Cold Grinds, Cool Beans...Mas Mocha

new next week, check in Friday, Nov. 9

by badbeard 2. November 2012 14:28

Excited to have  three Ethiopian newbies/"oldbies":  Yirgacheffe "Blue Nile", a hand-selected offering from the Yirgacheffe Coffee Farmers Cooperative Union (YCFCU), more fabulous Nigusie Lemma group natural process Limu (sweet and floral as can be) and natural process Sidamo Royal Select water process decaf. One the non-Ethiopian front we will be debuting big/fat/honey-sweet Pacamara varietal from El Salvador's Santa Leticia Estate. We haven't had coffee from the Valdivieso family farm in several years, but it was always top-notch (and then only had their 100% borbon, a smaller bean).  The Pacamara is a hybrid of Pacas and Maragogype, the latter being one of the largest-sized beans in the coffee world.

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Food and Drink | The Grind

Coffee is a juicy fruit, check out the new Ethiopian offerings

by badbeard 27. August 2012 17:00

To me there's almost nothing more satisfying in the cup that a great Ethiopian...heritage has merit!  The dedicated farmers there could easily sit back and produce average coffees to meet world demand but many refuse to do so.  The current washed Yirgacheffe Kochere Co-operative has moved into first place in the last couple years' hauls...very cocoa-y and classical floral/bergamot notes, the latter reminiscent of Earl Gray tea. Easy cup to swig every day, long finish and nice body.  The natural (full patio-dried fruit) process Limu from vaunted producer Nigusie Lemma continues to amaze in complexity, lending an unmistakeable arc to the Mondocello and Stradivarius espressos.  This Limu is even cleaner...very few defects...than last year's crop, which was amazing too. Both offerings came in in GrainPro bags for long-term storage but have been flying out of the roastery.

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Coffee is a juicy fruit, check out the new Ethiopian offerings

by badbeard 27. August 2012 16:49

To me there's almost nothing more satisfying in the cup that a great Ethiopian...heritage has merit!  The dedicated farmers there could easily sit back and produce average coffees to meet world demand but many refuse to do so.  The current washed Yirgacheffe Kochere Co-operative has moved into first place in the last couple years' hauls...very cocoa-y and classical floral/bergamot notes, the latter reminiscent of Earl Gray tea. Easy cup to swig every day, long finish and nice body.  The natural (full patio-dried fruit) process Limu from vaunted producer Nigusie Lemma continues to amaze in complexity, lending an unmistakeable arc to the Mondocello and Stradivarius espressos.  This Limu is even cleaner...very few defects...than last year's crop, which was amazing too. Both offerings came in in GrainPro bags for long-term storage but have been flying out of the roastery.

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Food and Drink | The Grind

more great coffees in Portland and my base now one step closer to drinking them

by badbeard 18. May 2008 23:06
Dudes, these Cafe Import guys from Minnesota are always on a roll, esp. having just hosted the SCAA show in a big way.  What a classy operation; incredible response time.  Roasted up today all seven and can't wait to cup on Tuesday with Andrea and a couple other roasters.  The Ethiopians looked awesome, but then again everything is a contender.  I can't wait to be able to offer some of these goodies to everyone! As hot as it was in PDX today, especially within close proximity to the roaster, it was worth it.  The Anokhi is still cupping spectacularly well...an intriguing, unforgettable java if ever there was one.  Wild blueberry notes still all there, complexity and mouthfeel yum to boot. Getting to be toddy season, and I'm more determined than ever make iced coffee taste great.

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