Coffee Klatch USBC Championship Espresso Parameters

[The_Mighty_Bean]

I ordered a pound from the very last roast of this blend. I divided it into 4 equal portions, separately frozen and vac-sealed. So far I have been through half my stash, and I just can't get it to taste good! The ground beans smell delicious but all I ever get is a fairly tart espresso without much flavor definition. I tried increasing temp but that just bitters it out without increasing clarity. I have also varied dosing. My guess was that this blend was developed for updosing in commercial machines, but I'm not sure the same methods are indicated for Audrey/Silvia class home setups, given the issues that arise when the puck hits the shower screen.

I wrote to Coffee Klatch for suggestions, but they never responded.

Anyone gotten this blend to shine (especially if you were using a Silvia)? How'd you do it and what flavors should I expect?

Thanks,

~tMb

[Jasonian]

I watched Heather stuff 20+g's into the stock LM double basket.

(then again, I've had some issues with supposedly stellar coffees not living up to their hype before as well... maybe it's not you.)

[julioale]

http://www.home-barista.com/forum...c-blend-t4776.html

http://www.home-barista.com/forum...c-blend-t4503.html

[edwa]

For what its worth: As a former user and still owner of a Silvia, I think you might need some tighter temperature controls than you can get from your Silvia unless its got a PID (you didn't say). Let alone how do you get anywhere near Heather's updosing without choking the machine. I'm a big big fan of the Belle, but I've ordered the WBC, also highly rated, to use on my Volante. You're right about the luxurious, scrumptious smell. My taste preference goes more to the chocolate, caramel of the Belle versus what I felt were stronger fruit tastes of the the WBC. Unfortunately, I'm not a big red wine drinker and I sensed an appreciation of it would have helped me. Even with my rotary Volante I wasn't sure if my skills were up to it. Sorry I digress, the point I wanted to make was how different some blends tasted on the Silvia compared to the Volante w/Eric's adapter because I never could never get consistent in my temp surfing.