SumatraIndonesians are available as a unique wet-hulled or dry-hulled (washed) coffees. Giling Basah is the name for the wet-hulling process in Bahasa language, and will have more body... 5 : JamaicaJamaica coffee can be excellent mild, lush coffee... sometimes. Like Kona and Puerto Rican coffee, it is soft, mild, clean and well balanced when it is good.: Ah... 0
The list of coffees we stock shouldn’t be read as a comprehensive sampling of what’s available … but rather as a list of what we find that is truly good! I always find myself in a buyer’s dilemma of having a great coffee sample offered for immediate delivery from a broker … but I need another coffee from that region like I need to catch a cold. That might mean having 3-5 coffees from one originIn coffee talk, it refers to a coffee-producing region or country; such as, "I was just at origin." Of course "Origin" for most product we use is not... country or even from one growing region in that country (Huehuetenango from GuatemalaGuatemalan coffee is considered a top quality coffee producer in Central America. Due to our proximity to Guatemala, some of the nicest coffees from this origin come to... comes to mind). I must respectively submit control of our business to the Gods of Coffee Cup Quality …
Such is the case for Sumatra and SulawesiSulawesi coffees are low-acid with great body and that deep, brooding cup profile akin to Sumatra. The coffee is sometimes known as Celebes, which was the Dutch colonial.... I remember 2 years ago when they cupped nicely and just looked terrible. (They always look a bit ragged compared to the perfect polished Central Americans but in 1998 they were especially mangy). Last year they looked better but many samples were blah: if you remove enough of the bizzarro beans you can prep. the character right out of the coffee! This year has been different. We have coffees that range from OK to near-perfect in prep (Sumatra DP to Sulawesi DP respectively) and all show striking cup character and remarkable complexity. The Sumatra Golden Pwani arrived late this year. I definitely didn’t need it but the samples were just brilliant.
And when a whole region is ”up,” it makes it very hard to pick a favorite. And it is impossible to pick the best …if such a thing can exist in the realm of taste and personal preference. In fact, if the cup character of a Sumatra or Sulawesi doesn’t agree with you (earthyEarthy is a flavor term with some ambivalence, used positively in some cases, negatively in others.: Sumatra coffees can have a positive earthy flavor, sometimes described as "wet..., low acidity
Acidity is a positive flavor attribute in coffee, also referred to as brightness or liveliness. It adds a brilliance to the cup, whereas low acid coffees can seem..., big bodyAssociated with and sensed by mouthfeel, body is sense of weight and thickness of the brew, caused by the percentage of soluble solids in the cup, including all..., pungentRefers to an aggressive, intense aroma or flavor, often related to spices (pepper) or roast tastes. Pungent foods are often called "spicy", meaning a sharp or biting character,...: a little mustyOff aroma and flavor that reminds one of a dank, moldy closet. This flavor can hint at a dangerous coffee mold and should not be consumed.: Off aroma..., hopefully some fruityIn some coffee taster’s lexicon, “fruity” means the coffee is tainted with fruit, and “fruited” means a coffee is graced by positive fruit notes. We don't exactly see... sweetnessSweetness is an important positive quality in fine coffees, and is one of five basic tastes: Sour, Sweet, Salty, Bitter, Savory (Umami). In coffee, sweetness is a highly... and spice) then a coffee from that origin the outstanding character will only DIS-please you more! (The 4 bags of exceptional Ethiopian Yirgacheffe we secured last year —award winning, highest rated ever, roasters competing for bags of it) was the only Yirgacheffe I have ever received complaints about from customers! In the Indonesian realm, there are very compelling alternatives to the heavily earthy coffees though: TimorTimor-Leste (East Timor) is a tiny island between Australia and Sulawesi, annexed by Indonesia and liberated in a referendum several years ago. Small scale coffee farming was jump-started... Aifu, Papua New GuineaPapua New Guinea (PNG) occupies the eastern half of the island it shares with the Indonesian province of Irian Jaya, part of Indonesia. The two primary areas for..., Java
There are several types of Abyssinia variety coffee, but they are not from Ethiopia but rather Indonesia. Abyssinia 3 = AB3. PJS Cramer, a Dutch plant researcher, introduced this variety... Kayumas, and now the wet-processed Sulawesi Sulotco EstateA "coffee estate" is used to imply a farm that has its own processing facility, a wet-mill. In Spanish this is called an Hacienda. A Finca (farm) does.... These are coffees with a cleaner cup profile, all wet-processed vs. the DP (dry-processed) Sulawesi and Sumatra, and with all the body and balanceSuggests a harmony and proportion of qualities, and implies mildness since no one quality dominates.: Balance is both an obvious and slippery taste term. It implies a harmony... but not the funky pungency.
