Coffee hoits $100 per pound

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Date: 23 Jun 2006 03:02:30
From: jim schulman
Subject: Coffee hoits $100 per pound

Mark today in your calenders, and kiss the days of superb coffees
being cheap goodbye. Intelligentsia has put there share of the
Esmeralda lot on sale at $51.95 per 1/2 pound. Even so, they are so
sure it's going to sell out fast that the sale is invitation only.

Date: 23 Jun 2006 10:10:27
From: Omniryx@gmail.com
Subject: Re: Coffee hoits $100 per pound

This post smacked me right between the eyes because I HAVE paid
hundreds of dollars for a single bottle of wine and I HAVE paid
hundreds of dollars for a bottle of single malt and I HAVE paid nearly
$100 per ounce for fish eggs. Yet, when I got the email from
Intelligentsia offering me the opportunity to buy half a pound of this
Esmeralda at 52 bucks, I went "Pfff" and deleted it without a second
thought.

Now why would that be? In my life, coffee is just as important as
wine, more important than single malt, and one helluva lot more
important than fish eggs.

I dunno. I suppose that I don't believe there can be that much
difference between Intel's usual offerings and this one. OTOH, some
people say that about wine, too, and they are dead wrong.

Must think about his more...

Will

yEnc Man wrote:
> "jim schulman" <jim_schulman@ameritech.net> wrote in message
> news:ap7n92pcror46sfc8c38adk9qm2hmcs1pn@4ax.com...
> > Mark today in your calenders, and kiss the days of superb coffees
> > being cheap goodbye. Intelligentsia has put there share of the
> > Esmeralda lot on sale at $51.95 per 1/2 pound. Even so, they are so
> > sure it's going to sell out fast that the sale is invitation only.
>
> Some people (not me) pay hundreds of dollars for a 750ml bottle of wine,
> brandy or whiskey. Some people pay hundreds of dollars per pound for gourmet
> chocolate. Some people pay hundreds of dollars per ounce for extremely salty
> and fishy tasting fish eggs. Why should high end coffee be any different?
>
> http://snipurl.com/s5v2 is a link to an article in the NY Times about
> Intelligentsia and what they are doing. After reading it, I don't have a
> problem with their plan.

Date: 23 Jun 2006 18:30:12
From: yEnc Man
Subject: Re: Coffee hoits $100 per pound

<Omniryx@gmail.com > wrote in message
news:1151082627.151822.294810@c74g2000cwc.googlegroups.com...
> This post smacked me right between the eyes

Dang, that's some powerful news server you have there!

> because I HAVE paid
> hundreds of dollars for a single bottle of wine and I HAVE paid
> hundreds of dollars for a bottle of single malt and I HAVE paid nearly
> $100 per ounce for fish eggs.

If I were a man of means instead of just a regular Joe trying to make ends
meet, I might consider paying hundreds for the wine or the single malt. Fish
eggs, not so much. :)

> Yet, when I got the email from
> Intelligentsia offering me the opportunity to buy half a pound of this
> Esmeralda at 52 bucks, I went "Pfff" and deleted it without a second
> thought.

I'm not too sure what the math is here assuming about 7 grams of coffee per
cup of espresso, that's roughly 4 cups/ounce and 32 cups for a half pound.
What would 32 cups cost at your local coffee house? (This is the kind of
math I used when I explained to my wife why buying Guinness at the local
bottle shop was actually cheap. "But honey, just think what it would cost if
I went down to the Euclid Avenue Yacht Club and drank PBR by the can. I'd
pay more for PBR than for the Guinness!")

> Now why would that be? In my life, coffee is just as important as
> wine, more important than single malt, and one helluva lot more
> important than fish eggs.
>
> I dunno. I suppose that I don't believe there can be that much
> difference between Intel's usual offerings and this one. OTOH, some
> people say that about wine, too, and they are dead wrong.

So, I take it that you're no a Carlo "Pasisano by the gallon jug for 12
bucks" Rossi kind of man.

