Intelligentsia Black Cat Brewing
:by malachi»July 6th, 2020, 4:41 pm
:by PIXIllate replying to malachi »July 6th, 2020, 4:48 pm
:by Shojin»July 6th, 2020, 10:27 pm
:by PIXIllate replying to Shojin »July 15th, 2020, 11:45 am
:by Shojin»July 15th, 2020, 11:49 am
Shojin wrote:Anyway, I’ve still got the previous recipe in my notes here for Black Cat Classic:18-18.5g in, 34-40g out200ºF25-30 seconds
:by PIXIllate »July 19th, 2020, 10:06 pm
La Pavoni Shower Screen Install
Sorry for the absence. A lot going on here on the home front. Many of you know that I love my La Pavoni manual lever espresso machine and I help run the Facebook owners page. Here is a video I made last week when I installed the new LP-branded IMS shower screen on my 2005 Millennium Professional. I apologize for the length . Im a bit winded, as I like to explain everything Im doing. Let me know if you have any questions.
La Pavoni Shower Screen InstallHow to install a La Pavoni-branded IMS shower screen in a La Pavoni manual lever espresso machine.
In my last blog, I explained how to how to froth milk to make good milk-based coffee drinks. Here I take on the most important thing in making a good coffee beans!
Yeah, I know that in my Quickstart blog I recommended that you start with ground coffee. Thats where I started . Fresh beans offer such a big improvement over instant and commercial brands. If you want to make a big difference in your coffee, invest time in finding freshly roasted beans that you like. Yes, freshness counts! Freshly roasted beans. Freshly ground beans. Fresh! Fresh!
Quick history of American coffee. First wave: Folgers/Maxwell House. Second wave: Starbucks. Were currently in the Third Wave: freshly roasted beans, usually in small quantities, roasted on the lighter side.
Somy advice about beans.
Espresso Beans Vs Regular Coffee Beans
The difference between espresso and coffee beans lies in the brewing method, not the beans themselves. Espresso beans are best when theyre fresh, and you can grind them very finely immediately before brewing. Making espresso also requires extremely hot and pressurized water. Due to this process, espresso contains a high concentration of caffeine.
Ordinary coffee beans dont need as fine a grind, and the coffee produced is much less concentrated than espresso. Learn more here about the four main types of coffee beans and how it impacts taste.
Espresso beans complement the unique espresso brewing process. Usually, they are medium or dark roast beans with a full body and less acidity. The popularity of Espresso has even moved into the Keurig market in the form of Espresso K-Cups.
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Intelligentsia Coffee Coffee Bar: A Background
The Intelligentsia Coffee brands story started back in 1995 when Doug Zell and Emily Mange opened their first store in Broadway, Chicago. The company has grown from strength to strength over the past quarter-century and is firmly considered one of the biggest names in the third wave coffee movement.
The business was purchased by Peets Coffee & Tea in 2015 but continues to trade under its original name while also maintaining the brewing methods that have made it so popular in the first place.
Intelligentsia Coffee is known for sourcing its coffee beans directly from growers in Central America, South America, East Africa, and Ethiopia. They brew their coffee in-store for guaranteed flavor and freshness while also establishing a personal and intimate relationship with consumers, which has largely been lost by some of the globes biggest brands.
Their growing reputation has facilitated the opening of several subsequent stores throughout Chicago.
In 2007, the company opened its first store outside of Illinois at Sunset Junction in Los Angeles and has since opened several more from coast to coast.
The owners also oversee the operations of all stores to promote consistency across the brand. On a personal note, despite trying some of their home blends in the past, Id never managed to visit one of their iconic Chicago coffee houses before.
Its been 25 years in the making, and my anticipation was high. Without giving too much away, I wasnt disappointed.
Is Cold Brew Coffee Healthier
There is an excellent article to answer this question. Cold brew coffee is low in acid which makes it easier for your stomach to handle unlike with espresso because of the higher acidity. In terms of the health benefits, cold brew coffee has the same health benefits as other coffee and more people can enjoy it due to its low acidity and less bitterness.
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Nicoletti Coffee Espresso Roast Beans
Located in Brooklyn, Nicoletti Coffee has been roasting since 1972. They roast all of their beans in small batches and ship them within 24 hours of purchase to ensure maximum freshness.
Their Espresso Roast Beans are one of the lightest roasts on this list, making them perfect for machines that cant handle oily dark beans. Their lightness stems from the 75% Arabica and 25% Robusta bean blend, which also means theres virtually no bitterness with this choice.
The flavor itself is crisp, bright, and mellow. Despite its less intense taste, you still get a rich crema on top of your espresso.
