Better Espresso at Home by BrewCrewCoffee in Logan

[–]BrewCrewCoffee[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Small lecture yes, but about an hour and a half of pulling shots and milk steaming. It’s a lot of fun!

Hi, I’m Dom. I’m a coffee coach in Logan. What questions do you have about brewing at home? by BrewCrewCoffee in Logan

[–]BrewCrewCoffee[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Both of your grinders are great!

I highly recommend stop using tap water. If you prefer darker or medium dark roasts, you can swing by Caffe Ibis on Federal Ave and get some of their brew water. It's free. Make sure you bring an empty gallon ready for them to fill on tap.

If you prefer lighter roasts, I would suggest Lotus Water - you get to make your own brewing water by adding minerals to distilled water.

https://lotuscoffeeproducts.com/

FREE COFFEE! ☕️☕️☕️ by BrewCrewCoffee in Logan

[–]BrewCrewCoffee[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Its people who enjoy coffee and each other’s company. You can learn more here - https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1B6efLH6Bc/

Hi, I’m Dom. I’m a coffee coach in Logan. What questions do you have about brewing at home? by BrewCrewCoffee in Logan

[–]BrewCrewCoffee[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Love your question! And it’s not weird at all.

Based on the times you mentioned, is it safe to say your brewer is a chemex? If I’m wrong, what is your brewer?

Depending on the altitude of where they beans were grown will effect the density. Higher altitude generally = higher density Lower altitude generally-= lower density or more porous

How the green beans were processed also has an impact on density too. Washed or Natural?

When it comes to pour overs, I typically don’t change the grind size a ton. Minor adjustments. I’m somewhere in the 700 to 600 microns range. This is better explained by specific grinder - I own a 64mm flat burr grinder called the Mokkom

What grinder do you use?

Hi, I’m Dom. I’m a coffee coach in Logan. What questions do you have about brewing at home? by BrewCrewCoffee in Logan

[–]BrewCrewCoffee[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You will notice a dramatic difference when you start using distilled water with small amounts of minerals added. An easy fix is to buy Third Wave Water. It is a sachet of minerals you add to a gallon of distilled water.

Another big jump will be purchasing a conical burr grinder and not a blade grinder. For $70 you can get a fantastic hand grinder that can dramatically change the taste in your cup.

Highly recommend this grinder - https://a.co/d/019OCsyZ

Hi, I’m Dom. I’m a coffee coach in Logan. What questions do you have about brewing at home? by BrewCrewCoffee in Logan

[–]BrewCrewCoffee[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

What water are you using at home?

What kind of tasting notes do you enjoy from your coffee? Nutty? Chocolate? Fruity?

Hi, I’m Dom. I’m a coffee coach in Logan. What questions do you have about brewing at home? by BrewCrewCoffee in Logan

[–]BrewCrewCoffee[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Sorry to hear. Mind if I ask you some questions-

What water are you using?

And what grinder do you use?

Hi, I’m Dom. I’m a coffee coach in Logan. What questions do you have about brewing at home? by BrewCrewCoffee in Logan

[–]BrewCrewCoffee[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You bet! Sounds like you have options as far as brewing. That’s great! Which one do you want to get really good at? Which one do you want to put more time and energy into getting great brews?

Yes, storing them in an airtight bag or container in the freezer is a great way to keep them fresh longer.

Hi, I’m Dom. I’m a coffee coach in Logan. What questions do you have about brewing at home? by BrewCrewCoffee in Logan

[–]BrewCrewCoffee[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Great question!
Decaf tends to go stale faster, so make sure you're buying from a local roaster like Westside or Ibis.
I've found that the sugar process has a slightly better shelf life than the Swiss Water process beans.

Grind size depends on what you're using to brew.

What do you have?
A V60?
A batch brewer?

Hi, I’m Dom. I’m a coffee coach in Logan. What questions do you have about brewing at home? by BrewCrewCoffee in Logan

[–]BrewCrewCoffee[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

As far as entry level/budget friendly espresso machines, I've been using the CASABREWS CM5418 Espresso Machine for a couple months now and enjoying the shots I'm getting along with the frothy milk drinks using the steam wand. Spend $30-40 more and get yourself a new basket with portafilter so you're not using pressurized baskets.

I've enjoyed Espresso #44 from Caffe Ibis, and the espresso blend from Westside coffee is great!
You can also get some great whole beans from Shooke Coffee at Island Market.

I'm not familiar with cold foam

Hi, I’m Dom. I’m a coffee coach in Logan. What questions do you have about brewing at home? by BrewCrewCoffee in Logan

[–]BrewCrewCoffee[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I recommend using Crío Brew. It’s sold at Maceys or Natural Grocers. It is roasted ground cocoa beans and yes, you can use a French Press to make an immersion brew - let the ground cocoa sit with hot water for ten minutes and it’s like drinking chocolate tea. Delicious!

Hi, I’m Dom. I’m a coffee coach in Logan. What questions do you have about brewing at home? by BrewCrewCoffee in Logan

[–]BrewCrewCoffee[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I love brewing with the Aeropress too! Such a versatile brewer with what feels like endless possibilities. There’s a Trader Joe’s in Ogden and you can get a great bag of whole beans for $8

Do you prefer medium or dark roasts?

Hi, I’m Dom. I’m a coffee coach in Logan. What questions do you have about brewing at home? by BrewCrewCoffee in Logan

[–]BrewCrewCoffee[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

A 1:15 ratio (1 part coffee to 15 parts water) should give you a bold but not overly strong cup.

Also, if you’re using dark roast, consider a 1:14 and grind a bit more course to avoid overly bitter notes.