The mystic of expresso

Cigargal · 10-09-2009, 10:03 AM

It seems that the folks who love expresso really really love expresso and for me it is the Shangrila of coffee roasting. I have always had the impression that expresso is just very strong coffee and since I like a medium roast I have never been brave enough to try it. Also, I am not sure that my IRoast can roast the beans long enough for the vienna roast.

Maybe the expresso aficionados can weigh in here. What is good about expresso and can you recommend it to everyone?

germantown rob · 10-09-2009, 11:12 AM

I stop most of my roasts for espresso at FC or FC+, sometimes I will try a little further into 2nd crack but that is rare.

T.G · 10-09-2009, 11:27 AM

I always thought expresso was pig-italian for a fast moving train.

10-09-2009, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by T.G

I always thought expresso was pig-italian for a fast moving train.

FTW!!!!

wrench turner 85 · 10-13-2009, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bookman

FTW!!!!

x2

Cigargal · 10-09-2009, 11:33 AM

To me second crack is a full roast and full + is well into the second crack. I usually roast up to the end of the first crack and just at the beginning of the second.

I would think a vienna roast would be well into the second crack. Is this the bean for expresso? What makes a coffee an expresso?

germantown rob · 10-09-2009, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cigargal

To me second crack is a full roast and full + is well into the second crack. I usually roast up to the end of the first crack and just at the beginning of the second.

I would think a vienna roast would be well into the second crack. Is this the bean for expresso? What makes a coffee an expresso?

Espresso is a brew method not a roast or a bean. What makes a brew an espresso is the pressure that the water is pushed through the grind. You can pull a shot with city roast or burnt beans all depends on what you like. Not every bean will work for brewing as espresso but most espresso blends could be used for other brew methods. SO espresso shots are fantastic!

FC is just before 2nd crack, FC+ is first audible cracks of 2nd, Vienna is the start of rolling 2nd crack.

Cigargal · 10-09-2009, 12:49 PM

where would you place city and city+ then?

germantown rob · 10-09-2009, 03:37 PM

City would be when 1st crack ends, City+ will be in between first crack ending and 2nd crack starting.

10-09-2009, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by germantown rob

Espresso is a brew method not a roast or a bean. What makes a brew an espresso is the pressure that the water is pushed through the grind. You can pull a shot with city roast or burnt beans all depends on what you like. Not every bean will work for brewing as espresso but most espresso blends could be used for other brew methods. SO espresso shots are fantastic!

FC is just before 2nd crack, FC+ is first audible cracks of 2nd, Vienna is the start of rolling 2nd crack.

Can't help myself.

Rob, I think you'd agree it's not a roast, nor a bean, NOR a brew method, rather it's a drink, which occurs by combining the three.

Carry on

Mister Moo · 10-09-2009, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Resipsa

Can't help myself.

Rob, I think you'd agree it's not a roast, nor a bean, NOR a brew method, rather it's a drink, which occurs by combining the three.

Carry on

Goll danged lifestyle is what it is when you're bothering to roast your own coffee and commit your sacred honor to repeatable 28-second shots.

C'gal - a good straight espresso, which is not a terribly common thing out there on the street, is a lovely slug or sip, with or without sugar. Your favorite homeroast oozed through a $30 AeroPress is an approximation of a good shot and, probably, better than what you'll get at 9-out-of-10 coffeeshops.

10-13-2009, 09:00 AM

Hey M - you really should take Moo up on his offer. Thing about the Aeropress....it'll give a vague approximation of a true espresso shot, BUT just simply filling the cup up the rest of the way with hot water will give you an Americano that is a quite good cup in it's own right. And the Aeropress cup strength can be easily regulated at the onset.

