Espresso Enthusiasts

[Scepticalscribe]

I have just phoned the Ethiopian Coffee Company in London, and ordered some fresh coffee.

After a long - and enthusiastic and most enjoyable chat, it is great fun to chat about a mutual interest with fellow enthusiasts - I ordered some Yirgacheffe Aramo (which sounds wonderful from their site), some Dummerso (that was highly recommended), and - as it was also very highly recommended and is new to their range, - some Sidamo 2 Bokasso.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

This morning (well, this afternoon), I prepared coffee with the "El Salvador Finca Argentina Los Mangos: Washed Bourbon" beans, in the Le Creuset French Press.

A light, easy, sweet cup of coffee. The tasting notes observe that it is: "Milk chocolate and tropical fruit bringing sweetness and balance, with a really complex acidity on top."

I will say that while this doesn't have the clear, bright, clean notes of a good Ethiopian, it is smooth and easy, and takes milk (and cream) very well.

In fact, I am sipping a mug as I write.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Well, I answered the door this morning to a postman with a small parcel from The Ethiopian Coffee Company. The slight problem is that while addressed to me, what it contains is not quite what I had ordered…….

 

[Scepticalscribe]

And that meant a phone call to The Ethiopian Coffee Company, after which it became clear that - distracted - a momentary lapse in concentration - they had written down what I had said I didn't want rather than what I had said I did………

 

[mobilehaathi]

And that meant a phone call to The Ethiopian Coffee Company, after which it became clear that - distracted - a momentary lapse in concentration - they had written down what I had said I didn't want rather than what I had said I did………

Oh my, hah, of all mistakes to make....

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Oh my, hah, of all mistakes to make....

Yes. Bizarre…..

Of all of their line-up - when I was going through them last Saturday, I mentioned that there was only one (of the coffees I had already ordered; they have some I hadn't tried, and a new one since then) that I wasn't bowled over by.

This - as in an idle note - seem to have been scribbled down by them when we compared notes this afternoon, - mine had a 'tick' beside what I had written, - the stuff I had planned to order - along with a question mark beside the completely new bean, as I wished to know whether it lived up to the lavish praise poured on it in the company's website - rather than what I ordered. And this is what was in my (anticipated) parcel when I opened it this morning, along with one of the brand new and not known coffees……..

Mega apologies from them.

They'll confirm a fresh order on Monday…...

 

[mobilehaathi]

Yes. Bizarre…..

Of all of their line-up - when I was going through them last Saturday, I mentioned that there was only one (of the coffees I had already ordered; they have some I hadn't tried, and a new one since then) that I wasn't bowled over by.

This - as in an idle note - seem to have been scribbled down by them when we compared notes this afternoon, - mine had a 'tick' beside what I had written, - the stuff I had planned to order - along with a question mark beside the completely new bean, as I wished to know whether it lived up to the lavish praise poured on it in the company's website - rather than what I ordered. And this is what was in my (anticipated) parcel when I opened it this morning, along with one of the brand new and not known coffees……..

Mega apologies from them.

They'll confirm a fresh order on Monday…...

Well, I hope they find their home soon! As I'm working at home today, I think I'll roast up a few 100g for the coming week when I break for lunch. I wonder what I have in stock at the moment....

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Well, I hope they find their home soon! As I'm working at home today, I think I'll roast up a few 100g for the coming week when I break for lunch. I wonder what I have in stock at the moment....

As the order will be further confirmed on Monday (and yes, they were mortified) I don't expect delivery until later in the week. Possibly Wednesday or Thursday. Well, it is not the end of the world. For now, I have more than enough coffee to get by with.

 

[S.B.G]

Well, I answered the door this morning to a postman with a small parcel from The Ethiopian Coffee Company. The slight problem is that while addressed to me, what it contains is not quite what I had ordered…….

Most unfortunate surprise. Glad to hear they're correcting the mistake and that you'll be acquainted with the proper order shortly.

I'm still having issues with the USPS and my Blue Bottle orders. They shipped a new batch to me on Tuesday via USPS 2-day Priority Mail. Here we are 4 days later and it's now just arrived at my local Post Office about an hour ago. I'm not sure if it made there in time to make the regular route or not - I'll find out later today.

So the USPS' 2-day Priority Mail is, so far, really 4-day "Priority" Mail, and if it doesn't make it today, then it will be 5-day Priority mail, excluding Sunday and assuming arrival on Monday.

I'm all out of my last batch of Blue Bottle, but I still have plenty left of the Stumptown that @Kurwenal suggested recently.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Most unfortunate surprise. Glad to hear they're correcting the mistake and that you'll be acquainted with the proper order shortly.

I'm still having issues with the USPS and my Blue Bottle orders. They shipped a new batch to me on Tuesday via USPS 2-day Priority Mail. Here we are 4 days later and it's now just arrived at my local Post Office about an hour ago. I'm not sure if it made there in time to make the regular route or not - I'll find out later today.

So the USPS' 2-day Priority Mail is, so far, really 4-day "Priority" Mail, and if it doesn't make it today, then it will be 5-day Priority mail, excluding Sunday and assuming arrival on Monday.

