Invitational Cupping Day - 24 September 2010

By Oliver Brown - Thu, 30/09/2010 - 11:40am

Our most recent cupping event was a great success. As usual we cupped three tables of coffees: two tables of twelve and one of thirteen. The aim of this autumn’s event was to look at new crop coffees due in later this year - including the latest Brazilians, Indians, Tanzanians, Ethiopians and Indonesians - alongside our current lines from Guatemala, Costa Rica and Nicaragua.

Table One focused on Central America. The coffees that stood out on the day included the Guatemalans - Finca San Francisco Tecuamburro, Finca El Bosque, Finca La Perla, Finca Liquidambar, Finca Chichupac, Finca El Triangulo natural and Finca Bourbon 100% Bourbon Organic; Nicaragua’s Finca Santa Maura 100% Pacamara; and the Costa Rican Finca De Licho honey process.

On Table Two the stand out coffees included the latest arrivals from the Dominican Republic; Tanzania Blackburn Estate Pick of the Harvest and Clouds of August; Rwanda Musasa 100% Red Bourbon; Kenya Gethumbwini PB; and Ethiopia Yirgacheffe Moplaco and Sidamo. Perhaps most interesting were the two new Indian arrivals, with the Balmaadi Biodynamic/Organic Natural particularly holding its own against some heavyweights around it.

Table Three featured the widest mix of origins of the day. The new crop Brazils made a good showing here, particularly the Brazil BSCA Espresso No 1, Fazenda Lagoa 100% Icatu pulped natural and Fazenda Sao Silvestre pulped natural. The Indonesian coffees also cupped extremely well, with special praise going to Sumatra Aceh Takengon and Sumatra Aceh Tengah Organic. Also picked out by our cuppers were the Costa Rica Finca La Candelilla 100% Geisha, Guatemala Esmaralda 100% Maragogype and Guatemala Finca Santa Clara.

Overall the day went extremely well. We were pleased with how well the current lines are continuing to cup and are very excited about the arrival of the new crops this autumn.

Thanks again to all who attended for making it such a great day.

For detailed cupping notes please see below.

Cupping Report 24 September