The Chosen Bean Cold Brew Decaf
It seems a bit more difficult when we try to find good decaffeinated coffee beans. However, this can be the one if you have been searching for the best decaf for cold brew. The Chosen Bean is based in South Florida and their coffee beans are certified organic. As the brand name suggests, every single bean is chosen for purely contributing to your cups of coffee. How amazing it is! The Chosen Beans decaf coffee is an excellent choice for all those seeking to either limit their caffeine intake or looking for ways to wean off of caffeine altogether. This decaf coffee is full of flavour and richness without the added caffeine. The drawback is there is a chance it can taste bitter.
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Get The Free Black Cat Brew Guide
I took notes on what I felt were the best brew parameters for this coffee. This will give you a baseline to start experimenting with the coffee yourself. By having some starting parameters you will hopefully not waste too much coffee before getting good results.
This espresso blend is also available on Amazon. Get it by clicking the link below:
Benji
Single Origin Vs Blends
You may wonder which would be better for cold brew, single-origin or blends. The answer is quite agreeable that it would be a single origin. The process of cold brew enhances the delicate flavour of single-origin beans. Therefore, you will enjoy your coffee more if single-origin is used.
Having said that, it will come down to your preferences since every one of us has a different taste in coffee. You may find the blends taste better in the cold brew for their complexity. Lets have a look at the best coffee for cold brew next.
This post may contain affiliate links. If you use these links to purchase something, I may earn a commission without any extra cost to you. I would appreciate it if you do so to keep this blog going!
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Caf De Loja Medium/dark Roast
These 100% whole Arabica beans come from a single origin in Ecuador and have a full-bodied, fruity flavor. The beans are grown and handpicked at a high altitude for a livelier taste. Growing at high elevation allows the coffee plant to grow slower, boosting the flavor of the beans.
Café de Loja concentrates on roasting the beans to perfection, so you never get the bitter aftertaste of burned coffee. Their innovative roasting process combines traditional cupping techniques with scientific testing of the roast profile to guarantee a consistently delicious taste.
Many coffee companies practice fair trade methods, but Café de Loja takes it one step further. The owner of the company dedicates resources to supporting the local community through education and jobs.
Intelligentsia Black Cat Espresso
This well-balanced espresso roast comes from a single origin in Brazil. These whole beans deliver a robust flavor with dark chocolate notes, making them well matched for brewing espresso.
Intelligentsias espresso blends change slightly from season to season, which keeps their flavors unique and surprising. Its an excellent choice for switching up your usual routine. Plus, they freshly roast each order.
Intelligentsia practices Direct Trade methods that allow them to partner with their growers directly and ensure a safe working environment.
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How To Choose The Perfect Bean
There are several factors that can change the flavor of a coffee or espresso bean. Lets take a look at a few of the most important.
The source of espresso beans greatly influences their flavor. Most beans come from the Bean Belt, an area that hugs the equator and extends around the world. Within this area, more than 50 countries produce coffee with subtle flavor distinctions derived from different climates, rainfall, shade, soil chemistry, and altitude.
Popular countries of origin for espresso beans are
- Brazil for varied flavor profiles
- Indonesia for full-bodied flavor
- Columbia for balanced and nutty beans
Whole vs. Pre-Ground Beans
Whole beans where you use a grind and brew coffee machine is much fresher than pre-ground ones. This freshness helps you get the most flavor out of the beans, an essential consideration with a concentrated espresso.
Roast Intensity
Medium and dark roasts are most popular for brewing espresso. Dark roasts typically have lower acidity and a full body. They also have the most oil content, which helps form velvety crema.
Medium roasts allow the blends particular flavor notes to shine a bit more than dark ones. They have medium acidity levels and work well for machines that often clog from oily beans.
Blue Bottle Three Africas
James Freeman started Blue Bottle by roasting small batches of beans and delivering them to customers within 24 hours. It is now more of a traditional cafe, but still leans on its foundation of high-quality single origin beans.
Their Three Africas beans are one of our favorites to make cold brew with. It has a very rich and creamy taste with light notes of fruitiness.
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Why Does My Cold Brew Taste Weak
You may want to try a finer grind if your coffee tastes too weak. However, do not use finer than drip coffee as it will cause a lot of undesired coffee grounds on the bottom. You can also change your coffee to water ratio. My recommendation is 1:4, so if your ratio of coffee is less than mine, try to increase the coffee amount. Last but not least, double-check the beans you are using for cold brew. It might not be able to give the flavour you expect it to be. There are coffee beans for a cold brew on the market for a reason. Thats why I have decided to write this post regarding the best coffee for cold brew.
Gradys Cold Brew Decaf Coffee
Gardys coffee is a New Orleans style and it is an unique blend of ground coffee, chicory and spices. This decaf concentrate coffee is perfect for anyone who is concerned with the caffeine intake. If you are after decaf coffee for cold brew, this can be the best choice for you. Just bear in mind that the coffee does contain 3.4mg caffeine per serve. A benefit of the Gardys coffee is its all natural and non-GMO. To make it even better, it comes with pitcher packs, which will help you make the coffee easily at home. The concentrated brewed coffee will last up to 1 week in the fridge, which is very handy to have especially for your busy mornings. You will not only save money but also enjoy smooth and refreshing cold-brew without any hassle.
