Favorite Espresso Blends 2014 - Page 5
- another_jim
- Team HB
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- Joined: 19 years ago
This was Gaslight Coffee Roaster's contributuion. They do several things very differently from any other cafe in Chicago. The first is that they have really seriously good food. The second is that they do not roast an espresso blend. They have 4 to 5 coffees on tap for the pourover bar, one of which one will be served for espresso. The coffees are entirely of one offs, auction and microlots sourced through Cafe Imports or 90-plus. So the coffee being reviewed here you will never see again. On the one hand this is frustrating. On the other, since they opened three years a go, I make a point of stopping by if I'm close, since there will always be a coffee on sale that is unique.
The coffee we reviewed was from Potrero Grande El Salvador. The roast, as all Gaslight roasts, is primarily designed for pourover. The baristas then play with the available coffees and serve up as espresso whichever one is pulling best that day. When I bought the coffee, they weren't pulling it, but said it had been outstanding when they did.
I bought a bag for myself, since I couldn't sample it in the store, and my review agrees with the other reviewers. I had the advantage of knowing what it was, including the interesting tidbit that the coffee had some SL28 in it, which made for a more than usual sparkling acidity.
I was grinding fine and pulling in high volume baskets just like the others. My shots were all tasty, but not too consistent. Most came out very simply fruited and sweet; and only a few showed the complexity promised by the altitude and bean quality. The best shots flirted delicately with the spiced grapefruit peel notes, which made them interesting but hard to duplicate.
The coffee we reviewed was from Potrero Grande El Salvador. The roast, as all Gaslight roasts, is primarily designed for pourover. The baristas then play with the available coffees and serve up as espresso whichever one is pulling best that day. When I bought the coffee, they weren't pulling it, but said it had been outstanding when they did.
I bought a bag for myself, since I couldn't sample it in the store, and my review agrees with the other reviewers. I had the advantage of knowing what it was, including the interesting tidbit that the coffee had some SL28 in it, which made for a more than usual sparkling acidity.
I was grinding fine and pulling in high volume baskets just like the others. My shots were all tasty, but not too consistent. Most came out very simply fruited and sweet; and only a few showed the complexity promised by the altitude and bean quality. The best shots flirted delicately with the spiced grapefruit peel notes, which made them interesting but hard to duplicate.
Jim Schulman
- TomC
- Team HB
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Unfortunately, that Salvadorian sold out in a flash. Folks who are curious but willing to try it in the hands of another roaster can find it here.
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- drgary
- Team HB
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I was just notified the Salvadoran is available at Gaslight. Now you see it, now you don't!
Gary
LMWDP#308
What I WOULD do for a good cup of coffee!
LMWDP#308
What I WOULD do for a good cup of coffee!
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- Posts: 67
- Joined: 10 years ago
There were over a dozen bags of the Salvadran on the shelf this morning, roasted on 10.21.
Gaslight comps a shot when you purchase a bag. After drinking the shot the barista told me it was an Ethiopian blend today and it was amazingly good. Probably the best Ethiopian I have had as espresso. Haven't had good luck pulling an Ethiopian at home but this was perfectly balanced, bright but not overly acidic. Ordered a second shot to rule out chance and it was every bit as good. True test for me is how long I ruminate on the taste of the espresso. Still thinking about it!
Gaslight comps a shot when you purchase a bag. After drinking the shot the barista told me it was an Ethiopian blend today and it was amazingly good. Probably the best Ethiopian I have had as espresso. Haven't had good luck pulling an Ethiopian at home but this was perfectly balanced, bright but not overly acidic. Ordered a second shot to rule out chance and it was every bit as good. True test for me is how long I ruminate on the taste of the espresso. Still thinking about it!
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- Posts: 1390
- Joined: 10 years ago
I also bought a bag that was roasted 10\23 so I have a few days before opening it up. Seems like there are plenty to go around.
They also still had the Ethiopia on order. It tasted very savory like a ripe tomato. Which I found amusing as earlier in the morning I pulled a kenya on my own machine that tasted like tomato soup. My significant other dislikes most espressos but did enjoy the Ethiopian.
They also still had the Ethiopia on order. It tasted very savory like a ripe tomato. Which I found amusing as earlier in the morning I pulled a kenya on my own machine that tasted like tomato soup. My significant other dislikes most espressos but did enjoy the Ethiopian.
- HB (original poster)
- Admin
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- Joined: 19 years ago
Tom sprung an end of year review on us. Excellent! Below are the reviews and Tom will reveal the mystery coffee soon...
UPDATED 12/19/2014: Revealed Favorite Espresso Blend identity:
Square-Peg Signature Espresso by Venia Coffee Roasters
UPDATED 12/19/2014: Revealed Favorite Espresso Blend identity:
Square-Peg Signature Espresso by Venia Coffee Roasters
http://www.veniacoffee.com/shop/catalog ... iew/id/179Venia Coffee Roasters wrote:Our signature espresso blend. The coffees that go into Square Peg change throughout the year, but our goal is always the same: to bring you a sweet, clean and balanced espresso that not only blends well with milk, but is also outstanding as a straight espresso shot.
Currently comprised of two different Ethiopian wet process coffees, one from Sidama and one from Yirgacheffe, and a nice chocolatey Guatemala washed process coffee.
Dan Kehn
- TomC
- Team HB
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Spoiler: show
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