Don't be a coffee sissy

Mister Moo · 10-13-2009, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EvanS

Hey M - Don't be a coffee sissy

Dude... she's standing at the pier and the AeroPress boat is ready to sail.

germantown rob · 10-13-2009, 01:30 PM

Cigargal, I would try the Aeropress, it makes a wonderful cup of coffee, I like the 2oz shot straight but it is great for latte, cappuccino, mocha, americano, whatever else. You could use your krups for steaming the milk, it may turn out to be a better taste and simpler then pulling shots on your machine. The aeropress is so simple to use and even easier to clean plus it travels well. What's not to like?

Cigargal · 10-13-2009, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by germantown rob

Cigargal, I would try the Aeropress, it makes a wonderful cup of coffee, I like the 2oz shot straight but it is great for latte, cappuccino, mocha, americano, whatever else. You could use your krups for steaming the milk, it may turn out to be a better taste and simpler then pulling shots on your machine. The aeropress is so simple to use and even easier to clean plus it travels well. What's not to like?

Okay okay okay, pm sent

Mister Moo · 10-14-2009, 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cigargal

Okay okay okay, pm sent

Ha! Outbound!
If you can grind coffee to medium-fine and boil three ounces of water I think you may be amazed by an AeroPress. Can ya? Can ya?

It is true the straight shot is espresso-like but much towards cold-processed concentrate - it is VERY smooth and without a bite. As the man said, a couple of AeroPress ounces topped with four or five ounces of hot water makes a lovely Americano.

mosesbotbol · 10-14-2009, 07:07 AM

Depends how you like your roast. Espresso has no defined roast. Some are just medium roasted at best. I think it's the mixture of beans and roasting that makes an ideal blend. Brasil and Guatamala are beans I love in my espresso blends, perhaps with no cracking in them? I do not like the smoky notes in espresso from a dark roast.

Just look at all the big brands both bagged and fresh roasted, the color runs the spectrum for depth of roasting from oily-black to smooth brown...

Mister Moo · 10-14-2009, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mosesbotbol

Depends how you like your roast. Espresso has no defined roast... ...Brasil and Guatamala are beans I love in my espresso blends, perhaps with no cracking in them? I do not like the smoky notes in espresso from a dark roast...

I'm with you. I never found a very dark roast of "x" beans made an espresso I pined for. I rarely take espresso blends beyond a darkness that shows a little bit of oil-spotting a few days post-roast. I know this is a matter of personal taste and some folks enjoy the dark/smokey side but after I lightened up my blends the flavors appealed to me much more.

A lot of commercial espresso blends seem very dark, oil-covered and overly invested with robusto to me. There being a lot of this doesn't necessarily make it better but it does reinforce a misconception that "espresso" means black, oily beans.

slickster81 · 10-14-2009, 12:42 PM

FWIW, Trader Joes has a French Roast that makes a damn fine 28 second espresso shot, fragrant, full bodied and awesome crema from my Briel San Remo. That's my Sunday morning espresso....for everyday, I find it hard to beat Cafe Bustelo as it is quite consistent in grind and roast. I went the route of roasting my own, but just don't have the time anymore...it becomes a zen like religion.

10-14-2009, 03:03 PM

well for general knowledge only i will let u know that cofee is basically a variant or a mutant and it is also known as coffea arabica from where it originally started... the expresso is so powerful tht it would help in relaxing you in minutes... it is truly an energiser for me...
Enjoy!!!!

10-09-2009, 10:03 AM	#1
Cigargal Waiting for SoCal XI Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Northern California Posts: 1,472 Trading: (25)	The mystic of expresso It seems that the folks who love expresso really really love expresso and for me it is the Shangrila of coffee roasting. I have always had the impression that expresso is just very strong coffee and since I like a medium roast I have never been brave enough to try it. Also, I am not sure that my IRoast can roast the beans long enough for the vienna roast. Maybe the expresso aficionados can weigh in here. What is good about expresso and can you recommend it to everyone?

10-09-2009, 11:12 AM	#2
germantown rob Still not Adjusted Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Rob Location: Philadelphia Posts: 330 Trading: (1)	Re: The mystic of expresso I stop most of my roasts for espresso at FC or FC+, sometimes I will try a little further into 2nd crack but that is rare.