Forget Jamaica Blue Mountain … or should we? As many know, I think JBMJBM is short for Jamaica Blue Mountain, which is both a trade name for certain Jamaica coffee, and a Typica cultivar. As a cultivar, it is one of... is the biggest scandal in coffee since the KonaKona coffee comes from farms along the Kona Coast on the Big Island of Hawaii: Kona coffee comes from farms along the Kona Coast on the Big Island... Coffee ripoff of 1997. It can be nice, but that’s all it ever is, even at its best, I used to feel like I should capitulate: offer it at a lower price …the real stuff and the exemplary stuff …when and where possible. After all, home roasters can enjoy it gloriously fresh, at its best. But its best still isn’t much compared to a really good Mexican. Well, how about this: an experimental program between a Kona coffee farmer with one of the highest altitude, prime coffee gardens in Kona and the University of HawaiiThe Kona district on the big island of Hawaii produces the best coffee from this state - clean, sweet and mild. : Ah, Hawaii... what a nice place.... coffee project growing 100% pure Jamaica Blue Mountain seedstock (which as you may know IS its own var. of arabicaArabica refers to Coffea Arabica, the taxonomic species name of the genus responsible for around 75% of the worlds commercial coffee crop.: Arabica refers to Coffea Arabica, the... typicaA coffee cultivar; a cross between Typica and Bourbon, originally grown in Brazil: Mundo Novo is a commercial coffee cultivar; a natural hybrid between "Sumatra" and Red Bourbon,...). The coffee is perfectly prepped, not the JBM Wallenford with pale old coffee and berry-boring bug damage. And it is a much better cup, albeit mild as all Island coffees tend to be. Well, that’s the story and its from the Kowali farm (Morning glory in Hawaiian) and I am pretty sure I bought the entire lot of this for the 2000 year from Skip and Rita, the growers. Anyway, I was really impressed with their PeaberryA peaberry is a green coffee "bean" that has a rounded form: Coffee is the dried seed from the fruit of a flowering tree - each fruit having..., and buying farm-direct is such a great way to support them (its a more expensive coffee so cutting out the broker really only means I get it for the same cost or a little more as we could get the Extra Fancy Greenwell —also a great cup but not nearly so rare!) Anyway, look for it in 3 weeks!
New Coffee Updates
There are so many new coffees that arrived in the last 2 weeks I cant even keep them straight, but I will try: Guatemalan Huehuetenango MaragogypeMaragogype is a mutation of Typica coffee and was discovered in Brazil. The Maragogype is a large plant with big leaves, low production and very large fruits (and...: This is a separate varietal of coffee arabica var. typica that has exceptionally large beans. They take a little longer to roast and may have a mottled appearance. I never believe that ”larger is better” necessarily but this Maragogype blew away 4 Guatemalan Antiguas in the cup. What does this prove: that its a hot year for Huehue (that’s why we have 3!) and there’s not many Antiguas worth buying on the market (I have panned about 12 estate Antiguas so far, still waiting for new cropRefers to fresh shipments of green coffee within the first month or two of the earliest arrivals ... not quite the same as Current Crop, which means the... La tacita —if THAT is off, then I wont cup any more Antiguas until next year.)
We added more Colombians to the list: ones with remarkable and well-defined cup character. These are nowhere near the polite and impotent Huila SupremoA Colombian coffee grade referring to screen size of 17-18 screen. In the traditional bulk Arabica business, Supremo was the top grade Colombia, with Excelso one step below... or some Popayan Supremo. Two cup almost like a Sumatra …believe it or not (I couldn’t!) …they actually have a defined pungent aggressiveness to them! That’s the Tuluni and the San Augustin. In fact, all three have this striking aggressiveness and it has led me to rethink my biases towards Colombians as wimpy middle of the road coffees. I am not saying you can go out there and get a wimpy cup of Juan Valdez 95% of it is like that. But ColombiaColombian coffee is highly marketed and widely available in the US. They have been largely successful at equating the name Colombian Coffee with "Good" Coffee. This is half-true.... changed their whole strategy lately: they reversed the trend toward pooling coffees and emphasized single originSingle Origin refers to coffee from one location, in contrast to blended coffee. This term is particularly useful in discussing espresso, since most commercial espressos are made from... and single estate, These are the results …the flavorful coffees that were formerly lost in a sea of lower-grown dreck, now liberated to brew potent yet balanced coffee! Try one, they are impressive. If you want a cleaner fruity cup without the pungency try the excellent Guat Huehues.
