Our monthly digest from the Sweet Maria’s Email list, announcing new coffees, new content and new events!
January 2020 offerings are all listed here, for your reference. If you want to read about our arriving coffee, events, product and news, sign up for our emailer.
January 2, 2020

The sifter/heat gun setup has gained a lot of popularity among home coffee roasters that want to build their own machines. A fine example is Sweet Maria’s customer Thomas Meeks. Take a look at this creative build that he installed onto a rolling cart.

Did you have a chance to check out the varietyA botanical variety is a rank in the taxonomic hierarchy below the rank of species and subspecies and above the rank of form (form / variety / subspecies... of coffees we dropped this week? There’s something for everyone here with flavor notes ranging from honeyIn coffee, honey-like sweetness is often found, but we use terms such as refined honey (highly filtered and processed) as opposed to raw honey rustic honey sweetness. This... and brown sugarBrown sugar is a type of sweetness found in coffee ...a sweetness characterized by a hint of molasses, yet quite refined as well. Since Brown sugar of the... to green tea and green grapes They are all delicious and most are great as 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... too!
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... AcehThe northernmost district in SumatraL Aceh District is north of North Sumatra and produces some very classic Sumatra coffees. The center of coffee in Aceh is Lake Tawar... Tengah Bies – At City+City+ roast is an ideal roast level that occurs roughly between 425 and 435 degrees Fahrenheit in many coffee roasters with a responsive bean probe where First Crack... herbaceous and 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..., complexThe co-presence of many aroma and flavor attributes, with multiple layers. A general impression of a coffee, similar to judgments such as "balanced" or "structured" roast tones, rice syrup, lemonLemon notes, as well as other related citrusy flavors or acidities, are prized in coffee. These usually express themselves as a bright accent in the cup, or aromatic... balm, basil, and resiny pine aromaAroma refers to sensations perceived by the olfactory bulb and conveyed to the brain; whether through the nose or "retro-nasally": The aromatics of a coffee greatly influence its.... Full City+ quiets much of this and is so chocolatey. Good for espresso.
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... Antigua FincaSpanish 101: Finca is the Spanish word for farm. Sometimes the term Hacienda is used to imply an Estate, which would mean the farm has its own wet-mill.... Melanie – A clean cupClean cup refers to a coffee free of taints and defects. It does not imply sanitary cleanliness, or that coffees that are not clean (which are dirty) are... with transparent 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..., green tea, bracing acidityAcidity 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... and green grape accent. Full City brings bittersweetness and a berry note. Exceptional acidity for Guatemala.
El SalvadorEl Salvador coffee had an undeservingly poor reputation for years, marred mostly by the inability to deliver coffee of high quality in an unstable political climate. Unfortunately, agriculture... Santa Ana Miravalle H1 – Underlying sweetness of toffee and caramelCaramel is a desirable form of sweetness found in the flavor and aroma of coffee, and is an extension of roast taste. Extremely light or dark coffees will..., notes of cacao nibs, candied nut and green tea. Bitter-to-sweet roast tones at Full City with raisin and dried fig. Good espresso.
HondurasHonduran coffee was absent from the top ranks of the Specialty market, but that has changed. It has all the environmental factors on its side: soil, altitude, climate.... Comayagua Angel Vasquez – Unrefined sugar sweetness accented by herbaceous rue and Thai basil, citric acidity, berry accents, bittersweetBittersweet is from the language of chocolate, and describes the co-presence of positive bittering compounds balanced by sweetness. It is directly related to caramelization, but has inputs from... cocoa and a walnut accent note. Good espresso.
Costa RicaCosta Rican coffee is typically very clean, sweet, with lots of floral accents. hey are prized for their high notes: bright citrus or berry-like flavors in the acidity,... Helsar Asdrubal Chavez – A sturdy cup, honey note, brown sugar, 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... of sweetness and bittering components, high % cacao bar and hints of dried fruit and coconut. Infinitely drinkable! Good for espresso.
January 10, 2020

