S4:EP17: COFFEE SMARTER
Topic: Espresso Roasts
Guest: Chris O’Brien, Coffee Cycle Roasting
Title: Founder/Head Roaster
Instagram: @coffeecycleroasting
Website: www.coffeecycleroasting
It is pretty mesmerizing, right?
The biggest takeaway from the episode occurred right in the beginning. When you see the term espresso on a bag of coffee beans, it refers to a style of preparation, not a particular kind of roasted coffee bean. It is a bit of marketing, a bit of tradition, and meeting the customer where there are.
I would argue that today’s coffee drinker has a much higher level of coffee knowledge through exposure to third-wave coffee shops and roasters and the increased availability of excellent coffee, if not at a local cafe, then via the internet.
REASONABLY PRICED COFFEE GRINDERS
Reasonably is a relative term. What is reasonable to me may not be suitable for you. For this effort, I mean high-quality at less than several hundred dollars.
You’ll notice all of these are burr grinders. The cheapest grinders will always be blade grinders. Avoid those if you can.
$79-99 - Bodum Bistro (conical burr): Despite being on the lower end of the burr grinder price range, this grinder tested better than more expensive grinders in terms of grind consistency and the ability to create a relatively fine grind.
The Bodum Bistro is always cheapest on the Bodum.com website. Two models have the same grinder mechanism, but the more expensive one has a few extra features, including an anti-static glass container for catching the grinds. The lower-priced version is the first coffee grinder I ever purchased. I still use it at home, but it is pretty messy.
$170 - Baratza Encore (conical burr): This grinder is a heavy-duty workhorse. It has the quality of a commercial grinder at a consumer price. You’ll often see Baratza grinders in coffee shops (for pour-over bars, in particular) because their consumer-level grinders are very consistent even with the added quantity. They also have a reputation for having excellent customer service.
$240-300 - Urbanic 070s (flat burr): I’m taking this cue from Chris who sells this grinder (and only this grinder) at Coffee Cycle Roasting and 2x Latte Art Champion Lance Hedrick who both recommend it.
When ordering directly from the company, the Niche Zero grinder that Chris recommended to a friend is about $730 when considering shipping and the British pound-to-dollar conversion rates. I’ve seen it available elsewhere online, but not for less than that.
HAND PRESSURIZED ESPRESSO MACHINES
Despite the awkwardly sensual videography, this is a pretty good recap of some of the top hand pressurized espresso machines on the market. Hand pressurized espresso machines often overlap with travel or portable ones if you’re searching the interwebs.
COFFEE VOCAB
BAR (unit of measurement for pressure): You might be more familiar with PSI, which is how you might measure the air pressure of a bicycle tire. PSI measures the force of something in pounds per square inch. A BAR of pressure measurement is the metric version of PSI, but it measures in kilograms per square inch. 1 BAR = 14.5 PSI.
TIP YOUR BARISTA
For every sticker sold, I will tip a local barista the proceeds.
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R!WC INDUSTRY PARTNERS
Leap Coffee is launching a new drink on April 1st called the Tarrolatte that is made from a powder derived from the taro root. It has a sweet flavor is similar to that of vanilla ice cream, and its distinctive soft purple color just makes it so fun to drink!
Follow @leapcoffee for shop updates and new coffee releases. Steady State Roasting has started a Tik-Tok video channel. Check it out here: tiktok.com/@steadystateroasting
Click these R!WC Industry Partners links. Drink their coffees and whiskeys. Visit their cafes. Support local coffee shops. You won’t be disappointed.
Zumbar Coffee & Tea • First Light Coffee Whiskey • Leap Coffee • Steady State Roasting • CAFÉ LaTERRE • Mostra Coffee • Cape Horn Coffee Importers • Marea Coffee • Coffee Cycle • Camp Coffee Company • Ignite Coffee Company
COFFEE JOBS: Check out the R!WC Coffee Jobs thread here.
Coffee Smarter: Espresso Roasts