By Hailie Stevens |

Fellow's Take on The Future: Grape Soda | Black & White

Here's how we brewed this delicious installment in Black & White Coffee Roasters’ addictive series of experimental blends.

Founded by two U.S. Barista Champs, Black & White are famous for their experimental blends that push the boundaries of what coffee can be. Our last drop from them was our most popular coffee of the year and this unique blend is another knockout. Carefully designed to evoke the nostalgic sweetness of grape soda, it combines coffees from Colombia and Ethiopia. We tasted grape candy, mango, and berry jam.

🌎 Origin: Colombia & Ethiopia

🌞 Process: Advanced

🔬 Variety: Various

🔥 Roast: Medium-Light

Brew Guide for Black & White / The Future: Grape Soda

Pour Over

* Stagg X/ flat bottom drippers 

Ingredients:

  • Coffee: 25g

  • Water: 250g of 202F water, with 125g ice bypass in carafe

Grind Settings:

  • Ode + SSP Burrs: 4.1 - 6.1

  • Ode Gen 2: 3.1 - 5.1

  • Ode Gen 1: 2.1 - 4.1

  • Opus (Inner ring at 0): 4.1 - 6.1

Steps:

  1. Grind coffee at medium to medium-coarse setting

  2. Rinse filter with 202°F water

  3. Bloom: Pour to 75g water, wait 45 seconds

  4. Continuous pour stages:

    • Pour to 160g, wait for water to drain until about 1cm water remains over brew bed

    • Pour to 250g

  5. Target brew time: 2:45 – 3:00 minutes


Espresso

Recipe:

  • Coffee: 18g

  • Yield: 38g

  • Temperature: 202°F

  • Ratio: 1:2.1

  • Pressure: 9 bars

  • Pull time: 22–25 seconds

Note: Compared to washed coffees, we find co-ferments favor more concentrated ratios and lower contact time.

Aiden Brewer Settings

To edit the Cold Brew Profile with the brew parameters or access it once it's no longer on your Aiden, use this Brew Profile Link.

Single Serve

Grind Settings:

  • Ode + SSP: 6 - 7

  • Ode Gen 2: 5 - 6

  • Opus: 6 - 7  (Use finer settings for 450-750ml, coarser for larger volumes)

Batch Brew

Grind Settings:

  • Ode + SSP: 6.1 – 6.2  (Finer grind for less than 6 cup output, coarser grind for more than 6 cups)

  • Ode Gen 2: 5.1 - 5.2

  • Opus: 6.1 - 6.2 (Use finer settings for 450-750ml, coarser for larger volumes)

For a hot brew of Grape Soda, use this Brew Profile Link.

Recipe:

COLD BREW

1:3 bloom, 205 F, 120 seconds

1.5 hr duration

1:11 coffee-to-water ratio