Creating The Perfect Espresso Blend

I’ve been working with one of our head baristas here to create a new blend for our espresso. The previous blend has become a little pale, probably only because the blend hasn’t changed in the last couple of years, and I need something new to liven things up. Its a daunting task though! First, searching to find the perfect base coffee, and adding more beans to enhance and modify the shot into true beauty.

Finding The Perfect Espresso Base

So we begin with a base. This requires the tedious method of tasting many many roasts in the form of a single shot of espresso. With the number of coffees we roast, thats a heck of a lot of shots, and a many very shaky, strung out days. I’ve found that you don’t want a very complex base for your espresso blend. What you are really looking for here is an all around tasty bean that creates a shot that is very balanced, and maybe even subtle enough that it leaves you craving something a little more.

Enhancing The Perfect Espresso Blend

Once you’ve found your base coffee, its time to enhance and modify it a little bit. You do that through adding other coffee beans that could be of the same origin, but a different roast, or they could be entirely different coffees altogether. Remember all of those espresso shots you tasted in the last week or so? Look back on your notes from those for key aspects of what you tasted when you were sampling. Ask yourself: “Self, what does this base coffee need to be even better?” Does it need a little more sweetness? How about a richer, creamier body? Maybe it’s lacking in acidity. Whatever it may need, you should be able to locate in your notes from previous cuppings and espresso sampling.

That second step could involve adding many varieties and roasts of coffee beans. I’ve had espresso blends that were comprised of 6 or 8 varieties of beans. I’ve also had straight, single origin shots of coffee that were equal in quality and flavour. The fun though, is really in blending for espresso and allowing yourself the freedom to create something special, intriguing, and a personal reflection of how YOUR coffee tastes.