Newbie roaster needs beans

OompaLoompa

G'day fellas,

So, I got into roasting recently and have gone through the beans that came with the roaster. I'm on the hunt for a few varieties of beans that:

1. Easy to roast
2. Good with milk
3. Can be blended (when I'm feeling adventurous later down the track)
4. Doesn't cost the earth

I'll probably get it from Bean Green but I'm open to suggestions.

Lacehim

Hi OompaLoompa, Welcome! If you are new to roasting and just want beans to play with why not try Beangreen's specials.  $10 per Kg.  http://beangreen.com.au/product-info.php?pid106.html They are beans they don't have much left of, and you can get some really nice beans on special.  Then when your more confident you can buy some different beans and play around with blending. Most of BG's greens have descriptions, so I would take the plunge on a few others and try something new.  One of the great things about roasting your own is being able to try more beans than are available in store, or online at roasters.  IMO there aren't many difficult beans to roast, but they all vary and roasting each bean will be different, but you can't learn unless you give it ago. I'm sure some of the green bean experts will be in to help you pick a few beans too!

Koffee_Kosmo

on 1403926260:

G'day fellas, So, I got into roasting recently and have gone through the beans that came with the roaster. I'm on the hunt for a few varieties of beans that: 1. Easy to roast 2. Good with milk 3. Can be blended (when I'm feeling adventurous later down the track) 4. Doesn't cost the earth I'll probably get it from Bean Green but I'm open to suggestions.

Welcome to the Crema Forum Bean Green and Ministry Grounds have a great selection of green beans Easiest to roast are beans from South America Check the tasting notes on the websites and choose the one that suits you taste buds the most KK

Brett H

MyCuppa also has fabulous greens and even more fabulous roasted so you can pit your own efforts against the best! We Cremas are spoiled for choice really.  There is no other green supplier in Australia that comes near these guys in my opinion and I've tried quite a few and not just as a one-off.  I've not tried Supreme Roasters at the Gold Coast but have heard great things about them if your in that locality.

OompaLoompa

I've been furiously reading reviews, articles and threads and came up with the following: India Tiger Mountain A  x 2kg Ethiopian Yirgacheffe Konga x 2kg Colombian Bachue Supremo x 2kg The above gives me some variety, seems easy to roast, and all work well in milk-based drinks. Comments/Suggestions?

Koffee_Kosmo

The Colombian Bachue Supremo 18 is a wonderful bean and a favourite in the KK household KK

OompaLoompa

Thanks KK. Any tips for roasting?

Koffee_Kosmo

on 1403952279:

Thanks KK. Any tips for roasting?

The Colombian Bachue 18 is best at 2nd crack level I hope you like a chocolate bomb KK

Brett H

Tiger Mt is a favourite here and also great in a blend.  2nd crack also is my preference!

OompaLoompa

Thanks Brett. I've bought the Tiger Mt before as roasted, and we liked it very much. Hope I can do it justice. What do you normally blend with? Does anybody have any comments on the Ethiopian Yirgacheffe? I'm thinking of getting some purely because of the many positive reviews/mentions. Any roasting tips? The few African beans I've got before all seemed to be roasted fairly lightly - is that a common thing?