Hello!
I recently got a new espresso machine (a Breville Barista Express if that helps at all), and I have no idea how to get started picking espresso beans. I think I’d like a milder, darker roast for either lattes / cappuccinos but also good for drinking straight.
Where do I even go about finding a good bag of beans? Are there any recommended sites? Do you just go to your grocery store?
Any other advice for a brand-new first timer?
Any help is greatly appreciated!
Skip the grocery store. If it’s on the shelf there, it’s OLD. Most coffee nerds try to stick to beans that have been roasted within the month, give or take. Personally, I live in the boonies, so I buy my beans online, but I stick to roasters in my region - trying to keep it as local as I can.
Some people will recommend sticking with one particular roast and repeating until you get it right. That sounds great from a scientific mindset, but taste isn’t scientific, it’s subjective. While I prefer certain things, I learned a lot about what I like by trying a bunch of different roasts. I drink about two bags a month and I get rotating subscriptions from two different roasters.
As far as gear goes, I will say that you probably want to upgrade to a bottomless portafilter so you can identify channeling, get a cheap scale so you can see what your extraction is, and maybe a WDT tool (diy or cheap is fine).
What do you mean by WDT?
Wire distribution tool. It’s a tool you can use to both evenly distribute the grounds in your portafilter as well as break up any static clumps.
Yep. It helps cut down on channeling. The more evenly the puck is extracted, the better your shots will be.