Too Much Coffee

Call me a philistine if you will, but I have always loved Malabar, since I tasted my first shot of it - a bag from Whittards - probably past its prime, made with a Gaggia MDF and Gaggia Classic.

Hasbean's malabar is exceptional. Smooth, velvety, full of rich body with a rewarding aftertaste reminiscent of vanilla, caramel and a slight hint of tobacco (just a touch!).

I know that to many bright coffee is the way to go and acidity is something to be coveted. I enjoy tasting bright, fruity coffees in the chemex and vac pot. But when it comes to my day to day espresso, I love a good malabar.

I love it too but have come to the considered opinion that that this liking is confined to those select few who have sophisticated tastes. There may be a genetic inheritance involved and I suspect that such refined sensibilities can be traced to some long-lost Royal line........could be wrong of course.

It's a ridiculously forgiving bean - I pull an excellent shot almost every time. Great for day to day use. I don't want to be making four attempts at a decent espresso in the morning when I'm about to miss the bus!

I also enjoy the rich velvety feel of a monsoon malabar. I don't think it makes you a philistine though!!!

It's sort of strange to me. I crave this stuff, am overwhelmed by how good it tastes and smells...for the first few days. Then I can't even stand to smell it anymore and don't roast any for a year. This has happened 4 or 5 times in the last 10 years. I don't know what to make of it.

bruceb wrote:It's sort of strange to me. I crave this stuff, am overwhelmed by how good it tastes and smells...for the first few days. Then I can't even stand to smell it anymore and don't roast any for a year. This has happened 4 or 5 times in the last 10 years. I don't know what to make of it.

Could it have anything to do with the phases of the moon, Bruce? Perhaps in conjunction with other heavenly bodies? Do you notice any other physiological changes at the time?

GreenBean wrote:

bruceb wrote:It's sort of strange to me. I crave this stuff, am overwhelmed by how good it tastes and smells...for the first few days. Then I can't even stand to smell it anymore and don't roast any for a year. This has happened 4 or 5 times in the last 10 years. I don't know what to make of it.

Could it have anything to do with the phases of the moon, Bruce? Perhaps in conjunction with other heavenly bodies? Do you notice any other physiological changes at the time?

Naah, aside from the thick brown hair that grows all over my body and the inevitable fang problem, but those things are normal.

bruceb wrote:

GreenBean wrote:

bruceb wrote:It's sort of strange to me. I crave this stuff, am overwhelmed by how good it tastes and smells...for the first few days. Then I can't even stand to smell it anymore and don't roast any for a year. This has happened 4 or 5 times in the last 10 years. I don't know what to make of it.

Could it have anything to do with the phases of the moon, Bruce? Perhaps in conjunction with other heavenly bodies? Do you notice any other physiological changes at the time?

Naah, aside from the thick brown hair that grows all over my body and the inevitable fang problem, but those things are normal.

Yes, that all sounds quite normal for TMC members.

Fangs for the memories, tra la la la de da

Heavenly bodies as in Salma Hayek or bits of rock and other assorted debris?

CakeBoy wrote:Fangs for the memories, tra la la la de da

Heavenly bodies as in Salma Hayek or bits of rock and other assorted debris?

Are you suggesting that we should experience the same physiological changes (growing thick brown hair and fangs) from either Salma or a bit of rock? If so I may be more damaged than I thought

But, I already have thick brown hair and fangs! Oh the hurt!

Weird. I'm with Bruce on this.

Does anybody drink real ale? Ordinary cooking Adnams Ale, when perfect (rare but insanely wonderful when found), should smell faintly of woodsmoke and vomit in the glass and will engage the gag reflex of some drinkers. I think there's something in Malabar that hits that sort of wrong note for me, though one or two espressos can be wonderful, it persists in getting through.

Well, it's pretty weird when anyone is with me on anything, but there you go.

I just roasted some MM and had the same experience again. The first three or four espresso shots were met with "Oh Wow!" The next with "Oh, yuck!" I served some to friends and three said it was the best coffee they ever tasted and two could not finish their cups. This was in the French Press. It's not a coffee that most people can take or leave. It's either one or the other.

sicinius wrote:...Does anybody drink real ale? Ordinary cooking Adnams Ale, when perfect (rare but insanely wonderful when found), should smell faintly of woodsmoke and vomit in the glass and will engage the gag reflex of some drinkers...

You make it sound so irresistible

bruceb wrote:...I just roasted some MM and had the same experience again. The first three or four espresso shots were met with "Oh Wow!" The next with "Oh, yuck!" I served some to friends and three said it was the best coffee they ever tasted and two could not finish their cups...

You make me wonder if I should try it again

I have never tried it!