Specialty Coffee Dial In Session At Home | ft. Meraki Espresso Machine

Summary

In this video, Z and John explore the process of dialing in a new espresso machine, provided by Mari, using a unique set of coffee beans from Sunny Day's Coffee. After experimenting with grind sizes and ratios, they find the ideal setup for their light-to-medium roast 'Warm Hug' beans. The duo shares their thoughts on flavor notes, particularly the balance between acidity, nuttiness, and chocolate flavors, along with a smooth espresso that pairs well with milk. Despite a few adjustments, they express satisfaction with the final result, highlighting the joy of experimenting with coffee at home.

Takeaways

• 😀 Z and John are a couple that shares their journey of making coffee at home on their YouTube channel.
• 😀 They recently unboxed and reviewed a new espresso machine sent to them by Mari, and this video focuses on dialing in coffee beans with it.
• 😀 The coffee beans used in this video are from Sunny Day's Coffee, a local home-based roaster, and are called 'Warm Hug,' which is a light to medium roast.
• 😀 Z and John usually dial in their coffee with a Varia grinder and a Ranchilio machine, but they are using the built-in grinder on the new Mari machine for this experiment.
• 😀 Their first espresso shots were too quick (18–20 seconds), but they adjusted and got a better result with a 36-second shot extraction time.
• 😀 After tasting the first shot, Z and John found it too sour, but the second try was better, with less sourness and more balance towards acidity.
• 😀 They debated whether to adjust the grind size, considering the beans were light to medium roast, and decided to try a slightly coarser grind (grind size 7).
• 😀 After dialing in, they noticed the shot was smoother and had more bitterness than the initial one, which they found pleasant.
• 😀 The flavor notes of the 'Warm Hug' coffee included dark chocolate, nuts, and comfort, but they couldn't taste the dark chocolate directly, though they found a nutty aftertaste.
• 😀 They experimented with adding milk to their espresso, and while it made the coffee lighter, it still blended smoothly, offering a balanced, pleasant taste with a slightly lighter body.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the video?

The video focuses on the process of dialing in coffee beans using a new espresso machine, including the unboxing, initial attempts at brewing, and final adjustments to achieve the desired taste.

What is the espresso machine that they are using for the dialing in process?

They are using a new espresso machine sent to them by Mari, which includes a built-in grinder, making it different from their usual setup.

What coffee beans are being used in the video, and who provided them?

The coffee beans used are called 'Warm Hug,' a light to medium roast, and they were provided by Sunny Day's Coffee, a local home-based roaster.

What is the significance of dialing in the coffee beans?

Dialing in the coffee beans refers to adjusting the grind size, ratio, and extraction time to achieve the ideal flavor profile for espresso. It helps perfect the coffee brewing process.

What challenges did they face while dialing in the coffee beans?

They faced challenges with the first two attempts, where the extraction time was too quick (18 seconds and 20 seconds). They had to adjust the grind size and ratio to achieve a better result.

How did they adjust the grind size and ratio during the process?

They started with a grind size of 13 and later adjusted it to 6 or 7. They also changed the brewing ratio from 1:2 to 1:2.5 to create a longer shot with a slightly coarser grind.

How did the coffee taste after the adjustments?

After the adjustments, the coffee tasted smoother with a slight bitterness, and they felt it was more balanced compared to the earlier attempts, though still leaning towards an acidic flavor.

What were the flavor notes mentioned for the coffee beans?

The flavor notes mentioned for the beans were dark chocolate, nuts, and comfort. However, the dark chocolate flavor was not very prominent, with the nuttiness being more noticeable.

What happened when they added milk to the espresso?

When milk was added, the coffee became smoother and blended well. The espresso's flavor became lighter, and they noted that it was a good cup of coffee, but not as strong as they had hoped.

What did they think of the final shot after adding milk?

They felt the final shot was lighter in body than expected, but it still had a good flavor profile. The milk blended well with the espresso, making it a smooth drink despite the lighter body.

What did they learn about using the new espresso machine for dialing in?

They learned that dialing in with the new machine was a bit frustrating due to unfamiliarity with the grinder settings, but after several tries, they were able to find a satisfying result.

What is their final opinion on the dialing-in process and the coffee flavor?

They were generally happy with the result after adjustments, finding the coffee smooth and pleasant. They mentioned that the flavor was different from what they usually drink, but still a good type of different, and they would stick with the current settings for now.