www.ptscoffee.com: without the love, it's just coffee

Skip to content

Cardboard-y flavors?

Postby jasonmolinari on Tue Dec 06, 2011 11:16 am

I've been having some issues pulling what normally are good blends. No need to name names, as i think the issue is on the portafilter side of the equation.

I seem to be getting strong, unpleasant cardboard-y, stale-y flavors in most/all of my pulls. Same flavors appear in both blends. I've tried cleaning out the grinder and flushing with Cafiza to no effect.

Any ideas as to what might be causing this flaw?
jasonmolinari
 
Posts: 327
Joined: Jun 09, 2005
Location: atlanta
Top

Postby mitch236 on Tue Dec 06, 2011 11:19 am

Old beans?
mitch236
 
Posts: 871
Joined: Jul 21, 2010
Location: Florida
Top

Postby jasonmolinari on Tue Dec 06, 2011 11:19 am

Shouldn't be. Less than a week out of roast.
jasonmolinari
 
Posts: 327
Joined: Jun 09, 2005
Location: atlanta
Top

Postby another_jim on Tue Dec 06, 2011 1:13 pm

I think Mitch means past crop beans, which can taste like cardboard because they have lost their other flavors.

Another possible culprit is pulling too hot.
User avatar
another_jim
Team HB
 
Posts: 7490
Joined: May 05, 2005
Location: Chicago
Top

Postby jasonmolinari on Tue Dec 06, 2011 1:19 pm

Ah...i do not know the age of the beans pre-roasting of course. But i guess it's possible.

I've tried lowering the temp all the way down to 194...it's a bit better, but i also start getting sour notes that low.
jasonmolinari
 
Posts: 327
Joined: Jun 09, 2005
Location: atlanta
Top

Postby another_jim on Tue Dec 06, 2011 2:27 pm

Well worked! But 194 is rock bottom, so I think Mitch is right, some past crop is in the mix.

Old Indonesian coffees can be particularly papery. If they are properly aged, the sherry-oak flavors more than balance it out, but if the aging is not successful, you may as well be brewing your holiday packaging.
User avatar
another_jim
Team HB
 
Posts: 7490
Joined: May 05, 2005
Location: Chicago
Top

Postby jasonmolinari on Tue Dec 06, 2011 2:43 pm

Thanks for the tips. I guess on the plus side, i now have a clean machine and grinder :)
jasonmolinari
 
Posts: 327
Joined: Jun 09, 2005
Location: atlanta
Top

Return to Tips and Techniques

ContactContact Us

Legal disclaimer and copyright: This content and all its parts are copyrighted, all rights reserved. Content including all text and images in part or in whole may not be reproduced in any electronic or printed medium without prior permission. Home-Barista, Home-Barista.com and related logos are trademarks of Home-Barista.com, LLC. Other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. By accessing this site, you agree to the terms of service.

Overall speed: , current page: s, avg: s, max: s