Finding the Right Coffee Blend for my Cafe Latte

My Coffee Journey

After burning through countless beans and early morning experiments with my espresso machine, I've finally found the code for my perfect cup. It has been a year of trial and error, there are several too bitter shots and too sour shots of espresso. But hey, this is just a hobby about finding an elusive cup of cafe latte that hits both bright fruity notes while keeping that satisfying chocolate punch.

What Actually Works

Through all my testing, I found two crucial elements:

1. You need those punchy fruit-forward beans (but not too much - max 30%)
2. Back it up with darker, full-bodied beans (about 70%) for the backbone

Bean Deep-Dive

Origin	What You'll Taste
Aceh Gayo	Bright berries, almost wine-like
Aceh Mandhailing	Dense, dark chocolate bomb
Bali Kintamani	Think sweet oranges meets brown sugar
Toraja	Honey sweetness with subtle fruit
Brazil Santos	Classic coffee flavor, super rich

My Go-To Blends

Special Days (30/70 Gayo-Mandhailing)

• Mix: 30% Gayo + 70% Mandhailing
• In the cup: Think berry jam meets dark chocolate
• Perfect for: When you want that coffee shop experience at home

Morning Sun (30/70 Gayo-Kintamani)

• Mix: 30% Gayo + 70% Kintamani
• In the cup: Sweet and bright, but still coffee-forward
• Perfect for: Early morning starter

Calming Kintamani

• Just straight: 100% Kintamani
• In the cup: Clean, bright
• Perfect for: Slow days, mindful moments