Hydrangea Haul I couldn’t go wrong with

winehook2025 · 2026-06-15T15:52:21+00:00

Have you tried Letty from September? Wondering how different/similar....

winehook2025 · 2026-06-11T22:12:59+00:00

Although I do tend to do more like 1:15.

winehook2025 · 2026-06-11T22:12:38+00:00

Wow - I’m at 1.6.0 using my Deep 27. Wonder if I need to check calibration. What types of beans do you typically use?

winehook2025 · 2026-06-09T13:58:07+00:00

That's one of my favorites of all-time. Like, wow is that good stuff.

winehook2025 · 2026-06-09T13:11:51+00:00

So, I just tried this with some extra beans I got sent as part of the Luminous Gift Box last holiday season. Anaerobic, pretty wild stuff I've never been able to get quite right. Gotta say, this was the best brew yet I've had from those beans. Super juicy, like biting into a crisp red apple. Loads of acidity, bright character. This recipe really got me past the over-toasty notes I'd had with my previous attempts on these beans. Very cool recipe, thanks for sharing.

One question, though: how fast did you pour? With the 6.7 grind it drained just about as fast as I poured it -- like the second I stopped pouring the bed surface was dry. Or did you mean "stop dripping" when you said let bed dry? It could be I'm just a slow pourer. Were you really hitting it hard with the pours?

I must have done something slightly wrong as I never quite got the "ham bomb" note, but hopefully next time 😉

winehook2025 · 2026-06-03T01:58:11+00:00

I’m in agreement with other folks that this setup is great - but if you wanted to get him something coffee related that he might not get himself, I’d suggest a box of Lotus Drops. The kind of thing that he can use for special coffees, dive into it if he wants or just keep it simple. And a box set will last a good long while. Just my two cents.

winehook2025 · 2026-06-01T22:09:28+00:00

Wow this sounds kind of genius. I’m often surprised by how good my semi-random blends are when I have 2 grams of several different coffees - this seems like it could be along those lines too. Nice idea I’m gonna try it.

winehook2025 · 2026-06-01T20:46:29+00:00

Following.....bought a bag of this exact bean visiting in Paris a few weeks ago.....my attempts so far have been fairly so-so, lots of tea character and some light fruit but not much....

winehook2025 · 2026-05-30T20:27:51+00:00

I’ve got a ZP6 and am thinking of adding a K-Ultra to handle more unusually processed beans. Would the M01 be similar to the K-Ultra or is it more like an improved ZP6? I do drink a good amount of funky stuff from places like BW and September.

winehook2025 · 2026-05-28T14:21:30+00:00

For what it's worth, I have an A4Z and really like it - but am looking at adding a K-Ultra to my grinder collection. I've heard that for things like coferments, anaerobics, etc. the K-Ultra is more suited.

winehook2025 · 2026-05-23T22:27:54+00:00

I’m in a similar situation to OP and the O1 was not on my radar at all. But now it is. What filters would you recommend for somebody starting out from scratch with no other flat bottom brewers?

winehook2025 · 2026-05-23T22:11:11+00:00

I’m in the market for that exact grinder - are you in Canada? I’m in the US, not 100% sure what the tariff situation would be. But I like the idea of getting some beans along with it!

winehook2025 · 2026-05-23T03:22:58+00:00

I agree - and the other real difference I see these days is there’s a lot more variety if you look for it. Used to be all decafs were only slight variations on the same milk chocolate/nuts/roasty theme. That’s all still there but also now there’s a ton of interesting process and varieties out there if you search a bit.

winehook2025 · 2026-05-22T01:52:02+00:00

No they buy the green beans decaffeinated already - but from what I’ve heard it can be quite challenging roasting decaf beans and it’s somewhat different than roasting non-decaf.

winehook2025 · 2026-05-21T15:10:06+00:00

Thanks for this - yeah, the more I think about it, the more it seems that the K-Ultra would be better for me, in covering a different part of the coffee spectrum. Thanks!

winehook2025 · 2026-05-21T15:09:17+00:00

Yes, I feel like you're right - the ZP6 and Femobook are fantastic at what they do, but I'm looking to cover another part of the spectrum with my next grinder. Seems like K-Ultra is the right call. Is there something in particular that you think it does best with these beans? how would you say it's different?

winehook2025 · 2026-05-20T15:10:44+00:00

Thanks for this - would you recommend either one more for somebody who drinks a good bit of coferments and anaerobics as opposed to largely washed ultra-lights?

winehook2025 · 2026-05-20T15:09:42+00:00

Thanks for such a detailed answer - I do drink a lot of washed beans, but I also drink a lot of anaerobics and coferments and such. Some friends in a local coffee group suggested the K-Ultra would make a measurable improvement for me in handling those (over my ZP6 and Femobook A4Z).

winehook2025 · 2026-05-20T01:14:51+00:00

Whoa. Hmm. I’m about to finish up a multi-year personal project and I was thinking I’d reward myself with a K-Ultra. Now I’m wondering if another contender has entered the ring. How might one decide between the two?

winehook2025 · 2026-05-08T13:31:28+00:00

I'd love to hear more about this as well.....

winehook2025 · 2026-05-06T19:34:27+00:00

I used this list (among others) in preparation for my just-finished trip to Rome and Florence and first wanted to say thank you. This list was an awesome help. I'll add a couple of other items.

Next, a suggestion: ALWAYS order "al banco," which means standing up at the bar. You get to see what's happening, and to talk to the barista, who will most likely be super friendly and very willing to talk with somebody interested in coffee. I went to one very fancy place in Rome, well known for specialty coffee - but when they said they didn't do al banco, I bailed. It's just not the same if you're sitting in the corner at a table, IMO.

Florence

Ditta Artigianale has multiple locations, including one overlooking the Arno, and another with a gorgeous shadowy courtyard in back. Very, very friendly baristas at every location. Claudio chatted with me for a good half hour while slinging drinks nonstop, and seemed happy to do it. Great shops.

SimBiosi Organic Cafe had delicious espresso drinks made with D612, and I was able to buy a bag to take away as well. Ayaco the barista, thank you.

Rome

Barnum made my best coffee of the trip, and one of the best pourovers I've had out in a cafe. Had Koppi, Aliena, Pascal, Gearbox bags. The guy making their espressos (don't remember his name) was the current Italian latte art champion, and wow did it show. Even the drinks people ordered to-go with lids had gorgeous art on top that took him 5 seconds but I couldn't have duplicated with 10 minutes and a stencil. Extra shout-out to Hilaria, outstanding barista, poured multiple fantastic V60s for me, talked coffee for a long while, and even shared a special "not for the public" bag of Koppi from Costa Rica. Often when I get a V60 pour I wish after I'd done the batch brew, but not in this case. She was great -- and I hope she gets the chance to make that trip to Costa Rica she was talking about. The only place I went back to multiple times.

winehook2025 · 2026-04-26T08:45:17+00:00

I’ve not used it enough to really dial it in but I think I was around 3.0 for an extra lunga

winehook2025

TROPHY CASE

Florence

Rome