Coffee Beans what's in your grinder ???


 
LMichaels said:
That's what I paid for it. It's a great deal but honestly I like the HB better. IDK it's smoother, richer tasting. Maybe I did not experiment enough with the Columbian Supremo but it just did not come off as smooth on my palate. Good, to be sure but not as good
Click to expand...
I wouldn't disagree with that and they're both about the same price.
 
So IDK what's going on today. If it's my taste buds this AM or something "off" with my KA grinder or my Breville coffee maker. But, because daughter 1 is here today (stayed last night), I figured I would use a flat basket and make a larger pot. Set the machine for "flat basket", 50oz water, 75 gr coffee. And my normal cup o' jo was insipid and watery. So, decided to dump the whole pot, start again. Set the machine to cone, ground a new batch and less water. IDK still just does not taste "right".
Did not change grinder setting, same beans as yesterday and basically week before: Kirkland House Blend.
Just gonna chalk it up to my taste buds and still being over tired today. IDK what else to think.
 
LMichaels said:
So IDK what's going on today. If it's my taste buds this AM or something "off" with my KA grinder or my Breville coffee maker. But, because daughter 1 is here today (stayed last night), I figured I would use a flat basket and make a larger pot. Set the machine for "flat basket", 50oz water, 75 gr coffee. And my normal cup o' jo was insipid and watery. So, decided to dump the whole pot, start again. Set the machine to cone, ground a new batch and less water. IDK still just does not taste "right".
Did not change grinder setting, same beans as yesterday and basically week before: Kirkland House Blend.
Just gonna chalk it up to my taste buds and still being over tired today. IDK what else to think.
Click to expand...
Some ideas. A typical coffee to water ratio for filter coffee is 60 grams ground coffee to 1 liter brew water. And if I recall, you prefer darker roasts where I will often push the ratio up closer to 70 grams per liter. Flat basket should give you a full bodied cup typically, so you might play with the ratio some to see if it makes any difference.
 
I bought a couple bags of Peet's Major Dickason's beans last month. I still think it's pricey, but will always snag a couple when Costco has them on sale. I dump 4 heaping scoops of beans in the OXO grinder, set at 10.5 and brew it in a 3-cup Chemex pour over coffeemaker.
 
I'm unsure what was off. It did taste like not enough coffee in the coffee :D But I've used this machine to make a full pot (12 cups 60 oz) and I always fudge just a bit over what Breville lists in there "recommended ratios". I.E. today I fudged about 5 grams total over their recs. And a 12 cup pot using same everything tasted better. The only difference was I'd used a different grinder back then. That larger Shardor which on "drip" setting I think ran a little finer on the grind. Not a lot mind you but some. Maybe the deeper bed of grounds is what makes the 12 better than the 10 I did even though I used same ratios.
I rarely use the basket. Because it's very rare I make more than 40oz. And I've got that formula down pat. But I think my taste buds were a touch off today as well. Because even when I dumped the big pot, and did a fresh with my normal ratios, there was still something just a touch "off".
Not sure if relevant but this AM it flashed on that it needs descaling. I will likely do that this afternoon.
 
Well this AM I realized I'd forgotten to descale the Breville. Not being sure if it was contributing to my taste issues, I figured I'd pull the OXO up from downstairs and press it into use for this AM's brew. It did not disappoint :D I ended up with 70grams to 40oz water. Seems to be the "sweet spot" for House Blend and either machine
 
Well, yesterday I descaled the Breville. Got what appeared to be some debris in the filter after the flush. Coffee was back on track this AM
 
Well I finally broke down. Been seeing these at Costco and decided to give a go. Not really sure what to think. I just finished a bag of House Blend. Weird thing I noticed. I had the grinder "dialed in" to HB so at a decent "drip grind" and XX seconds it gave me the right amount. (68-69 grams).
One weird thing was I filled the grinder with this left the setting the same. First off the noise the grinder made was pretty striking. With HB a low "purr". With this lots of labor and struggle sounding. Second rather than give me the 68-69 it returned 88 grams! Very weird it would do that.
As far as taste.................IDK it doesn't seem to return the same "richness" HB does. The bed did not seem to fully "wet" either. Not sure what's up with that. If I should try a coarser or finer grind?
Also noticed these beans look "dry" VERY dry, as opposed to the more glisteny or oily looking. So right now jury is out on them. They smell fantastic but leave me a little "flat" in the cup. Any suggestion on which way I should experiment? Finer or coarser?
20240821_063223.jpg20240821_063202.jpg
 
Here is a video of a taste test of all Costco coffees. It is funny how most "YouTube Experts" like lighter roasts. We go for darker, oilier ones. One of the commenters mentioned this.


@chahahc​

2 months ago (edited)
Costco usually stocks coffee in 4 quality tier groups from what I've seen.
-The 1st tier, lowest quality, is the standard Kirkland branded cheap bulk beans that are in every store. These are usually rebranded charbucks (edit: I guess not anymore?), best to avoid.
-The 2nd tier is 1-2 large company, non-Kirkland, cheap bulk beans. Looks like yours was Peets, and San Francisco. Mine stocks Peets and Jose's. These are usually a bit higher quality than the Kirklands.
-The 3rd tier is one brand (...maybe 2) of higher priced non-Kirkland "specialty" coffee, usually a local roaster but not always. They're always in smaller bags and the brands tend to change a couple times a year. These are legitimately good beans, but they can be weird like flavored coffees and what not.
-The 4th tier is the Kirkland limited edition specialties. This is what the Kirland organic Mexican is. They're sold in that black 2lb bag with the shiny looking label with actual coffee nerd info on it, like elevation, processing method, etc. These are stocked EXTREMELY sporadically and without schedule (think a single PALLET a year). These are far and away the highest quality beans so make sure to grab one (or a couple) if you come across them. My local Costco had a single shipment of organic single origin Ethiopian light roast that was a legitimate city roast. I was shocked, bought two bags of it.