> Must think about his more...
>
> Will
>
>
> yEnc Man wrote:
>> "jim schulman" <jim_schulman@ameritech.net> wrote in message
>> news:ap7n92pcror46sfc8c38adk9qm2hmcs1pn@4ax.com...
>> > Mark today in your calenders, and kiss the days of superb coffees
>> > being cheap goodbye. Intelligentsia has put there share of the
>> > Esmeralda lot on sale at $51.95 per 1/2 pound. Even so, they are so
>> > sure it's going to sell out fast that the sale is invitation only.
>>
>> Some people (not me) pay hundreds of dollars for a 750ml bottle of wine,
>> brandy or whiskey. Some people pay hundreds of dollars per pound for
>> gourmet
>> chocolate. Some people pay hundreds of dollars per ounce for extremely
>> salty
>> and fishy tasting fish eggs. Why should high end coffee be any different?
>>
>> http://snipurl.com/s5v2 is a link to an article in the NY Times about
>> Intelligentsia and what they are doing. After reading it, I don't have a
>> problem with their plan.
>

Date: 23 Jun 2006 05:12:59
From: dcrehr
Subject: Re: Coffee hoits $100 per pound

Surely most here should know that SweetMaria sold a pound of the
Esmeralda in a set of three top-auction-winners. Price was $100 for the
three (green, of course). Sold out in about a week.

A few years ago, I tasted St. Helena when it was really good. Later
bought 5 lbs for $100-ish (also from SweetMaria). I tried to get some
local cofficionados to split it with me, but was turned down. I was so
happy to keep it all myself. Truly one of the best coffees I ever
tasted.

DR

> Some people (not me) pay hundreds of dollars for a 750ml bottle of wine,
> brandy or whiskey. Some people pay hundreds of dollars per pound for gourmet
> chocolate. Some people pay hundreds of dollars per ounce for extremely salty
> and fishy tasting fish eggs. Why should high end coffee be any different?
>

Date: 23 Jun 2006 09:05:53
From: yEnc Man
Subject: Re: Coffee hoits $100 per pound

"jim schulman" <jim_schulman@ameritech.net > wrote in message
news:ap7n92pcror46sfc8c38adk9qm2hmcs1pn@4ax.com...
> Mark today in your calenders, and kiss the days of superb coffees
> being cheap goodbye. Intelligentsia has put there share of the
> Esmeralda lot on sale at $51.95 per 1/2 pound. Even so, they are so
> sure it's going to sell out fast that the sale is invitation only.

Some people (not me) pay hundreds of dollars for a 750ml bottle of wine,
brandy or whiskey. Some people pay hundreds of dollars per pound for gourmet
chocolate. Some people pay hundreds of dollars per ounce for extremely salty
and fishy tasting fish eggs. Why should high end coffee be any different?

http://snipurl.com/s5v2 is a link to an article in the NY Times about
Intelligentsia and what they are doing. After reading it, I don't have a
problem with their plan.

Date: 23 Jun 2006 01:18:31
From: Johnny
Subject: Re: Coffee hoits $100 per pound

Date: 23 Jun 2006 16:09:56
From: Nick Cho
Subject: Re: Coffee hoits $100 per pound

Omniryx@gmail.com wrote:
> This post smacked me right between the eyes because I HAVE paid
> hundreds of dollars for a single bottle of wine and I HAVE paid
> hundreds of dollars for a bottle of single malt and I HAVE paid nearly
> $100 per ounce for fish eggs. Yet, when I got the email from
> Intelligentsia offering me the opportunity to buy half a pound of this
> Esmeralda at 52 bucks, I went "Pfff" and deleted it without a second
> thought.
>
> Now why would that be? In my life, coffee is just as important as
> wine, more important than single malt, and one helluva lot more
> important than fish eggs.
>
> I dunno. I suppose that I don't believe there can be that much
> difference between Intel's usual offerings and this one. OTOH, some
> people say that about wine, too, and they are dead wrong.
>
> Must think about his more...
>
> Will
>

Hope you don't mind, I've responded to you on portafilter.net

Great post.

