frame
After the old forum software breaking in a way that we were unable to fix, we've migrated the site to a new platform.

Some elements aren't working as we'd hoped - some avatars didn't survive the transition, and we're still having issues with attachments that weren't added as inline images, but we're hoping to have that all sorted out soon.

Roasting for others

So I have touched on this, and been part of side discussions about how one goes about roasting for others before, and I know ShapeShifter has had issues with others liking her beans too (as I'm sure everyone else has - she's just mentioned it).

I want to know if anyone has any tips for the following:

1) Providing a "generic coffee" - I'm thinking for people who you just want to give a gift of coffee to. you know they have a grinder and machine, but know nothing of what their tastes are. This I believe is where "KJM" style blends seem to be good.

2) Interpreting what they tell you in terms of what they like - ie I wanted to gift someone some coffee, and asked them what coffee they drank today. The response was "we buy decaf beans from a local roaster, and mix it 50/50 with vittoria from the supermarket".......

3)  If someone is using plunger coffee, are there any tips. I'm really not a fan of plunger, so are there any beans/roast types that seem to work better, or should I just underroast my standard blends/SO's

So I open the floor to all of you - please discuss.

Comments

  • For 99.9% of the time I only gift to fellow coffee enthusiasts I also gift my specialist some fresh roasted coffee beans on my periodic visits I just write a roast date and the SO and leave them to there own devises KK
  • on 1309851111:
    I want to know if anyone has any tips for the following: 1) Providing a "generic coffee" - I'm thinking for people who you just want to give a gift of coffee to. you know they have a grinder and machine, but know nothing of what their tastes are. This I believe is where "KJM" style blends seem to be good. 2) Interpreting what they tell you in terms of what they like - ie I wanted to gift someone some coffee, and asked them what coffee they drank today. The response was "we buy decaf beans from a local roaster, and mix it 50/50 with vittoria from the supermarket"....... 3)  If someone is using plunger coffee, are there any tips. I'm really not a fan of plunger, so are there any beans/roast types that seem to work better, or should I just underroast my standard blends/SO's So I open the floor to all of you - please discuss.
    All and none! I probably sell about 1-2kg of coffee to people at work a week. My wife 3-4kg. Another 1-2kg to friends and family. 1) Most of the "general" persons seem to like low acid, no fruit and lots of chocolate. So I find the beans/blend that is like this and not "under roast" - go into SC. 2) Yep, ask what they like and try to find something that is similar. 3) Fruity, clean acid or wet hulled, roasted to a couple degrees before SC. Having said all that, it hardly goes to plan. A lot of plunger drinker want a Sidamo roasted 30-60 past SC. Some who say they like Lavazza end up wanting a acidic fruity coffee. The way I do it these days is to give a sample of a few different styles of coffee and ask what they liked.
  • I've been supplying a few friends, most just say the coffee is amazing.  I think compared to supermarket beans they just blow them away. Maybe when we get the taste for fresh beans they might start getting fussy.
  • Welcome to the world of 100 different coffee lovers - all different. After many years of trying to please everyone and running an agenda based on vocal minorities, I've come to the conclusion I will roast what I like, the way I like it and if people buy it thats good, else.............. When you get to the end of your patience, then find more patience, only then will you realize it goes actually runs around n circles. Make a coffee you love, then if others like it, that's a bonus.
  • on 1309864296:
    Make a coffee you love, then if others like it, that's a bonus.
    This is where I am at, I just don't care about trying to enlighten anyone anymore, bitter and twisted, not really just a little jaded that others are interested in talking about or trying something I'm obviously so passionate about.  If they are truly interested they will ask, as one of the girls I went to TAFE with did and I ground up some coffee for her to try in her plunger. If people come to my place they will get my coffee, I refuse to carry anything else in the house any longer.  I have a syphon, plunger, presso and will have the BDB so can offer them coffee any way they want it but I refuse to offer sub-standard coffee. ...then if they find they like it and would like to try some at home I will provide it for them in a small quantity at first to see if they do like it, then perhaps I'll roast to sell it to them. Oh Richard, I put the Ghimbi through a plunger a few weeks ago and it turned out quite alright.
  • Thanks everyone. These are the kinds of things I was after. I especially like Jeff's comments - perfect it for yourself and hope others like it. Thankfully most people I make coffee for I've told to be super honest. Every now and then the missus tells me it's no good, and that the next one should be free :P SS: I give my mum the Ethiopian Guna Limmu for her plunger. She runs it through my old EM0480 and it goes alright, HOWEVER, it seems really temperature sensitive. Anything above about 94 and it tastes incredibly ashy :( - had to train mum up on how to not pour boiling water over it.
  • ;D Richard, I know not to experiment on my OH anymore or give him anything that is 'light'. I took my Breville Variable Kettle with me and used the coffee setting, I made sure it wasn't going to end up with boiling water on it  ;D I think people think I'm nuts but tough I just like things the way I like them and it's easier taking the kettle than guessing at how long it would take to get to a temperature I can use  ;D
Sign In or Register to comment.

Coffee Forum

@ 2024 The Coffee Forum, All rights reserved.

Policies

Social