Cafe Verde Selecto

Productores:             Familia Anchiracio

Lote Selecto:              92 kilos Café Oro Exportable 

Variedades:                Caturra y Typica

Caserillo:                    Agua de Nieve

Distrito:                      Monobamba

Provincia:                   Jauja

Departamento:          Junin

Altura:                        1750 msnm

Notas del Catador:

Cafe Verde Cusco Organic

Productores:             400 productores del PROCOYES en Alianza con HVC Exportaciones

Producción 2010:     4 Contenedores: 72,000 kilos en oro

Destinos:                    Japón, Inglaterra, Taiwán, Chile y EEUU

Variedades:                Típica

Distrito:                      Quebrada Honda

Provincia:                   Yanitile

Departamento:          Cusco

Altura:                        1400+ msnm

Notas del Catador (Noviembre 2010):

  

Cafe Verde in Arequipa

Last month I had the privilege to visit Cafe Ole in Arequipa. I have lived and worked in Peru since 1997, yet this was my first time to the renowned "white city". Misti, the volcano which overlooks the city, was out in full glory.

Cafe Verde roasting

What is a coffee shop?

Last week a customer asked this question. I wrestled to find a defined answer. "A coffee shop serves coffee." The conversation continued:

"So is XXX a coffee shop?"
"Well they are more of a bakery who also serve coffee beverages."

"So is XXX a coffee shop?"
"They serve lots of food, and have coffee. Probably not a coffee shop."

Barista Saturdays

Barista Satrudays: the day my wife and I fill in barista shifts at Cafe Verde. After working many years on the back side of coffee (green coffee development and export), it's refreshing to finally be working at the moment that all the back side becomes specialty coffee.

Our specialty coffee industry has many of interpretations of the definition of "specialty coffee", but I think the barista experience reminds me of the truth: it's only a specialty coffee if the consumer encounters an extraordinary cup of coffee. The years of work on cooperative development, farming techniques and quality selection is meaningless if the barista brews the coffee wrong.

Otto Swadlo Victoria Werk Roaster

Cafe Verde obtained this 5 Kilo Otto Swadlo "Victoria Werk" Viennese roaster yesterday. Apparently Mr. Otto Swadlo retired in the 60's and thus the end of Otto Swadlo roasters. Interesting historical note, during World War II his plant was taken over by the German's and he was forced to fabricate weapons, which he purposely produced at poor production quantities :)

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.

Jaen October 2008

In warm humid Jaen coffee buying the lungs breath fresh air not found in Lima. Ahhh . . . I'm here with a good friend Tim Dominick of Sacred Grounds. Days like today are the heart and soul of my coffee experiences.

This morning I had the privilege to interview three Micro-Lot (90 + cup quality) farmers who sell their coffee to Intelligentsia Coffee and Counter Culture. The entire visit was in the CENFROCAFE coffee shop over rosetta filled caps. This afternoon we'll be cupping the final round of Cafe Verde purchases, and tonight we'll finalize the 2009 Transparency Contract for Sacred Grounds. Tomorrow we head out for 2 days of farm visits, breathing in the green and eating Guinea Pig.

For sure these are the peak moments for specialty coffee buyers . . .