Coffee that will shift Paradigms

I wrote about over a year ago and I still make references to it on this blog from time to time. Almost every single day somebody will say or write something that makes me think of it. It is currently the most searched words on my blog and the most overall viewed post in the year and a half history of this blog.

What am I talking about? Ethiopia Biloya.

Yesterday Jason Dominy and I were talking on the phone and he brought it up. It is just the darnedest thing you have had in your life. It is really undescribable.

Blueberry, chocolate, HONEY, and twenty nine other descriptors. Where we cupping coffee tainted with LSD?

Think about it for a moment: A coffee so special it was airlifted in airtight sealed bags strait from Ethiopia by FedEx! Then brought to the states and divided out amongst a few people who had literally paid the price and then for some reason a guy like George Holt to send it to me at no cost and just to see what I would say. Sharing the experience. Trying to blow peoples minds. What an incredible person George is to share something so special with complete strangers. He converted my wife from never wanting to touch “that nasty mess” to desiring it every morning and evening, as if it were “a walk with God.” Don’t get me wrong, she won’t touch even the best mediocre coffee. Oh no, George started my wife on high grade crack and we can’t have just any ol’ coffee now. We have to have the Ethiopian Yirgs, Sidamo, Idido, Kenya Kongocho, and on and on. Cup of Excellence out of the Americas will do and if you say $B my wife will laugh at you harshly to your face. She is a snob! All because of, at the most, three cups of coffee that changed her entire concept of what coffee is and more importantly is not.

That is what I love about great coffee.

In Season…wow

Introducing “In Season Coffee.” In Season is a site that is dedicated to giving exact educational information about the coffees themselves. Here is a portion of the “Mission Statement” of the site:

“Specialty Coffee has it all figured out, right? Direct relationships with growers, careful roasting, Baristas pulling perfect shots… we’ve squared the circle. Not exactly, as there is a final missing piece: seasonality.”

You really need to see the site to understand it. There is the “Mission Statement” and then there is the “Coffees” and what is listed is the “In Season Now.” As you click on, for example, “Flecha Roja, Costa Rica,” you will then get information about the Producer, the Farm, region, varietal, altitude and harvest season. Finally a “Buy Now” button that takes you back to Intelli’s site.

This is fantastic! Please take your time and get educated. You can literally learn something new about coffee every 10 minutes, I do!

All good things must come to an end…Portafilter podcast is over

“All good things must come to an end.”  Who said that, originally?  I don’t know and I don’t care right now, I guess.  But the boys at portafilter.net have called it quits.  No reason to rant about it really.  OK, I will.  Nick, your a selfish human being.  I have tried to encourage you in the past with a forum post or two in your defense, if that even matters to you.  But, you are just a selfish misreable human being.

I have wondered often how I would react if/when I am ever introduced to you.  I think out of respect to the podcast and the work done there I would shake your hand and smile.  However, I wouldn’t hang around and ask many questions, I am afraid it would make your head explode.   A person would probably surmise that you would have learned from all that has happened in the past two years and you would be trying to pull as many people towards you for support that you possibly could, but that isn’t so.

I hope your enjoying your coffee this morning, Nick.

And Jay, thanks for the memories.  I hope this Winter or Spring to be able to make into Townsend and check out your shop.

Finally Something to Write About: Roasters Club for October

Roasters Club

Well ladies and gents, there is something I have had a cooking a couple of weeks and I hope you enjoy it as much as I have.

Please read the Roasters Club October Offering Review here!

Five Days in Miami and I didn’t even try to drink the coffee!

Can you believe it.  I spent five days in Ft. Lauderdale and MIA and I didn’t even try.  I would see a neon sign frequently saying “Espresso” or “Cappuccino” and I didn’t even try.  I did get out of my truck once at a place and I peered into the window and saw the P.O.S (not to be confused with POINT OF SALE) machine and horrificly gross full doser on the grinder and I just walked away. LOL.  It is amazing.