

dfk41 Yes, having dry grounds at 2:00 sounds like something is not right.

With my Aromaboy and 330ml brew water, all the water was in by about 3:35, give or take. I think having dry grounds halfway through the brew would be noticeable in the cup.

dfk41

Can anyone suggest why my Aromaboy might now be wetting the grinds correctly? I will take a video when I make my 11am cuppa but again a patch of not so wet grinds. A quick stir proves there is plenty of water in it. Could scale or similar be the issue? Is it worthwhile making up a solution of citirc acid and running it through? If so I cannot remember the right amount for 250mls of water.

This morning I eased the grind setting back ever so slightly, pre-warmed the ‘boy’ and went 20gms of coffee to 250 mls of water. I have had a couple of sips but as we all know, cooler is better! It has more mouthfeel if that is the right word. I think with my palate I definitely find some beans ring my bell, and some simply do not, no matter how technically correct it is.

Now it has cooled a bit I have finished it. Quite enjoyable. Did it taste of Melon & Toffee? Of course not! The beans were only roasted on the 13th. Does that figure in or should I wait till the bed is wet and give it a good stir?

MWJB

I’d expect to have the bed totally covered by brew water, by 40-50 seconds after switching the Aromaboy on.

I’ve brewed with a pre-heated ‘boy’ once, the water seemed to be delivered too quickly, the result was not great. I never did it again..

Perhaps time the delivery of brew water from the moment you switch, on to when you see the last water disappear from the reservoir and the brewer starts gurgling. I’d estimate 3:00 minutes for this, with 250ml brew water.

dfk41

This was my brew process, more or less from start to finish

Adrianmsmith

dfk41
Part 2 sounds louder than jakes decent 🤪

MWJB

OK, seems to be all wet at just over a minute.

How was it?

What was the grind setting?

dfk41

MWJB Mark, if you look at the cropped image you will see a dry part. Sometimes it is bigger and sometimes there are two patches

MWJB

dfk41

At brew end there doesn’t seem to be any dry spots, the ares you highlight seem to be getting wet by about 1:30?

What is the grind setting (calibrated)?

dfk41

MWJB Mark, that is because I stopped the video to stir it! Next time, I will not stir and then photo the end bed and we can see if it remains dry

dfk41

I left the brew to itself this time. The first image is at around 1.10 and the last 2 at the end

I have not tried it yet but this time there was no dry patch. I did try to level the grinds out in the filter to stop any height differences though

MWJB

dfk41 Grind seems a little coarse?

dfk41

MWJB On the Zero, the dial is in the middle of the two hinges. Now, this Zero is new to me and I suspect that even though it is a couple of years old it has had virtually no beans run through it. If this is the case then it will improve over time. If I move the dial to just the other side of the right hinge then I will report back tomorrow!

Many thanks Mark.

dfk41

Well, I have about 3 or 4 brews left with this bean and I am getting there. I settled on 20 gms with 250 mls water. I have adjusted the grind size a couple of times now. The time to use all of the water is around 3.30/40 with another 30 seconds or so to dry the bed. I am not getting melon or toffee but the drink looks, tastes and feels about right. The beans are a week old today. So, I will be moving onto another new bean soon where the fun will start all over again!

I might consider buying a used Duo with brew burrs if anyone has a spare! I love my Zero but my brain is so befuddled once I turn the dial on the Zero beyond the extremes of the markings I am down to taking my bearings off the hinges!

MWJB

dfk41 I might consider buying a used Duo with brew burrs if anyone has a spare! I love my Zero but my brain is so befuddled once I turn the dial on the Zero beyond the extremes of the markings I am down to taking my bearings off the hinges!

A little, second sticker, or drop of tippex/nail varnish is surely cheaper than another grinder?