10-09-2009, 11:27 AM	#3
T.G Grrrrrr Join Date: Mar 2009 First Name: The Other Adam Posts: 15,543 Trading: (37)	Re: The mystic of expresso I always thought expresso was pig-italian for a fast moving train.

10-09-2009, 11:33 AM	#6
Cigargal Waiting for SoCal XI Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Northern California Posts: 1,472 Trading: (25)	Re: The mystic of expresso To me second crack is a full roast and full + is well into the second crack. I usually roast up to the end of the first crack and just at the beginning of the second. I would think a vienna roast would be well into the second crack. Is this the bean for expresso? What makes a coffee an expresso?

10-09-2009, 12:49 PM	#8
Cigargal Waiting for SoCal XI Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Northern California Posts: 1,472 Trading: (25)	Re: The mystic of expresso where would you place city and city+ then?

10-09-2009, 03:37 PM	#9
germantown rob Still not Adjusted Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Rob Location: Philadelphia Posts: 330 Trading: (1)	Re: The mystic of expresso City would be when 1st crack ends, City+ will be in between first crack ending and 2nd crack starting.

10-13-2009, 09:00 AM	#12
EvanS Guest Posts: n/a	Re: The mystic of expresso Hey M - you really should take Moo up on his offer. Thing about the Aeropress....it'll give a vague approximation of a true espresso shot, BUT just simply filling the cup up the rest of the way with hot water will give you an Americano that is a quite good cup in it's own right. And the Aeropress cup strength can be easily regulated at the onset. Don't be a coffee sissy

10-13-2009, 01:30 PM	#14
germantown rob Still not Adjusted Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Rob Location: Philadelphia Posts: 330 Trading: (1)	Re: The mystic of expresso Cigargal, I would try the Aeropress, it makes a wonderful cup of coffee, I like the 2oz shot straight but it is great for latte, cappuccino, mocha, americano, whatever else. You could use your krups for steaming the milk, it may turn out to be a better taste and simpler then pulling shots on your machine. The aeropress is so simple to use and even easier to clean plus it travels well. What's not to like?

10-14-2009, 07:07 AM	#17
mosesbotbol That's a Corgi Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Moses Location: Boston Posts: 6,171 Trading: (6)	Re: The mystic of expresso Depends how you like your roast. Espresso has no defined roast. Some are just medium roasted at best. I think it's the mixture of beans and roasting that makes an ideal blend. Brasil and Guatamala are beans I love in my espresso blends, perhaps with no cracking in them? I do not like the smoky notes in espresso from a dark roast. Just look at all the big brands both bagged and fresh roasted, the color runs the spectrum for depth of roasting from oily-black to smooth brown... __________________ Port Wine & Claret \| British Cars \| Welsh Corgi's

10-14-2009, 12:42 PM	#19
slickster81 Ein weiteres Bier bitte Join Date: Sep 2009 First Name: John Location: Rochester Hills Posts: 246 Trading: (30)	Re: The mystic of expresso FWIW, Trader Joes has a French Roast that makes a damn fine 28 second espresso shot, fragrant, full bodied and awesome crema from my Briel San Remo. That's my Sunday morning espresso....for everyday, I find it hard to beat Cafe Bustelo as it is quite consistent in grind and roast. I went the route of roasting my own, but just don't have the time anymore...it becomes a zen like religion. __________________ Smokin' fine cigars, and swappin' lies....."Long Road Out Of Eden", The Eagles

10-14-2009, 03:03 PM	#20
coolfrenz28 Guest Posts: n/a	Re: The mystic of expresso well for general knowledge only i will let u know that cofee is basically a variant or a mutant and it is also known as coffea arabica from where it originally started... the expresso is so powerful tht it would help in relaxing you in minutes... it is truly an energiser for me... Enjoy!!!!