BrickHaus' Coffee Advent-ure

[BrickHaus]

Gooood Morning MCB!

I didnt want to clutter the coffee thread with daily posts of coffee for the month, so I started a new thread.

For the past four years, my lovely wife has gotten me this Onyx Coffee Labs Advent Calendar for my Birthday. It always brings a month of novel expierence as I get to try a new small batch coffee every morning.

In times past, I would share my daily posts on my snapchat story. This year I wanted to document it here.

Every year the packaging is slightly different. it never disappoints with Pagan art, and information. This year they added a small board game to the center of the box, complete with player pieces, and a spinner. They changed the bags up from wax paper to plastic, which feels cheaper, but at the point I'm discarding one daily, I'm not too mad.


So here is the box. It rolls open to present the playing board with 2 columns of coffee to enjoy. The complete schedule is laid out in full color to go along with.

My flavor pallete likely isnt that refined, so my taste profiles are likely not going to be as diverse as some use, but Ill do my best to paint a story of taste.

So feel free to comment, criticize, and or join along as we travel through the month of December high on caffeine.


This is: the Advent-ure

[BrickHaus]

To set up some context. I plan on enjoying each coffee the same way. Ill grind the grinds to a fine/medium grind. I load up one 2 oz shot of espresso in my staresso manual pump espresso maker. The rest will go into the aero press for a 20 oz coffee.

I have an electric kettle which I use to heat the water to 195*f, then pour.

I may mix it up, and make a whole pot in the percolator this year, but thats to be determined.

Ill just snap a picture of the beans, and espresso cream for visual context. The cup of joe will always look the same.

So day 1!! Krampus Peaberry! Ive bought a 10oz bag of just Krampus before. It was described as very dark and velvety. It definetly was. I expected that from this peaberry variant. It appeared to me to be a lighter roast than the og Krampus, but the flavor profile did not disappoint. I got notes of plum, molasses, and tobacco in my espresso shot.

Typically Id give them a rating, but in years past its a list of 8-10s by the end of the month, so I wont waste your time. Everything these guys make is good.

[Jonnydread]

Yeah I like a touch of darker coffee with dessert, helps with digestion and feels like it "completes" the meal. I hear you though, I'm way more sensitives to caffeine now than I used to be.

[BLachance75]

You’ll have to let me know the next time you have to go to CT for work. A few of us could meet up for a beverage or 2

[BrickHaus]

For sure. I don't work for that company anymore, but its always a possibility. The company I'm currently working for has a Maine office.

Either way, I wanna get out that way and visit ya dudes. Seems to be a good chunk of mcb in a small area there.

[Tracker]

Ive tried one bag of onyx, your day 7

it was very fruity and with a tartness that im really not used to in coffee,

not saying it was bad, but a VERY "different" tasting cup of coffee

[BrickHaus]

All of their coffees are different to say the least. I recall that costa rica being one of my favorites last year though. You will get a report in six days! Haha

[Tracker]

looking forward to hearing it

[BLachance75]

I completely forgot to order one. I was going to order it after you posted it but ended up forgetting all about it until now. Next year I’ll have to order it right away so I don’t forget.

[BrickHaus]

That sucks. If it helps. I was eyeballing them figuring my wife forgot to get it on my birthday. I asked her if I should order it... haha Birthday ruined.

[BenoitOWN]

That why your budget was full! lol
I would not dare doing a single espresso shot the chance of it being not right for my grinder would waste too much.

[BenoitOWN]

I think I seen one ad once and it was about 4$/day but specialty grades only but no purchase and no ad for it this year.

[BenoitOWN]

Enjoy this month long discovery! Sure be nice to try that one day if it reasonably priced. :P

[BenoitOWN]

I recall 4$/day for the ad I seen last year.
It right up there with the microbrew beer box.

[BLachance75]

BenoitOWN Not sure how practical it is but maybe you could make us a Benoit box for next year. 25 different coffees that we all try. See if we could get a few people to buy one and we could all compare tasting notes each day

[BrickHaus]

I would buy a Benoitbox!

