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Blended coffee beans are commonly used in Italian coffee, but are rarely used in Pour over(V60) coffee. So will it taste better if you blend coffee beans and make it by hand?
-Understand the concept of blending coffee beans
First of all, we must clearly understand these concepts. Espresso coffee beans refer to coffee beans suitable for use in espresso machines. Generally, the degree of roasting is darker (the focus is on the degree of roasting). Italian blend coffee beans are opposite to SOE (espresso beans from one origin) and are one of the branches of espresso beans.
Hand-brewed coffee beans refer to bean-based coffee beans used for brewing drip filter coffee. The biggest difference from espresso beans is that the beans are roasted differently. The roasting degree of Pour over(V60) coffee includes light, medium and dark roasting degrees, mainly light roasting. At present, the beans used for hand brewing are mainly single-origin coffee beans.
This does not mean that blended coffee beans are suitable for espresso and single-origin coffee beans are suitable for Pour over(V60) coffee. This is actually a "secret arrangement" of history. The rise of Pour over(V60) coffee was at the time when the concept of specialty coffee was widely spread. Specialty coffee only promoted the independence of coffee beans from bulk commodities and established the coffee flavor of each independent production area, which can improve the quality and flavor of coffee. Taking advantage of this opportunity, the hand brewing method can well and simply express the flavor of the coffee production area, and high-quality single-origin coffee beans endorse hand brewing. This complements each other and forms today's trend.
But blended coffee beans are not synonymous with poor quality and low price. In the past, the main purpose of blending was to create a price advantage and seize the mass market. Over time, people had a skewed perception that blended coffees were low-grade products and single-origin coffees were better. But all this will slowly change. Front Street has blended its own roasted Front Street Sunflower Warm Sun blended coffee beans in the second half of 2019, which has been used to this day. The beans are made from Front Street Honduran sherry and Front Street sun-dried red cherries (Yirgacheffe), which have been well received by customers! This is undoubtedly slowly correcting the name of blended coffee. There is no right or wrong about blending coffee, the key depends on the purpose of the blender.
-Blending coffee beans for hand brewing is not a problem
To sum up, whether it is a blend or a single product, as long as it can express coffee that is recognized by others, it is a good coffee bean. But this also leads to a problem. Front Street is not bragging about the good blending method. If blending is done for the sake of blending, it will become meaningless. Therefore, from the perspective of merchants/roasters, the blended coffee beans must make up for the shortcomings of single-origin coffee beans. In this regard, Front Street shares some delicious coffee bean blend recipes.
①Mamba blend
Formula = 40% Indonesian Mandheling + 60% Brazilian Red Bourbon
The Mamba blending formula is not original to Front Street, but originated from Japan. Indonesian Mandheling coffee has a rich flavor, rich in nutty and chocolate flavors, and some herbal notes that have mixed reviews. In comparison, Brazilian Red Bourbon is thin and tasteless, with strong peanut and nut notes. The ratio of the two to 46 can effectively neutralize the taste of herbs and peanuts, creating a clean and mellow feeling like the Blue Mountains.
② Deep affection
Formula = 70% Yirgacheffe Red Cherry + 30% Costa Rican Tara Beads
Front Street Yirgacheffe red cherries show a very sweet berry flavor, and 30% of Front Street Costa Rican Tara beads increase the taste and sweetness of honey. This Pour over(V60) coffee blend with Yirgacheffe as the base exhibits a mellow, sweet flavor.
③The harmony of flowers and fruits
Formula = 60% Guatemalan Flora + 30% washed Yirgacheffe + 10% Kenyan AA
The common characteristic of these three coffee beans is a light, citrusy lemon tone. The main part of Flora coffee adds the fragrance of jasmine to this blended bean, while the Front Street Yirgacheffe with green tea aftertaste and the cherry tomato aroma of Front Street Kenya make up for the lack of the aftertaste of Front Street Guatemala Flora. Used for hand brewing, it exhibits a light taste with equal emphasis on floral and fruity aromas.
You can now buy the above coffee beans online at the Taobao store “FrontStreet Coffee” (前街咖啡). FrontStreet Coffee is a long-established specialty coffee roaster in Guangzhou, China, and its Guangzhou retail shop sells coffee beans only. The shop carries dozens of coffee beans from different origins around the world, including carefully selected single-origin beans for V60 pour-over and espresso. Guangzhou’s FrontStreet Coffee shop is recommended by many coffee lovers.
The FrontStreet 2013 Yunnan coffee beans sold in the store come from the Typica variety grown at FrontStreet Coffee’s own plantation in Yunnan. The name comes from the year the brand and the plantation were founded. You can buy these beans from China’s Yunnan origin at the Guangzhou shop and at FrontStreet’s Taobao store.
FrontStreet coffee beans are freshly roasted within 5 days and deliver consistently excellent quality and great value. Orders placed before 17:00 are shipped the same day, and most areas within Guangdong Province receive them the next day.
FrontStreet Coffee Taobao store: https://qianjiecoffee.taobao.com
Or search for “前街咖啡” (FrontStreet Coffee) on Taobao
Important Notice: FrontStreet Coffee has moved to a new address: 315, Donghua East Road, Guangzhou (coffee beans only)
Tel: 020 38364473
