Ulythium
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Post by Ulythium on Aug 21, 2022 15:21:27 GMT
Since this is the coffee wanker safe-space, I will agree about dark roasts. I find that all too often they are over-roasted and too oily/bitter. Or worse, a bit bland.
That's certainly the way I'm leaning nowadays - I used to seek out those ultra-dark roasts that some companies produce (the coffee equivalent of a Spinal Tap amplifier), but now I wouldn't touch 'em with a bargepole.
Hoffmann's video on decoding the blurbs on bags of coffee was very helpful indeed, and I haven't gone wrong with it yet; that said, I think I need to hit the pause button for a while, as I have six bags of beans in my cupboard at present and I don't want them to go stale!
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Vortex
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Post by Vortex on Aug 21, 2022 16:18:36 GMT
I'll have to try to find this blurb decoding video.
Then I'll have to try to remember what's said when in a shop...
That's a whole other issue! 😀
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Ulythium
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Post by Ulythium on Aug 21, 2022 16:26:23 GMT
I'll have to try to find this blurb decoding video. Then I'll have to try to remember what's said when in a shop... That's a whole other issue! 😀
I got you, dude:
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Tomo
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Post by Tomo on Aug 21, 2022 16:44:38 GMT
I'm all about the light roasts. Fruit for me rather than chocolate/nut flavours. Helps I primarily drink with V60 as it's an easy way of getting a light roast to work. Ethiopian coffees tend to be my favourite - tend to be fruity/floral and interesting.
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Tomo
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Post by Tomo on Aug 21, 2022 16:46:20 GMT
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Vortex
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Post by Vortex on Aug 21, 2022 16:48:51 GMT
I'll have to try to find this blurb decoding video. Then I'll have to try to remember what's said when in a shop... That's a whole other issue! 😀
I got you, dude:
Thanks, i had found it and was just watching it. Your link will be handy for when i forget what he said! 😀 |
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Ulythium
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Post by Ulythium on Aug 21, 2022 17:05:32 GMT
I'm all about the light roasts. Fruit for me rather than chocolate/nut flavours. Helps I primarily drink with V60 as it's an easy way of getting a light roast to work. Ethiopian coffees tend to be my favourite - tend to be fruity/floral and interesting.
I haven't ventured quite that far yet - something about the reputed acidity of light roasts still puts me off! I'm sure I'll get around to it in the end, though.
Chocolate and nut tasting notes still pique my interest, but I'm more open to certain fruit flavours now than I was before; for instance, the decaf I'm drinking as I type was described as tasting like "sweet fruit cake", and I'm enjoying it a good deal.
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deebs
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Post by deebs on Aug 21, 2022 21:18:15 GMT
I asked my wife to buy me a bag of coffee a couple of weeks ago and to my dismay she returned with McDonalds McCafe.
Problem is, it's delicious.
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Ulythium
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Post by Ulythium on Aug 21, 2022 22:10:39 GMT
I asked my wife to buy me a bag of coffee a couple of weeks ago and to my dismay she returned with McDonalds McCafe. Problem is, it's delicious.
I actually quite like McDonald's coffee. It's not something I'd actively seek out, but on the (rare) occasions when I'm in the market for a McDonald's breakfast, I don't turn up my nose at an Americano to enjoy alongside the greasy, artery-hardening decadence.
I've never tried the bagged, brew-at-home stuff, though - in fact, I didn't know it existed until I read your post!
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Post by Sarfrin on Aug 21, 2022 23:58:57 GMT
I tried this yesterday afternoon:
'Twas delicious.
It's weird, but as I've become more of a coffee wanker, I've gradually drifted away from my long-standing preference for super-dark roasts; instead, I find myself enjoying medium (or medium-dark) roasts more and more.
