I learned a valuable lesson this weekend by purchasing from a roaster that I had left in the past. Although I don't want to open the can of worms on how blends will vary from year to year and that should be a reason for revisiting, this is more about revisiting a blend that was passed along the way to finding a local favorite. I admit to being a creature of habit especially when work is crazy and it takes no thought to reorder from the same roaster.
I'm talking about the phenomenal shots I've had today from Counter Culture's Toscano. Because I'm on the West Coast, it takes 7 days to arrive at my house and then I'm not using it until the morning of the 8th day. Normally, I like to start a batch on the 4th or 5th day because it takes me about a week to go thru a pound. Besides that I like to support my locals: Klatch, Supreme Bean, West Coast Roasting, and even this little Mom & Pop place in Culver City called Conservatory for Coffee who roasts a nice organic espresso.
Anyways back on topic, all I could do was stand there and say "Wow". Not only is it a great tasting blend, I was struck by how picture perfect the pull was. My first pull based on my grind setting for Klatch's Belle ended up being too fast, possibly due to the 8th day, tightened the grind and then... at first I thought, oh hell I tightened it too far and its choking but then it started to flow like melting chocolate with strong contrasts in the stripping. At first it looks more like its puddling in the cup rather than flowing. Now all of this is probably based on the comparison with my regular Belle, which I love. What I tasted more in the Toscano was the nuttiness and caramel. Before I became a diabetic I had a fondness for the occasional chocolate,caramel and nut based candies and that is why I love these kind of blends - its almost as good. Counter Culture's description says hazelnut, but I can't pinpoint that with my tastebuds, I do know it wasn't almond and certainly not walnut.
So, I think, I'll get out the Ouija board, start plotting some new shipping routes and schedules to make sure I don't fall into any beanless dead zones, and do some vicarious traveling to some other states. Heck, with this economy its about the only traveling I can afford to do!
