Sidekick Espresso

Consistency in coffee is a lost art. When we set out to create a signature lighter espresso blend, we wanted to make something that would brew the same every day, under (almost) any condition. An espresso blend that’s there for you when you need it most. Like a little buddy to give you the liquid pep talk you need to start your day. A partner in crime, a “Sidekick” you can always count on. And that’s what this espresso blend has been crafted to be. It sits alongside our titular dark roast espresso blend on the counter at our cafes, as our daily lighter espresso offering.

A four bean blend pulling from multiple continents, this coffee is as complex as it is reliable. Enjoy the hearty body the Brazilian imparts, unique of a blend with the many floral notes of Ethiopia, fruity notes from the Costa Rica honey, and the bright tea notes from the PNG peaberry.

On our Slayer LP Espresso machine we utilize a brief pre-wet and rest period, of a 2-on-3-off ratio, before we ramp the pressure to nine bars for the remainder of the 30-35 second espresso shot. We use a heavier dose of 19.5g of ground espresso to 45g of brewed espresso out, on a stock Slayer basket and shower screen.

You’ll get some acidity in this espresso but it’s the good kind, like a fresh grapefruit at it’s absolute peak ripeness. You’ll find white grape in the mid section paired with black tea, and a gentle nutty finish. In milk, the citrus and brightness of this espresso still cut through but with more of a sweet hazelnut characteristic as well.

This is THE espresso offering to purchase if you have a Breville or similar home espresso machine with a built-in coffee grinder, totally safe via manufacturer specs. The best way to learn how to taste espresso is to drink the same espresso, daily, under similar but never perfect conditions, and this is a great blend to do that with.