With you there. I used to go for darker roasts before I knew how to make coffee properly. I get plenty of flavour with medium now. |
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deebs
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Post by deebs on Aug 22, 2022 0:03:40 GMT
With a little cream and sugar it's becoming one of my fav filter coffees to wake up to a pot of. It's lack of bitterness and the fact it's fairtrade has won me over. There's better out there I'm sure, but I've only relatively recently got into filter coffee.
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Bongo Heracles
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Post by Bongo Heracles on Aug 22, 2022 8:08:17 GMT
I think (complete guess) that the reason most people gravitate towards dark roasts initially is that they are mostly all you can get when you start to stray outside of instant.
Most places, but Costa especially, roast their beans in the heart of the sun to take away any interesting flavours to make sure every cup tastes the same, so thats what you get used to and assume 'proper' coffee tastes like.
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Ulythium
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Post by Ulythium on Aug 25, 2022 11:36:55 GMT
Ever since one of you lovely fellows pointed me in the direction of James Hoffmann, I've been meaning to try this:
Having now done so, courtesy of a local coffee-and-craft-beer place, I can say that it's fantastic. HIGHLY recommended.
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Post by uiruki on Aug 25, 2022 11:49:36 GMT
When I’m down in London for work I have started popping in at Prufrock to grab some Red Brick and a bag of anything else that looks interesting. It’s a really easy blend to dial in and make a very tasty cup of coffee and the price isn’t even that high considering you get a 350g bag instead of a 250g one, so nearly one and a half times as much.
Prufrock do nice food too, if you can get a seat in there. The breakfast sandwich is very good. Even if you can’t the cakes are good so you can at least get something for the road. It doesn’t quite make up for the lengthy train from up north but it softens the blow.
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Vortex
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Post by Vortex on Aug 25, 2022 13:08:41 GMT
When I’m down in London for work I have started popping in at Prufrock to grab some Red Brick and a bag of anything else that looks interesting. It’s a really easy blend to dial in and make a very tasty cup of coffee and the price isn’t even that high considering you get a 350g bag instead of a 250g one, so nearly one and a half times as much. Makes notes for next time I'm down in london. |
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Ulythium
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Post by Ulythium on Aug 25, 2022 14:24:03 GMT
When I’m down in London for work I have started popping in at Prufrock to grab some Red Brick and a bag of anything else that looks interesting. It’s a really easy blend to dial in and make a very tasty cup of coffee and the price isn’t even that high considering you get a 350g bag instead of a 250g one, so nearly one and a half times as much. Prufrock do nice food too, if you can get a seat in there. The breakfast sandwich is very good. Even if you can’t the cakes are good so you can at least get something for the road. It doesn’t quite make up for the lengthy train from up north but it softens the blow.
I'm hoping to visit Prufrock during my next London trip. Breakfast or lunch would be great - am I to infer that it gets super-busy at peak times? Not that it'll stop me going, but I'll have to plan ahead a bit more than I usually do! (I assume they don't take bookings.)
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Post by uiruki on Aug 25, 2022 14:31:12 GMT
It is in a fairly busy bit of town and it’s rammed at lunch time because there’s all these street food vendors outside. It’s a decent size so if you’re determined then you shouldn’t have to wait too long.
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Ulythium
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Post by Ulythium on Aug 25, 2022 14:34:52 GMT
Thanks for that, uiruki - much appreciated. One last thing: has Square Mile's Sweetshop blend been among the products you've checked out? If so, what were your thoughts? It sounds really interesting to me, but my local place doesn't carry it. |
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Post by uiruki on Aug 25, 2022 14:39:59 GMT
I thought it was almost a bit too much heady stone fruit type flavour for my taste in an espresso, didn’t try a pour over but it definitely seemed more suited for a V60. If you like the look of the flavour profile then definitely check it out but it’s very bold.
Edit: I might have had difficulty with it on my machine because I’m not the biggest fan of acidic coffees after some bad experiences with under-extracted Starbucks beans at an old workplace’s coffee shop. Even something like a Yirgacheffe, a bean I really like in a pour over, is a tough one for me to dial in on my machine.
