Nosegrind

Nosegrind is LOT61’s third house blend, and its name comes from skateboarding—just as Rodney Mullen and Tony Hawk pushed the boundaries of what can be done on a skateboard, this blend pushes the boundaries of classic espresso. It’s a coffee for coffee geeks and for people who don’t want the same cup over and over again. The roastery itself says that you’ll either love it or hate it, but it definitely won’t bore you. A cupping score of 88 points and a roast time of roughly ten minutes suggest that behind the skate-inspired name lies some pretty meticulous work. The blend features two natural-process coffees, each playing a different role: one provides the body and the lower flavor notes, while the other soars to fruity heights—and both strive not to trip each other up somewhere in the middle.

The aroma features funky strawberries and tropical fruit; the acidity is high, and the body is medium to full. For espresso, LOT61 recommends a 18.5 g dose and a 38 ml extraction in 24 seconds; in a filter brew, the same coffee opens up into a juicier, tea-like cup where the fruit has even more room to shine. One blend, two approaches—and it works in both. Incidentally, the roastery has its roots in Sydney, came of age in Brooklyn, and now roasts in Amsterdam—which pretty much sums up its approach to coffee.