New batch of Costa Rica samples

Posted on November 3, 2010 by samjones

I’m looking forward to the arrival of fresh samples of several micro lots from Costa Rica and Nicaragua. We are going to be hosting a cupping of these samples as soon as they arrive. I want to find two or three that I think will compliment each other in a blend and brewed side by side for comparison. I’ll be looking at different processing methods as well. The Costa Rican coffees I’ve tasted in the last couple of years have turned me into a Costa Lover. Continue reading →

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You can follow along at Twitter!

Posted on August 10, 2010 by admin

Follow what is going on throughout the week at both the cafe and the roastery. Find out about specials and fresh coffee offerings. I’ll try to find a Twitter button, but in the meantime I’m @samjones5

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Yemen

Posted on August 10, 2010 by admin

It is a real treat to work with this coffee. It is so particular. It is a Barista’s coffee. You can really taste the coffee developing over time. The coffee has dramatic brew sensetivity. It is very fun to play with this unique offering.

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Fresh beans for 2%

Posted on August 10, 2010 by admin

Here is a fantastic example of a dry process Yirga-Cheffe. A unique treat to be sure. It is almost gone and with the ECX, it may not surface in Victoria again. It will be missed!

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Less Machines, More Fun

Posted on December 3, 2009 by admin

About a year ago we made a major switch to our brew coffee program: we put away our hyper-expensive Clover machine and our conventional drip filter brewer machine in exchange for brewing all our non-espresso coffee with a French Press. A press is arguably the simplest way of brewing a spectacular cup of coffee. This simple and traditional brewing method extracts the truest flavours out of our coffees, doing proper justice to their individual characteristics. The clarity of flavours is also complemented by a creamier and heavier body not attainable in any other brewing method.
Continue reading →

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Get a Handle on your Porta-Filter!

Posted on November 30, 2009 by admin

New toys in the form of handles for our espresso machine.

As a barista, the feeling of a smoothly contoured Reg Barber tamper in my hand as it presses down on a tasty espresso blend is the kind of feeling that turns coffee making from a just a job into a passion. The right hand is gripped to the tamper, but what’s in the left hand? A generic plastic handle acting as the connection to the honoured espresso machine? Imagine feeling a Reg Barber tamper in both hands… Continue reading →

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Damn! That Kenya Made My Day!

Posted on September 28, 2009 by admin

I love coffee sacks. Don’t get me wrong. I love the colourful designs and beautiful pictures of a colombian microlot. I love the soft texture, the basic identifying markings and the corded closing stitch of an co-op Ethiopian. But today there was no sweeter packaging than what my new Kenyan coffee came in. Kenya Ichanjeru AA Microlot comes in a square box with two 15 kilo vacuum sealed foil bags. Pulling one of those bricks of coffee made me think of the book Mr. Nice about a big time hash dealer from England. When I opened the first bag the smell of fresh alfalfa was so intoxicating that I felt nearly drunk! Once I was able to finally pull my nose away from the bag I ran my hands through the beans. Kenyas are usually clean and a very hard bean. So it through me to feel a soft spongy quality to the beans. The beans are actually a hard bean, however at this stage of freshness they felt like they had a velour coating on them. Continue reading →

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Current Offerings

Posted on September 25, 2009 by admin

Green Bean List

Brazil San Antonia Estates Sc.17/18

Natural Minas Gerais Arabica Coffee

This natural process coffee from Minas Gerais offers a raisin-like rummy fruit flavor prominent in many high-grown Brazil naturals. An excellent contrast to our slightly more pungent Porta Rossa profile, like comparing jelly and peanut butter
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Congrats Brette and Tiff

Posted on September 4, 2009 by admin

Well congrats to Brette and Tiffany! The Western Comp was great, if not frocked with the usual complaints. However, Tiffany is going to the Canadians in Montreal in October.  Brette is going to be there too as Tiff’s coach and right hand woman! Look out Montreal!
I have added a Flicker link to my site. The photo blog is new and I will be adding to it regularly (I hope) so keep looking for new pics.
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