Ecco Caffe Experimental Espresso

[prettydeceextrap]

I am not sure when this was released, but it is new to me ...

From the website

Ecco Caffè invites you to join our innovative Experimental Espresso Club. As an Ecco Experimental Espresso Club member, you'll have the exclusive opportunity to experience both experimental blends (collaborative efforts and solo) and single origin espressos created from the world's most exemplary coffees.
These coffees will represent new directions in espresso's flavor potential. Throughout the year, Ecco Caffè's Andrew Barnett will be collaborating with the world's top artisan baristas, growers and coffee minds to bring you these new and unforgettably delicious espressos.

Included with your espresso will be the story behind the coffee grower, how it was selected for the club, blending components (when blended) and suggested optimal brewing parameters. Between the Experimental Espresso we will be sending you our award winning blend, Ecco Reserve to tide your espresso craving over until the next offering has been crafted. Truly an espresso geek's dream come true...

Anyone familiar with this operation? I am quite tempted to sign up. The one downside to me is that it ends up being nearly $20/lb, and half of the shipments are Ecco Reserve, which is $14/lb I believe. That makes the 'experimental' blends pretty expensive. Still ... something to consider for the holidays I suppose.

[HB]

Andrew mentioned it'd be going up this week. By the way, Ecco is sponsoring a six month subscription for the Wish List Gifts contest. I agree with you that it's not cheap, but I'm putting it on my Christmas wish list and thinking happy thoughts.

[jesawdy]

You've also gotta figure that it will cost them $4.60 flat rate shipping per shipment. That gets it back to less than $15/lb (for the coffee at least) on the 6 month subscription.

[EccoScott]

Hi Matt,

My name is Scott Callender and I work for Ecco Caffe.

We are very excited about the Ecco Experimental Espresso Club. The theory is to simply bring in the best espresso coffees available and then collaborate with some of the best espresso blenders/roasters throughout the world to create unique espresso experiences. We want to give home baristas the chance to taste what some of the top blends in Europe are like, as well as challenging people to expand their expectations of what espresso can be.

The pricing does include shipping in it. So you are in most cases receiving a small discount on the price of a normal order of Ecco Reserve by ordering in quantity. It is a great way to have at least a pound of great espresso in your grinder every month. Please feel free to write me with any other questions that you may have!

Happy Holidays!

[prettydeceextrap]

The pricing does include shipping in it. So you are in most cases receiving a small discount on the price of a normal order of Ecco Reserve by ordering in quantity.

What an oversight on my part ... that does change a lot. I am glad people more alert than myself are around to bring this to my attention.

Even negating price, I really like this idea. An item for the wish list indeed.

[malachi]

I think this is an awesome idea.
Andrew is one of the more skilled roasters in the US (and one of the top cuppers in the world).
The chance to get unusual, limited production espressos like this is super cool.

Full disclosure: I'm hoping to be one of the lucky ones to collaborate on one of the blends.

[roblumba]

I've been drinking Ecco Reserve every week for at least the past year, perhaps longer. The Experimental Espresso Club definitely is a little cheaper per lb when you consider shipping costs. I had them simply switch me over to this club from my week to week method. Instead of paying weekly, I'm now making quarterly payments to Ecco Caffe.

I would highly recommend Ecco Caffe's program. Try it out for 6 months, or a year. I love their roasting style and I can testify from experience that I've never been disappointed with whatever coffee they send me.

Add to that, the crew over there are all friendly and accommodating people. I've occasionally asked them to just send me something for French Press, I'm going on vacation, and they send something good.

[roblumba]

Just received a pound of Experimental Espresso #1. It's a 50/50 combination of the 2006 Cup of Excellent #3 and #4 coffees. Each 90+ point coffee's.

Oh man, it's amazing. I was a little unsure how these experimental blends would be, but this was far above my expectations. I'm not much of a coffee taster as far as describing the flavors, so I apologize that I can't stimulate the intellects of people who are versed and experienced in coffee tasting. All I can say was that this morning's espresso and latte were extra special. My wife described hers as extra chocolaty and I also found it to be very rich chocolate tasting with some very nice aromas.

The pound also came with a very informative card that described the make up of the blend and the characteristics and thinking that went into forming the blend. It also gives farm information and brewing recommendations.

Knowing how good this was, I am very excited about the next year. I'll be getting 2 lbs of experimental espresso each month, plus the regular 2lbs of Ecco Reserve. It's a shame I really can't afford double the supply! I think I would probably up my espresso consumption to match!

If any of you out there are on the edge of wondering if you should try this program, I would strongly recommend giving it a go and at least try it out. I've tried a wide variety of coffee's from various online roasters and this is definitely something extremely special that I would think most espresso lovers would not want to miss.

