Monday, September 25, 2006

Great Coffees

If there's one thing I have learned in my short time here at PT's is the value of great coffee. This has been done by sitting in on cuppings, and just talking to Jeff and Jayson about the coffee crops and what makes each crop special. There is a list put out by Forbes magazine about the most expensive coffees in the world at:
http://www.forbes.com/wineandfood/2006/07/19/priciest-coffee-beans_cx_hl_0720featA_ls.html I wasn't surprised to see that PT's actually carries a few of these coffees.

It isn't that PT's goes out looking for the most expensive coffees we go look for the best coffees. As with any other product the better the product the more expensive it tends to be. But trust me as you sip on a nice cup of Panama Esmeralda Special you will be in coffee heaven, happy that you paid the price for excellence. This is a coffee that I suggest everyone that loves great coffee to try. You can purchase Panama Esmeralda Especial at the link below.
Panama Esmeralda Especial

The coffee that I am most excited to get in our Cup of Excellence from Los Planes Citala El Salvador. Jayson was on the jury for the El Salvador Cup of Excellence competition and came back talking about this particular coffee. (available for pre-order at: El Salvador Los Planes


I can't believe how much I have learned so far, and can't wait to see what I learn next! To check out some other great coffees just pay PT's a visit.

Thursday, September 21, 2006

Barista Guild Jam Session!

That's right...it's that time again. PT's and Torani are teaming up to bring you the BGA jam of the century! Mark your calendars now:

October 21-22, 2006

Seriously....write it down.

Ok, Thank you

What, you may ask, will make this particular jam so noteworthy? Well, we have this one guy...Matt Riddle (you might know him as the current USBC Champion or the World Barista competition 3rd Place winner) coming down from Chicago. Ryan "have you seen my beach ball" Dennhardt will come out and play, as he is the reigning Midwest Champion. There will seminars and activities galore.

Stay tuned for more information!

Sunday, September 17, 2006

PHOTOS FROM AWARD CEREMONY



Missoula MT. (September 21, 2006) - Amid much excitement and celebration, Edith Encisco Yasso walked away with Colombia’s first place trophy for the Cup of Excellence competition. Women owned farms in Colombia have placed in the competition and even been presidential winners, but have never taken the top place.

“I am so very happy, I just can not believe that I have won! I was #25 in the second competition in Medellín in 2005, and after that I was doing every single step in the right way to produce a better coffee, now I know that all my effort is awarded,” exclaimed Edith Yasso after receiving the Cup of Excellence trophy.

Edith Enciso Yasso, from the Tolima department, not only received first place but also the presidential award for obtaining 93.37 out of a possible 100 points during the competition. The two other presidential awards, those coffees scoring above 90 points, went to Libardo Chávez in second place and Cesar Julio Muñoz Calderon in third place with a score of 92.38. The remaining 27 winning farms were located across other departments in Colombia including Nariõ, Hulia and Cauca.

The coffees were selected during the competition that is the most stringent in the coffee industry today. A coffee has to pass through three different phases and is cupped five different times. The top ten coffees are cupped a sixth and final time to rank their order.

Roasters from across the globe have already signed up for samples in anticipation of the upcoming action on October 26, 2006. This will be Colombia’s fourth auction as they hold two separate competitions each year. Lot sizes range from 15-75 bags, allowing for roasters of any size to own one of these valuable coffees.

“Industry support for Colombia’s top coffees is rising every program,” explained Susie Spindler, the Executive Director of the program. “More roasters have asked for winning samples from this competition more than any other of the three previous competitions. We expect this to grow as Colombian farmers continue to produce top coffees that win the Cup of Excellence,” she continued.

This is the 28th competition for the Cup of Excellence® program which is dedicated to the appreciation of exemplary coffee worldwide. It is managed by the US based non-profit Alliance for Coffee Excellence Inc., in partnership with coffee producing countries. For more information about the program, for a complete list winning farms, to find out how to get involved with the program, and to receive winning samples, log on to www.cupofexcellence.org.