Date: 24 Jun 2006 00:33:00
From: Danny O'K
Subject: Re: Coffee hoits $100 per pound

http://www.haciendaesmeralda.com/Thegeisha.htm

I googled a little more (couldn't help myself) and found La Esmeralda's
website with an explanation of sorts.

D. O'Keefe

"jim schulman" <jim_schulman@ameritech.net > wrote in message
news:ap7n92pcror46sfc8c38adk9qm2hmcs1pn@4ax.com...
> Mark today in your calenders, and kiss the days of superb coffees
> being cheap goodbye. Intelligentsia has put there share of the
> Esmeralda lot on sale at $51.95 per 1/2 pound. Even so, they are so
> sure it's going to sell out fast that the sale is invitation only.

Date: 24 Jun 2006 13:37:20
From: jim schulman
Subject: Re: Coffee hoits $100 per pound

On Sat, 24 Jun 2006 00:33:00 -0700, "Danny O'K"
<oksongbird@tcenturytel.net > wrote:

>I googled a little more (couldn't help myself) and found La Esmeralda's
>website with an explanation of sorts.

Part 2 of the story: The beans have caused such a sensation that the
search is on in Ethiopia to find the source of the cultivar. Gesha
province is the obvious suspect; but the coffees there are only for
local consumption and poorly handled. Stay tuned for greens from
there, once the farmers improve their preps.

And for a bit of controversy: The 2004 Geisha was a great cup; but if
it had been in among the steller and very similar coffees of the
Ethiopian Ecafe Auction, it might not have raised an eyebrow.

Date: 24 Jun 2006 15:42:58
From: Danny O'K
Subject: Re: Coffee hoits $100 per pound

High Yield Coffee found in Gesha

The Heads of three coffee development organisations in Kaffa zone, Jimma,
have announced the discovery of a high yield species of locally grown coffee
plant. Studies conducted by the Jimma Agricultural Research Centre into the
species named Gesha, after the woreda in which it was discovered, found that
it yields 18 to 20 quintals of coffee per hectare, three times the yield of
other species.

This discovery comes a month after the publication of research by Brazilian
scientists of their findings of a naturally caffeine-free coffee plant
native to Ethiopia.

From the Ethiopian Newsletter July, 2004
http://www.ethioembassy.org.uk/articles/Newsletter%20July%202004.htm

This is interesting if, indeed, the gesha coffee does produce higher yields
and quality flavor. We'll all stay tuned, I'm sure.

O'K

"jim schulman" <jim_schulman@ameritech.net > wrote in message
news:o31r92d90qd8sth997jl2c444gqs4an0kn@4ax.com...
> On Sat, 24 Jun 2006 00:33:00 -0700, "Danny O'K"
> <oksongbird@tcenturytel.net> wrote:
>
>>I googled a little more (couldn't help myself) and found La Esmeralda's
>>website with an explanation of sorts.
>
> Part 2 of the story: The beans have caused such a sensation that the
> search is on in Ethiopia to find the source of the cultivar. Gesha
> province is the obvious suspect; but the coffees there are only for
> local consumption and poorly handled. Stay tuned for greens from
> there, once the farmers improve their preps.
>
> And for a bit of controversy: The 2004 Geisha was a great cup; but if
> it had been in among the steller and very similar coffees of the
> Ethiopian Ecafe Auction, it might not have raised an eyebrow.

Date: 24 Jun 2006 18:25:44
From: jim schulman
Subject: Re: Coffee hoits $100 per pound

On Sat, 24 Jun 2006 15:42:58 -0700, "Danny O'K"
<oksongbird@tcenturytel.net > wrote:

>The Heads of three coffee development organisations in Kaffa zone, Jimma,
>have announced the discovery of a high yield species of locally grown coffee
>plant. Studies conducted by the Jimma Agricultural Research Centre into the
>species named Gesha, after the woreda in which it was discovered, found that
>it yields 18 to 20 quintals of coffee per hectare, three times the yield of
>other species.

That would be something odd and wonderful. Perhaps the Geisha got to
the New World in the 20s because people were looking for a high yiled
bean, an was dropped when it didn't pan out that way in Central
America. Usually though, high yield and high quality don;t go
together; the bean may be a dud (from a quality pov) in its own
country.

