Nice article on Gimme’s retired Master Roaster, John Gant.
January 23, 2010
I heart my Sinar
Well the New Year brings new changes. Sadly, I will be leaving my Quality Assurance position at the Rogers Family Company working in green coffee logistics. I will miss my friends there, my Sinar moisture meter and Agtron. I have gained a huge insight into coffee consistency using lab equipment, and cupping 100 cups a day did not hurt either. We developed a tight cupping team and I learned Spanish terms for defects. I will miss you all dearly.
I am very excited to join Temple Coffee as the coffee roaster. I have been a customer of theirs for several years and admired there commitment to quality. Looking forward to join at a time when they are expanding and developing their roasted coffee lineup. Check out their beautiful orange Probat UG15.
January 18, 2010
Black Gold
Finally got around to seeing the film Black Gold, a documentary about the Ethiopian coffee market. This film was narrated by the manager of the Oromia Coffee Cooperative depicting the low prices that coffee farmers receive far below livable wages. Tadesse Meskela, narrator, discusses need for regulated trade and benefits and challenges within the Fair Trade system.
Ethiopia coffees are highly regarded for producing some of the finest quality. Select coffee are regarded for their boutique-like qualities.
Since the films release, coffee trade is regulated by the Ethiopia Commodity Exchange and many feared cooperative or estate quality coffees would be lost with lower grade commodity coffees, but promising changes are on the horizon.
Daniel Humphries took some nice footage of his recent trip to Ethiopia.
January 3, 2010
Coffee Recent Developments
Finished reading Coffee Recent Developments by Clarke and Vitzthum. The book focuses on developments and updates within coffee with a large focus on chemistry: acids, lipids and compounds. Truthfully, much of the technical aspects were over my head, but interesting none the less. Sections on agronomy was very interesting highlighting coffee breeding and propagation techniques. The section on roasting was comprehensive of the larger coffee roasting industry.
On my nightstand is Coffees Produced Throughout the World by Jobin.
James Hoffman put together a coffee reading list organized by field of interest.
December 31, 2009
Happy New Year!
Happy New Year to all. Hope everyone had a good holiday and survived the year. Too many great coffees to recall and not enough time. Rough financial times for the country, but with our new president I am very optimistic and hopeful. Had several big turns in my coffee career this year, but have learned a lot with a new prospective in the new year. Best to all!
December 27, 2009
VIC CHESNUTT 1964 – 2009
Sadly, Vic Chesnutt passed away on Christmas Day. A great singer, writer and guitarist.
December 20, 2009
Golden Coffee Box Video
Nice video of the Golden Coffee Box in Holland. Barend Boot, Willem Boot’s brother, continues to run the family coffee roasting business.
On the subject of Boot Coffee, he is offering a new Advanced Cupping Training course for the new year. Looks very interesting.
December 10, 2009
Coffee Review’s Best Selling Single Origins of 2009
Coffee Review recently published their Best (or Should-Be-Best) Selling Single Origins 2009. A long list of outstanding and notable roasters with impressive scores. I was surprised and elated to see some very small, boutique roasters:
Simon Hsieh Aroma Roast Coffees
Barismo
Coava Coffee
Last week Tacy’s God Shot raised some brows with their assessment of State of SF Coffee (round 1,2). Some interesting reviews and critiques of Bay Area roasters.
