I've seen the Major Dickasons 9n sale at Costco for $14 /2lb bag. 1-2 times per year.Yeah. the Major Dickisons is pretty darn good stuff. A little "spendy" for us though when considering it's close to $9 pound price tag though. So the reason for my continual search for those "bargains" on the Costco and Sam's Club shelves. Where I can get a nice product at closer to $6 pound vs $9 or more. Yeah, call me a cheapskate. It's OK. And yes we drink boxed wine too
I've got the Starbucks FR on deck but have about 2 lbs of the SF Bay Coffee Co FR to brew first. Not every roast Starbucks produces is burnt tire and not every roast they produce is spectacular. There is definitely a range within the brand. We just finished a bag of their Winter Blend...which at first I thought may be some flavored bean...but it wasn't. It was quite good.
The MD is more flavorful overall with more flavor than just "toasted". The Starbucks just puts me off a bit in that it just tastes like "burnt beans" and that note over powers anything else. The PEETS has much more going on
OK, so I decided to try these this AM. One discovery was I am surprised how "light" they are. So, I made a change on the "My Brew" setting as I have read a lighter roast benefits from a slightly higher brew temp. So I took that to 205F, and slightly quicker brew time, so I took flow rate from slow - medium.
IIRC PEET's is going to be on sale for their FR based on what I read in the new Costco monthly sale flyer.
2 lb already ground is what my costco carries. $5 off according to the ad
Yeah, I saw it today. Don't want it already ground. Oh well
I will be experimenting more and more though I still like the darker roasted flavors. But now with good coffee grinders, 2 excellent brewers (which I have not had before), (same with the grinder). I did not realize that KA grinder was not all it was cracked up to be. So, now IDK, was I missing out on an excellent coffee brewer with the Zojirushi I bought and quickly gave up on? I had also sort of given up on the Moccamaster as well. But on that not without good reason or for lack of trying. It could make a decent brew but, it was just too much work to babysit. I got a new carafe for the OXO, and it's brewing one helluva pot, as well as the Breville. Used the OXO past couple days and realized how much I do like the brew from it, but this AM used the Breville (both with the same beans and grind and even the Breville while different is fantastic. Honestly my only gripe with the Breville is the carafe is so huge when I am making the approximately 1/2 carafe I do in the AM, it has too much "headspace" and loses more heat. The OXO being taller and skinnier (though much lighter), holds more heat as there is less headspace to lose heat through.
Well, Larry, at least they got all the good marketing buzz words on the package!
I roast and drink more Guatemalan beans than I do from any other region. Those chocolate bittersweet notes are my favorite in coffee or espresso. Sounds like you have some parameters you can play with on your Breville. Maybe if you tried a finer grind, longer bloom, slower drip, etc., you might move the needle from insipid to something better?
Well it was only "passable" in the espresso machine, and honestly today I tried the "Gold" setting to try and get a baseline on the Breville. Coffee was rather weak, and insipid (though not sour or bitter) just not a good wake up cup of Joe. I don't think a finer grind would help as looking into the filter afterward I could see the wetting and dispersion looked perfect. I suppose I could try more coffee but, I already use about 4 grams more than the table recommends in the owner's manual. Even the color was not that good deep color. The same held true with the espresso yesterday. Overall I would not call it a "bad" cup (or shot), but nothing to write home about and certainly not good enough to make me want to bother buying again. I will count this one up as a somewhat expensive "loss". At close to $18 for 2lb nah wasn't worth itWell, Larry, at least they got all the good marketing buzz words on the package!
I like to try new coffees, too, and they aren't all a match for my pallette. If you don't try, you don't know!
R
Grind the rest and make yourself a coffee rub for some beef or pork?
I just tried another double shot using the KitchenAid espresso machine, and with the pressurized basket. I got good crema this time. Still somewhat "insipid" for flavor. I think it's just not "fresh". When you are at Costco and see a nice 3lb bag of French Roast for $11.99 and this in a 2lb at $18, folks think twice about buying it. I just think it's been on the shelves too long. I think perhaps getting good FRESH coffee is more important than the actual "variety" or pedigree.Grind the rest and make yourself a coffee rub for some beef or pork?
Well, ya tried. Can't win 'em all!
R