 
I think it's the Ethiopian ones they have right now. Quite expensive. But, I've been quite disappointed once or twice buying those black bagged beans. Quite recently actually I'm trying to recall where the beans were sourced. But they really disappointed me. So I am a little gun shy spending that much on a bag of beans when the Kirkland House Blend is so good and literally less than half the price of those fancy ones.
I can tell you these Mt Comfort beans I'm using are another one of those sore disappointments.
 
Another thing noticed with Mt Comfort. They flat out don't grind well. Lots of fines and dust in the KA grinder. Not sure what is up with that. Have not noticed this with other beans (even ones I didn't like). But these are pretty dusty. The grinder makes some pretty scary noises when grinding them as well (likely related).
Just overall these are "No Comfort" beans :D Too expensive to toss (or I would). So I'll just have to work through them.
 
So again this AM, I tossed yet another pot of this "stuff" down the drain. Thinking why so bad? So I even cleaned the brewer again, paying attention to the brew head. Even went so far as to try using one of my Breville grinders instead of the KitchenAid. And again I was met with a horrible insipid sour brew. No amount of adjusting brew times/temps, water to coffee ratios, grind sizes, anything makes this stuff even remotely palatable. Honestly I think it's going to be relegated to the trash and labeled as "Hazardous Waste" :poop: :poop: . Going to go back to good old Kirkland House Blend. Spending a lot of $$$ does not buy you "better". Doesn't even buy you "as good as".
 
LMichaels said:
So again this AM, I tossed yet another pot of this "stuff" down the drain. Thinking why so bad? So I even cleaned the brewer again, paying attention to the brew head. Even went so far as to try using one of my Breville grinders instead of the KitchenAid. And again I was met with a horrible insipid sour brew. No amount of adjusting brew times/temps, water to coffee ratios, grind sizes, anything makes this stuff even remotely palatable. Honestly I think it's going to be relegated to the trash and labeled as "Hazardous Waste" :poop: :poop: . Going to go back to good old Kirkland House Blend. Spending a lot of $$$ does not buy you "better". Doesn't even buy you "as good as".
Click to expand...
If you got it at Costco you should just return it. It may help to get feedback
 
Joe Anshien said:
If you got it at Costco you should just return it. It may help to get feedback
Click to expand...
Seriously? It's about half used up. Mostly with pots I've tossed in the sink. I've never been one to try and take advantage of that kind of thing anyway. I figure it just makes it pricier for others. I'll have to think about it
 
LMichaels said:
Seriously? It's about half used up. Mostly with pots I've tossed in the sink. I've never been one to try and take advantage of that kind of thing anyway. I figure it just makes it pricier for others. I'll have to think about it
Click to expand...
How else will they know that it sucks. Tell them you made it every possible way and they all went down the sink. Think of it as a public service. We returned their brand of TP and when I told her it dissolved too easily and that the Charmaine was better she agreed.
 
I guess in a way you're right. This stuff was WAY too expensive to be this bad. I wonder if it may have just been old and outdated? I don't think they sell much of it at all. Amazon reviews on it are pretty much showing that the stuff is "da bomb".
Just looked at the best buy date 6/12/2025 so IDK how that relates to when it was roasted and packaged. Almost have a half a mind to place a little magic marker mark on a bag in the aisle and see how long it takes for that to disappear.
I know the House Blend stuff goes fast. Not unusual to see folks with multiple bags of it on their cart but to date I have never once seen anyone put this in their cart.
I know one thing, I am not going to suffer through that again tomorrow. I am cracking the House Blend I don't care what the weird girl said about it. I think it's REALLY good stuff (best ever?) Nope. But AWFULLY darn good especially at the price point. Same with Columbian Supremo.
I noticed Sam's Club has done a "refresh" on their packaging of CS. IDK if it's still the same product. But my past experience with it has been very good as well
 
Broke down, cleaned out the grinder, put the hazardous waste beans back in the bag, cracked the House Blend and brewed a pot. Even the grinder was happy as it wasn't clunking and growling.
Odd thing about those beans I didn't like. They made both the KA grinder and my Breville grinders make some really horrific noises. Like they were gonna die any second. Once cleaned out and the HB in there the KA went right back to it's smooth sounding quiet self. No dust or fines. Just a good grind.
 
So weird thing. Wife said: Why don't you try mixing the 2 coffees? Given that there were a couple minor redeeming qualities to the Mt Comfort, and after seeing that girl on the video mention a slight "chemical flavor" on House Blend (which now that I heard that I can't untaste), I gave it a go 50/50 I ground up total 69 grams and brewed 40 oz coffee.
Well I'll hog tied and called bacon. It brewed a damn good pot! Obviously WAY better than Mt Comfort alone but somehow it actually improved the House Blend.
Now good enough I will buy the MC and do it again? Nope. But awfully good enough to surprise the daylights outta me!
 
I mix coffees all the time. Right now I have a mix of SB and Costco French. Sometimes you just have to try things. I am glad you tried it. Always listen to your wife! A friend gave up coffee and gave me a large bag of this to try next.
1724800789551.png
 
I was honestly shocked at how well the 50/50 blend took away the sour off putting notes from the Mt Comfort and the newly noticed slightly "chemical" note of House Blend. Anyway I am glad I don't have to embarrass myself at the Costco return desk :D or toss them out.
In any case the end result was surprisingly good. Struck me a bit more like the Columbian Supremo
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

 

Back
Top