[The_Mighty_Bean]

Just received a pound of Experimental Espresso #1. It's a 50/50 combination of the 2006 Cup of Excellent #3 and #4 coffees. Each 90+ point coffee's.

Oh man, it's amazing. I was a little unsure how these experimental blends would be, but this was far above my expectations. I'm not much of a coffee taster as far as describing the flavors, so I apologize that I can't stimulate the intellects of people who are versed and experienced in coffee tasting. All I can say was that this morning's espresso and latte were extra special. My wife described hers as extra chocolaty and I also found it to be very rich chocolate tasting with some very nice aromas.

I am still dialing in the grinder on this blend. This morning, I got a nice 19g double ristretto, but my pull was just under an ounce, so I'm going back a click next time, and that should get me fairly close to Ecco's suggested parameters. So far I am tasting and smelling a brown sugary extraction that reminds me of the caramelized, crackly top layer of a creme brulee.

I can tell this blend is going to be somewhere between delicious and oh-mah-Gawd, but I haven't quite hit the mark yet.

I'll update once I get it right. Perhaps Rob will loan me his GS3 for a day. I'll pay ship!


~tMb

--Edit in response to next post down the line-- Hear, hear. I appreciate the quality and care in packaging.

[CGP4]

Not only is the coffee phenomenal, I love the new bags! (Brown, looks like paper, but lined inside with vent and resealable. Old bags were just lined paper that you'd roll over -- no sort of seal.)

[roblumba]

Perhaps Rob will loan me his GS3 for a day. I'll pay ship!

I wish I could be so generous but I think I would go through withdrawals if I didn't see it each morning.

It was nice to dial in the temperature this morning. I lucked out on the grind and dosing and it was almost right on except that I really should have cleaned out my Mazzer Mini before grinding this. I could tell that some of the spicy flavors from the previous Moonbeans Espresso blend had come through on the first shot. The subsequent shots were the ones I used for latte's and those were phenomenal. The aftertaste is also very desirable.

And those bags are real neat. I squeezed it this morning and smelled the aroma coming out the hole. Nice bonus.

[malachi]

Suggested dose and brew temp were, IMHO, ideal for use in milk drinks (where the caramelized sugar, honey-roasted nut and powdered chocolate notes really shone).

I found I preferred straight espressos at a lower dose and lower brew temp. There I got espresso that was glorious... chocolate dusted sweet pink grapefruit with candied pecans and a shot of aged Flor de Cana rum.

[jesawdy]

chocolate dusted sweet pink grapefruit with candied pecans and a shot of aged Flor de Cana rum.

Next time, could you be more specific? , har har!

[HB]

It was also an Ecco Caffe Experimental Espresso #1 this morning at my place.

My lasting impression after three espressos was smooth milk chocolates and satsuma mandarins. After sampling, I read the description card that was included in the shipping box; it closes by saying "This blend yields exquisite espresso but also pairs perfectly with steamed milk in macchiatos and cappuccinos." I don't drink many cappuccinos, but the description sounded so inviting... My frothing skills were below par and yet it was a creamy sweet delicious coffee-flavored chocolate drink. I'm looking forward to finishing the other half of the bag this weekend.

[Marshall]

I am still dialing in the grinder on this blend. This morning, I got a nice 19g double ristretto, but my pull was just under an ounce, so I'm going back a click next time, and that should get me fairly close to Ecco's suggested parameters. So far I am tasting and smelling a brown sugary extraction that reminds me of the caramelized, crackly top layer of a creme brulee.

I found it took a bit coarser grind than my usual blends.

[Marshall]

I found I preferred straight espressos at a lower dose and lower brew temp.

I second that as to the temp. 1 or 2F lower.

[malachi]

After talking with Andrew, I continued to experiment and found that it produced truly gorgeous shots from the following: Synesso triple basket, down-dosed, 200.5F, 2.75oz shot in 25 seconds.

Sweet tangerine, bittersweet chocolate, burnt honey, vanilla, candied nuts, dense and thick body and the aforementioned Flor de Cana rum finish...

It's a truly lovely espresso!
Thank you Andrew.

[DavidMLewis]

2.75oz shot in 25 seconds.

Hi Chris,

Is that a typo, or did you really pull that long a shot?

Best,
David

[malachi]

triple basket.

[roblumba]

Well, back to Ecco Reserve this week. After 1 week of Experimental Espresso and then Barefoot Bigfoot Espresso. BTW, Bigfoot was like drinking a Mocha Latte, but we honestly didn't add any chocolate! Our taste buds were literally freaking out on all that chocolate.

Now, it's back to Ecco Reserve and I must say it's like home for me. The aroma from the grinder was sweet, fragrant, fruity. That familiar flavor that's refined and elegant, complex and comfortable. I like it.