[BrickHaus]

Day 2: Ethiopia Hambela Buku.

When I opened the bag I was instantly hit with a fragrant, sour, fruity smell. Loaded the beans in my grinder, and their hazyness mixed with the sour smell made me think I was getting a honey or unwashed bean here. I had to double back to the box and read the brief description stating this is "washed".

I ground the beans to a finish grind again. Probably closer to espresso grind than medium this time.

The espresso shot had that funky foam I love to see. It finished much different than I expected. It was fruity, light, and super easy to drink. Almost too light to be in an espresso shot.

The cup O joe on the other hand.. pressing that cup was really difficult. The grounds locked up very efficiently and stopped all flow. I was leaning on the press and squeezing in a chest fly motion to press and they weren't budging. I ended up having to suck air through the filter many times and stir the grounds to have a fighting chance. Even then it took gorilla presses to get the job done.

The finished cup was very light in color buy also hazy looking vs the black abyss coffee can be. There also appeared to be floaters in it. No surprise with how much I had to finaggle for fluid motion. I was worried I have had a filter blow out.

All that being said. it tastes VERY light and fruity, and Id even say smooth. Floaters included I really think a non coffee drinker could drink this stuff and enjoy it.

As I near the bottom of the cup there is the typical sludge you see with blow outs.

As I sip nearer and nearer the solids the coffee is finishing much different. That sour taste I picked up when I opened the bag is now coming out. Still really good if you are into the odd coffees. Taste like a honey wash at this point.

[BenoitOWN]

what is the weight of coffee per day? 40 or 60?
If I can keep it simple yea I could do it for the roaster + 5 people at 60grams a day and that leave a extra coffee to come back later.

my old work do have a ~70grams bag available.

[BrickHaus]

Ill get a weight, I think they are 3oz bags, they are meant to make one pot of coffee I think. Your kit can be smaller, we all seem to have single cup options for brewing.

[BLachance75]

What ended up being your favorites out of the ones you tried.

[BrickHaus]

Ill circle back tonight and try to report. December was nuts, and I fell behind on this fast obviously. When I fell a few days behind on this I gave up entirely.

[BrickHaus]

BLachance75 what do you like for coffee? last I read you were a dark guy gaining appreciation for light roasts?

Just asking so I can touch on things you may enjoy.
Honestly it was all top notch and unique, but if you are considering a 10 oz bag:


1. Framily. It was featured as the 24th day in years past. I ended up buying a 10oz bag in that year because I enjoyed it that much. This year It i was featured on day. It stuck out as better than the few days around it this season. So its still a great blend.

2. Mexico Reyna Reyes Villaviceeno. This has notes and flavors of a regular cup of coffee, but it is executed on a masterful level. Some (most) of the coffee Onyx offers is either sourish, or has a cherry/berry hint to it. So this is as normal as they came if I recall.


3. You cant go wront with any of the honeys or naturals... Something about getting that berryish flavor in the coffee makes it fun, its those unique ones that keep me going back for the novelty.



Man, as I look back and forth Id buy bags of about 60% of the board, so Id say follow their descriprltioms on the roasts, they will give a nice flavor profile of each. Try one that fits your perceived taste.


I need to mention day 07. racker mentioned not liking it. I thought I did in years of old... it was by far the sourist cup of the bunch. I wasnt a huge fan this go around, but if you want a truly unique flavor profile. Give that stuff a rip.

[BLachance75]

I'm all over the place. I do enjoy a dark roast but also drink light roasts. I've been into a light roast Ethiopian yirgacheffe from a local roaster, sweet, fruity and a little acidic. My bag at my desk at work is almost out so I need to go get more.

I'll have to check out the Onyx website

[Jonnydread]

BLachance75last I read you were a dark guy

What? No way he's pasty as shit



*kisses*

[BLachance75]

So pasty. I like to refer to my skin tone as almost translucent