Date: 25 Jun 2006 04:12:13
From: Barry Jarrett
Subject: Re: Coffee hoits $100 per pound

On Sat, 24 Jun 2006 18:25:44 -0500, jim schulman
<jim_schulman@ameritech.net > wrote:

>On Sat, 24 Jun 2006 15:42:58 -0700, "Danny O'K"
><oksongbird@tcenturytel.net> wrote:
>
>>The Heads of three coffee development organisations in Kaffa zone, Jimma,
>>have announced the discovery of a high yield species of locally grown coffee
>>plant. Studies conducted by the Jimma Agricultural Research Centre into the
>>species named Gesha, after the woreda in which it was discovered, found that
>>it yields 18 to 20 quintals of coffee per hectare, three times the yield of
>>other species.
>
>That would be something odd and wonderful. Perhaps the Geisha got to
>the New World in the 20s because people were looking for a high yiled
>bean, an was dropped when it didn't pan out that way in Central
>America. Usually though, high yield and high quality don;t go
>together; the bean may be a dud (from a quality pov) in its own
>country.

except doesn't the esmeralda website mention that the gesha trees have
*lower* yields than other trees on the finca? "Due to the climate and
variety, it is also a low yielding coffee..."

Date: 25 Jun 2006 09:08:52
From: Danny O'K
Subject: Re: Coffee hoits $100 per pound

Yes. That's why I thought this was interesting. Price mentions that the
trees are in a special micro climate and that may have something to do with
it. The trees are also tall, I believe. It would be interesting to know the
comparative yields between the Ethiopian and the Panamanian.

I tried to find out what the climate was like in the Gesha/Kaffa region but
couldn't (imagine it's hot, of course, but couldn't tell from the map the
elevation and precip).The quality of the Panama Gesha undoubtedly has much
to do with the care the Petersons put into growing their coffee. I can't
remember if we've ever seen gesha specifically offered as a coffee here from
Ethiopia. It may be lumped into the Jimma coffee we see (?). In any case,
it's becoming an interesting investigative chapter in the book.

O'K

"Barry Jarrett" <barry@rileys-coffee.com > wrote in message
news:86vr92hu71qri9ajt05l4kv8ackop68s32@4ax.com...
> On Sat, 24 Jun 2006 18:25:44 -0500, jim schulman
> <jim_schulman@ameritech.net> wrote:
>
> >On Sat, 24 Jun 2006 15:42:58 -0700, "Danny O'K"
> ><oksongbird@tcenturytel.net> wrote:
> >
> >>The Heads of three coffee development organisations in Kaffa zone,
> >>Jimma,
> >>have announced the discovery of a high yield species of locally grown
> >>coffee
> >>plant. Studies conducted by the Jimma Agricultural Research Centre into
> >>the
> >>species named Gesha, after the woreda in which it was discovered, found
> >>that
> >>it yields 18 to 20 quintals of coffee per hectare, three times the yield
> >>of
> >>other species.
> >
> >That would be something odd and wonderful. Perhaps the Geisha got to
> >the New World in the 20s because people were looking for a high yiled
> >bean, an was dropped when it didn't pan out that way in Central
> >America. Usually though, high yield and high quality don;t go
> >together; the bean may be a dud (from a quality pov) in its own
> >country.
>
>
> except doesn't the esmeralda website mention that the gesha trees have
> *lower* yields than other trees on the finca? "Due to the climate and
> variety, it is also a low yielding coffee..."
>
>
>

Date: 24 Jun 2006 00:27:23
From: Danny O'K
Subject: Re: Coffee hoits $100 per pound

I've googled this a bit but not in depth: Where did Price originally get the
"geisha" cultivar? Did he develop it from Bourbons or typicas on his farm?
Has it been around for a while and farmers just haven't gone to the trouble
of planting it? It certainly seems that everyone will be wanting to
cultivate it as soon as they can get hold of it. I see comments that it came
from Ethiopia, but I'm guessing it's gone through hybridization. Interesting
that it's causing such a stir. Price begets price.

