130 psi

The chemical compounds behind the aroma of coffee

Sterling Coffee Roasters: Lovejoy Espresso

This is the espresso you serve your Italian grandfather when he comes over for a visit. It is what he expects. Darker, heavier, less aggressive, sultry. Since both of my grandfathers are exceedingly midwestern farmer types, I don’t prepare this for them- they won’t drink espresso, nor even say the word “espresso.” Instead, this is the espresso I prefer for my lazy Saturday mornings. Count Basie playing, sunlight streaming through the windows, Lovejoy in my demitasse. Clive Coffee supplies this with most machine purchases and now I know why. It’s pleasing to just about everyone.

20g dose : 38g yield : 29 seconds

The same qualities you expect from a more traditional espresso: full mouthfeel, darker crema, rich cocoa, low acidity- these are all qualities I appreciate in this espresso. These are the same qualities that make it “safe” and less experimental. As one of the first coffees brewed on my new Quick Mill Vetrano 2B espresso machine, it was a very useful coffee to use as a baseline to establish my extraction expectations. Switching from this coffee (which acted much like a bass guitar) to the the electrifying Populace “Espresso Proper” (the lead guitar), allowed me to feel out the full range of my machine’s capabilities. Those of you seeking to recreate the experience you had in Italy during your vacation: this is the coffee for you. 

Aroma: 7/10 roasty, nutty, earthy

Body: 10/10 initially very thick, maintains well

Flavor: 8/10 nuts, dark chocolate, plum

Acidity: 9/10 balanced, mild, pleasing with milk

Sweetness: 7/10 cocoa, cashew, soft

Finish: 8/10 balanced, non-confrontational