February 2023 Newsletter
Lots of things happening this year. We have started updating the website, slowly making small changes and testing them carefully before “going live”. Unlike big business groups, we have no desire to crash the site then offer weak apologies later.
There are a slew of new coffees now coming into our stocks, replacing green coffees that we may never see again. The pandemic certainly didn’t do Central American coffee farmers any favours and many of our regular beans are unavailable. The new coffees are, in order:
Brazil Dois Irmaos - as a closest match substitute for Cafe de Cuba. The Cuban Coffee Industry has declined to the point that it produces less coffee than the country consumes, and the loss is ongoing. Unless the USA suddenly lifts the embargo, it is unlikely to ever recover.
Colombian Hulia El Desarrollo for Colombian Cafe Jardin
Nicaragua SHG Sijonia for Nicaragua Sultan
The Slightly good news is that while shipping costs are still high, green coffee prices have dropped so that our selling prices are unchanged.
We’ve been chasing a decent Costa Rica Tarrazu Miel for ages, without success. Fortunately, a “Honey” prep coffee from the Alajuela region has popped up to make a brilliant start to the 2023 specials:
$66 Per Kilogram
Medium
A fruit-forward coffee with light front palate acidity and overtones of blueberry & pineapple, a sweet mid palate and a long, smooth creamy aftertaste.
It’s been a long time since I wrote about espresso machine related topics because it’s a long time since we sold machines. However, I still get asked machine related questions quite often, so I thought I’d give the answers first, then the questions.
It’s your grinder!
Why is my espresso coming out too fast/too slow? (If you can’t fix this by adjusting the grinder, you need a better grinder or a new filter basket).
It’s your group gasket!
Why is water leaking around the outside of my portafilter? (Group gaskets are the most common espresso machine consumable, they should be regularly replaced).
It’s your coffee!
Why does my coffee taste terrible no matter how I brew it? (Easily tested, just pour 200ml of just-off-the-boil water over 10g of medium ground coffee, stir, allow to cool for 5 minutes then taste a spoonful. If you still get the bad taste, it’s the coffee).
It’s your element!
Why is my machine tripping the electrical circuit breaker? (The element is the component where electricity and water are in closest proximity, and the most common site of electrical leakage).
It’s your pressurestat!
Why is my machine overheating and setting off the safety valve? (Pressurestats work on a system of make/break electrical contacts. The contacts can build up carbon and stick in the “on” position, overheating the boiler).
Of course, all the above are simplifications of what can be some pretty complex problems, but they’re really the first things that should be looked at.
Until April,
Alan
