Byron Bay Rainforest Alliance Espresso

Hi All, a new review has today been posted to Espresso Idiot. The review is of the Rainforest Alliance Espresso Blend from the Byron Bay Coffee Company (pictured at right).

This epsresso is the second wholly Australian produced espresso blend that has been reviewed by the espresso idiot. This blend performed well, being awarded overall a 7 out of 10 mark. The idiot took pains to point out that he felt the product he had purchased might not have represented the best that this company had to offer. There were some concerns, firstly that the product was old as the store that it was purchased from was rural and the staff had no idea how to even ring up the sale for a bag of ground espresso. Presumably that indicated they didn't do that too often!

In addition, the coffee had been pre-ground and the idiot prefers to freshly grind his espresso beans just prior to the preparation of each shot. Be that as it may, for this espresso to still perform that well is quite an achievement. There will be a follow up review and the idiot will be concentrating on the aroma and distinguishing between the two samples he will have then had to see if indeed the age did adversely affect the performance of this blend.

To read the complete review, click here.

Review of Huehuetenango

This is the best espresso the idiot has reviewed to date for the take home market. This coffee scored a 9 out of 10 on the espresso idiot's scale, the best to date. To read the full review, click here.

This coffee has got it all. The idiot, of course, purchased the coffee in bean form and ground it at home immediately prior to brewing the espresso shot. This coffee simply is superb, the best available in Sydney and tested to date. Every aspect of this espresso scored a 9 out of 10 from the idiot, the best result in the tastings conducted so far, and this is the Idiot's coffee of choice for anyone looking to sample what ranks in the top of the market in Sydney.

The sole drawback to this coffee may be its availability. Initially it seemed that you had to either order online from Mayan Coffee, however we have discovered that the coffee is available quite widely and can at least be obtained cheaper at Pulp stores in Sydney which are quite common around the place. The packaging is also excellent, and full marks to Mayan Coffee who also cover the social justice side of the coffee trade. This is an espresso that would sit well in any fine espresso coffee collection. Do try it.

New Take Home Review Added to Web Site

Hi all, I have been busily reviewing more espresso, and as I enjoyed the last offering from Hernandez so much, I was eager to try some more of their fine espresso. I ventured back and was taken by the New Guinea Organic blend sold at the premises in Potts Point.

I purchased the coffee and brewed the bag worth at home trying many and varied types of espresso made from these beans. It was good stuff overall and a new reveiw has been added to the site of the Organic New Guinea roast sold by this outfit. It lives up to the considerable reputation that Cafe Hernandez has built up over the years.

Most interestingly these beans looked as if they had been dipped in oil there was a really oily sheen to them and the taste of the espresso was really magnificent. A little weak on the armoa is the only weakness of this blend, and of course the packaging leaves something to be desired, but this espresso has got enough of it where it counts, in the taste department. For the full review, click here.

Remember, check back soon for more reviews of espresso in the antipodes.

New Take Home Coffee Review Posted to Espresso Idiot

Hi all a new review has been posted to Epsresso Idiot today. The review is of Kenya Royal, a most impressive offering from Cafe Hernandez in Sydney's Potts Point. One of the longest serving espresso houses in Sydney, and certainly one of the most reputable...and with this wonderful coffee it is not difficult to see how that good reputation came into being. This coffee is available both in house, prepared by the skilled barista staff at Hernandez, or in either whole bean or ground form to take home. The picture to the left is of the take home pack purchased by the idiot.

The beans are a rich, deep, dark black that hints at the full bodied espresso that these beans yield when the magical dark art that is espresso manufacture is worked upon them properly. At this point, Kenya Royal is the coffee that the Espresso Idiot rates highest of all among the considerable number of coffees produced by Cafe Hernandez. To read the complete review, click here.

The Idiot is currently making a few changes to the espresso idiot web page and these should be up and running before the week is out. Check back here often to see what has been updated, and of course check for new reviews. Ciao.

