No. 6 Hegemony in a Breville Barista Express: settings to start with

The label on No. 6 Hegemony does not name espresso, so we cannot hand you a roaster tested recipe for the Breville Barista Express. What we can say is what the label tells us: a medium roast, cocoa and smooth notes, low acidity and heavy body. Start with the 1:2 ratio the roaster gives for our espresso coffee (28 seconds for the shot), grind in the middle of the range, and adjust from there. We do not have Breville specific numbers from the roaster, so we have not made any up.

What should I expect from this coffee?

No. 6 Hegemony comes from Parana and Sao Paulo, Brazil, grown at 750 to 1,050 m. It is a pulped natural, sun dried, from Catuai and Mundo Novo varietals, roasted medium. The notes on the label are cocoa and smooth. The roaster describes it as low acidity with heavy body, which is why it is listed as very hard to ruin in a drip pot. In an espresso machine that same profile should mean a forgiving, chocolatey shot with little sharpness, but that is our reading of the label and not a tested claim.

What settings should I start with?

The Barista Express has a built in grinder, a dose control and a pressure gauge, so most of the work is dialing the grind. Here is a starting frame to adjust from:

The 1:2 ratio in 28 seconds is the roaster's guidance for our espresso coffee, No. 3 Position, and we are borrowing it as a sensible starting point for Hegemony. Your machine, your grinder burrs and your water will move the numbers, so treat the table as a first draft.

What if the shot tastes wrong?

• Sour and thin. The water ran through too fast. Grind finer, or let the shot run a little longer. Our post on why coffee tastes sour explains why.
• Bitter and dry. The shot ran too long. Grind coarser or stop the shot earlier.
• Gushing. The grind is too coarse, or the puck is under filled.
• Choking, a few drops only. The grind is too fine.
• Flat. Rinse the portafilter and basket, and check that they are clean and hot before the shot.

Change one thing at a time, and write down what you did. Brazilian coffees like this one tend to read as smooth and low in acidity, so if the cup tastes sharp, the grind or the time is the likelier cause than the beans.

Is Hegemony the right coffee for this machine?

If you drink lattes and cappuccinos, Hegemony's cocoa and smooth profile should sit comfortably under milk. If you want a coffee the roaster explicitly labels for espresso, choose No. 3 Position, which is labeled for espresso, moka and milk drinks. Where Hegemony shines on the label is drip and cold brew, and we have written those up in how to brew Brazilian coffee in a drip machine. To see who it suits, read who No. 6 Hegemony is for.

FAQ

Can I use Brazilian coffee in a Breville Barista Express?

Yes. Any whole bean coffee can go in the built in grinder. The roaster labels No. 6 Hegemony for drip or cold brew, so espresso is a use we have not tested, and you will want to dial in the grind.

What grind setting should I use on the Barista Express?

We do not have a machine specific number from the roaster. Start in the middle of the dial and move one step at a time until a shot with a 1:2 ratio takes about 28 seconds.

Should I buy it whole bean or ground?

Whole bean, since the machine has its own grinder and a fresh grind lets you adjust for each bag. Every coffee is $28 for 12 oz with free US shipping, and you can see all ten coffees or the subscription, 11% off, skip or cancel in one click.

Start at 1:2 and 28 seconds, then trust your taste over the dial.