Cold Grinds, Cool Beans...Mas Mocha

More great coffees en route this week...

by badbeard 31. January 2011 12:06

Check in the week starting Feb. 7 for some more delicious new crop offerings from Brazil, Ethiopia and Papua New Guinea!!

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Food and Drink | The Grind | The Mill

Important and concisely-written explanation of the turbulent coffee market!!!

by badbeard 31. January 2011 11:55

Thanks to Max Fuller of Royal Coffee in California (one of my key and esteemed purveyors of green beans) for his succinct and tragically-right on appraisal of where coffee "is" right now and the near-future.  If your cups of favored coffee are costing more these days, read this blog post to learn why.

    Badbeard's is trying to rein in pricing fluctutations with existing inventory but will be joining the ranks of the price-increasers soon enough.  The superior quality we are offering across the board makes your dollar spent-to-pleasure experienced ration even higher!

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Food and Drink | The Grind | The Mill

Halloween=Badbeard in Chicago=Buzz:Killer Espresso

by badbeard 13. November 2010 21:12

Nothing could thrill a Portland coffee roaster more than seeing his coffee being so lovingly served in another city. Wicker Park's Buzz:Killer Espresso opened with a bang last January and in the intervening months has winnowed its guest roaster offerings to a scant few. You can be sure that "Agnes of Godshot" Otworoski and her crackerjack staff will give you the most lovingly and expertly-prepared cup (no 'spro to go---stay and enjoy it!) of java for miles around.  We're proud to be teamed up with such pros!  A brief pictorial of my trip here

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The Grind | The Mill

New coffees for post-Nov. 2 reinvigoration

by badbeard 10. November 2010 12:43

New coffees for post-Nov. 2 reinvigoration
BODY: OK, we got shellacked, so time to get on with our in-sourcing of great coffee. check out the new Rwanda Rwabisindu washed and Ethiopia Lekempti natural offerings! As the commercial used to sing, "better coffee a millionaire's money can't buy". To all you millionaires out there; tell your peeps that they can save serious coin staying at home and drinking the best coffees in the world without having to refinance the home.

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The Mill

New arrivals in time for Labor Day

by badbeard 29. August 2010 01:27

Two awesome, seasonal coffees....smokin' fresh and ready...Ethiopia Guji Sidamo Natural DECAF (Mountain Water Process), still berry-bursting nose and great body.  We thought this fabulously fruity caffeinated coffee was excellent as well...doesn't lose much in the decaf process! Actually came in at a higher 2nd crack temp in the roaster than the caffeinated version.  A real treat for you decaf drinkers...I never thought I'd find a WP coffee THIS good.

New territory for us in Northern Sumatra with the Sidikalang-Dairi" Tabu Jamu", a special project of developer/partner/importer Royal Coffee.  I was thrilled to have this call out to me from the cupping table, as it's not your average joe...the volcanic area around the massive Lake Toba holds some amazing terroir for spicy, heavy-bodied semi-washed coffees without the funk you get in most Mandheling- and Lintong-category offerings.  The Tabu Jamu is a proprietary development between exporter Syahrial and Dody and Royal.  They're both committed to offering a non-earthy Sumatra alternative, and this crop, the third one (since '07)is a fine example.  Wine and coriander and berry notes for the exotic nose, syrupy body with a long and even finish, nice mild acidity.  This'll make a few blends as well, which excited my alchemical side.

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The Grind | The Mill

Chicago here we come again...

by badbeard 1. June 2010 09:57

Buzz: Killer Espresso, 1644 N. Damen Ave in Wicker Park nabe in Chicago will be serving a special Badbeard's all-Brazil espresso this week as well as Kenya Kiambu-Riuki peaberry at the Clever drip station.  For social media savvy and newbies you can follow the feed at www.twitter.com/buzzklrespresso

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The Grind | The Mill

New arrivals for Spring

by badbeard 1. June 2010 09:29

Great coffees from the current crop cycles seem few and far between but our first will be in-house on Thursday...microlot Mexico Terruño Nayarita natural, certified organic and direct trade, farm- and lot-traceable!  This coffee keeps improving every year, thanks to the assiduous overseeing of Jim Kosalos of Kirkland, WA exclusive  importer of all the coffees from this amazing agro-centric project in Tepic, State of Nayarit.  This year even some Mexico City roasters got a shot to buy it and jumped on some lots.  Other novelty this season for the co-op will be the Mexican Barista Champion appearing at the PortaCafe (complete, self-contained lab for growers, which has also taken off in the industry) to pull shots of espresso for the farmers.  They do need to see and taste the coffee they've labored so hard to produce, rather than just immediately shipping it out after full processing and resting!

To you faithful who have waited for this at Badbeard's I'll be roasting it from Friday on, picking it up Thursday.  It's the most amazing Mexican natural java ever to appear on our shores, and in small quantities.  Quality counts big-time.

Portland Microroasters get press...again!

by badbeard 8. April 2010 19:27

Willamette Week contributing journalist and coffee-lover Hanna Neuschwander spent a lot of time trolling the burgeoning microroaster movement here in Portland to give a nice overview of true coffee geekdom The article here.  Nice job Hanna!  We hope her caffeine jitters have calmed down by now....my only emendation as far as Badbeard's is concerned is her incorrect lumping me in with the "NW-style" espresso crowd, since I pointed out to her quite fervently my adherence to Northern Italian-school, Brazil-based blends a la Spella Caffe.

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Food and Drink | The Grind | The Mill

Bailouts for Arts Organizations??

by badbeard 1. February 2010 16:44

Badbeard's has seen a lot of fundraising activity of late, between the Haitian relief calls and local (Portland, OR) arts organizations.  It's refreshing to see the sacrifices being made by lots of ordinary folks who could use a nice bailout of their own.  Providing java for the Portland Youth Philharmonic gave me the opportunity to hear some of our outstanding local talent, conducted by David Hattner (who happily I knew from NYC freelance music circles of yesteryear). Bravo guys and gals!

We're currently working with some other local roasters and importers on securing some fine Haitian Highland coffees, the logistics for which has of course gotten enormously complicated with the earthquake, aftershocks and general chaos.  So much of the arable land there has been ruined it will be no mean feat for farmers to recover, a nd we will support their rebuilding efforts.  Hopefully our customers will help us with this endeavor...will continue posting on this.  Meanwhile bravos to all who have sacrificed to help the Haitians...especially our Portland-based Mercy Corps.

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Portland music scene | The Grind | The Mill

First Symphony Blend latte in the Pearl @ Sweet Masterpiece

by badbeard 24. November 2009 10:32

Barista extraordinaire Ty Hauptman makes the first or many elegant lattes to come with Badbeard's new Symphony Blend. Thumbs up from the customers...soon to come a dedicated Symphony Espresso which will incorporate the finest coffees from Brazil, Panama, Sumatra and Ethiopia. 

Baristas beware...Tyler will soon be competing! 

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Portland music scene | The Grind | The Mill