I did it

[Séamas]

I just ordered the Capresso Infinity grinder, and a Bodum 32oz press. Also got a Britta filter pitcher--can't make good coffee without good water, right?

Everything will be here Wednesday, so Blackdog, I'll be placing an order with you next week. :applause:

Thanks for the help, everyone, in choosing a grinder. I am really getting tired of drip Folgers.

[AZsteelman]

The Black Dog is a very bad man..............stay away from the Black Dog!

[Ratbert]

You'll like that grinder...I love mine.

Ditto Randy's take on The Black Dog, unless you're willing to sign up for another addiction in your life.

[Séamas]

You'll like that grinder...I love mine.

Ditto Randy's take on The Black Dog, unless you're willing to sign up for another addiction in your life.

I got rid of about 5 of them, now I need to replace them. :smokingbo

[CWS]

Join the coffee club. Its an awesome way to try new coffees and get your fix on a regular basis. No fuss not muss...just good coffee.

[cvm4]

I'm not into it as deep as you guys with the grinders and uber-drip machines. Mainly because they're so damn expensive. But I do love my Blackdog coffee in the morning that is preground from Brian :thumbsup:

[Wasch_24]

Awesome!

Watch out for that Black Dog!

[Ratbert]

Hey Brian...tell Nancy that those Black Dog Coffee mugs are freakin' awesome! Mine gets lots of comments at work...hopefully some of it will translate into some business for you. :thumbsup:

[Black Dog]

The Black Dog is a very bad man..............stay away from the Black Dog!

Hey man, I'm just doin' my job! :glassesgr

[Black Dog]

Hey Brian...tell Nancy that those Black Dog Coffee mugs are freakin' awesome! Mine gets lots of comments at work...hopefully some of it will translate into some business for you. :thumbsup:
I'll be seeing Nancy tomorrow and will surely let her know! Thanks!

[djs134]

Welcome to the wonderful world of wonderful coffee. Resistance is futile!

[caudio51]

Great! I have the same grinder.

Cliff, it really isn't that expensive when compared to cigars.

My grinder was 150, the french press 30 at most. I use water from our water cooler(filtered would work too) and then the beans. Brian has the best prices around. The coffee costs me 29 bucks a month.

[Séamas]

The grinder and Bodum press came today! Unfortunately, the Black Dog coffee (and mug) did not, so to try it out, I went and bought some local stuff at a gourmet shop. They roast their own, but I forgot to ask the roast date.

Anyway, I whipped up some medium roast Guatemalan, which was pretty tasty but bitter.

Does the age of the beans have anything to do with bitterness?

The grinder is awesome. I didn't like the timer thing, but I discovered I can pulse it just by turning the knob slightly.

[Black Dog]

Bummer that the coffee didn't arrive in time!
Here's the latest on it's progress, looks like it's close:
Label/Receipt Number: 0103 8555 7498 6434 5856
Status: Enroute

Your item was processed and left our FEDERAL WAY, WA 98003 facility on November 14, 2006. Information, if available, is updated every evening. Please check again later.

[Séamas]

Bummer that the coffee didn't arrive in time!



Ah well, leave it to the USPS to throw a wrench into my plans. :grin:

It normally takes three days for Priority Mail to get here from the Southeast, so I wasn't really expecting, only hoping.

[Séamas]

Got the coffee and mug today, Brian. I'm about to throw out my thermos of the local crap and brew up some of the Dog.

Very awesome cup, definitely compliment the maker for me.


*** Questions deleted -- read another post where you answered them ***

Thanks!

[DocLogic77]

The Black Dog is a very bad man..............stay away from the Black Dog!

It's like Brian is selling drugs. :grin: I might have to get my parents hooked for a Christmas gift. They are Folgers addicts. If I can just get them to come over to the coffee dark side I would be so happy. I love roasting my own beans but I'll tell you I miss the Black Dog. I haven't had a batch yet that has come close. And I also need a new grinder.

[Black Dog]

*** Questions deleted -- read another post where you answered them ***
Darn! Missed my chance to expound on my favorite subject.

Enjoy the coffee! :grin:

[Séamas]

I'm drinking a cup of the Harrar Horse. Sure enough, blueberries! Delicious, outstanding, I love it.

I wonder what cigar would go well with this?

Brian, I just didn't want to bother you with questions you had already answered, but if you would like to expound some more, I'm happy to oblige!

Actually, you could answer my questions specific to the one-way valve bags. Do they do a better job of keeping beans fresh than standard air-tight containers?