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Ulythium
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Post by Ulythium on Aug 25, 2022 15:11:39 GMT
Thanks again, dude.
Sweetshop is almost certainly going to be at the extreme end of my tastes, even as an Americano - which is how I drink the vast majority of my coffees - but it has a strange appeal to me, all the same.
Hopefully I'll be able to try it at Prufrock without spending £17.00 on a bag of beans!
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Tomo
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Post by Tomo on Aug 25, 2022 16:47:21 GMT
I've had orders from Square Mile and I gotta say I'm not a huge fan. They seem to be very roasty to me compared to other places. The first bag of Sweetshop I had was incredible though – like actual sweets. But I've never had comparable since. Always found the Red Brick a bit middling. It's fine, just not any better than other places and has Hoffman tax. I go back once a year or so to see if I was wrong the previous time, but I come away with mild regret. Places I return to: plotroasting.com/uecoffeeroasters.com/www.curveroasters.co.uk/darkwoodscoffee.co.uk/ |
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Post by Tomo on Aug 25, 2022 16:48:42 GMT
Just re-read the previous two posts. Figures, as I like acidic/fruity/sweet coffee.
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Post by Reviewer on Aug 25, 2022 17:17:35 GMT
I’ve had sweetshop as a pour over/aeropress and it was really nice.
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Ulythium
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Post by Ulythium on Aug 25, 2022 17:18:57 GMT
Thanks for chiming in, Tomo - I'm already a fan of Dark Woods, but I hadn't heard of the other three places you mentioned. I'll add them to my list  I'm surprised to hear that you find Square Mile to be particularly roasty, though; while I'm not in a position to pass comment myself, Hoffmann seems to be very much in favour of lighter roasts, which is what I'd expected from Square Mile. Any particular Dark Woods products you'd recommend? Thus far I've tried Common Grounds, Under Milk Wood, Crow Tree, and Lamplight. |
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Post by Tomo on Aug 25, 2022 18:28:03 GMT
The whiskey barrel one is amazing. I will give Square Mile another go after this set of beans  Ah whiskey = common grounds |
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Ulythium
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Post by Ulythium on Aug 25, 2022 18:49:30 GMT
Yeah, Common Grounds is one of my absolute favourites.
They do a nice pop-up cafe once a month for about half the year - worth a visit, if you're ever in the area.
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Bongo Heracles
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Post by Bongo Heracles on Aug 25, 2022 19:12:37 GMT
I've had orders from Square Mile and I gotta say I'm not a huge fan. They seem to be very roasty to me compared to other places. The first bag of Sweetshop I had was incredible though – like actual sweets. But I've never had comparable since. Always found the Red Brick a bit middling. It's fine, just not any better than other places and has Hoffman tax. I go back once a year or so to see if I was wrong the previous time, but I come away with mild regret. Places I return to: plotroasting.com/uecoffeeroasters.com/www.curveroasters.co.uk/darkwoodscoffee.co.uk/UE are literally round the corner and their roastery cafe is lovely. They do a home made cinnamon roll that makes me angry when I think about it because I’m not eating one.  |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 25, 2022 19:14:44 GMT
Fuck, that looks delicious.
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Bongo Heracles
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Post by Bongo Heracles on Aug 25, 2022 19:24:02 GMT
A V60 and a Cinnamon Bun in there is genuinely one of the finer things in life.
The cafe bit is right next to the open roasting area so you can sit and watch them hoofing all the coffee about, feeding it into the grinder and whatnot.
I usually order a kilo at a time from them, walk over to pick it up and give myself a little treat for being a good boy.
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Post by uiruki on Aug 25, 2022 20:26:33 GMT
Dark Woods is one I sometimes pick up in Leeds. Laynes Espresso often has them and is my favourite (excellent breakfasts!) but when I'm normally there for work it's easier to just go by Out of the Woods on the wharf.
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