Stopped by Klatch today on the way back from Santa Fe, since I hadn't had time to roast. I picked up a pound of Belle, since I'd promised somebody I'd try it, but had a double of the new Sweet 16 blend while we were there. They're billing it as a lighter, sweeter version of Belle. Comparing the shot of Belle I pulled for myself after we got home and the shot of Sweet 16 I had at Klatch, I'd say that's a pretty good description. Belle's a sophisticated lady who knows what's what, but Sweet 16 still has the sweet innocence of youth and the eagerness to please that goes with it. If you're in the habit of picking up Belle, next time you order, try some Sweet 16. I think you'll like it.

Very poetic description. I'm a fan of Klatch's blending style, so I think I'll try it.

GVDub wrote:Stopped by Klatch today on the way back from Santa Fe, since I hadn't had time to roast. I picked up a pound of Belle, since I'd promised somebody I'd try it, but had a double of the new Sweet 16 blend while we were there. They're billing it as a lighter, sweeter version of Belle. Comparing the shot of Belle I pulled for myself after we got home and the shot of Sweet 16 I had at Klatch, I'd say that's a pretty good description. Belle's a sophisticated lady who knows what's what, but Sweet 16 still has the sweet innocence of youth and the eagerness to please that goes with it. If you're in the habit of picking up Belle, next time you order, try some Sweet 16. I think you'll like it.

George, got your PM, I bet you had fun at Klatch!
Funny that somewhere else here I read a member comment that he thought the Sweet 16 (named after the anniversary of Klatch's opening, I believe) was slightly LESS SWEET than Belle. I could believe that, as Belle is loaded with sweet chocolate/brandied cherry taste (IMO)



edit...whoops, meant to ask, but did Heather Perry pull your shots?

IMAWriter wrote:... meant to ask, but did Heather Perry pull your shots?

I don't believe either she or Mike were there, not surprising for one o'clock Saturday afternoon.

We spent Friday night at a rustic hot spring resort in Tonapah, AZ (our room was the old Tonapah Post Office, to give you an idea just how rustic), then hit the road at 6:45 am, fueled by diner coffee (no 3rd wave cafe in Tonapah? I'm shocked that the cowboys and truckers haven't risen up en masse to demand one), and drove the 330 miles to Klatch. It was worth the drive.

I love early morning drives, even better, leaving 2AM and looking at the stars, listening to all night talk radio...old school, I guess.
BTW, I didn't mean to contradict your taste observations of Sweet 16 v Belle. But I did, so mea culpa.
I'm guilty of one of the those "I never tried Sweet 16 but I read that, etc"
I should have left it at your "take."
Does the "16" have that same chocolate cherry thing? What sort of fruit, and how old is your bag? I found Belle's sweet spot (for me) was between days 7-10, though truthfully, it was great the day I got it, 5 days after it was roasted. I can't remember if there's a date on the package. I think I called. Or not. Getting old.

Considering that Friday we left Santa Fe at 7 am, they took the scenic route (the old Turquoise Trail, then I-25 down to Socorro, US 60 to where it meets I-10 in Phoenix, and follow the 10 to Tonapah - roughly 600 miles in 12 hours, with a stop in Pie Town, NM for a bowl of tremendous green chile stew and a piece of apple walnut golden raisin pie at the Pie-O-Neer), I wasn't getting up any earlier than I had to, but I wanted to get across AZ and eastern CA before it got too hot. I've done my share of seriously early morning drives, usually closing at a club, loading up the van, and driving straight through to the next gig.

I only had the one double of Sweet 16, and it was before I had tasted the Belle. In addition, the Sweet 16 was pulled on their LM by a real barista, and the Belle was pulled on Ursula by me. My impression is that the Sweet 16 was a little lighter and sweeter, but that may be the difference between macchina and mano more than between blends. The Caravel shot of the Belle was about 75% crema and a nice syrupy ristretto.

edit: roast date on the bag says 5/27, so the Belle is 3 days old. Will there be any left to taste at day 10? Highly doubtful. I might make day 7 and possibly 8.

You will LOVE Belle day 6. Geesh, with that tiny 44.5 basket, you must pull about 40 shots a day!
You're prolly pulling great shots on Clarabelle now. Hey "Belle" espresso, "ClaraBELLE, a match made in heaven.

Pulled my first shots of 5 day old Sweet 16 this morning. As a straight shot it's fantastic, personally in milk I felt it lost some of the flavors, though this was probably due to the doughnut extraction I got on one of the latte's shot. I usually make 5 lattes a morn but this morn was 2 straights and 2 lattes. Tasty even from my old grinder, tomorrow i"ll fire up the k6. Very very happy with this coffee for sure.

I did pick up a bag of House blend and a bag of Belle as well but figured I would start the experience with the 16. BTW I ordered Thursday night, it was roasted Friday and I had it Tuesday using the ground shipping (Cali to PHX) not shabby at all.

When you guys order from Klatch, do you always have a roast-date on the bag? Sometimes I do, Sometimes i dont.. Wierd.

Not that Im worried, Klatch is my favorite roaster ATM, but, I am curious.

Ill be ordering on monday, so ill add a bag of the sweet 16 to the regular order of 08comp blend and belle. Ahh espresso...