Cold Grinds, Cool Beans...Mas Mocha

Microlot, direct trade Kenyas are in

by badbeard2 3. October 2017 12:07

Thanks to my biz partner Abundancia Coffee we can finally offer...worth the wait...two supreme direct trade Kenyan coffees, AA Grand Reserve and AA Blue Mountain. From family farms and processed like very few coffees in the world. Very high-rated in internationally-juries cupping circles. Very limited quantities!

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Coffee News | The Grind

Ethiopia stellar Gelana Abaya washed and natural process

by badbeard2 22. August 2017 09:55

Same coffee, different process, abbondanza! The Semalo/Pride Mill is a groundbreaking project just a couple of years old now, and producing amazing coffee in Yirgacheffe. A unique chance to taste the differences side-by-side in your cup...the natural of course the fruitier and more floral of the two, and the washed evincing classic Yirgacheffe traits of berry, chocolatey bergamot goodness.

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Coffee News | The Grind

Old friends returning

by badbeard2 12. August 2017 11:21

We welcomed back two past-year stars this week...Honduras Ernesto Vasquez's stellar 2017 washed Santa Elena Catracha Project offering and the Colombia Finca Los Cedros Pink Bourbon. Two of the most interesting coffees of the year!

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Coffee News | The Grind

Limited Quantity Costa Rica Honey Black Honey Process in...

by badbeard2 31. July 2017 22:47

Very tough to ignore this little gem from top-flight producer F.J.C. (Fernando Castro Jimenez) Volcán Azul...we tried red & yellow honey and washed process as well and liked the Black Honey the best. 80% of the mucilage after pulping stays on the seed for a couple of weeks, with little light....the closest thing to full natural process. Sexy coffee.

Despite the current surfeit (one importer lists about 70 different selections!) of honey process coming out of Costa Rica from the recent harvest, microclimates make for a big difference in taste profiles, and Volcan's is special. They committed to maximal preservation and conservancy to the treasure encompassing the farm, earmarking 1500 acres of tropical rainforest .

In the recent Costa Rica Cup of Excellence competition FJC Volcan Azul took second place. It's a privilege to get this coffee!

 

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Coffee News | The Grind

Ethiopia naturals are back..

by badbeard2 31. July 2017 12:23

After a "drought" of a couple months with no Ethiopia natural process coffees we're rockin' the lovely, fruity Hafursa Co-op Yirgacheffe Grade 1 Special Prep (see product notes). Times have been hard in the Gedeo Zone this past year especially and this coffee required exceptional efforts all around. Sorters were paid a hefty premium of birr to make this one of the cleanest naturals we've seen in a while. Thanks producers and especially importers Emily and Mike McIntyre of Catalyst Coffee Consulting for your efforts!

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Coffee News | The Grind

Exceptional Mexico Alfred Klein Finca San Carlos arrival..

by badbeard2 7. July 2017 22:16

Mexico, so near and dear to my heart after a near-decade living there in the '90s, produces a lot of good coffee, most of it exported. Occasionally it's exceptional, like the newly-arrived (7-7-17) washed Finca San Carlos. My buds and savants at importer Royal Coffee have been after me for years to consider some of these south-of-the-border little gems..finally gave in. Abbondanza. Super-rich and dense! The (two-part)story behind it, as told by the owner, Alfred Klein, is fantastic, complex, detailed. Best read of the summer! Part I here and Part II here

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Coffee News | The Grind

Good reading for East African coffeephiles...

by badbeard2 1. June 2017 17:27

Nice article can be found here regarding changes in the coffee industry in our favorite origin country, Ethiopia. Thanks Cafe Imports for researching and publishing. Current Badbeard's offerings reaping the benefit of said changes are Bedhatu Jibicho's Washed Lot #3 and Natural Process Gedeb as well as Harar Tiret Co-operative. 

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Coffee News | The Grind

Move updates and upcoming ROASTING SCHEDULE

by badbeard2 13. May 2017 19:34

Many twists and turns in my effort to get up and running at the new facility....my apologies for any delays. The haunting specter of a big earthquake in the Pacific Northwest has infected the engineering mavens of the Portland building departments, and new requirements for freestanding "appliances" like coffee roasters include mechanical fastening to concrete floors....a cumbersome and costly process. involving structural engineering guidelines and strict procedures for anchoring. Sharing this as a precautionary tale to newbie roasters planning on new facilities in earthquake-prone regions.

For the short-term, roasting will be done on Mondays and Wednesdays only and shipping on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Appreciate your forbearance!

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Coffee News | The Grind

Almost there....but must shut down online ordering for a few days!

by badbeard2 8. May 2017 17:55

This has been an arduous transition for me trying to get the new space initiated. I hardly expected it to be trouble-free...but several unforeseeable circumstances beyond my control have forced my hand. The roaster ("Heisenbeard") is going to be moved tomorrow while new gas and HVAC work is completed.  Portland is probably not the only West Coast with great sensitivities on the seismic front but there are very recently-implemented building code mods which impact "small appliances" like 5 kg. coffee roasters. All the ducks will line up in a row eventually this week, inspections and protocols met, and we will be resuming normal operations.

Will post on the blog about restart date but orders placed tonight onward CAN NOT BE PHYSICALLY ROASTED. Think good thoughts for yon Badbeard, your humble coffee servant! If you hear someone screaming AAAAARRRRGGGGHHHH outside in Portland it's probably me, and no, it won't be because I'm doing anything pirate-y. Thanks for your understanding!---Justin

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Coffee News | The Grind

Kenya Peaberry is in!

by badbeard2 24. February 2017 00:43

It seemed like a herculean effort for our LTL shipper to deliver the stash of fabuloso Kenya Peaberry from our esteemed partner-in-bean-crime Matthew Mugo, but I took it in today, Feb. 23. The designation Riamute (for the farm) only tells half the story...it also bears the tag Kathunguri ("rough road!"), which references both the highest elevation and the most difficult section to farm. Beautiful coffee! Cup notes of black currant, dark chocolate and lavender. Recommended for pourover/drip but will also roast darker for espresso if specified in your order. This coffee will also replace Mugo's SL34 AA Kiambu (so sad to see it go!) in the Hotshot Espresso, combined with Brazil Fazenda Rainha Yellow Bourbon pulped natural.

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Coffee News | The Grind