Coffee Review: Esmeralda Leon from Klatch Coffee

I've recently had the pleasure of drinking some Esmeralda Leon from Klatch Coffee.  From their website, the growers separated this lot due to its "multi-layered and complex" flavor, which is validated by a 96 score (highest I've seen) from Coffee Review (great website btw).  Hit the jump to see how I feel about it!

Coffee Video: Good eats episode on Coffee!

For anyone who's never heard of Good Eats, it's an awesome show about all thing edible hosted by Alton Brown.  He's talking about coffee here - going through where it comes from, how it's made, and how to brew.  Check it out, it's worth it!

Side note: Alton, use a burr grinder!

Pour Over Guide: Chemex + paper filter

 

 In my last post I wrote about making pour over coffee with a Chemex and Kone filter.  However, the more common way you'll see pour over coffee being made is with paper filter.  Since I'm still using the Chemex, I elected to go with a filter made by and designed for Chemex.  I chose the Unbleached version because it's got less paper taste and therefore less chance of ruining your coffee!  After the jump, I'll detail my method using paper filters and compare it to using the Kone.

Pour Over Guide with Kone & Chemex

With the popularity of pour over coffee at 3rd wave coffee shops ever increasing, I thought it'd be a good idea to write up a guide for anyone wanted to try it themselves.  For this guide, I'll be using the Chemex and Kone filter.  I will writeup a guide later using a paper filter.  While the general idea of pour over is similar to you automatic coffee machines, pour over provide much greater control over flow of water, brew time and temperature, and it allows a preinfusion stage. Join my after the jump to get started!

Review: Coava Kone Filter

Coava Kone

  Today, I'll do a review on the Coava Kone metal filter.  It's designed to be used in a Chemex pour over (more on chemex soon).  It's a single sheet of stainless steel with laser etched holes folded into shape and provides a reusable solution for pour over filter. With introductions out of the way, let's brew a cup!

Coffee Review: Colombia Hacienda El Roble

Colombia Hacienda El Roble straight out of packaging

Yesterday I got the Colombia Hacienda El Roble from Stumptown Coffee Roasters. It's a direct trade, single origin coffee and marks the second coffee I've bought from them.  The first one (forget the name) wasn't bad, but it didn't stand out at all. However, I kept on hearing good things about stumptown so I gave it another try - Let's see how it does this time around

New Arrival: Black Cat Classic Espresso

Black Cat Classic Espresso is a classic

Today, I received the Black Cat Classic Espresso coffee blend from Intelligentsia Coffee online coffee store. I have heard about this espresso for longer than I can remember yet this is the first time I bought some.  For some reason, I really like the packaging for this coffee.  The red and black and the SMELL when I first took it out the box is really enticing.  I could talk about how good it smell all day, but let's get to how it tastes!