February 2018 Newsletter
This month marks exactly 4 years since we decided to stop selling coffee brewing equipment. During this time we've continued to service and repair machines that we once sold, but even this is coming to an end, for the simplest of reasons. We're running out of spare parts, and the main service technician we've been using is retiring.
So, sometime this year, we will have to decline the job of fixing someone's machine, and all machines shortly afterwards. Apologies in advance but it had to happen. There are alternative suppliers, Jetblack Espresso in Sydney for Lelit type machines and Coffee-A-Roma in Melbourne for Rancilio. Fortunately laScala machines can be repaired by any competent espresso machine service technician.
What is interesting is that the majority of the various machines we sold are still in service, a testament to their enduring quality.
Endurance and sustainability are suddenly the buzzwords for the coffee industry as a whole. There are half-a-dozen major coffee conferences this year and all of them feature sustainability as a primary topic. This has been brought about by the effects of climate change on coffee agriculture.
As I've discussed in previous newsletters, one of the effects is a resurgence in coffee plant diseases and insect pests. Note that when it comes to "traditional" coffee varietals like Typica, Bourbon and Maragogype, this problem is only getting worse. The only way to mitigate the effects is to change to more resistant Arabica varietals.
Sadly, "more resistant" hardly ever seems to equal "better tasting". I have yet to taste any of the improved varietals that have better flavours than the best heirloom ones, although a couple have been almost as good. The other huge sustainability problem is even more serious, the loss of coffee habitat.
African countries seem to be more affected at present, particularly some areas of Ethiopia where "wild" Arabica varietals have grown for centuries. This is a problem for farmers who see their livelihood dying off and also for the future genetic diversity of coffee. One of the major difficulties is that, yes, those varietals may be able to grow further up the valley or mountainside, but that land already belongs to somebody else and may already have different crops on it.
Another problem is that many African coffee farmers are subsistence farmers, with a perilously narrow margin of survival. A crop that is prone to failure will be replaced by one that may have a better chance of success.
That's why the major topics of this year's conferences are about finding ways to keep these farmers in business, producing quality coffees and feeding their families. Fortunately, although it's now becoming more urgent, it's been a work in progress for several years. A very few farmers can even turn drier conditions to their advantage, as with this month's Red Honey prepped Costa Rican.
It definitely felt like a good way to kick off the year:
Costa Rica Tarrazu Rojo Miel
$55.00/kg
This is NOT a coffee that could be called "delicate", instead it's got a huge coffee flavour, nippy acidity and a long, long aftertaste. Guaranteed to wake you up in the morning!
Until next month
Alan