Danny O'Keefe

"jim schulman" <jim_schulman@ameritech.net > wrote in message
news:ap7n92pcror46sfc8c38adk9qm2hmcs1pn@4ax.com...
> Mark today in your calenders, and kiss the days of superb coffees
> being cheap goodbye. Intelligentsia has put there share of the
> Esmeralda lot on sale at $51.95 per 1/2 pound. Even so, they are so
> sure it's going to sell out fast that the sale is invitation only.

Date: 24 Jun 2006 13:02:07
From: Ed Needham
Subject: Re: Coffee hoits $100 per pound

I know that part of the process was extensive cupping of beans picked in
different areas of his farm to determine which ones were tastiest. Last
years Gesha was just a mix of all the beans.
--
*********************
Ed Needham�
"to absurdity and beyond!"
ed at homeroaster dot com
(include [FRIEND] in subject line to get through my SPAM filters)
*********************

"Danny O'K" <oksongbird@tcenturytel.net > wrote in message
news:-oidnc1np5v4dAHZnZ2dnUVZ_r6dnZ2d@centurytel.net...
> I've googled this a bit but not in depth: Where did Price originally get
> the "geisha" cultivar? Did he develop it from Bourbons or typicas on his
> farm? Has it been around for a while and farmers just haven't gone to the
> trouble of planting it? It certainly seems that everyone will be wanting
> to cultivate it as soon as they can get hold of it. I see comments that it
> came from Ethiopia, but I'm guessing it's gone through hybridization.
> Interesting that it's causing such a stir. Price begets price.
>
> Danny O'Keefe

Date: 23 Jun 2006 22:17:17
From: Doug Cadmus
Subject: Re: Coffee hoits $100 per pound

dcrehr wrote:
> Surely most here should know that SweetMaria sold a pound of the
> Esmeralda in a set of three top-auction-winners. Price was $100 for the
> three (green, of course). Sold out in about a week.
>
> A few years ago, I tasted St. Helena when it was really good. Later
> bought 5 lbs for $100-ish (also from SweetMaria). I tried to get some
> local cofficionados to split it with me, but was turned down. I was so
> happy to keep it all myself. Truly one of the best coffees I ever
> tasted.

Was that the 2001 Helena crop? Wunnderful stuff. (One of the nice
things about keeping a blog is that you can look back and recall things
like dates and years and stuff you otherwise wouldn't remember...
www.bloggle.com/2001/09/the-lonliest-island-st-helenas-golden-cup/ )

I'll up the ante: this year's Gesha is easily one of the most
remarkable coffees I've experienced. Ever.

-deCadmus

Date: 24 Jun 2006 10:23:47
From:
Subject: Re: Coffee hoits $100 per pound

Isn't this basically the "Best of Panama" that sold for $51/lb
wholesale? Sweet Maria's also had it, and was selling kits of 1lb of
each of the top 3 Panama coffees for $100. It was a better buy, and it
sold out in about a week. I don't see what the big deal is, if you
don't want to buy it, pass, like I did. Nobody is forcing you to buy
it.
jim schulman wrote:
> Mark today in your calenders, and kiss the days of superb coffees
> being cheap goodbye. Intelligentsia has put there share of the
> Esmeralda lot on sale at $51.95 per 1/2 pound. Even so, they are so
> sure it's going to sell out fast that the sale is invitation only.

Date: 05 Jul 2006 09:24:05
From: dcrehr
Subject: Re: Coffee hoits $100 per pound

Major life disruptions (adding a couple rooms to my house), it took a
little while for me to get to roasting the Panama Gesha in Sweet
Maria's auction collection.

Even to my palate and roasting skills (both limited compared to so many
here), it is spectacular.

I roasted this first batch to City in a fast air roaster and got a very
very bright cup (which I like a lot). This one really stands up and
shouts. I might try to stretch the roast out a bit next time to see
what happens.

Whether it is worth the $50+ per pound that it brought at auction is
another question entirely. Comes to about $1.25-1.50 a cup, I suppose.
And, since this is not a bean to be purchased every week, well, a
splurge is a splurge. At least I wasn't disappointed.

Cheers,

Darryl