Best Conditions for Kid'O from Intelligentsia?

[drminpa]

I'm taking off the Black Cat training wheels and trying something different - I purchased a lb of Kid O's. Does anybody have suggestions on preferred temperature range and dose?

[drminpa]

Since I haven't gotten any suggestions yet, I pulled a few shots using the same conditions as I use for Black Cat. Definitely a different animal! If Black Cat was the equivalent of a baseball bat, then Kid O's would be more like a fly swatter. Perhaps a few degrees higher will help, or maybe as a ristretto.....

[CoffeeBuzz]

drminpa,
I found a recent thread on Kid-O here:

http://www.home-barista.com/forums/intelligentsia-black-cat-and-kid-o-brew-temperatures-and-rest-times-t3595.html

I would love to hear your findings after you have dialed in the Kid-O.

[drminpa]

Thanks. I'll try and post some results this weekend.

[CoffeeBuzz]

I tried a few experiments today with some 6 day old Kid O's. My best results were obtained from the following:

* 93 degrees
* 16g
* Discard the first few seconds of the pour
* Repeat (pull twice, and combine)

Kid O's was initially a little weak after getting used to Black Cat, but the above technique strengthened the flavor without going bitter or sour.

[drminpa]

CoffeeBuz, did you get any of the nutty or fruity notes that are supposed to be characteristic of Kid O's?

I tried several different conditions over the weekend with coffee about the same age. The highest temperature was the same as your post (93C/199F). Dosed at 18 grams. I also played with grind a little, going finer to lengthen the shot. Still did not hit the sweet spot, IMO. I actually thought the lower temperatures it tried (91C/196F) had a bit more character. Going to experiment some more tonight.

[drminpa]

Several more shots and still tastes like sucking on a cedar plank more than fruits or nuts. I do believe the lower temperatures are the right direction - perhaps removing the early part of the pull, as CoffeeBuzz did would help. I think my palate has maxed out for tonight so I'll try again tomorrow.

[caeffe]

Several more shots and still tastes like sucking on a cedar plank more than fruits or nuts. ......... I think my palate has maxed out for tonight so I'll try again tomorrow.

That's an interesting flavor note. Unfortunately, I think it applies to what I'm tasting also....
I don't know what my temp profile is with my NS Oscar but this morning, I made 2 shots of Kid-O and got something I didn't like. I just didn't know how to describe it. Seeing your description in words sums up what i tasted. Guess, I need to do a longer cooling flush before doing the shot....

Or as you said, maybe my palate was maxed out...

[CoffeeBuzz]

Several more shots and still tastes like sucking on a cedar plank more than fruits or nuts. I do believe the lower temperatures are the right direction - perhaps removing the early part of the pull, as CoffeeBuzz did would help. I think my palate has maxed out for tonight so I'll try again tomorrow.

I wouldn't say I was tasting fruits or nuts either. I thought it lacked clarity, but since I'm breaking in a new grinder I was hesitant to blame the beans... I will try lower temps when I take the rest of the pound out of the freezer.

[JimWright]

So what did you end up finding here after more experimentation? I tried my first shot of Kid-O yesterday, and then 4 more this morning.

Yesterday's and my first today were sinkers (my bad, overheated), but my second this morning was sweet and caramel (not god shot but really excellent), then 3rd and 4th good but not magical and not hitting that sweet spot. That second one was neither over nor underdosed, and cut off a little early.

I really like the caramel and sweet espressos, trying to figure out how to reproduce this...

[CoffeeBuzz]

I'll take the remaining two pints out of the freezer today, and I'll post in a few days. BTW, thanks for helping me decide which 'brew' to work on next.

[JimWright]

I managed to get hints of nuts in one or two of this morning's 5 doubles, and clear nuts in one - slightly overdosed, and stopped the pour noticeably short of my typical.

[CoffeeBuzz]

I pulled three shots this morning, changing only the grind and shooting for a 25 sec pull, and got three different results.

1) 92C, 18g, 1 oz in 30sec. - best of the 3 (hint of nuts, good after taste)
2) 92C, 18g, 2 oz in 25 sec. - worst of the 3 (slightly sour, cardboard aftertaste)
3) 92C, 18g, 1.5oz in 25 sec - almost as good as #1 (hint of nuts, but aftertaste not as good as #1)

It looks like Kid'O is better at lower temps and ristretto pulls...

[drminpa]

That seems to be my results as well. Either the sweet spot is very small or its just not that sweet.

I tried using it in Americanos, cappas and regular drip coffee. I suppose it's possible the bag I got was not roasted to Intelligentsia's normal standards, but if it is representative of the blend I don't think it holds a candle to Black Cat.

[JimWright]

I actually enjoyed it. Mostly middling, but I got a few "very good" shots, and one really outstanding shot, out of this bag, and my barista skills primarily, and machine secondarily, are both lacking - I'd like to try it on a better platform to see what was possible. It may be just that this blend is a bit less forgiving.