Just got a pound of this roasted from SM's yesterday. Bag says a "West Coast" style; bright, clean, sweet with fruit, flowers, dark cherry, caramelized apple, syrup...I'd say that's accurate. Their blog says it's "40% El Salvador Mauritania, 40% Guatemala San Jose Ocana and 20% Kenya French Mission Bourbon."

Pulled 18g and got a nice clean espresso. When I updosed to 22g in a double basket ala the facemelter I got ~1.25oz in 45 seconds. The gift was the intensification of the cherry, apple, and fruit aspects. A great espresso that I hope they make a seasonal regular.

This coffee caught my attention as well, but I was already inundated with fresh coffee so I didn't jump on the order. Maybe Tom will roast it again soon.

I found this espresso to have an intensely sweet note, that I have not found in other blends. I can't describe it too well, however. I think I will cup it and see how it tastes prepared as such. Mighty fine shot, IMHO.

I jumped in for 2# and also found it to be very sweet with the SM flavor description fairly accurate. It produces a clean shot, not really heavy/syrupy and no extended aftertaste. The SM description made it out to be bright, but I did not see that. The roast seems to have removed (thankfully) the bright edges. Very good indeed. It would be a great addition to their roasted offerings 'cycle'.

Chert wrote:I found this espresso to have an intensely sweet note, that I have not found in other blends. I can't describe it too well, however. I think I will cup it and see how it tastes prepared as such. Mighty fine shot, IMHO.

The brightest espresso I've found is from Cuvee coffee and its their "Espresso Medici." They roast it for a coffee shop down the street from me and it's intensely bright. I didn't notice the chocolate until ~ 10 days after the roast. It's also great in a capp, so if bright is your thing I'd suggest checking that out.

We're getting off-topic now, but I agree with you Stanner that Cuvee's Espresso Medici is a good bright blend.

When I first tried it a year ago, it was brighter than what I was used to, but I loved it. They mention the original blend recipe here: http://www.caffemedici.com/blog/2007/04/espresso-medici.html

After a few months, that bright sweetness seemed to disappear... rumor was that the vaunted Brazil Poco Fundo component had run out.

However, I just had a macchiato in their shop last weekend, and the signature brightness was back. Very tasty. I don't live in Austin, but I do try to stop at Caffe Medici for some spro and whole beans whenever I'm in town. If only they would put roast dates on the bags.

A recent shipment from SM resulted in a 'UPS blend' for me: 2 bags split open and mixed almost exactly 1/2 pound of each, El Salvador Orange Bourbon and Kenya French Mission Bourbon. At first upset but since it was such a small amount I figured, go with it. The 2 roasted well together but could use a 3rd component, I think a DP of some kind, milder like a DP Brazil bourbon or maybe that El Salvador Santa Rita. (keeping in the Bourbon family) The Kenya Bourbon is not a typical Kenya, brings a nice sweet deep blackberry/current. Not hard to control the acid or intensity for a Kenya.

I think this is a 'one time' blend from Tom, but no reason you can't cook it up on your own. I generally use SO but lately have been doing more blending. It has finally started happening for me that the beans mostly inform about how they might work together. Taste it, loosen up and be casual about your approach. Hey, if it doesn't work out, it's just a cup, better luck next time.

Heh, yeah, UPS Blend, ....at least it has a catchy name. It has been too quiet in the RMR dept lately. It must be my turn to stir up something. I'll get to work.

SM is changing some of their blends, so this may not be a one time roast. Their Espresso Monkey just received a makeover: "After extensive testing, changes were made to the blend in November 2008 that increase sweetness, and make it a cleaner espresso taste, with a little less body. The blend is sweeter, more articulate, and (to give you a hint of former ingredients) the Indonesian component was removed.".