Caffenation LGB at thuisbarista.nl (Dutch)

Toen Dennis, van het Nederelandse Koffieforum Home Barista, me vroeg om eens iets van Caffènation aan hun proefpanel te tonen hadden hij en Harm net een pakje Little Green Bag in de molen steken.
Gezien ze deze heel lekker vonden, en wij ook :-), hebben we dan maar besloten deze melange aan 12 fanatieke proevers voor te schotelen.

Het resultaat is zeer positief.
En zoals eerder merken we dat we soms nog een heleboel kunnen leren van non-professional Barista's.

Als je wenst te weten wat hun ongezouten mening is : klik hier.

Our Bird is Cuptasting Champ!!!!

Huray! We have our title!
Bird is a 5 year Caffenation Barista on October 2nd. And the new Belgian Cuptasting champ.

I participated two years ago and Bird and I did a lot of training those days.

Last year we both were challenging the Efico boys. It showed that Bird was the better championship cupper from the two of us, but Bart was too good, which displayed at the World Championships where he became 2nd.

This year we did not practice on triangle cupping.
Bird originally was selected to defend our colors at the Latte Art competition, but after Roeland's bad results at the selections 4 weeks ago I resigned as a trainer and Bird cancelled his latte art participation.
Last week he called up Jeanne he wanted to come over for the cuptasting again.

Every day we taste a lot of coffee and with the experience from the past and his talents this seemed to be enough to become cuptasting champion.
London here we come.

Fun thing is that my resignation has fantastic results.
In the first place there's Bird his title.
Secondly I was willing to help Jeroen with the coffee in good spirits. I didn't, and ..... he became champion today. Congrats Jeroen and good luck in London.

Then I delivered coffee to Isabelle, who was on stage for the Belgian Barista Championships. We decided to go with the Guatemala El Bosque Red Bourbon. A complex, spicy and unique bean that Hasbean Steve shipped over. Thanks for that Steve.
The reactions were very very positive, but unfortunately she just didn't make it to the last 3.

Those who want to drink her championship coffee can come to Hopland this week and enjoy a cup of the fantastic El Bosque.

Last 3, that means finals.
Francois Knopes finished third after receiving the cup for best Latte Art expert. Very well done Francois. I'm so happy you finally won a title and good luck in London.

2nd was last year's champion Melanie. She also won the price for best sig drink.

And the new Belgian Barista Champ is Kenny Burssens. He is actually a sommelier, but gave it a try and did it very well.
Great show Kenny. Good luck at the WBC.

I remember I was backstage at the selection in Mechelen with Kenny and we had a great talk. I saw this guy had a cool style and good tastebuds, but becoming the new champ is a phenomenal performance for a non-Barista. Congrats also to you and Rombouts with the 'best espresso' price!

(Birds cupping picture is from Jeanne's son and was the Belgian photo for the coffee photo of the year championship. Nice, isn't it?)

Specialty Coffee Flavors & Cup Of Excellence

This week we have our first Cup Of Excellence coffee on display.

The washed and sun-dried bourbon from Finca Los Amates, Apaneca-Ilamatepec was one of the winning coffee's in this years COE auction in El Salvador.
The bean is a fantastic result of how the craftsmanship of a dedicated farmer results in a remarkable coffee bean.

On press we have a super light, mild and very fruity (mostly citrus) coffee with an aftertaste that's very long and pleasant.
On espresso the citrus comes in very direct and heavy. In the middle you have a complexity that's varying from shot to shot. And again an aftertaste like no other.

But what is happening right now : People order this one as a lungo of the week are mostly very positive and very surprised by the clean and refreshing taste. Those who order an espresso (plus minus 20 grams for a double. 91°c. And a 26 seconds running time for 2 times 2,5cl) are very often confused and sometimes not very amused.
The acidity the bean is giving, is too much for the occasional coffee drinker. They experience this coffee very often as being sour, even in the after taste.

We promote this coffee as a very clean citrus fruit bomb with tobacco smell- that's what it is. But it looks like most people do not want a very clean citrus fruit bomb with tobacco smell.
It reminds me at this story from Mark Prince (Coffeegeek). He had a great coffee with a remarkable blueberry profile. One day he visits his father with this coffee and tells him he brought along this great coffee with profound blueberry tastes, on which his father answers : "why should I want to taste a blueberry coffee?".

I guess he's right. And wrong.
I mean, it's nice to have coffee's with complex and extreme tastes, but it's mostly only interesting for the die hard coffee afficionado's.
So, don't be surprised, dear Barista colleagues, if you offer the most special bean at your 'average' client and he/she doesn't appreciate it.
Sometimes Specialty Coffee can be too 'specialty'. :-)

Those who want to drink one better be fast. Wednesday the next Specialty in our '3 dolle weken' is coming.
But Hasbean still has some greens or roasted. Great working with Steve on this one.

Home Brewing Session 1

November 11 is a bank holiday. We open at noon.
At 10 we have our first CAFFENATION HOME BREWING SESSION.

All about brewing that 'perfect' cup of coffee at your own kitchen table.

For once we have to ask a (symbolic) amount for entrance ; €10. This way I hope the people will be present. I can't ask more than 12 persons to participate and it would be problematic when the people don't show.
For this sum you'll get a bag of coffee free at the end of the class.

Oh yes : the classes are in Dutch.

Voor geïnteresseerden :
caffenation@gmail.com

New Mahlkonig Grinder?

This twitpic shot by Klaus in Iceland.

Trip to Origin : Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico here we come.

We booked our flight to visit this tropical island and its warm people. At least, that's what they say about Puerto Rico.
I know for sure the coffee I tasted from this island is fantastic.

So, hopefully at the beginning of November a post about the all famous Hacienda San Pedro.

(flickr photo from Old Shoe Woman)

Vietnam Boven in België (Dutch)

Dit is ons koffieland : wij zijn de grootste afnemers van Vietnamese koffie ter wereld. Maar ons huis komt die 'bazaar' niet binnen.
Voor de anderen : 'Schol!'.

Artikel De Morgen