EthiopiaEthiopia, formerly known as Abyssinia, or a coffee cultivar: Ethiopia, or more specifically the Empire under Haile Selassie, was known as Abyssinia. The name is Latin, derived from... 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... Dry ProcessDry process coffee is a method for taking the fruit from the tree to an exportable green bean. The whole intact coffee cherry is dried in the sun... Sidama Bombe – For those who truly enjoy fruitedIn 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... naturals; notes of dried fruits are pervasive, mulled appleAn acid that adds to favorable perceptions of cup quality; malic acid often adds apple-like acidity, and perhaps other taste aspects recalling apples. Malic acid is yet another... cider, tea-likeA term used to describe coffees with light, tannic, slighly astringent mouthfeel and tea aromatics. We find it in some Rwandan flavor profiles, among others. fruited accents and dark, 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,... spice notes like cinnamon stick and nutmeg, and aromatic wood hint. Intense dry process flavor! 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.... Nariño Las Estrellas – “Las Estrellas” is truly a star coffee, perfumed honey sweetness with accents of mandarin orangeOrange aromatics and flavors are prized in coffee, whether they take the form of sweet orange flesh and pulp, or orange peel. Orange flavors or aromatics can range..., beeswax, herbalA flavor descriptor in coffee reminiscent of herbs, usually meaning aromatic, savory, leafy dried herbs. Usually, more specific descriptions are given, whether is is a floral herb, or... tea and fleshy stone fruits. Vibrant cup when roasted light. 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... Dry Process Pedra Branca Yellow BourbonYellow Bourbon is a subtype that has fruit which ripens to a yellow color, found mainly in Brazil where it was first grown. Bourbon coffees are named for... – Robust cocoa roast flavors are matched by unrefined, molasses-like sweetness, with dried banana and berry accents, and rum candy in the aroma. Good for espresso. |

Beep! The new BehmorA popular electric drum roaster designed for home use, with variable batch sizes (from 1/4 pound to 1 pound) and a smoke-reduction system. It has been modified and... roaster upgrade panel is in stock. It includes an updated processor with more memory and a shorter refresh time for more effective profiling. This updated panel allows compatibility with 110V and 220V electrical grids and most importantly, it beeps to notify you of the Unattended Feature and end of roast warning.

Sweet Maria’s 2020 Dogs of Coffee Calendars are now only $5. Five bucks for 11.5 months and awesome dog photos…what a deal!
January 14, 2020

Behmor 1600 coffee roasters offer a lot of control when roasting your coffee. The manual controls allow you to adjust your roast curve on the fly and if you are feeling like flying on auto-pilot, you can do that too. Dan put together great Behmor video tutorial. This one is on how to get started if you are into light roasted coffee. |

Have you had a chance to check out the trio of coffees we added last week? They are still in stock so get some while you can. |
Ethiopia Organic Dry Process Sidama Bombe – For those who truly enjoy fruited naturals; notes of dried fruits are pervasive, mulled appleApple-like flavors in coffee can take on many different forms. The more common ones we use relate to malic acid brightness, which can recall different apple types: green... cider, tea-like fruited accents and dark, pungent spice notes like cinnamon stick and nutmeg, and aromatic wood hint. Intense dry process flavor! Colombia Nariño Las Estrellas – “Las Estrellas” is truly a star coffee, perfumed honey sweetness with accents of mandarin orange, beeswax, herbal tea and fleshy stone fruits. Vibrant cup when roasted light. Brazil Dry Process Pedra Branca Yellow BourbonA 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,... – Robust cocoa roast flavors are matched by unrefined, molasses-like sweetness, with dried banana and berry accents, and rum candy in the aroma. Good for espresso. |
January 17, 2020

The new coffee additions this week are outstanding. 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... GeshaGesha is a long-bean Ethiopia selection with unique cup character. Gesha is the name of the town in Western Ethiopia where the original samples were collected. Spelling it... is a must for fans of floralFloral notes in coffee exemplify the connection between taste and smell. Describing the taste of a specific flower is near impossible...we always default to “it tastes like it... coffees. It’s a bit expensive but worth it. We also launched a new Honduras sample set that includes the new Organic Santa Maria Doña Aguilar.
Panama Esmeralda Gesha – At City, floral jasmineA very positive and intensely floral quality in coffee, usually with a strong aromatic component, reminiscent of jasmine flower or tea. There are many forms of jasmine; the... notes are indisputable. A tightly-knit profile of simple syrup sugar, lemon, mandarin, ginger powder, and with floral and pink bubblegum aroma. 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... Kiambu Fram Farm AA – Unrefined sugar sweetness envelopes top notes of tangyAn adjective modifying a flavor descriptor, describing a sharp effect; tangy citrus, tangy bittersweet flavor, tangy green apple. lemon and complex citrus, stone fruit, blackberryBlackberry flavor in coffee sometimes relates to slightly more developed roast levels.: Blackberry is found as a fragrance, aroma or flavor in some coffees. I find that it... and a subtle baking spice aroma. A classic, bright Kenyan cup. Guatemala Antigua Finca Cabrejo – Cabrejo shows balance across the roast spectrum, bold raw sugar and bittersweet chocolateA general flavor or aroma term reminiscent of chocolate. But what type? Usually described with more specifics.: Chocolate is a broad, general flavor or aroma term reminiscent of... flavors, 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..., and hints of dried date and raisin, baking spice, and lemon tea when roasted light. Good for espresso. Kenya Kiambu Evans Farm AA – Start with City+, where you can expect a sweetness of raw sugars marked by Earl Grey tea and cardamom, lemon cookie, citrus zest and an interesting olive oil-like finishing note. Honduras Organic Santa Maria Doña Aguilar – A sweet, clean cup that comes off on the delicate side when roasted light. Notes of caramel drizzled almonds, brown sugar, cacao nib accent and hop flower aroma. Honduras 4 lb Sample Set – What an awesome deal. Our new sample set is a convenient way to pick up 4 Honduran coffees, including the new Organic Santa Maria Doña Aguilar. |