Salvador: Ah PacamaraAs the name implies, Pacamara is a large bean cultivar, a cross between Pacas and Maragogype with unique flavor properties. This variant originated in El Salvador in 1958,...! Like Maragogype it is a large bean arabica varietal and these are very big and potently bright, I know in beer they talk about ”hop-heads” and in wine there is ”dry” but in coffee there are legions of people who feel that brightnessA euphemistic term we use often to describe acidity in coffee. A bright coffee has more high, acidic notes. : A euphemistic term to describe acidity in coffee.... IS the flavor of coffee and eschew the low-acid coffees that completely miss the front of your palate. These are the KenyaKenya is the East African powerhouse of the coffee world. Both in the cup, and the way they run their trade, everything is topnotch.: Kenya is the East... people (who should be thrilled this year with the quality of the crop) and the Costa Rican folks. Well, they need to get hip to the Pacamara. You should have heard Jim Reynolds of Peets coffee speak about it at a cupping
Cupping is a method of tasting coffee by steeping grounds in separate cups for discrete amounts of ground coffee, to reveal good flavors and defects to their fullest.... seminar we were in at the SCAA conference. In fact, everyone in the room was deeply impressed. I didn’t think the Myanmar sample at the same cup.
New! Sweet-Maria’s Emailer
This newsletter is swiped from the emailer of 7/10/00 out of dire need. I promise not to do that again. Basically the emailer is a twice-monthly “what’s new” email. You can sign up for it on the main page at www.sweetmarias.com
Sweet Maria’s Green Coffee
Green coffee refers to the processed seed of the coffee tree fruit. Coffee is a flowering shrub that produces fruit. The seeds of the fruit are processed, roasted,... Offerings on 7/1/00
Central American 1 lb 2 lb 5 lb
Costa Rican Dota Conquistador 99-00 $5.60 $10.64 $24.36
Costa Rican Tarrazu La Minita 99-00 $6.95 $13.21 $30.23
Costa Rican La Pastora Tarrazu 99-00 $4.80 $9.12 $20.88
Guatemala Huehuetenango -Dos Lagos $4.70 $8.93 $20.45
Guatemala Huehuetenango -Catinil $4.80 $9.12 $20.88
Guatemala SHB HHT Maragogype $5.65 $10.74 $24.58
Guatemala Oriente -Tres Marias $4.75 $9.03 $20.66
Mexican Oaxaca Pluma -Fino Rojas $4.80 $9.12 $20.88
Mexican OrganicGrown without the use of artificial fertilizers, herbicides, etc.: Organic coffee has been grown according to organic farming techniques, typically without the use of artificial fertilizers. Some farms... Pluma -Loxicha $5.00 $9.50 $21.75
Mexican Organic-Finca Santa Anita $4.70 $8.93 $20.45
Mexican San Pablo Tres Flechas $4.70 $8.93 $20.45
Nicaraguan SHG Gavilan Estate $4.60 $8.74 $20.01
Nicaraguan SHG La Illusion $4.70 $8.93 $20.45
PanamaPanama coffee ranges from medium quality lower altitude farms to those at 1600 - 1800 meters centered in the area of Boquete in the Chirqui district near the... Hartmann Songbird 99-00 $4.75 $9.03 $20.66
Salvador Organic-Los Naranjos $5.00 $9.50 $21.75
Salvador Pacamara -“Desolo Fancy” $5.00 $9.50 $21.75
1020-South American 1 lb 2 lb 5 lb
BrazilBrazil is a coffee giant . As Frank Sinatra sang, "they grow an awful lot of coffee in Brazil".: Brazil is a coffee giant . As Frank Sinatra... Cerrado-Monte Carmelo $4.40 $8.36 $19.14
Brazil Cerrado-Oberon 17-18 $4.70 $8.93 $20.45
Brazil Monte Alegre- Wet ProcessWet-processing starts by removing the outer skin of the coffee cherry with a machine called a pulper, then fermenting the remaining fruit (with green bean inside) in water... $4.70 $8.93 $20.45
Colombian Ibague Nevado Supremo $4.80 $9.12 $20.88
Colombian San Augustin 100% Typica $5.20 $9.88 $22.62
Colombian Tuluni Supremo 18+ $4.80 $9.12 $20.88
PeruPeruvian coffees have Central American brightness but in a South American coffee flavor package overall. The good organic lots do have more of a "rustic" coffee character.: Organic... SHG Organic -Cuzco $4.95 $9.41 $21.53
1040-African- Arabian 1 lb 2 lb 5 lb
Ethiopian Djimmah Gr 5 $4.40 $8.36 $19.14
