mom & pop

With the barista staff on vacation Tati & I are taking the barista shifts, enjoying the experience of a mom & pop business. Taking turns caring for the little man (Baby Jeremiah) and then as baristas.

A few things continue to impress me about coffee culture in Lima. After two hours of serving customers I've only served one Mocha Capuccino, the rest of the drinks have been espresso and macchiatos. Espresso continues to be 30-40% of our total sales. It's been gratifying to see 100% Peruvian Washed Arabica Espresso be received so well.

Departmento San Martin - Peruvian Coffee Frontier

Willem Boot and I just returned from another hop to the coffee jungle. This time our travels took us to the San Martin Department, the birthplace of my coffee experiences 11 years ago.

We spent two days with the Oro Verde Cooperative, in Llamas, discussing their development plans with the general manager Hiderico Volcan. Their project is interesting as more than half their coffee comes from the indigenous communities of the Chankas.

Tingo Maria

The last few days I had the joy to travel to the upper Huallaga high jungle town of Tingo Maria. Willem Boot and I spent two days visiting the Divisoria Cooperative, which I first began to work with in 2003. It was great to see their 3 Q graders and new lab functioning well.

Our discussions with the farmers was intriguing. We explored questions around quality coffee and quality prices (sales of the coop). It was interesting to note that quality coffee does not always result in quality sales prices, a disappointing data point for believers in the Cup = Price model.

Q Graders in Peru!

It was my joy last night to witness the first award ceremony for Peruvian Q Graders. This was the culmination of a cupping school which started three years ago. After lots of hard work and educations from cuppers such Rolando Canas and Geoff Watts these professional cuppers have achieved the goal.

This last week I had the privilege to co-lead the course with Kelly Amoroso from CQI. Ted Lingle, executive director of CQI, made the trip down for the awards ceremony and is enthusiastic to get the Q program going in Peru.