Having trouble getting a light roast with your Behmor? Check out our video tutorial that provides a good jumping off point for roasting light with your Behmor.

In the past, Honduras, as a coffee origin has positioned itself with volume-oriented exporters, making it difficult for us to find great coffee there. While we may have struggled to find a consistent source, we are still able to find excellent coffee to buy as we continue to travel there.
January 21, 2020

Our latest coffee additions have been very popular and some have already sold out. The good news is we still have a large selection of amazing green coffeeGreen 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,... in stock. Here’s a few!
Ethiopia Organic Dry Process Sidama Bombe – Are you a fan of fruited naturals? This intense Ethiopia organic has dried fruit notes with pervasive mulled apple cider, tea-like accents and dark, pungent spice notes like cinnamon stick and nutmeg and aromatic wood. Honduras Organic Santa Maria Doña Aguilar – Sweet and clean with a delicate side when roasted light. Notes of caramel drizzled almonds, brown sugar, cacao nib accent and a hop flower aroma. Guatemala Antigua Finca Cabrejo – This Guatemala shows balance across the roast spectrum, bold raw sugar and bittersweet chocolate flavors, big body, and hints of dried date, raisin, baking spice and lemon tea when roasted light. Good for espresso too? Yup! |

With so much digital information in our lives these days, it’s nice to sit down with an actual, analog book once in a while. Check out our selection of books about coffee and home coffee roastingThe application of heat to green coffee seeds (beans) to create palatable material for brewing a great cup!: Coffee roasting is a chemical process induced by heat, by... if you want to learn something without looking at a screen.
January 25, 2020

This week, we offer up another dry processed organic Ethiopia with amazing complex sweet aromas and flavor notes. Also check out our new Colombias, Dominican RepublicThe Dominican has a tradition of coffee production that dates several centuries. In general Dominican coffees hold true to the soft, mild profile of Island coffees.: The Dominican... and others. It’s as great week to be a home roaster!
Ethiopia Organic Dry Process Limu Kossa Farm – Fragrance and aroma are potent. Complex molasses and sorghum sweeteners, pine syrup aroma, dried berry, raisin and prune, big cocoa roast flavors when roasted dark. Good espresso. Kenya Nyeri Rukira AB – Excellent Kenya pour over, light roasts show flavors of pomegranate, pink grapefruit and orange, hints of candied citrus and cranberry, with sweet herbs and baking spice in the finishSimilar to aftertaste, but it refers to the impression as the coffee leaves the palate. Aftertaste is the sensations gathered after the coffee has left the mouth. We.... Colombia Buesaco Alianza de Granjeros – Caramel sweet overtone, notes of apples baked with cinnamon and brown sugar, elegant green apple acidity and spiced finish. Bittersweet chocolate with darker roast development. Nice espresso. Dominican Republic Jarabacoa Don Pepe – RestrainedA descriptive term I use to communicate a well-structured, classic, clean flavor profile from a wet-processed coffee. This would be in opposition to coffees with exotic character, flamboyant..., balanced and sweet, this Domincan fits in with our washed Centrals in many ways. Brown sugar, chocolate, roasted almond, cinnamon powder and basil. City+ to Full City. Good espresso. Guatemala Antigua Hunapu Ciudad Vieja – Semi-sweet chocolate chips, brown sugar, chocolate-walnut brownie and apple-like acidity. Classic, balanced Guatemalan coffee and fantastic daily drinker. Good espresso. Colombia Buesaco Vereda Veracruz – Traces of dried fruit and almond in the cup, atop an undercurrent of panelaPanela is the minimally processed sugar with floral and vanilla accents: Found in Colombia (and noted to be best in Pitalito and Pedregal), Panela is tan-colored cakes of... raw sugar and bittersweet cacao bar. Apple-like acidity makes for a juicy mouthfeelHow a coffee feels in the mouth or its apparent texture, a tactile sensation : A major component in the flavor profile of a coffee, it is a.... |
January 28, 2020