Ethiopian Harar Gr5 Horse $5.50 $10.45 $23.93
Ethiopian Sidamo Gr.5 99-00 $5.00 $9.50 $21.75
Ethiopian Yirgacheffe Gr2 $5.50 $10.45 $23.93
Kenya AA Kiunyu Estate 99-00 $5.80 $11.02 $25.23
Kenya AA Nyanja Estate 99-00 $5.60 $10.64 $24.36
Kenya AA Samburu Estate 99-00 $5.45 $10.36 $23.71
Tanzanian Peaberry
The Spanish-language term for Peaberry is the same for "snail". See Peaberry for more information on the single bean fruit of the coffee tree. A peaberry is the... 99-00 $5.20 $9.88 $22.62
YemenYemen has a coffee culture like no other place, and perhaps some of what we enjoy in this cup is due to their old style of trade...: Technically,... MokhaThe Yemeni type of coffee, both in terms of the family of cultivars planted there, and the general trade name.: Mokha Yemeni type of coffee, both in terms... Mattari Al-Haj $7.00 $13.30 $30.45
Yemen Mokha Raimi 99-00 $6.90 $13.11 $30.02
Yemen Mokha Sana’ani -Saihi $6.90 $13.11 $30.02
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe, formerly known as lower Rhodesia until independence in 1980, has produced great coffee since production was introduced in the 1960s. Like Zambian coffees, these coffees are often... AAA Pinnacle $5.60 $10.64 $24.36
1060-Indonesian- Indian 1 lb 2 lb 5 lb
Indian Monsooned Malabar AA $5.50 $10.45 $23.93
Indian Pearl Mountain Est. Peaberry $5.20 $9.88 $22.62
Java Aged Old Brown $6.20 $11.78 $26.97
Java Gvt. Estate -Kayumas $5.10 $9.69 $22.19
Myanmar Arabica -Rubyland Peaberry $3.50 $6.65 $15.23
Papua New Guinea A Org-Shade $5.20 $9.88 $22.62
Papua New Guinea Purosa AA $5.60 $10.64 $24.36
Sulawesi Toraja-Boengie Fat Bean $5.70 $10.83 $24.80
Sulawesi Toraja Gr.1 99-00 $4.80 $9.12 $20.88
Sulawesi Rantepao (Monsooned) $6.10 $11.59 $26.54
Sulawesi Sulotco Est.-Wet Processed $5.40 $10.26 $23.49
Sumatra MandhelingA trade name used for wet-hulled Sumatra coffees. It is an area and a culture group as well (spelled Mandailing often) but there is not as much coffee... Gr1 DP $5.00 $9.50 $21.75
Sumatra Mandheling Golden Pwani $5.45 $10.36 $23.71
Sumatra Mandheling-Special Triple Pick $5.20 $9.88 $22.62
Sumatra Organic Gayoland.Gr1 $5.50 $10.45 $23.93
Sumatra Blue Lintong Gr1 $5.30 $10.07 $23.06
Timor Grade 1 -Aifu $5.00 $9.50 $21.75
1080-Islands- Blends -Etc. 1 lb 2 lb 5 lb
Hawaii Kona- well Extra Fancy $15.20 $28.88 $66.12
Hawaii Kona-Kowali Blue Mountain coming soon
Isle of Saint Helena $21.20 $40.28 $92.22
SM’s Moka Kadir Blend $5.80 $11.02 $25.23
SM’s EspressoA small coffee beverage, about 20 ml, prepared on an espresso machine where pressurized hot water extracted through compressed coffee.: In its most stripped-down, basic form, this is... Monkey Blend $5.00 $9.50 $21.75
Sweet Maria’s Fr.RoastBlend $5.50 $10.45 $23.93
Malabar Gold Espresso Blend $6.00 $11.40 $26.10
1100 -Decafs 1 lb 2 lb 5 lb
Brazil Santos SWPSWP means Swiss Water Process is a patented water filtration decaf method, not a chemical solvent method. The plant is in Vancouver, Canada. Decaf $5.40 $10.26 $23.49
Colombian Natural Decaf $5.20 $9.88 $22.62
Costa Rican SHB SWP Decaf $5.70 $10.83 $24.80
IndonesianOrg.KomodoBlend SWP D $6.20 $11.78 $26.97
Mexican Esmeralda Natural Decaf $4.70 $8.93 $20.45
Mexican Organic/Shade SWP D $6.15 $11.69 $26.75
Papua New Guinea Org SWP D $6.00 $11.40 $26.10
Sumatra Org.GayoMtn SWP Decaf $6.30 $11.97 $27.41
1120 -Premium Robustas 1 lb 2 lb 5 lb
Indian Kaapi Royale Robusta
Ateng is a common name for Catimor coffees widely planted in Sumatra and other Indonesia isles.: Ateng, with several subtypes, is a common name for Catimor coffees widely... $5.00 $9.50 $21.75
Indian Monsooned RobustaRobusta usually refers to Coffea Robusta, responsible for roughly 25% of the world's commercial coffee. Taxonomy of Robusta is debated: some sources use “Robusta” to refer to any... AA $5.20 $9.88 $22.62
PapuaNewGuinea Washed Robusta $3.90 $7.41 $16.97
Sweet Maria’s Coffee Roastery
9 E. 2nd Ave. * Columbus Ohio 43201
ph/fx:614 294 1816 / 888.876 5917
web: www.sweetmarias.com
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