I'm all out of my last batch of Blue Bottle, but I still have plenty left of the Stumptown that @Kurwenal suggested recently.

Well, I'll simply drink the coffee that I have; the idea of shipping a single packet of ground coffee back to London strikes me as ridiculous, so I'll just drink it. Actually, it is a excellent Ethiopian coffee; it just wasn't counted among those I classed as favourites...

Now, I'll grant that the order was slightly complicated - in that I had requested several whole bean coffees, and two particular coffees that were to be shipped as ground beans (to cafetière/French Press standard).

In truth, the mornings when I have to get up early, to catch a train for meetings, I am not in a mood (and nor have I the time) to grind my own, not least because my mind is on what I should be thinking of when I get to the meeting. Perfection be damned - convenience is also a consideration, and following @Shrink's rule, it was what you like (or need) that counts. Hence, beans most days, and access to ground coffee when I am in a hurry.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

This afternoon, I have opened the beans that came in that slightly confused package that Friday's post delivered from The Ethiopian Coffee Company in London.

And, after another fight (the Lido grinder and I sometimes stare at one another in mutual incomprehension in the morning; it is a lovely machine, but I really do wish that Lido had seen fit to put some sort of numerals on the rings, as my settings seem to occasionally change inexplicably) with the grinder, I finally managed to produce some ground coffee to my taste.

Actually, I re-ground the coffee, as the settings had my original grind far too coarse, so, of course, inevitably, I over-compensated, producing something akin to espresso level ground coffee. Well, it is Sunday. I have the time. However, all that effort (I am not a fan of too much elbow grease on anything) meant that I felt this merited a pot - the French Press - rather than a mere mug of coffee.

Anyway, the coffee is the 'Sidamo 2 Bokasso'. In their accompanying (on their site, not the packet) the Ethiopian Coffee Company mention that this coffee has 'some really surprising distinguishing characteristics', adding that 'first off is the richness of the brew' (I concur) and observing that it is 'quite dense fully rounded on the palate with a nuttiness, brown sugar and cacao'. To that I would add that it has the characteristic clear, clean, bright taste (and aroma) of a really good Ethiopian coffee.

And a further surprise, which the Ethiopian Coffee Company also thoughtfully mentioned in their tasting notes on the 'Sidamo 2 Bokasso'. "A further surprise: This coffee tastes equally wonderful as an espresso as it does with other brewing methods, Aeropress, Cafetiere, stove top, or espresso."

Actually, I can attest to the fact that it does. A delicious coffee, which I am sipping as I write this.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Well, more issues have arisen, but they are not the fault of the Ethiopian Coffee Company.

My credit card was cloned, and is currently blocked, while investigations and replacements are issued.

Meanwhile, - after I phoned them explaining that they would not now receive payment for at least another fortnight, the Ethiopian Coffee Company has offered to send me the coffees I had ordered and that I can settle up with them when I receive my new credit card. They are an absolute pleasure, both personally and professionally, to deal with.

 

[Kurwenal]

Good morning friends. I have posted pictures of some wonderful coffees, so for whatever reason I thought I would post a picture of a total miss. In fact, one of the vilest coffees I have ever tasted.

Ethiopiques, roasted on Tuesday, pulled into a ristretto this morning, following my normal process. Truly disgusting. Not sure why.

Oh well.

Hope everyone is well. Hello to you too Shrink.

 

[mobilehaathi]

Good morning friends. I have posted pictures of some wonderful coffees, so for whatever reason I thought I would post a picture of a total miss. In fact, one of the vilest coffees I have ever tasted.

Ethiopiques, roasted on Tuesday, pulled into a ristretto this morning, following my normal process. Truly disgusting. Not sure why.

Oh well.

Hope everyone is well. Hello to you too Shrink.

Yeesh, don't like the look of the end of that one. Well, sometimes you need a really bad pull to slap you across the face and remind you just how good you have it normally. Keeps you on your toes.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Good morning friends. I have posted pictures of some wonderful coffees, so for whatever reason I thought I would post a picture of a total miss. In fact, one of the vilest coffees I have ever tasted.

Ethiopiques, roasted on Tuesday, pulled into a ristretto this morning, following my normal process. Truly disgusting. Not sure why.

Oh well.

Hope everyone is well. Hello to you too Shrink.

Great to see you @Kurwenal, above all, great to see you posting about coffee and espresso.

I agree with @mobilehaathi.

It is not possible - simply not possible - that every shot will turn out equally well or be an exemplary shot. There have been some disasters, for me, too. And some embarrassments, which are worse.

For me, these extend to happen, either on the days I am in a hurry (and prone to error), or thinking about something else, and not concentrating, and - prone to error.

Never mind. As @mobilehaathi phrased it so well, this merely should serve to remind you of how well you normally pull your shots, and what a high standard your espresso usually meets.

Yeesh, don't like the look of the end of that one. Well, sometimes you need a really bad pull to slap you across the face and remind you just how good you have it normally. Keeps you on your toes.

