Internet is back up in Ethiopia Last week I was using a Telegram application to communicate with our team in Addis Ababa. The week prior to that, we were limited to the trusty old landline. Internet was down for two weeks. First it was shut off by the government during Read more…
What is it about Guji? It is a zone and an administrative area. Yes. Do they produce amazing coffees? Yes! Is there a lot of future potential? Yes! Does it represent a specific flavour profile? No! At least not in our opinion. If you’re looking for a specific cup character Read more…
This is the final in a series of posts called “What Does A Green Coffee Buyer Do.” If you haven’t read the previous posts, we recommend you start here: Part 1: Planning. Previously on “What does a green coffee buyer do” I have spent several frantic weeks babysitting the coffees Read more…
This is Part 5 in a series of posts called “What Does A Green Coffee Buyer Do.” If you haven’t read the previous posts, we recommend you start here: Part 1: Planning. I have cupped through thousands of coffees, and selected the best possible lots to meet our customers’ needs. Read more…
This is Part 4 in a series of posts called “What Does A Green Coffee Buyer Do”. If you haven’t read the previous posts, we recommend you start here: Part 1: Planning. What you taste is not necessarily what you get. I previously gave a small insight into cupping fresh Read more…
This is Part 3 in a series of posts called “What Does A Green Coffee Buyer Do”. If you haven’t read the previous posts, we recommend you start here, Part 1: Planning. It’s time to start finding the first coffees of the season. Since it became legally possible to hold Read more…
This is Part 2 in a series of posts called “What Does A Green Coffee Buyer Do”. If you haven’t read the previous posts, we recommend you start here, Part 1: Planning. It’s November and I’m in Ethiopia, doing the on-the-ground-planning for the upcoming harvest. On my way to breakfast Read more…
Part 1 – Planning This is Part 1 in a series of posts called “What Does A Green Coffee Buyer Do”. See also Part 2: Reporting. Many coffee professionals listen to a coffee buyer talk about travel to exotic countries, and dream of doing the same one day. It is Read more…
Ethiopian coffees are known for needing some time to rest before they open up. Cupping coffees before this rest can be challenging, the flavors can be muted or hidden and sometimes it’s hard to see through the grape-like astringency. Once the coffee has opened up, it is easier to see Read more…
After the coffee has been grown, picked, washed (or not), dried and sorted it is now almost ready for export! When the coffee leaves the washing stations – if it is heading to the Ethiopian Commodity (ECX) it will be the ECX who grade the coffee prior to accepting the Read more…