Esmerelda Geisha at Campos

madpierre

Got a bag of this from the crop a couple years ago shipped out from George Howell Coffee in the States. We cupped it over at my local coffee haunt and even my limited palate picked up unripened apricot, cherry ripe, and dark chocolate. As a short black...nothing short of stunning!!! I have not had a coffee like it prior to or since that day. In milk, it was somewhat boring, feeling almost lost in the cup. I may very well drop into the Valley in the morning and see if they have any there.

galumay

just ordered a bag, better see what all the fuss is about!

beanflying

Esmeralda with milk :instant: 😃 The best Geishas I have had were not roasted for espresso but roasted light and generally brewed as a Syphon or pourover. Espresso doesn't give the clarity of flavours and the roast depth tends to take away some of the more delicate flavours available in some of these batches. I still like it as espresso but would rather not. Also make sure you try others if you see them now hitting the market you just might find as I did last year there is better to be had than Esme 🙂 Off my soap box now :stir

galumay

Might try it in the CCD then.

madpierre

Bean Flying wrote:

Esmeralda with milk :instant: 😃 The best Geishas I have had were not roasted for espresso but roasted light and generally brewed as a Syphon or pourover. Espresso doesn't give the clarity of flavours and the roast depth tends to take away some of the more delicate flavours available in some of these batches. I still like it as espresso but would rather not. Also make sure you try others if you see them now hitting the market you just might find as I did last year there is better to be had than Esme 🙂 Off my soap box now :stir

See, now everything after the first line was informative and of value as feedback! It may be just me, I took it as insulting. When you say others than the Esmeralda, I presume you are referring to other Geishas? I was able to source the La Candellila and some La Pira estate, both of which were very nice. But for me they didn't match the Esmeralda. But that's just me, I don't have anywhere near the palate of others. I will be trying the current batch through my aeropress as well as having as espresso. It is all subjective, whilst my last experience with the Esmeralda in milk was very much underwhelming, my wife loved it simply as a cup of coffee. Yet both the La Condellila and La Pira left her very much looking for the house blend. :🙂 I couldn't say too much, her co-signature was needed to grab the bag I got today 😃

beanflying

It was a general vomit for juicey/citrus beans and Milk. I have been served some coffees in Melbourne by people who should know better than to do it. So no just a reference to some stuff doesn't go well with milk and some stuff is awful with milk. 🙂 Just scored some La Pira as Neil is having a clearance so I will see how it goes. Personal roast preference in the past has been on this sort of thing is minutes to FC and around 3 more but still well below SC. Bit of a worry now I am runnin 1kg or over batches as it gets a little expensive.

madpierre

Bean Flying wrote:

It was a general vomit for juicey/citrus beans and Milk. I have been served some coffees in Melbourne by people who should know better than to do it. So no just a reference to some stuff doesn't go well with milk and some stuff is awful with milk. 🙂 Just scored some La Pira as Neil is having a clearance so I will see how it goes. Personal roast preference in the past has been on this sort of thing is minutes to FC and around 3 more but still well below SC. Bit of a worry now I am runnin 1kg or over batches as it gets a little expensive.

Thank you.. Haven't rarely been able to get any beans recently (bar today's splurge) due to circumstances, but will have a squizz and see if there's any La Pira left. I did enjoy it particularly. My local haunt ran both their Geishas through the cold press, I thoproughly enjoyed both. One thing I do enjoy is trying all brew methods, this mindset has allowed mne to enjoy some wonderful brews...particularly the set up ovver at D & D..when I can get there! Might stay off now , am rambling somewhat on reflection. :head:

beanflying

Ramble on the rest of us do 😉 I haven't tried a Geisha as a cold brewed but I have plenty of Cold Drip or brew gear so I will add that to the list of must tries 🙂 Tea like is close too AM, a couple of the darker roasted Geishas I have had tended to bring out the tannins in them and can actually be overpowering. There is no right or wrong here just perceptions and preferences.

Muscles

Funny how there have been references to tea. I compared the Esme to tea on the weekend with the wife and she said "no, it's more like wine... hitting all of the palate..." I am happy with this coffee and excited to be getting the bag that Campos left out of my order today or tomorrow. So far, my best results have come through the Aeropress with a grind slightly finer that I use for plunger, 16g, 60ml water, 1 minute steep and then top up to 120ml for a long black :thumb: Would I buy it again if I had the choice? Nah, would be happy to say "been there, done that..." and put the cash towards something I haven't already tried.

madpierre

Bean Flying wrote:

Ramble on the rest of us do 😉 I haven't tried a Geisha as a cold brewed but I have plenty of Cold Drip or brew gear so I will add that to the list of must tries 🙂

Endone inspired ramblings have no place here though 😃 :doh: I still haven't done the whole "cold brew" method sampled at the get together earlier in the year, I am going to save some of my green La Pira from my local to run that when the weather hits summer. Should be sensational :coffee2: :coffee2: There needs to be a salivating emoticon. Might even try and con...sorry, discuss with...the wife to grab some more off Neil. Putting off trying my Esme until next Monday, then try your quantities, Muscles.

galumay

My bag of geisha arrived today, had it first as a ristretto out of the Caravel, amazing flavours, strong floral and open citrusy notes. No bitterness what so ever. Very different to anything I have drunk before and not instantly a hit with my palate - although that may just be a case of not being used to it. Next I pulled a shot on the Pompeii, preferred it on the Caravel, i think the little lever 'opened' it up more. Now drinking it as a long black off the AeroPress, its nice but again I think the Caravel managed to get the best of this one! The floral nose on this is striking - regardless of method of extraction, again, not sure I actually like the smell, but you cant miss it.

Muscles

Bare in mind the lot you received and I received yesterday are from the same batch roasted this last Tuesday... see how it matures :coffee2:

galumay

Good point! 2 days later and I cant detect much change, just enjoying an Aeropress extraction of it now. Will continue to taste & note.

madpierre

Stunning!!! :coffee2: :coffee2: :coffee2: Very smooth from start to finish as a short black, full bodied and sooooooo sweeeeet! I gave it 5 days before putting through my machine. Am going to run it through the aeropress on the 'morrow. It was so hard waiting though, every day a strong whiff of the developing aromas emanating from the bag was so driving me nuts. ;D

galumay

Yep, i reckon its settling down as the week goes on, still wouldnt say i love it, but it is 'interesting'. Still finding it best as an Aeropress followed by 2nd best out of the Caravel as a ristretto.

madpierre

Just had through the aeropress...very interesting. The aromas coming from the 'brew' were very light and fruity, almost 'herbal tea' like even. It's certainly not like any other coffees I have had through the 'press, but I would put that down to the fast that all my roasting has been done to suit espresso based drinks. I may start doing a few lighter roasts as I have some quite good green beans there which will be worth doing in such style.

The_Tempest

The Campos Esmeralda is an excellent bean however for me, it doesn't come close to the one Mecca have (from the same auction). That bean was the best i've ever experienced. Interestingly, Seven Seeds have just released the Geisha they bought from the same Esmeralda auction.