Indeed. Some of my embarrassments are best left undescribed. It happens to us all on occasion.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Am at present sipping coffee. Well, to be precise, I am sipping a mug (Le Creuset) of coffee poured from a pot - well, my Le Creuset French Press - of Sidamo 2 Bokasso, a lovely, light, clean Ethiopian coffee. Delicious.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

While I am almost out of coffee by the Ethiopian Coffee Company, - they have yet to roast my most recent order, that is scheduled to take place today - after which it should be despatched - fortunately, I still have another small bag of Ethiopian coffee in reserve (ordered from a different company). That should see me through the remainder of the week.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Had a pot (Le Creuset pot) of Ethiopian coffee this morning.

This one is a blend of thee different types of Ethiopian coffee, - which goes by the name of 'Abba Jiffar's Blend' which was actually very tasty, and had a wonderful aroma.

 

[Kurwenal]

MH: Sweet Maria's:

Single Origin Sample Set: Ethiopia 8-Pack
$48.50
An 8 pound pack of our current single origin coffees from Ethiopia with a small discount. These are 88 to 93 point coffees, dry and wet processed, a sampler skewed toward the mind-blowing side of the coffee tasting spectrum.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

MH: Sweet Maria's:

Single Origin Sample Set: Ethiopia 8-Pack
$48.50
An 8 pound pack of our current single origin coffees from Ethiopia with a small discount. These are 88 to 93 point coffees, dry and wet processed, a sampler skewed toward the mind-blowing side of the coffee tasting spectrum.

Ah.

Wow. Must take a look, and many thanks for posting this and drawing our (well, my) attention to it.

Sounds well worth further investigation…….

 

[Scepticalscribe]

MH: Sweet Maria's:

Single Origin Sample Set: Ethiopia 8-Pack
$48.50
An 8 pound pack of our current single origin coffees from Ethiopia with a small discount. These are 88 to 93 point coffees, dry and wet processed, a sampler skewed toward the mind-blowing side of the coffee tasting spectrum.

Hm.

Having paid a swift and fleeting visit to their website, I have discovered that these are green beans, rather than roasted beans. Roasting my own is a step too far, and something I have no knowledge or experience of whatsoever.

Regretfully, I'll have to pass on this for now. But the set of eight coffees from Ethiopia look tempting and absolutely fantastic. To be honest, I would have leaped at it had they come roasted (but the, the price, I imagine, might have been somewhat higher).

 

[D.T.]

My wife scored some _amazing_ whole beans from a local "whole foods" sort of store. We had it the last two mornings - it's (as usual) a dark roast, but it has a really delicate flavor, not the hit-you-in-the-face dark-spicy-chocolate/nutty, and the finish is this complex floral, fruitiness - it lingers nicely, you'd swear you just ate a bar of fresh blueberries and milk chocolate

Side note: we're off next week on one of our trips to Universal, and again, we'll be bringing my travel coffee "kit":

- Small Chemex/filters
- Electric Kettle (1L)
- Mini Hario grinder
- Beans

Beans, grinder go into the kettle, and the whole footprint is about the space of a pair of shoes

 

[Scepticalscribe]

My wife scored some _amazing_ whole beans from a local "whole foods" sort of store. We had it the last two mornings - it's (as usual) a dark roast, but it has a really delicate flavor, not the hit-you-in-the-face dark-spicy-chocolate/nutty, and the finish is this complex floral, fruitiness - it lingers nicely, you'd swear you just ate a bar of fresh blueberries and milk chocolate

Side note: we're off next week on one of our trips to Universal, and again, we'll be bringing my travel coffee "kit":

- Small Chemex/filters
- Electric Kettle (1L)
- Mini Hario grinder
- Beans

Beans, grinder go into the kettle, and the whole footprint is about the space of a pair of shoes

Where are the beans from?

I like the idea of your 'coffee travel kit', it ticks all the boxes and I have absolutely no doubt that it produced excellent coffee.

This morning, I ground a blend (my own) of two different beans - an excellent Ethiopian bean and a very good bean from El Salvador. Very tasty; my brother was also very impressed.

 

[Alanna Arenstein]

I have just phoned the Ethiopian Coffee Company in London, and ordered some fresh coffee.

After a long - and enthusiastic and most enjoyable chat, it is great fun to chat about a mutual interest with fellow enthusiasts - I ordered some Yirgacheffe Aramo (which sounds wonderful from their site), some Dummerso (that was highly recommended), and - as it was also very highly recommended and is new to their range, - some Sidamo 2 Bokasso.

I loooooooove yirgacheffe aramo. light-roast and amazing flavor! I remember switching from instant coffee to yirgacheffe and I couldn't believe how amazing it was.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

I loooooooove yirgacheffe aramo. light-roast and amazing flavor! I remember switching from instant coffee to yirgacheffe and I couldn't believe how amazing it was.

Well, if you switched from the a life with the unmentionable (on this thread, at least) product known as instant coffee straight to Yirgacheffe real coffee, you have gone straight from the most dull dross to some of the very best coffee available in the world.

Anyway, I agree. It is absolutely terrific coffee, simply first rate stuff….