August 2012 Bean Swap

shape_shifter

Now that we've kicked off, lets use this thread (as suggested by KK) to:

1) inform us of the swap beans arrival
2) take a photo of the beans by the receiver so we can all see
3) follow up post with taste review, videos of shot action ect.

derrilex

I guess I better taste my intended blend before I send it eh :D

UNM

on 1343723583:

I guess I better taste my intended blend before I send it eh :D

definitely. might be too good to send away

shape_shifter

I've been tasting mine, it's pretty crap so far, so derrilex it can't be worse than mine :P

derrilex

on 1343724453:

definitely. might be too good to send away

If it is too good my recipient will receive 400 g of oily old MM ( still tastes ok but looks funky)  :rofl: SS - I've tasted both of my proposed SO's for the blend and they are good - fresh, but good

Koffee_Kosmo

My swap beans have landed KK

Brett H

I've been thrown something different that I'm excited about.  The big roast I did on the weekend is great but won't cut it I'm afraid.  Off to get my professors cap and play with some ideas!!

Ronin

My beans have arrived just in time for the weekend  :thumb: Roasted for filter but has some receives for plunger, pour over and cold press. Looks like I'll need to dig out the plunger & chemex that are packed for the upcoming move. Excited about this one. Pics to come over the weekend

Tango

Mine have arrived too!  Thanks to whoever. An Espresso Blend and some Ethiopia Guji.  Will post pics and comments over the weekend!!

derrilex

Mine arrived today also. Tried bag # 1. Nice and mellow. Will try bag # 2 tonight. When , if ever, do we reveal who we roasted for ?

UNM

as alluded to in chat earlier. mine also arrived today. not had a chance to look, just a quick long black aeropress. not great, roast not really suited to aeropress. will try Greek next as I am sure sender won't mind me trying diff brew methods.

derrilex

Tried bag # 2. I think there is some Indo and maybe some Yirg as well. Could be way off the mark though. Either way, both bags going down well. Bit over extracted for bag 2

UNM

tried the blend today as Greek - much better than aeropress, better balanced and not so punchy. rich and full bodied.  Next up was a short black. slightly fast pour, but drinkable. Second shot was spot on. will have to ask daughter for her opinion later. My swap buddy packed too many cremas though and it was a tad bubbly. This one gets a few more days rest to settle down before trying again. Definitely suits espresso extraction best, wish I had a lever machine for this one. The SO was only roasted 29th, so I will report on that next week.

Koffee_Kosmo

Just taken a few photos of my swap partners beans Nice even roast Looks to have just reached second crack Roasted on the 30th so I will wait till 5 days post roast to start drinking KK

derrilex

Bag 1 & 2 from my mystery roaster. Tried both and  :thumb:

Ronin

I got to play with my mystery roasters coffee this afternoon. 2 mystery bags of light roaster beans, no roast dates. I found the Plunger and numbered the bags as I'm not sure if they are the same and assumed they weren't. Bag 1. A little unsure about grind size for a Plunger and after doing some reading i decided on a size similar to white sugar. The included recipe stated 8g coffee/100g water. Strong marmalade/jammy type aromas from the grounds with a slight woody aroma finish, that carried into the cup after steeping. Flavors got better as it cooled. A most enjoyable cup and quite different than what I'm use to (Espresso/flat white) Also used the cold press recipe to make a batch of each roast. Will sample tomorrow. I will sample roast 2 tomorrow through the plunger. Thanks to my mystery roast Buddie for the beans. I haven't had a brewed coffee for a while and enjoyed the experience so for. I hope you reveal yourself in the fulness of time  :thumb:

shape_shifter

LOL Ronin lets just say you are right on the money with the way you used them  :D derrilex we'll wait until everyone has theirs I think

Ronin

on 1344063800:

LOL Ronin lets just say you are right on the money with the way you used them  :D

Hard to go wrong with a reciepe included SS, the only variable was the gring size but I'm pretty happy with it so far  Tried bag 2 this afternoon through the plunger. Ground aroma was berries (strawberries most likely). Didn't follow through into the cup tho initially, most predominant flavour was spices while hot. The berries returned as it cooled and spices disappeared. Much stronger than bag 1 but still enjoyable. Reminded me of an Ethiopian, possible gemballa sundried? Also decanted my cold brew. Didn't taste any yet as I'd just eaten salt & vinegar chips which has a nack of killing my pallet. Enjoyable so far all in all and I may yet start to roast for filter.

