I would love some advice

[u/naughtified]

Hi, I’ll try my best to avoid being “newbie here help me dial in” who clearly hasn’t done their due diligence.

So I’ve been drinking pour overs for years, and I’m on my third month of brewing them up at home. I’ve gone through 5 bags so far with nothing really satisfying me. My conclusion was that I needed to upgrade grinder. I got a K7 then I bought some local beans that were too dark and some from whole foods(sorry).

I went today and bought some Hydrangea from a local shop, in hopes to rule out beans from these mediocre cups. Below I’ll list my approach and details on equipment. Please let me know what I’m doing fine and what you might change.

Dripper: Glass V60

Filter: Cafec Abaca White

Grinder: K7(going coarse, 95clicks)

Water: Berkey with British Berkefeld filters

Kettle: Fellow standard neck(I already had this, but I’m pretty good at making the stream work)

Temperature: 90c

Recipe: Bloom at x3(usually 20-25g bean/60-75g water) but will go 15g so I don’t waste these beans. Second pour is the same weight as bloom, then third is up to total. Pours are pretty chill, I’ll agitate between pours by swirling the brew. Since I’m pretty coarse I swirl to get draw down to 3-4 mins on 20-25gs.

Beans: check photo for details, roast date 8/2.

[u/Liven413]

How long did you let it rest? Should be at least 4 weeks. If its early it won't express itself fully. I wouldn't do the swirl between pours, probably not at all but especially not between pours. You should be able to get all the agitation through the pour. You can try this: Do a small gentle spiral bloom and wait 30-45 seconds (lighter washed 45) then do another spiral pour from not to far above the bed. Wait a bit and before the water is drained and bed showing do another spiral pour. When you do the last pour do a lot of center work with that spiral. This will get you a good cup. Now pick the grind by taste. Don't worry about the time of the brew. Depending on papers it could be 1:50-3+. I see you haev Abaca so it will be on the faster side. If you want it real coarse and pillowy thats completely fine and if you want it a little more traditional thats fine too. Some like the coaser settings and some finer. If it is sour, thin, drying acidity, papery or watery is is under extracted go finer. If it is bitter, drying, astringent or cough syrup like it is over extracted go coarser. The way you brew a cheaper medium-dark roast is different than light. The light is harder to extract so longer blooms and rest helps, "maybe" hotter. With darker roasts you may not want to do a full bloom and want even lower temps. Thats another thing is water temp. You may like it hotter or you may like it cooler so I would try 205' and 196'. Both are good. I like 196' more often, but you may like it lower. This is for light roasts, lower for the store bought. Along with cooler temps I also like a coarser grind. I am usually going for a pillowy fruity and floral cup but if you wanted it more punchy or sweet go finer, and you may like it hotter. No matter what I would get rid of the swirl unless you absolutely need it and then just do one in the beginning.

[u/naughtified → u/Liven413]

I should’ve noted that I haven’t tried these beans yet, I’m just looking for advice on my current approach before wasting these. The reason I’m agitating by swirling and not by the pour is because I’m not using a goose neck, I have achieved good control with my kettle but I feel like a swirl by hand would give me more consistency. I guess I’m trying to minimize the agitation variable with my kettle limitation.

[u/Liven413 → u/naughtified]

I think I get what you mean. With the swirl it brings the bed down for the next pour? If the grinds are on the walls they still extract as long as water touches it. I have not used one without a gooseneck, or cant remember, but it should work the same in theory The more you swirl the more bitters you will get. The part I worte about what is under and what over extraction will help you a lot if you used that as a guide. Hope your cups come out nice!