Coffee Bean Shop Newsletter May 2012

This month I am running an experiment, please stay with me

Coffee Bean Shop is proud to deliver good old fashioned customer service and a personal experience. I want to ensure that if you have any questions or feedback, that you know you can always contact me. So here is what I am going to be doing to make sure that happens; 

• I have removed all email addresses, except for [email protected]. I ask myself, who wants to deal with an un-named email account like [email protected] or [email protected] or [email protected] anyway? You might think that will get in the way of growth, but I think it will enhance the business and your experience - did you know Steve Jobs could be contacted, by anyone, at [email protected]?
• In marketing emails and newsletters that I have sent in the past, I would send a pretty email to you, with lots of graphics and clickable links. Do they look pretty? Sure.  But I wonder if you prefer this new style of sending you a basic email, with a link to this page? Please let me know if you prefer this new format (and its going to be easier to let me know, remember what I was saying about one email address?), or leave a comment below in the comments section. 
• No computer generated order confirmation emails. Right, so this is one thing I have been debating internally - should I automate the order process? I have decided that I personally don't enjoy communicating with robots or computers, so why should you? When you place an order at Coffee Bean Shop, you will get a personal email direct from me, every-single-time.
• Plain text emails will be the default email method. When I email you, there wont be any pretty graphics or logos in your email, but what you will receive, is a very readable email from me, that will be compatible with every email client and mobile device. Who wants to squint at a mobile screen to read a (pretty) email?

Now I have that out of the way, onto whats new at Coffee Bean Shop.

6 ways to improve your Espresso Coffee extraction

A Coffee Bean Shop customer asked me today how they can improve the quality of the espresso in the cup. I thought this information might be helpful to someone else, so i would like to share it with you.
The question asked:

I own a breville espresso machine with a non pressurised basket. The coffee espresso drips out over 30mls in fifteen seconds or less. I use the small plastic tamp that came with my machine.The problem is that I don't get good quality crema in espresso.

And the reply is;

Hi,

The lack of crema in your espresso can be for varied reasons;

• coffee beans purchased from the supermarket and other stale coffee beans will lack crema - it can be very difficult to obtain fresh roasted coffee beans from any shopfront or cafe.
• the grind setting you select plays a large part. You might find that a finer grind is what is needed. 
  
• a better tamp feels better in your hand, and can give you a better distribution of coffee in the basket, but the main thing is that you are using one - even the one that came with your machine is fine.

Consistency is your friend with the following;

• you will need 14 grams of ground coffee in the basket. You dont have to measure it, aim for a heaped hump sitting ontop of the basket. usually any extra will naturally fall off the sides of the basket anyway.
  
• tamp with around fifteen kilograms of pressure. If you have bathroom scales at your place, try practicing ontop of the scales to get an idea of what 15kg of pressure feels like
• aim for 30 seconds of espresso pour in the cup.
  

Iif you do all of these things, then the only thing you then need to adjust is your grind. If you get too much coffee in the cup over 30 seconds, your grind is too coarse. if you dont get enough coffee, your coffee is too fine. You are then able to repeat knowing that most everything else is consistent.

I hope that helps. let me know how you get on.

Coffee Extraction

Roast Dates and Coffee Bean Freshness

Coffee Bean Shop coffee is roasted fresh for you when you place your order - we do not keep any coffee beans on a shelf. In contrast, coffee purchased from a supermarket can be 12 months old before you buy it, so you're way ahead with Coffee Bean Shop fresh roasted coffee beans. I suggest fresh roasted coffee beans are at their peak for one month post roast, but I know of people and businesses that regularly keep coffee beans for three to six months. Its completely up to your taste.

Fresh roasted coffee beans

One way coffee valves

Coffee Bean Shop coffee is packed in one-way valve, foil lined bags for ultimate freshness.

Roasted Coffee releases CO2 which means that over time the pressure inside a coffee bag increases “blowing the bag up like a balloon”. To solve this situation one way degassing valves were created. The valves are made of PET. These valves let the CO2 escape without allowing air to re-enter the bag, resulting in a fresher bag of coffee. When the pressure reaches 0.1375psi (9.5 millibar) the valve will release the air from bag automatically until the pressure decreases to 0.0375psi(2.6millibar). Degassing valves are a coffee industry standard and are highly recommended. We only provide the best quality valves from Switzerland and Italy. 

Coffee Bean Shop coffee bag oneway valves

Until next time, enjoy your Coffee Bean Shop coffee.

Dont forget, if you want to get in touch with me, just send an email to [email protected]. Your comments are welcome below.

James Axisa - Chief Espresso Officer
www.baybeans.com.au

Mobile: 0428 555 535
Voicemail callback: 02 8208 3477