Tango

So my bag of 'Espresso Blend' which was roasted on 29/7 is pictured below. Was a really nice coffee as a flat white, cut through the milk perfectly with no dominant flavours.  Well balanced and yum!  I'm not even going to try and guess what beans were in there because I'm sure I'd get it wrong!! Haven't tried the Guji yet!

Koffee_Kosmo

Tried my swap partners blend this morning It's still a bit gassy or bubbly on the exit spouts But it's very drinkable with some chocolate tones comming to the party It also has a very creamy Crema,  not sure if it's the early stage or a bit of Monsooned Malabar Will report back again as its consumed KK

beanflying

Down to my last 400g of my own roasts so I hope mine get her soon  :thumb: Going to fire up the roaster today for next week anyway and to warm up the Cave, Brrrrr last stop the wind made on land was the Antarctic 

lemoo

got 500g of roasted goodness in the mail and they smell great roasted 31/7/12 cant wait to rip into them!

beanflying

Just got delivered  :thumb: Seems my roaster was following the Australia Post rules and actually put their name on the back instead of following the "Rules" for a little anonymity. I will have to talk to the organizer about this breach :rofl: Also arrived was a little external swap baggy from Tom & Shanny's new venture Filter Roasters. My Cupboard now runeth over with roasted 

RichardM

Mine was waiting on my doorstep when I got back from my time away this afternoon. Very happy it rocked up - I have absolutely no roasted coffee left :O

mycuppa

Mine arrived today - thanks RM. Although, I was just a bit confused as to which one was the Blend and which is the SO :laugh:. Will be tasting in a few days. My palate today was blown up from tasting a coffee by one of Sydney's leading specialty roasters (which will not be named) - lingering unpleasant sourness.

Lacehim

I received mine today from a drug dealer.  :rofl:  Yes, it actually said "Suprise, Drugs R US" on the sender info of the bag!!!!  Couldn't help myself and punched the tracking number into Austpost website, and it came from Port Fairy!  So, Jonty are ya my secret dealer? It came on the same day as my new 240Gb SSD, and I opened the beans first! Well if you are thank you.  I got 2 bags of roasted.  Only detail was "Single 26/07" and "Blend 26/07", so ready to consume now and I'll be cranking out a few shots on my lusso, and tasting as espresso, long black and milk based. Thoughts so far. The Single, well massive difference in size of the beans, tiny and large.  Haven't tasted it yet.  The size difference has me thinking.  I wonder what it is! The blend, roasted a little lighter than my roasts (I usually roast to R2C and dump) so it will be interested to try a slightly lighter roast.  A few beans that look under roasted mixed in.  A few peaberry's in there too. Anyway, got the blend in the grinder, and had a latte.  Shot came out lovely, with nice dark crema ring. Maybe because they are a lighter roast (ligher than my usual) there was a lot more flavour going on there, can't really describe it, but not what I usually aim for.  But that's what this is all about and it's nice to try something different.  It was an enjoyable coffee, which is what it's all about.

RichardM

on 1344237901:

Mine arrived today - thanks RM.

Huh?? Yours aren't from me! I suspect some tomfoolery going on with sender addresses if that's what it said on the package!

beanflying

on 1344237901:

....... My palate today was blown up from tasting a coffee by one of Sydney's leading specialty roasters (which will not be named) - lingering unpleasant sourness.

Got to get you into the Siphon thing and bump the temp a little Last bag I got from M in Sydney for Espresso was great as a brewed coffee as I decided from the get go it was never going into the machine. I will get into my swaps tomorrow as the grinder was loaded for the day when they arrived. I will just call mine Secret Squirrel Blend and Single as the roasters anonymity was to be preserved hey ShapeShifter  :rofl: No Drugs in Port Fairy is there @Jonty, I think Lacehim has been smoking something  8)

shape_shifter

BF you never know really who they came from, just because it says something on the bag doesn't mean it's the truth  :stir Lacehim I'm loving what was written on your bag

derrilex

So whoever gets my beans just ignore the name on the post bag as its a fake :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

Brett H

I too scored a special treat in the post.  Everyone is going to be really jealous that I scored the MyCuppa selection.  Jeff sent me four wonderful packages of beans that I'll wax lyrical about as I enjoy them.  Thank you Jeff for what promises to be a taste sensation (if smell is anything to go by) and thank you Nic for running the show this time.  :thumb: