Curious Panda - Bamboo Blend [Rate My Roast]

[syscrusher]

Indeed a split from the other thread makes sense.

The basic jist is that kingseven and oilings have agreed to judge / give feedback on a roast/blend of mine as a first effort in the Rate My Roast idea. I'm very grateful to both for offering their time, and am quite looking forward to their feedback.

I don't want to give too much info on the roast at this point, not that it's a big secret or anything, I will be sending detailed roast and blend info with both samples, and I will post it here also, but I want to keep expectations to a minimum for now.

That said, some vague notes:

Bamboo Blend is a blend of 4 beans intended for espresso preparation. In espresso I prefer a blend with depth and richness, favouring sweetness, chocolate and darker flavours. I do like acidity to be present, though not dominant. [actually I do also very much like explicit fruit notes, though I had nothing on hand to suit]
All four beans were roasted separately on the Behmor 1600.

[Bombcup]

Curious Panda? What, like Curious Builder: 0898 442...? That would spell disaster for the future of the world's panda population. They are not the most libidinous creatures at the best of times and should not be encouraged to channel whatever urges they do have towards members of their own gender.

[syscrusher]

rofl

[syscrusher]

Been dialing in brew recommendations, and it's become apparent that a certain component I debated over using has thrown the blend. Not really a roast problem but a blend problem. Anyway I'd suggest 18g / 25-30s / 94C / 1oz as a starting point.

I'll start working on Bamboo #2...

[Olings]

Looking forward to tasting it. The other guys are ready too. Now it's up to the postal service I guess...


Ola

[syscrusher]

Hope you like it Ola, or at least find it interesting.

[syscrusher]

I had to...

I hope the judges don't mind getting a second sample...

[Olings]

Recieved the bamboo blend today. Will cup it on monday. Looking forward to it!


Ola

[syscrusher]

Personally happier with Bamboo Especial. Would suggest 18-20g, 94C, 30s, 40ml.

[kingseven]

Bamboo Especial cupped today! Will e-mail across notes tonight/tomorrow!

[syscrusher]

Thanks James. Much appreciated.

Wait till both judges and both coffees tasted to put feedback / details up here or put it up as it comes?

[syscrusher]

Just an update to this, I received some really very helpful feedback from James on the 2nd blend, and he's going to have a stab at the first blend today.

The second blend is en route to Ola (posted on Thursday last).

Looking forward to sharing all the details with the forum. I'd encourage other home roasters to take advantage of this opportunity.

[shuurajou]

I can't wait to read the cupping notes! I'm actually more excited about this than I thought I'd be.

[syscrusher]

Ok while we're waiting for Ola to receive #2, I'll post my notes on the roasting blending of #1 - Bamboo Blend. These are the notes I sent to both judges regarding this blend. These notes were compiled prior to my dialing in the beans and realising that a certain component (as mentioned above) had thrown the blend.

________________________________________________

Bamboo Blend is a blend of 4 beans intended for espresso preparation. In espresso I prefer a blend with depth and richness, favouring sweetness, chocolate, darker flavours. I do like acidity to be present, though not dominant.

I chose two American beans for the base, each of these comprised 35% of the blend (70% in total).

Cuban Turquino Lavardo is a very sweet, chocolatey bean, with little acidity, and plenty of body. I chose El Bosque Amatitlan Bourbon to partner the Cuban, and bring in some brightness, more sweetness, and a little more complexity.

These beans form the base. The remaining 30% was chosen to modify the characteristics of these beans, to bring different qualities. For brightness, and some floral touches, 20% Ethipiopian Yirgacheffe was chosen. For spice, and a little bit of earthiness, like talking dirty in bed, 10% Monsoon Malabar completes the blend. The Malabar in particular is quite a pungent bean, so the percentage was kept low to prevent it from dominating the blend.

All 4 beans were roasted separately on the Behmor 1600 home roaster. There are various built in roast profiles in the Behmor that can be tweaked a little. More information about the profiles can be found on page 12 of the Behmor users manual http://www.behmor.com/pdf/Behmor_Manual_full_v3.5.pdf

[syscrusher]

And the last profile for BB..