Friday, September 15, 2006

PHOTOS FROM LAST CUPPING



Well, we've cupped the final eleven cups and what an experience it was! Great coffee made it to the final table. One juror actually awarded a 100 point score! I wasn't that genorous, but I did give 4 - 90+ scores on the final table. I found the top three coffees to be extraordinary! Creamy, Extremely sweet with hints of orange and chocolate and a very refined acidity. the competition I believe was a huge success and I think will bring a very good price at the auction. And it was a first for the Colombian auction as well, a Female farmer was actually the winner. I will try to post photos from the awards ceremony when I return home.

I hope you enjoyed the photos and updates on the competition. It was grueling and extremely hot in Neiva. I'm glad it's over and I look forward to next years competitions. Colombian coffees are getting better and better in large part thanks to the Cup of Excellence Colombia program. I believe farmers are becoming more and more aware of what quality is and that it doensn't happen by mistake, but rather by hard work and harvesting only the ripe cherry from the tree.

Warm Regards - I leave for home early Mondya morning - and I'm ready!

Jeff







COLOMBIA ROUND 2 - COE - Photos







COLOMBIA ROUND 2 - COE




It's been a long couple of days. We cupped the top 41 coffees yesterday in a marathon cupping session that lasted until 7pm. I think Colombia represented itself very well yesterday producing a number of coffees that were scored over 90, but also several that will not make the final cut out of those 41 coffees. Many notes of Caramel, strawberry, apricot, wine (I liked the syrah type flavors), dark cherries and chocolate.

The way this will work is, any coffee recieving a final score over 84 will be auctioned off on the interet to the highest bidder. Our Finca El Palacio placed 4th in last years competition.

Below you will see many photos of the trip. Wednesday, when we finished cupping around 2pm, they loaded all of us into a bus and drove an hour and a half away to the desert for a tour and view of the night sky. Very interesting tour but I was very tired when we returned around 10pm.

This is another short post as we live in a few minutes to begin the final round of cupping to establish the top 10 coffees. The best day of the week. Only great coffee on the table. ahhhhhhh! My favorite. :o)

Warm regards from Colombia

Jeff









Wednesday, September 13, 2006

CUPPING ROUND 1 - COLOMBIA COE continued...

It has been a really long day here in Neiva, Colombia. But the good news is, we've narrowed the coffees from 80 to 40. And even better, as I blogged yesterday, the coffees today were outstanding!

Thats great news! The top 10 should really be outstanding when we are done with our work. Thursday is the day we will make the final scores. Then re-cup the top 10 again on Friday to re-set and confirm the order. So Thursday is a big day and I'm really tired. I do have some great photos of the trip that I hope to share with all of you when I return.

Hope all is well and I'm sure the weather is better at home than it is here. 95 degrees today and 78% humidity! Just another normal day in Neiva!

cheers to all!

Jeff

Tuesday, September 12, 2006

CUPPING ROUND 1 - COLOMBIA COE





It was early Tuesday morning when we entered the "Centro de Convenciones - Jose Eustacio Rivera" in Neiva, Colombia. And we didn't waste any time. The 32 jury members, including myself, from around the world headed straight for the cupping tables. To be honest...most of us passed on our morning cup at the hotel, knowing we were cupping a lot of coffee today. So we were eager to get started.

We entered the large room set with eight - 8 ft. tables - four judges per table - and each table containing 10 samples on each side. These coffees were well vetted Colombian coffees having passed through 3 rounds of cupping from a national jury before we arrived. So we dove right in to the cupping assignments at hand. Three rounds of cupping and 30 coffees later the day was complete.

I'm not sure how I feel about the coffees we cupped today. I'm trying to withhold judgment until we've made it through the first round of 60 which will be Wednesday night. But if what we tasted today was any indication...It's a down year for Colombian coffees by PTs standards. I feel the two Colombian coffees we are currently offering - Reserva del Patron and Finca El Palacio - are every bit as good as the coffees I cupped today. But tomorrow may tell another story. I certainly hope so.

Below are just a few more pics from the day. I hope you enjoy. I've got to run or i won't get to eat dinner! Any you all know how I like my food! :O)

Hope all is well back home and you are all having a great week. See you soon.

Warm Regards - Jeff


Monday, September 11, 2006

PHOTO BLOG!

A few photos from the early days of the competition. Enjoy!

Jeff