Nothing in life is free but that doesn’t mean everything has to be expensive. As you know, coffee roasting is cost effective when you compare the cost of green coffee to roasted coffee but it can still add up when putting together those large orders. We never import inexpensive coffee for the sake of it being cheap. We only import great coffee that happens to occasionally be under six bucks a pound. Here’s six great choices…all for less than six bucks each. |
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... Leste Goulala Village – Sweet cup character, butter cream frosting and mild bittering bass notes are illuminated by tart goji berry, lemon rind and an almond meal finishing note. $5.85/lb
Brazil Dry Process Pedra Branca Yellow Bourbon – Robust cocoa roast flavors are matched by unrefined, molasses-like sweetness, with dried banana and berry accents, and rum candy in the aroma. Good for espresso. $5.65/lb
Colombia Inzá Veredas Vecinas – Persistent sweetness, a framework of unrefined sugary flavors like light brown sugar, raw panela and toffee, raisin and roasted almond accents, and deep chocolate flavors with roast development. Good espresso. $5.95/lb
Honduras Comayagua Angel Vasquez – Unrefined sugar sweetness accented by herbaceous rue and Thai basil, citric acidity, berry accents, bittersweet cocoa and a walnut accent note. Good espresso. $5.75/lb
Honduras Organic Santa Maria Doña Aguilar – A sweet, clean cup that comes off on the delicate side when roasted light. Notes of caramel drizzled almonds, brown sugar, cacao nib accent and hop flower aroma. $5.65/lb
Honduras Cerro Negro La Lesquiñada – Balanced dark sugar sweetness and roast tone, top notes of raisin, dried stone fruit, a green herbal accent, high % cacao bar, and a dark berry accent. Good for espresso. $5.65/lb

We expect to have new Rwandas more of that great Panama Gesha late in the week. Before that, look out for additions from Brazil, Costa Rica, Colombia and NicaraguaNicaraguan coffees from the Segovia, Jinotega, Ocotal and Matagalpa regions are nice balanced cups. They often possess interesting cup character along with body and balance, outperforming many other.... A clean roaster is a safe and efficient roaster so we are working on tutorials for cleaning both the Behmor and Bullet. “Chocolate” is a very popular flavor note among Sweet Maria’s customers so we are bringing back the Box of Chocolates sample set. |
January 31, 2020

Remember that Panama Gesha we added 2 weeks ago? We now have more of it along with a good variety of new arrivals from RwandaA Bourbon cultivar variant from Rwanda and Burundi. Bourbon coffees are named for the island in the India Ocean where French colonists grew it. Some history from the..., Ethiopia and Guatemala. Yes, Gesha is expensive, but if you are really into floral, light and citrusyQualities in coffee that are reminiscent of a citrus fruit; orange, lemon, grapefruit, kumquat, etc.: Qualities in coffee that are reminiscent of a citrus fruit; orange, lemon, grapefruit,... coffes, Panama Gesha is worth every penny.
Panama Esmeralda Gesha – At City, floral jasmine notes are indisputable. A tightly-knit profile of simple syrup sugar, lemon, mandarin, ginger powder, and with floral and pink bubblegum aroma. Rwanda Karongi Gitesi – Raw sugar sweetness underscores the cup, black and green tea notes, mandarin orange and apple accents and tea-like, crispUsually used as a modifying flavor term, such as "crisp acidity" : Crisp can have several meanings, since it modifies other flavor terms. Crisp acidity might mean bracing,... finish. A delicious, delicate pour over! Rwanda Kivu Kageyo – Versatile in roast level and brew methods, the cup reveals layers of brown sugar, cinnamon, cane juice, clove, blueberryBlueberry flavors in coffee take different forms. Dried blueberry was something we first encountered in natural Harar coffee from Ethiopia. It seemed to be most potent in fresh..., chocolate and more. Good espresso. Ethiopia Guji Uraga Tome – Floral impressions of tuberose and star jasmine, with simple syrup sweetness backing elegant Earl Grey, mace and fruited hard candy accents, and acidity like black tea with lemon. Guatemala Chimaltenango Concepcion Buena Vista – Classic bittersweet espresso and crowd pleasing coffee, caramel, toffee, honey, dried green apple accent at City/City+, hefty chocolate roast flavors at Full City. Good espresso. |

Rwanda Trading Company (“RTC”), a private coffee company with a social mission, stepped in and bought the Kageyo wet millThe wet mill is a processing center where coffee cherry from the tree is brought for initial processing.: The wet mill goes by many names (Beneficio, Factory, Washing... after the mill went bankrupt in mid 2000’s. Instead of taking over, they allowed the cooperative structure to continue, serving what was already a thriving coffee community. RTC helped in many ways, including funding a larger capacity de-pulping machine and installing the power necessary to run it. But Kageyo still needs to solve their space issue in order to increase production. Check out our recent post and videos focusing on Kageyo.