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Birch Glen Roasters Cold Brew Coffee
Birch Glen Roasters is located in New Jersey and they use 100% Colombian coffee. The coffee is already ground and ready to use for your convenience. Birch Glen Roasters Cold Brew Coffee is brewed with low acidity and low acid content. It creates a sweeter-flavoured coffee that is perfect for the slower pace of a hot summer day. This beverage will make you feel refreshed and rejuvenated. Birch Glen Roasters Cold Brew Coffee comes in a variety of flavours and can be purchased online. There are a lot of different varieties of the flavoured blend, but unfortunately, the majority of them are currently unavailable. You will definitely want to check the availability once in a while.
Wild Coffee Organic Austin Roasted Small
Wild Coffee beans are roasted in Texas and 100% arabica organic coffee. Their beans are sourced from small farmers who produce the highest quality beans in the world. The beans are grown on mountain slopes that are well within the Western and Eastern Hulsebean Growing Zones. These beans are grown under the shade of high trees that keep them from being exposed to the full suns ultraviolet rays. The company mission is pretty impressive in that they support small farmers and care about our health and longevity. The best part is that they offer a 60-day money-back guarantee, which shows they do care about their customers. Highly recommended.
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Verena Street Espresso Beans
Verena Street is a family-owned company located in Dubuque, Iowa. They specialize in freshly roasted, small-batch craft coffee. Their Espresso Beans are a whole bean dark roast made of 100% Arabica beans with a more traditional oily texture.
The bold flavor of these beans balances perfectly with the creamy consistency of the espresso. Plus, the aftertaste is never bitter. They offer a sweet but complex taste combination, a full-bodied aroma, and a thick crema.
Verena Street practices sustainable sourcing through the Rainforest Alliance, which ensures farmers, wildlife, and the environment stay protected.
Intelligentsia Black Cat Classic Espresso
The most important part of the espresso is the taste, and this is where the intelligence of Intelligentsia Black Cat Classic Espresso totally shines. The coffee is so rich and full of flavour, you can detect how carefully Intelligentsia longs for the best of the best. And they are very smart in the way they go about it- they never blindly settle on flavour alone. The texture of this coffee is not too dense and leaves you feeling like you have been thoroughly satisfied. The Intelligentsia Black Cat Classic has a flavour profile of dark chocolate and ripe cherry, which sounds pretty delicious. You will want to appreciate the maximum flavour of the coffee beans with the cold brewing process. Having said that, this coffee can have the same issue with the Lavazza and you may find it stale.
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Lavazza Tierra Whole Bean Espresso
For a party, you cant go wrong with Lavazza Tierra Whole Bean Espresso. Its a great way to be polite and playful. Not only can you brew the perfect cup of coffee, but youll be able to serve to the guest without any hassles. Lavazza Tierra is a whole bean coffee that you can grind and brew fresh in your house. With the coffees dark, luxurious taste and aroma, its no wonder that this is one of the top coffee beans in Italy. The Tierra 100% arabica beans are great for a cold brew with a medium-dark roast and a well-balanced taste. You will enjoy consistently delicious cups of coffee with these beans even if you are not a big fan of a darker roast. However, you may find the coffee bitter or stale depending on the batch you get.
I’ve Been Going For Years But I Finally Bought An Espresso Machine And Now I Purchase The Beans From Intelligentsia Too
Intelligentsia black cat espresso recipe. I absolutely refuse to go to starbucks or coffee bean. Often times a opening barista will start changing multiple variables at once trying to replicate or produce a desirable espresso. Thank you to kyle glanville for always answering our coffee questions and putting up with our antics at the expense of intelligentsia, and to mitch mcmullen for issuing the challenge and providing us with enough newhall coffee and special espresso blend for the challenge, and also coffee and books to be used as the parting gifts for the guests.
Anyway, i’ve still got the previous recipe in my notes here for black cat classic: Zero out the scale and grind about 19.5g of coffee to the consistency of confectioners sugar directly into the portafilter. This syrupy and sweet espresso blend has been the staple of our lineup since the very beginning.
It is extremely complex to change multiple variables, at the same time, and understand how those variables combined impact the espresso. The ratio of espresso to steamed milk to foamed milk was good while the healthy amount of extra foam naturally dominates that initial sip. Red alert when im low on my last bag.
Intelligentsia has a solid latte. I’ve been out of the game long enough i feel like i’m starting over with the basics with dialing in. I would choose a cup of intelligentsia coffee over these massive chains any day.
Black Cat Classic Balanced, sweet, and just the bit of
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