Photos Up and New Review

Hi All, the Espresso Idiot has had a busy weekend working on the web site. First up, I have managed to make a few changes to the photos on the site. All photos are visible for you, including full size photos of the same images if you click on them (for the ones that relate to specific reviews in any event). This is a vast improvement to the site and thanks to all of you that suggested this be done. Good call, and I shall make sure that photos remains part of the repetoire from here on in.

Over the weekend I was also fortunate to sample the Coffee Roaster's Colmobian single origin roast. This was a real treat, and a pleasant surprise. Unlike a lot of single origin coffees, this bean produces a fine espresso that did not require any blending to make a fine finished product. The only weak point of this espresso was the aroma, both in the bag as a bean, after grinding, and following the brewing process. This was the weak point, and some blending could be done to improve this aspect of the espresso, however I found that aside from lacking smell, the taste and everything else about this espresso was great. I will certainly be returning back to sample more of the Coffee Roaster's wares. Click here for the full review of this single origin espresso... Hope you enjoy the review.

Keep an eye out over the next day or two for further updates to the site. The Espresso Idiot will be out and about sampling some fine coffee from Sydney's gourmet coffee houses and the reveiws will of course be promptly posted on the site, and you will hear about it here first. I'll also be adding to the espressotech side of the site over the next week with some updates about what to look for in technology to assist you in creating the perfect espresso at home. Magic.

Fine Espresso Coffee At the Cross

Well my espresso quaffing friends, the Espresso Idiot has braved one of Sydney's more interesting central areas (to put it nicely) and completed reviews of three espresso blends served by Cafe Hernandez (pictured).

Cafe Hernandez has been a part of the espresso scene in Sydney for the better part of 30 years, and they have certainly come to operate a pretty impressive ship in that time. First and foremost they deserve praise for allowing visitors to the store to sample the blends and single origins beans that are roasted on site as espresso shots prepared by the basita staff. Unfortunately this is still something that is in short supply on the Sydney scene, however Cafe Hernandez, and Toby's Estate at least do allow espresso aficionados the chance to try different types of bean to educate the palate.

The Idiot reviewed three blends in all. They are Royal Kenya, Colombian, and the Spanish House blend. To check out the reviews in full, click on the name to be taken to the Espresso Idiot's full review. Suffice to say that they have all scored well and I found the blends interesting, although the house blend was a bit too sharp for my liking, the sharpness often overpowered the flavours of the full bodied coffee blend. Also, the Colombian was a bit light on the aroma and could use a bit of blending to add to it in this regard. They were all nice though, and did score well.

The most disappointing aspect of Cafe Hernandez was the fact that the espresso blends other than the house blend were stored in ground form, in non light proof containers. However, I suspect that they get through rather a lot of the different espresso types on offer as only one blend appeared to be affected by possibly storage and preparation issues.

So, if you are ever in the cross you would do well to visit Cafe Hernandez. The staff are helpful, it is a little way from the hustle and bustle of the central cross, but really only a short walk from the action. Being open 24 hours a day is a definite bonus for this part of town, you never know when you might need a caffeine hit to get you going. A justified reputation as one of the better espresso houses in Sydney.

Coffee, Coffee, Coffee!

I have been beavering away like a real caffeine addict and have posted a few new reviews to the site. Click on the link to the site to see how it looks so far! Or you can click here.

The site is still a work in progress, and you must forgive me for a few proof reading errors that have cropped up during the writing process and I have yet to find the time to correct and edit out. Don't worry, with all of the espresso that I have been chugging down I will be getting around to this soon,during night hours, especially now that the site is up and running and all you fellow espressoholics, lovers of the dark art of espresso, coffee, latte, flat whites, affogato, vienna, or whatever your choice of poison is can now access the site and see what you make of it.

Enjoy, and don't forget to check back to see what reviews have been added to the site over the coming weeks.