Most people, including you, say that beans are best within a couple weeks after roasting. I noticed that the roast dates on these bags are about a week ago, and so I wondered if there would be any significant degradation if I didn't use them all up for another two weeks or so?

Thanks.

[djs134]

A Havana Honey Vanilla would go GREAT! lol

[Séamas]

Thanks, Dan. I'll run right out and pick up a pack. :barf:

[djs134]

:thinkidea OHHHHH, you were looking for something more along the lines of a PLPC then. It's creamy enough to hold up to the acidity of the Harrar, but not so strong as to overpower the underlying fruit flavors...... :wink:

[Séamas]

:thinkidea OHHHHH, you were looking for something more along the lines of a PLPC then. It's creamy enough to hold up to the acidity of the Harrar, but not so strong as to overpower the underlying fruit flavors...... :wink:

That's what I'm talking about, brother! :applause:

I don't have a PLPC, but that's ok. Someday I might, and I'll remember that Dan said it goes good with the harrar coffee.

Either that, or I'll remember something about Havanas, honey and horsehair... what I might put together from that is a scary thought. :wtf:

[djs134]

James, wrong forum for that. You'll want to post on Penthouse Forums with that combo.

[djs134]

Actually, I've found that cigars made with Connecticut Broadleaf wrappers or binders don’t mix well with coffee for me. The metallic/mineral taste clashes with the acidity of the coffee.

[Black Dog]

Actually, you could answer my questions specific to the one-way valve bags. Do they do a better job of keeping beans fresh than standard air-tight containers?

Most people, including you, say that beans are best within a couple weeks after roasting. I noticed that the roast dates on these bags are about a week ago, and so I wondered if there would be any significant degradation if I didn't use them all up for another two weeks or so?

Sorry to take so long to respond to your post. I saw it earlier this evening just as I was heading out for a few hours.

I, and many people with more experience than me, do believe that coffee is best if used within two weeks or so after roasting. After that the flavors will begin to degrade and the oils begin to stale. That is not to say that the coffee has suddenly turned stale, but rather that the flavors are beginning to deteriorate to a degree that becomes noticeable to those with a more refined palate. Many people aren't able to tell the difference at this point but as time goes on it becomes much more apparent.

Oxidation is the primary culprit, so reducing the amount of oxygen that fresh roasted coffee is exposed to will keep them fresher longer.
As you know, I use heavy foil bags with a one-way valve. I do feel that these are better than a standard airtight container in that once the beans are sealed inside, the majority of the air is squeezed out when I fold the top down close to the beans. Further, I believe that the off-gassing of the beans forces the remaining oxygen out through the one-way valve over the next couple days. Also, all of my coffee is packaged right after cooling so all of the off-gassing is done in the bag.

I've done some experimenting with my bags here and have been pleasantly surprised at how much flavor has been retained even after more than a month after roast. There was definitely some change but not as much as I'd expected.

My self imposed guidelines are to not sell any coffee locally that's more than two weeks past roast and to try to keep any shipped coffees at a week or less since we already lose a few days in transit. At some point in the future I'd like to do all roasting to order but to try to do that now would be nearly impossible.

Long story, short. I think you'll be fine if you don't get to all your coffee for a couple weeks. :glassesgr

[DocLogic77]

mmmm I miss the blueberries.

[Séamas]

Long story, short. I think you'll be fine if you don't get to all your coffee for a couple weeks. :glassesgr

Thanks, Brian, I appreciate it.

Actually, I'll probably drink it all in two or three days, but was wondering anyway. :cool:

One more question (whenever you get to it, I'm in no hurry):

Do you have any plans to sell green beans in the future?

[Black Dog]

I meant to add this to my previous post.

Starbucks believes you can store roasted beans in the same type of bag that I use for 9-12 months. I don't agree with that.

I also check out other roasting companies whenever I get a chance. Most around these parts don't date their bags at all so the coffee sits on the shelf until it sells. One regional roaster does date theirs but they say "best if used within 90 days". Again, I can't agree with that.

On the green beans, I probably will offer them in the future. As my volume increases I'll start getting larger quantities of the more unique coffees and will probably begin offering green beans at that point.

[Séamas]

On the green beans, I probably will offer them in the future. As my volume increases I'll start getting larger quantities of the more unique coffees and will probably begin offering green beans at that point.


Awesome.

I see a popcorn popper in my future.

Thanks again.

[caudio51]

Charbucks, blech.

[Séamas]

You probably can keep Starbucks beans in those bags for a year. After all, charcoal doesn't go bad, does it?