Hi all,

First post, been lurking for months. Took the plunge into home espresso late last year after my eyes were finally opened to what good coffee was really all about thanks to a few co-workers and a visit to Stumptown (ended up drinking three cappas in the span of an afternoon). Fell in love. Hairbender in a cappa off off their LM machine is my gold standard... kind of like women, first loves and such.

So since then I have been beating my head against the wall with Black Cat in the Silvia - and after all I have read, I feel a bit vindicated that it is not ALL my poor technique. I have tasted success in that blend, but too few and far between...

Have also tried Hairbender in my machine early on in my learning curve and more recently CC Apollo, but it was 10 days old before I got it home. I have also read all the other threads on favorite roasters and such. I could just pick some espresso blend at random and try it but I thought I would ask:

Until I sack up and upgrade my equipment and finish my varsity level learning, I'd like a recommendation on a espresso blend that is a bit more forgiving in my unforgiving machine so I can at least enjoy some straight espressos occasionally. Looking for:

- something that works well at or near standard dosing
- some level of forgiveness in beans
- flavors that will survive in a 5oz cappa
- roaster I can get very fresh roast from via mail

If this means "comfort food" beans, then so be it. Just throw a few names out there for me please!!

Thanks ya'll,
Patrick

Klatch House.

It's well balanced, versatile in terms of use straight or as a base for milk drinks, works well at a normal dose and "normale" brew ratio but is better slightly overdosed or shaded toward but not quite at ristretto, brews nicely at a moderate and easy to temp 202F, and is generally very easy to pull.

But not cheap.

BDL

boar_d_laze wrote:Klatch House.

It's well balanced, versatile in terms of use straight or as a base for milk drinks, works well at a normal dose and "normale" brew ratio but is better slightly overdosed or shaded toward but not quite at ristretto, brews nicely at a moderate and easy to temp 202F, and is generally very easy to pull.

+1 I've tried all of their espresso blends. I think all of them have some Indonesian in the blend, so they cut through milk pretty good. I personally like the FTO Klatch House. I make cappas in an 6 oz. ACF cup and the flavors definitely survive! Americanos taste kinda sorta Mocha Javaish (to me).

Although different, also try CCC's Rustico. Both are fairly easy to pull. Please note in my profile that I have a Silvia. Both use USPS Priority Mail. Usually 2-3 days wherever you are. (USA)

boar_d_laze wrote:But not cheap.

??? Klatch House-$12.95 Hairbender-$14, Black Cat-$15
FTO Klatch-$13.95
CCC Rustico-$12.55

Thanks! Ironically, today I managed to achieve magic and pull the BC with some success - the trick seems to be grinding coarser and updosing to that limit where there is headroom below the screen... but VERY little.

Too much work though, I'll give something else a try.

Thanks! Ironically, today I managed to achieve magic and pull the BC with some success -the trick seems to be grinding coarser and updosing to that limit where there is headroom below the screen... but VERY little.

Too much work though, I'll give something else a try.

Intelligentstia has all the preferred specs for brewing BC on their site. Depending on which BC you have, the preferred dose and brew temp differ. In most cases, though, they recommend an overdose, in the 18g range for a double. Temp can vary.

As for alternatives, it was recommended to me long ago to give Metropolis Redline a try. It has been compared to the older versions of BC that are a little more forgiving on home machines according folks on CG.

1) List of Our Favorite Roasters

2) My favorites: Red Bird Espresso; Metropolis "Redline"; Verve "The Sermon".

Thanks for all the input folks. I did mean to say that I had looked at all the recommended threads - that list of favorite roasters is pretty long. In searching the site it did seem like Red Bird and Redline were popular.

Couple nights ago I ordered a bag of Klatch House Blend and Counter Culture Rustico. Here's hoping for added success!

Red Bird, Metropolis Redline, Compass Delirium-I've pulled all of these on my Silvia with relative ease and enjoyed each one and what they bring to the table. Delirium does need to rest a few days more for optimum enjoyment. Heck, the fun for me is trying as many different beans as I can and going back to the ones that I really like. I could never understand those people who would only drink Cab or Chard.

Compass Handlebar as easy and as versatile a coffee as one could hope to find.

Works well from low to high : dose, temperature and extraction.
One has to work hard to pull a bad shot.