I'd avoid the CS starter pack. Some of Andy's offerings are good but some are so-so, and while that's true for all bean suppliers, I'd say other retailers are currently a bit more transparent in terms of cupping scores, tasting notes and the whole price paid + normal markup = retail price. BeanGreen and MinistryGrounds are the two retailers I'm buying from at the moment, because most of the best beans in Australia are imported by Melbourne Coffee Merchants (Mercanta) and MTC Group (including Trabocca offerings), and they both (and both) do a lot of direct trade with growers instead of middlemen, and have a focus on quality offerings. Key: ~ for beans I think might not be particularly suitable for popper roasting. * for beans I've tried and think you might enjoy ** for specific recommendations (i.e. I've roasted this and it was excellent both ways you like) ^ is for more 'commodity' orientated beans that may save a few $$ at checkout ! is expensive Everything I've suggested has been stuff I've drunk in milk and/or espresso from a quality roaster, or roasted and drunk both ways. I've gone for stuff that that might roast up well both in milk and espresso and which should cut through milk and be enjoyable on their own, without risking nasty sour milk drinks (eg. avoiding tropical and grapefruit/big citrus flavours) From MinistryGrounds: Bolivia Colonia San Juan 8 Estrellas** Brazil Fazenda Rainha** Colombia Santa Rita La Chapperal (not tried current crop) Costa Rica Finca Las Lajas Organic 'Black Pearl'*! Costa Rica Finca Las Lajas Honey Prep* Costa Rica Zamorana Estate** El Salvador Finca La Fany** Ethiopia MAO 'Blue Horse Harrar (not tried this year)^ Guatemala Finca La Perla** Guatemala Finca Liquidambar*^ Kenya Gethumbwini Estate AB**! Kenya Karani~~ Kenya Tinganga Estate AA~~ The Kenyans are an odd bunch - lovely and winey, good cocoa body, but possibly too hard for the popper. From BeanGreen: Costa Rica Finca De Licho Honey Prep Costa Rica Herbazu Estate** Costa Rica Finca La Candelilla Geisha!!!!~ Costa Rica Las Pavas Lot No. 3 El Salvador Finca El Carmen** Ethiopian Sidamo DP Haile Selassie* Ethiopian Yirgacheffe Grade 2 Washed*~ Ethiopian Harrar Long Berry Mao Blue Horse^ Guatemala Finca Santa Clara Bourboncillo** Hawaiian Kona - Captain Cook!* Kenyan Gethumbwini Estate Peaberry~** Kenyan AA Dorman Estate~ Panama Casa Ruiz Boquette^ Hope that helps! Essentially my understanding is that you want beans that will generally roast evenly and can take a bit too much heat - but the problem I think isn't so much the drying phase as the roasting phase. Not being able to stretch out the roast between first and second crack stops some flavour development, so I've tried to pick stuff which will give you a good end cup if you stop somewhere even in the right ballpark. I've avoided coffees I think are 'one-dimensional' or 'boring' and I'm not a massive nut fan, so you'll see some of that coming out in my selections. I totally agree with the 500g issue - I'm on a KKTO and made the mistake of ordering 1KGx6 from MG in my last order. 7kg+4+3kg this order from BG makes a lot more sense. I suspect with the fast roast, large maragotype beans will end up uneven as you'll have less agitation less easily, so I've gone for medium sized beans. 1kg of each should be plenty. I'd order: 1kg x Bolivia San Juan 8 Estrellas (1kg x Costa Rica Zamorana Estate) 1kg x El Salvador Finca La Fany 1kg x Guatamala Finca Liquidambar 1kg x Ethiopia MAO Blue Horse as a fairly decent starter pack - 2 lovely single origins, 2 more pricey but much more rewarding beans, the bolivian being closer to your stated current favourite when taken close to or even to second crack, and the la fany being a crowd-pleaser. The Zamorana Estate is one of my favourite beans of the year, but both that and the La Fany are great in milk but balanced and clean rather than strong, earth, bold and dominant. If you've got any negative feedback on that list, I can cut some out!
