Heey so the new version of Black cat is coming tomorrow, and changing quite a bit:

50% Carmo (Serrado/Sertao), 40% Cocapec, 10% Yirgacheffe Dama.

Lots of good words was said by Glanville. Report here if you tried it! I will myself next week.

I just got a lb of the stuff roasted on 10/31/10. Ground it up and tried it and I gotta say WTF???? The beans are pale brown, no oil, seem dry, and give a so-so espresso. What in the world is so great about this stuff? I was excited to try it but am un-impressed. Will not order this again.

knab wrote:The beans are pale brown, no oil, seem dry, and give a so-so espresso.

I take it you are used to charred "espresso roast" beans. Lighter roasts are common at pretty much any higher-end roaster in North America. Dark, oily beans are unusual.

For the so-so espresso part, you'll have to give more details. It's probably you, not the coffee, unless it's too fresh.

Reminder:
This is a good (or at the VERY least: interesting) time of year for Brazilians.

Ordered, along with some La Pinera! Here's hoping for something good... or at the VERY least, interesting.

Interesting thread. I tried some Black Cat last week. I haven't tried any in over a year. Wow what a difference a day makes. I found the blend a lot brighter than I remember Black Cat being. That's not to say I didn't enjoy it - I did. I guess I had expected the taste to remain sort of constant (think Johnny Walker Black) but it has definitely changed even if the name hasn't.

Cheers

Ian

I'll wait for reports of return of Black Cat Classic aka Chocolate bomb. That's Black Cat.

Current Lemon rind incarnation, its not. Maybe Yellow Cat, but definitely not Black

tekomino, you hit the nail on the head with that statement. I've been sampling numerous espresso offerings and it seems as if the trend is going lighter, brighter and those lemon notes are surely coming out in most of what I've been tinkering with.

I know there is no rest for the weary and roasters are always going to try different things to be on the cutting edge, but I just don't agree with where it is heading. Personally I am going back to the bittersweet chocolate, caramel, etc. notes that most good espressos are known for. To each his own.

Interesting news and I'll order some to see how I like it. I liked the current Black Cat well enough but did not find it complex enough (nor did I detect the lemony high note stuff that people are commenting on.) Until I begin roasting my own again I've been jumping around and thus far my favorite is Metropolis Redline, with CC Aficionado and Novo both coming in a very close second.

Sounds like its got some potential, I think Ill grab some too. My coffee choices have been so lazy lately, and I haven't tried anything new in like 3 months. Ive been buying the same three blends after each other, which, to some might be 100% normal. People who know me know I normally never order the same coffee twice unless Im really into it.

Its been a weird time 'round these parts lately, and, sadly, coffee has taken a backseat. Thankfully, it seems that is no longer the case. Been really enjoying my coffee lately, which, as you all are aware, Im sure, is a VERY good thing