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· 2 min read
Paul Deng

July 2017​

  • Beans: Coffee Island Microfarm (Brazil Santa * Feliciana)
  • Grind Size: 21
  • Coffee Portion: 27 g
  • Water Portion: 450 ml
  • Brew Time: ~3:00
  • Color: Slight greyish brown
  • Taste: Smooth and balanced
  • Rate: 9.5/10

Note: New coffee specialty shop opened on Bay and Wellesley, they do all kinds of brews from Turkish to Siphon. I tried two kinds of beans, the one from Brazil is the clear favourite with a more balanced and rich body over the one from El Salvador which is fruitier and sharper. Also trying a new brewing method from Tetsu Kasuya - 40/60 method which is a way to manually control the sweet and sour balance and strength level independently.

January 2017​

  • Beans: Kicking horse beans
  • Grind Size: 21
  • Coffee Portion: 27 g
  • Water Portion: 450 ml
  • Brew Time: 2:25
  • Color: Deep dark black
  • Taste: Sharp and acidic
  • Rate: 7/10

Note: Upgraded the dinky hand grinder with the Baratza electrical burr grinder. The consistency with the grounds this electrical grinder produces is so much more superior to the hand grinder. It is well worth the $120 investment. The coffee beans are not my favourite, I bought it mostly because it came in a nice anniversary tin. So I can use it to store coffee in the future.

Equipment​

· 3 min read
Paul Deng

November 2015​

  • Beans: Honduras Medium Roast
  • Grind Size: 2.5 notches visible - Coarse * Grind
  • Coffee Portion: 27 g
  • Water Portion: 460 ml
  • Brew Time: N/A
  • Color: Light hazel color and a fruity * aroma
  • Taste: Light, sweet, bright, lemon * aftertaste
  • Rate: 9.5/10

Note: Walked by a coffee shop I used to go on Baldwin and decided to pick up their roastry's beans on a whim. Great decision. I was first skeptical of the lemon/lime aftertaste, weary of it might overpower the beans, but it was just subtle enough that you only notice the taste as the coffee is swallowed. It leaves your palette clean and it is a wonderful ending note for this roast. Afterwards, I realized I left the grind setting from the coldbrew sessions, that left me confused as to which grind size I prefer for this bean.

September 2015 (COLDBREW)​

  • Beans: Zavida Hazelnut Vanilla Bean
  • Grind Size: 2.5 notches visible - Coarse * Grind
  • Coffee Portion: 50 g
  • Water Portion: 200 ml
  • Brew Time: 11:00:00
  • Color: "Clear", not muddled with any oil * or texture, looks just like black colored * water
  • Taste: Clean and sweeter due to the cold * water extraction
  • Rate: 7/10

Note: First time trying cold brew, a little late with the seasons but whatever. It wasn't too bad, a bit strong compared to Starbucks ones. That is, until I realized that at Starbucks they dilute the coffee with water before they serve it. So I tried that to temper the taste. Finally found a good use for the terrible vanilla beans I bought from Costco, it makes terrible pour overs and now it will be only used for cold brews.

July 2015​

  • Beans: Ethiopian Yirgacheffe Bean
  • Grind Size: 3.5 notches visible - Medium * Coarse Grind
  • Coffee Portion: 27 g
  • Water Portion: 450 ml
  • Brew Time: 3:10
  • Color: Transitions from dark black to a * creamy brown around the rim
  • Taste: Light, mellow and sweet with hints * of floral aftertaste, not sharp or harsh. * Very easy to drink and neutral.
  • Rate: 10/10

Note: Favorite beans so far, the beans were purchased at a local roaster in St.Lawrence Market near Front Street at Downtown Toronto.

April 2015​

  • Beans: Continental Dark Roast
  • Grind Size: 3.5 notches visible - Medium * Coarse Grind
  • Coffee Portion: 24 g
  • Water Portion: 287 ml
  • Brew Time: 4:51
  • Color: Oily film on top and incredibly * dark
  • Taste: Bitter with a rough aftertaste, * Americano-esque.
  • Rate: 5/10

Note: Fresh beans was notably different during brew, as more oxygen was released. The ground bloomed much more intensely compared to stale beans.

March 2015​

  • Beans: Zavida Hazelnut Vanilla Bean
  • Grind Size: 3.5 notches visible - Medium * Coarse Grind
  • Coffee Portion: 27 g
  • Water Portion: 450 ml
  • Brew Time: 3:00
  • Color: Brownish with light brown edges
  • Taste: Awkward bitter taste with the * overwhelming hazelnut aroma. Throws the * entire brew off-balance.
  • Rate: 3/10

Note: Terrible purchase, and to be fair I didn't buy it...

· One min read
Paul Deng

December 2014​

  • Beans: Sumatra Mandheling
  • Grind Size: 3.5 notches visible - Medium * Coarse Grind
  • Coffee Portion: 2 tbsp
  • Water Portion: 500 ml
  • Brew Time: 3:02 min
  • Taste: Sharp at the nose but mild in * flavor
  • Rate: 7.5/10

October 2014​

  • Beans: Sumatra Mandheling
  • Grind Size: 3 notches visible - Medium * Coarse Grind
  • Coffee Portion: 2 tbsp
  • Water Portion: 500 ml
  • Brew Time: 2:30 min
  • Color: White around the edges, light * brown, and hazelnut towards the middle.
  • Taste: Soft bland, mellow
  • Rate: 6.5/10

February 2014​

  • Beans: Sumatra Mandheling
  • Grind Size: 4 notches visible - Medium Coarse Grind
  • Coffee Portion: 2 tbsp
  • Water Portion: N/A
  • Brew Time: N/A
  • Color: N/A
  • Taste: Overall the beans tasted smooth with a full-bodied complexion
  • Rate: 7/10

September 2014​

  • Beans: Van Houtte's French Roast
  • Grind Size: 4 notches visible - Medium * Coarse Grind
  • Coffee Portion: 2 tbsp
  • Water Portion: N/A
  • Brew Time: N/A
  • Color: N/A
  • Taste: Rough, sharp
  • Aroma: Smokey, Carbony
  • Rate: 6/10