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Morbidly curious about Robusta

PostPosted: Sun Oct 12, 2008 10:43 am
by quoad
It can't be that bad, can it...?

I mean...

The few blends that I've really not enjoyed have contained robusta.

And I've found something of a... burnt rubber...? and kinda sewer-y...? taste in each of them...

But, like.

I keep on reading Steve's descriptions of his Robusta.

And every time I see the capitalised injunction "NOT TO BE DRUNK ON ITS OWN ,BE WARNED !!!", I... well...

I want to drink it on its own. Just to see, like.

It's like a box with "DO NOT OPEN !!!" written on it :?

Anything that needs that many capitals and exclamation marks against it has to be worth trying once.

Doesn't it? :?

RE: Morbidly curious about Robusta

PostPosted: Sun Oct 12, 2008 11:27 am
by lukas
Yes. Try it!

RE: Morbidly curious about Robusta

PostPosted: Sun Oct 12, 2008 5:18 pm
by espressomattic
Ditto :evil:

Just not the Monsooned Malabar Robusta...please!

RE: Morbidly curious about Robusta

PostPosted: Sun Oct 12, 2008 6:58 pm
by syscrusher

RE: Morbidly curious about Robusta

PostPosted: Sun Oct 12, 2008 7:22 pm
by Hugo
It makes a good practical joke on a cupping table, just as you get into your stride you get a mouthful of minger.... and we all know what an unpleasant surprise that can be. :shock:

Re: RE: Morbidly curious about Robusta

PostPosted: Mon Oct 13, 2008 9:56 am
by quoad
Hugo wrote:It makes a good practical joke on a cupping table, just as you get into your stride you get a mouthful of minger.... and we all know what an unpleasant surprise that can be. :shock:

:D

Though... must say... that link posted by syscrusher does look rather curious... :?

And... monsooned malabar robusta...? Uh... happens to be a uniquely awful variety...?

Re: RE: Morbidly curious about Robusta

PostPosted: Mon Oct 13, 2008 11:13 am
by syscrusher
quoad wrote:
Though... must say... that link posted by syscrusher does look rather curious... :?


A drinkable robusta that scored 94 points on CoffeeReview.

It's been on my "to try" list for a little while now. If it is as good as described then it puts to bed the assumption that robusta is always crap.

Re: RE: Morbidly curious about Robusta

PostPosted: Mon Oct 13, 2008 1:43 pm
by Steve
syscrusher wrote:
quoad wrote:
Though... must say... that link posted by syscrusher does look rather curious... :?


A drinkable robusta that scored 94 points on CoffeeReview.

It's been on my "to try" list for a little while now. If it is as good as described then it puts to bed the assumption that robusta is always crap.


And that's why I always smile at coffee reviews scores :)

RE: Re: RE: Morbidly curious about Robusta

PostPosted: Mon Oct 13, 2008 3:38 pm
by mattmills
Scores of 94 are little on the high side, but it is certainly worth cupping an understanding Robustas. Things such as a fully washed Indian can be a real eye opener. Also on occasions you can find a rather nice Tanzanian (but pretty tough).

It is worth noting that although much of the discussion on this site is focussed at specialty, there are some robustas that are far better and cleaner than some of the arabica exported, although this message is very difficult to put across.

Re: RE: Morbidly curious about Robusta

PostPosted: Mon Oct 13, 2008 5:36 pm
by syscrusher
Steve wrote:And that's why I always smile at coffee reviews scores :)


Ah - I'd try anything once. :P

RE: Re: RE: Morbidly curious about Robusta

PostPosted: Mon Oct 13, 2008 6:11 pm
by espressomattic
The Malabar is like the most intense musty/earthy/cumin/old sweaty sock laced coffee you can imagine. I am literally too scared to try it on its own but have successfully blended with it before...not that anyone belives that though. It is in that super heavy weight department.

In fact I have 100g's looking at me from my greens shelf laughing at me...loudly...it is menacing. I also have some flores Robusta from Indo too which blend nicely as well...oh damn I feel an experiement coming on!!!!

RE: Re: RE: Morbidly curious about Robusta

PostPosted: Tue Oct 14, 2008 10:31 am
by Steve
I agree its very important to try these coffees, but not a slurping coffee :)

PostPosted: Tue Oct 14, 2008 12:36 pm
by Richard
I still have some Monsoon Malabar left, don't think I'll use the remainder because it seems to spoil everything I mix it with.

If you remember, I also was curios why everyone disliked MM yet it was available to buy. If no-one used it then eventually no-one would stock it, right ?

That was the logic I applied to the situation when I first started on my coffee journey last year, I figured you-lot were covering-up to keep it all to yourselves. "Burnt-Rubber-Tyres" had to put anyone off buying it but I bought 2 kilo's.

It's been an experience, the taste of MM is nothing like the taste I enjoy which curiously turned-up in a bag of store-bought ground coffee recently.

The list of greens I provided for you to help me are now down to a kilo of MM and a kilo of OBJ so I'm reading with interest and about to order for the next three months.

I like smooth and rich, I hate burnt-rubber-tyres.

PostPosted: Tue Oct 14, 2008 1:05 pm
by Gouezeri
Oooh, Old Brown Pants... best thing you can do with that is send it to George... it helps keep him on the straight and narrow... bizarrely :wink: