Is this a generally poor year for Harar?

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Date: 21 Jul 2006 04:31:36
From: Steve
Subject: Is this a generally poor year for Harar?

My local green vendor has written on his website (in essence) that as
a result of the poor samples he has encountered this year there will
be no Harar until 2007.
As Harar constitutes 50% of my favorite drip blend, I'm less than
thrilled to hear this.
Is this industry wide or vendor specific?

Date: 20 Jul 2006 23:56:33
From: jim schulman
Subject: Re: Is this a generally poor year for Harar?

On Fri, 21 Jul 2006 04:31:36 GMT, Steve <not@use.net > wrote:

>My local green vendor has written on his website (in essence) that as
>a result of the poor samples he has encountered this year there will
>be no Harar until 2007.
>As Harar constitutes 50% of my favorite drip blend, I'm less than
>thrilled to hear this.
>Is this industry wide or vendor specific?

As Ken says, this year's is fairly clean and has Blueberry. In
addition, both this and last year have been near-spectacular, with 90
point lots being sold at many roasters. To put it simply, your vendor
should have requested a sample from another bag.

Date: 21 Jul 2006 05:05:17
From: Steve
Subject: Re: Is this a generally poor year for Harar?

On Thu, 20 Jul 2006 23:56:33 -0500, jim schulman
<jim_schulman@ameritech.net > wrote:

>On Fri, 21 Jul 2006 04:31:36 GMT, Steve <not@use.net> wrote:
>
>>My local green vendor has written on his website (in essence) that as
>>a result of the poor samples he has encountered this year there will
>>be no Harar until 2007.
>>As Harar constitutes 50% of my favorite drip blend, I'm less than
>>thrilled to hear this.
>>Is this industry wide or vendor specific?
>
>As Ken says, this year's is fairly clean and has Blueberry. In
>addition, both this and last year have been near-spectacular, with 90
>point lots being sold at many roasters. To put it simply, your vendor
>should have requested a sample from another bag.

Thank you both for the answers.
Any chance I could get pointed to another vendor that's not, let's say
for example, (ahem) located in Oakland?
I know how to search the web for vendors, I'd just like to try someone
that people here in a.c. like to do business with.

Date: 21 Jul 2006 05:12:22
From: Steve
Subject: Re: Is this a generally poor year for Harar?

On Fri, 21 Jul 2006 05:05:17 GMT, Steve <not@use.net > wrote:

>I know how to search the web for vendors, I'd just like to try someone
>that people here in a.c. like to do business with.

Scratch that.
I just read Jim's review on his website, I'll give Coffee Wholesalers
a try.

Date: 20 Jul 2006 23:17:36
From: Ken Fox
Subject: Re: Is this a generally poor year for Harar?

"Steve" <not@use.net > wrote in message
news:geo0c2hhi3dbjqk3a1bio7tr7cnbnipgcf@4ax.com...
> On Fri, 21 Jul 2006 05:05:17 GMT, Steve <not@use.net> wrote:
>
>>I know how to search the web for vendors, I'd just like to try someone
>>that people here in a.c. like to do business with.
>
> Scratch that.
> I just read Jim's review on his website, I'll give Coffee Wholesalers
> a try.

Chuck (proprietor of coffeewholesalers.com) is great; you will be glad you
gave him a try.

ken

Date: 21 Jul 2006 06:22:46
From: Steve
Subject: Re: Is this a generally poor year for Harar?

On Thu, 20 Jul 2006 23:17:36 -0600, "Ken Fox"
<morceaudemerdeThisMerdeGoes@hotmail.com > wrote:

>Chuck (proprietor of coffeewholesalers.com) is great; you will be glad you
>gave him a try.

That sets my mind at ease. I've only been roasting about 1 year now,
and up until today I was content to stick with the one supplier.

Date: 20 Jul 2006 22:48:07
From: Ken Fox
Subject: Re: Is this a generally poor year for Harar?

"Steve" <not@use.net > wrote in message
news:lsl0c2p9s4f4ojm0d9tmgiooij6bqfmgs8@4ax.com...
> My local green vendor has written on his website (in essence) that as
> a result of the poor samples he has encountered this year there will
> be no Harar until 2007.
> As Harar constitutes 50% of my favorite drip blend, I'm less than
> thrilled to hear this.
> Is this industry wide or vendor specific?

The currently available crop of MAO Harrar Horse is slightly cleaner than
last year's, making it better in the eyes of some and worse in the eyes of
others (I'm in the former camp).

If your local green vendor isn't offering Harrar right now, yes, it is a
vendor specific problem.

ken

Date: 21 Jul 2006 09:07:51
From: Don C.
Subject: Re: Is this a generally poor year for Harar?

Steve wrote:
> My local green vendor has written on his website (in essence) that as
> a result of the poor samples he has encountered this year there will
> be no Harar until 2007.

Actually after rereading this post I am confused. Steve, are you
referring to SMs? If so I am VERY confused. There has only been a
short period when Tom has not offered a Harar this season and during
that time he knew that he had a special batch heading his way. He made
arrangements for that special batch early in the year so it would make
no sense at all for him to imply that he would have none until 2007.

Date: 21 Jul 2006 09:10:26
From:
Subject: Re: Is this a generally poor year for Harar?

On 21 Jul 2006 09:07:51 -0700, "Don C." <DonRCummings@gmail.com >
wrote:

>
>Steve wrote:
>> My local green vendor has written on his website (in essence) that as
>> a result of the poor samples he has encountered this year there will
>> be no Harar until 2007.
>
>
>Actually after rereading this post I am confused. Steve, are you
>referring to SMs? If so I am VERY confused. There has only been a
>short period when Tom has not offered a Harar this season and during
>that time he knew that he had a special batch heading his way. He made
>arrangements for that special batch early in the year so it would make
>no sense at all for him to imply that he would have none until 2007.

See quote from SM's ethiopia page in my post above. And my attempt to
make some sense of it given what you say here.

Anyone tried the DP Yirg? That one sounds interesting.

_______________________________________
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offensive, inappropriate, or disruptive, please ignore it.
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Date: 21 Jul 2006 08:56:21
From: Don C.
Subject: Re: Is this a generally poor year for Harar?

Although I can't be sure of the OP's intent or veiled reference but Tom
has carried 3 Harars this season so it seems unlikely that the OP could
be referring to them. In addition, all 3 of the Harars that they have
carried have been exceptional. Plus he just added another Harar last
night (Thursday the 20th.)

Another vendor who has had a superb Harar all season has been
Morecoffee.com. The last time I spoke with them they were getting low
on that particular lot so things might have changed but that Lot has
the most Blueberry I've ever tasted in a coffee. Astounding. Actually
a little too bright for my tastes at C+ but the stars align perfectly
and it falls into perfect balance with the Milk Chocolate at FC+. One
of my top 3 so far this year.

So my question is, since the OP could not possibly be referring to SMs
;) what other greens vendors are there in Oakland?????

Roque wrote:
> I assume your "local vendor" is
>
> http://www.sweetmarias.com/coffee.africa.ethiopia.html
>
> who does, indeed, state the 2006 crop is not up to standard. But, he
> also notes that the early crop is ok and does have an offering of a
> July 2006 arrival Harrar Horse Green Sripe.
>
> It takes a long time to get coffee from Ethiopia to Oakland. Could it
> be that Tom is telling us the next crop is poor, so get what's
> available now while you can?
>
> What is the cropping season in Ethiopia?
>
> On another note: You might want to give that DP Sidamo a try. Most
> excellent coffee.
>
> Having said that, you cannot go wrong by ordering from
> www.coffeewholesalers.com. Good to expand your supplier base.
>
>
>
> On Fri, 21 Jul 2006 04:31:36 GMT, Steve <not@use.net> wrote:
>
> >My local green vendor has written on his website (in essence) that as
> >a result of the poor samples he has encountered this year there will
> >be no Harar until 2007.
> >As Harar constitutes 50% of my favorite drip blend, I'm less than
> >thrilled to hear this.
> >Is this industry wide or vendor specific?
>
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________
> Please Note: If you find a posting or message from me
> offensive, inappropriate, or disruptive, please ignore it.
> If you don't know how to ignore a posting, complain to
> me and I will be only too happy to demonstrate.

Date: 21 Jul 2006 17:10:24
From: Steve
Subject: Re: Is this a generally poor year for Harar?

Date: 21 Jul 2006 14:55:35
From: notbob
Subject: Re: Is this a generally poor year for Harar?

On 2006-07-21, Steve <not@use.net > wrote:

> I did not say that SM did not have other offerings this year....

I may not be the sharpest knife in the block, but it sure sounds like
that's what you were saying to me. Maybe you would like to elaborate
on how "there will be no Harar until 2007" can somehow be construed to
mean, 'except for the other Harar we *do have* available as of
Wednesday (7/19)'. It seems I'm not the only one confused.

nb

Date: 21 Jul 2006 22:18:04
From: Steve
Subject: Re: Is this a generally poor year for Harar?

On Fri, 21 Jul 2006 14:55:35 -0500, notbob <notbob@nothome.com > wrote:

>On 2006-07-21, Steve <not@use.net> wrote:
>
>
>> I did not say that SM did not have other offerings this year....
>
>I may not be the sharpest knife in the block, but it sure sounds like
>that's what you were saying to me. Maybe you would like to elaborate
>on how "there will be no Harar until 2007" can somehow be construed to
>mean, 'except for the other Harar we *do have* available as of
>Wednesday (7/19)'. It seems I'm not the only one confused.
>
>nb

Upon rereading my post I should have put the modifier "new" in the
sentence "there will be no Harar until 2007". I apologize for the
poorly written sentence and resulting confusion. It wasn't intended to
attack Thom or to mislead anyone.

Date: 21 Jul 2006 15:21:38
From: Johnny
Subject: Re: Is this a generally poor year for Harar?

"Steve" <not@use.net > wrote in message
news:21k2c29p1aqvqp8vbiaqjia35mlj4ndvbk@4ax.com...
> On Fri, 21 Jul 2006 14:55:35 -0500, notbob <notbob@nothome.com> wrote:
>
> >On 2006-07-21, Steve <not@use.net> wrote:
> >
> >
> >> I did not say that SM did not have other offerings this year....
> >
> >I may not be the sharpest knife in the block, but it sure sounds like
> >that's what you were saying to me. Maybe you would like to elaborate
> >on how "there will be no Harar until 2007" can somehow be construed to
> >mean, 'except for the other Harar we *do have* available as of
> >Wednesday (7/19)'. It seems I'm not the only one confused.
> >
> >nb
>
> Upon rereading my post I should have put the modifier "new" in the
> sentence "there will be no Harar until 2007". I apologize for the
> poorly written sentence and resulting confusion. It wasn't intended to
> attack Thom or to mislead anyone.
>
So what you are saying is there will be no 2007 Harrar until 2007 right? :-)

Date: 21 Jul 2006 22:29:06
From: Steve
Subject: Re: Is this a generally poor year for Harar?

On Fri, 21 Jul 2006 15:21:38 -0700, "Johnny"
<removethis.huuanito@hotmail.com > wrote:

>So what you are saying is there will be no 2007 Harrar until 2007 right? :-)

<Sigh >
Waiter, check please.

Date: 21 Jul 2006 18:00:39
From: notbob
Subject: Re: Is this a generally poor year for Harar?

On 2006-07-21, Steve <not@use.net > wrote:

>>So what you are saying is there will be no 2007 Harrar until 2007 right? :-)
>
><Sigh>
> Waiter, check please.

LOL!...

Date: 21 Jul 2006 09:06:24
From:
Subject: Re: Is this a generally poor year for Harar?

On 21 Jul 2006 08:56:21 -0700, "Don C." <DonRCummings@gmail.com >
wrote:

>Although I can't be sure of the OP's intent or veiled reference but Tom
>has carried 3 Harars this season so it seems unlikely that the OP could
>be referring to them. In addition, all 3 of the Harars that they have
>carried have been exceptional. Plus he just added another Harar last
>night (Thursday the 20th.)
>
>Another vendor who has had a superb Harar all season has been
>Morecoffee.com. The last time I spoke with them they were getting low
>on that particular lot so things might have changed but that Lot has
>the most Blueberry I've ever tasted in a coffee. Astounding. Actually
>a little too bright for my tastes at C+ but the stars align perfectly
>and it falls into perfect balance with the Milk Chocolate at FC+. One
>of my top 3 so far this year.
>
>So my question is, since the OP could not possibly be referring to SMs
>;) what other greens vendors are there in Oakland?????
>

Especially another greens vendor in Oakland with a notice on their web
page that 2006 is not going to be a good year for Harars.

I am reasonably sure Tom is talking about future offerings and sending
a signal that he's not pleased with what's coming. Remember, it takes
a long time to get coffee from Ethiopia to the US. It may be that what
he has now is technically the 2005 (or early 2006) vintage.

>Roque wrote:
>> I assume your "local vendor" is
>>
>> http://www.sweetmarias.com/coffee.africa.ethiopia.html

where Tom tells us:

"**A brief word about 2006 Harars: With the exception of our
early-crop lot this year, Harars have been a mixed bag. The blueberry
flavor we prize is absent. But look over the list of Ethiopia
offerings carefully. Ethiopia Yirgacheffe DRY PROCESS??? Yes, it is
true, the first DP Yirgs, and they DO have the amazing cup character
(with blueberry) we look for in great Harars. Later in this season, we
have a lot of Special Preparation Harar coming, something I arranged
to see if added hand-picking/sorting would give us a more refined
Harar cup. I am excited to see how that comes in. -Tom"

On another note: Has anyone tried the DP Yirg?

>>
>> who does, indeed, state the 2006 crop is not up to standard. But, he
>> also notes that the early crop is ok and does have an offering of a
>> July 2006 arrival Harrar Horse Green Sripe.
>>
>> It takes a long time to get coffee from Ethiopia to Oakland. Could it
>> be that Tom is telling us the next crop is poor, so get what's
>> available now while you can?
>>
>> What is the cropping season in Ethiopia?
>>
>> On another note: You might want to give that DP Sidamo a try. Most
>> excellent coffee.
>>
>> Having said that, you cannot go wrong by ordering from
>> www.coffeewholesalers.com. Good to expand your supplier base.
>>
>>
>>
>> On Fri, 21 Jul 2006 04:31:36 GMT, Steve <not@use.net> wrote:
>>
>> >My local green vendor has written on his website (in essence) that as
>> >a result of the poor samples he has encountered this year there will
>> >be no Harar until 2007.
>> >As Harar constitutes 50% of my favorite drip blend, I'm less than
>> >thrilled to hear this.
>> >Is this industry wide or vendor specific?
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________
>> Please Note: If you find a posting or message from me
>> offensive, inappropriate, or disruptive, please ignore it.
>> If you don't know how to ignore a posting, complain to
>> me and I will be only too happy to demonstrate.

_______________________________________
Please Note: If you find a posting or message from me
offensive, inappropriate, or disruptive, please ignore it.
If you don't know how to ignore a posting, complain to
me and I will be only too happy to demonstrate.

Date: 21 Jul 2006 11:13:46
From: Lloyd Parsons
Subject: Re: Is this a generally poor year for Harar?

In article <uru1c2ht2dnpobafr8p4oafnin0tt6j9qt@4ax.com >, Roque Ja
wrote:

>
> On another note: Has anyone tried the DP Yirg?

Yep, it is very good. I got it in my initial sample pack with my
roaster. Since then, I've ordered some more.

Date: 22 Jul 2006 16:55:10
From: Donn Cave
Subject: Re: Is this a generally poor year for Harar?

Quoth Lloyd Parsons <lloydparsons@mac.com >:

Date: 22 Jul 2006 13:08:14
From: jim schulman
Subject: Re: Is this a generally poor year for Harar?

On 22 Jul 2006 16:55:10 GMT, "Donn Cave" <donn@drizzle.com > wrote:

>Quoth Lloyd Parsons <lloydparsons@mac.com>:
>

Date: 22 Jul 2006 12:23:33
From:
Subject: re: Is this a generally poor year for Harar?

On Sat, 22 Jul 2006 13:08:14 -0500, jim schulman
<jim_schulman@ameritech.net > wrote:

>For me, the DP Yrgs (and related super-Sidamos) have been the coffee
>story of the year. They are honey sweet and gooey-heavy, but still as
>crisp and clean as wp Yrgs. I had one on the table when we cupped the
>$50 Esmeralda, and it split the vote quite nicely for best cup. At
>last year's Ecafe auction, the Finchwa (labelled a Sidamo) and the
>Bale Kara were the big winners; this year some new ones are coming in
>(look out for the Adado - it's a 95+ ueber-coffee)
>
>The breakthorough is that they are using Kenyan style terraces to dry
>the beans ultra-cleanly (rather than on the ground). Since dp drying
>takes over a week, not the few days of post-wash drying, one has to
>build a lot of terraces. This means the lots are still small. Given
>the buzz they've created; I would say a lot of Yrg coops are busily
>building drying terraces right now, and it will become a standard, but
>always somewhat premium priced, coffee.

I was lucky enough to get some of the Finchwa last year and am
hopeful that a taste or two of this year's top DPs will find their way
to my kitchen once again. The Finchwa was a truly amazing coffee,
quite unlike anything i'd ever had. Something to pull out for truly
special occasions, like those fine wines. Incidently, on a note
related to another thread, I found that it lost some of its marvelous
fruitiness very quickly after roasting.

Can someone expand a bit on the differences between Sidamo and Yirg,
or point me to some references? I've thought that Yirgs have been,
more or less by definition, wet-processed coffees, and the DP versions
are quite new. Jim's post seems to confirm that. How about Sidamo?
Over the years I have had a few Sidamos, Good coffees, for sure, but
I've never been truly thrilled by them until I tasted the Finchwa. Is
the DP Sidamo a recent phenomenon as well?

While I'm looking for information, is there a good reference on the
different qualities one can expect from a DP vs. WP coffee, esp the
Ethiopians. I seem to recall a Bob Yellin post in this forum a few
months back singing the praises of DP Sidamos. Didn't generate a whole
lot of interest as I recall. Maybe because it had nothing to do with
expensive new espresso toys?

How about roasting styles for these very special coffees? I've tried
to keep them City+ or so, but I don't use them for espresso (although
I have taken what was left after a couple of days and mixed it into an
espresso blend at, say, 25% or so).

Guess I'll be putting together an order to sweet maria's for some of
the Yirg. Thanks all, for your input on this.

Date: 22 Jul 2006 14:51:29
From: jim schulman
Subject: Re: Is this a generally poor year for Harar?

On Sat, 22 Jul 2006 12:23:33 -0700, RogueJa wrote:

>Can someone expand a bit on the differences between Sidamo and Yirg,
>or point me to some references?

I think the entire coffee world was just as amazed as you. The ecafe
auction certainly sent a lot of roasters into Sidamo on a lot-hunt.
Here's the story, as far as I know:

Yrgacheffe is the highest village in Sidamo province, and the best
lots of coffees grown around it get wet processed at one of two rather
ramshackle wet mills. The better Sidamo coffees also get wet
processed, whereas the lesser ones get the traditional, on the ground,
not to much attention to ferment, dry process.

Turns out that the standard export lots are graded pooled from a large
number of unequal quality, small farms at the washing stations. Also,
unlike Central American growers, these guys drink coffee, and they
keep the best for their personal stash, which they lovingly dry
process on terraces. The best of these found their way to the ecafe
auction; and a star was born. Finchwa is a single farm outside
Yrgacheffe proper, although some roasters rechristened their lots as
Finchwa Yrg.

I had one Finchwa green sample. On the first day it outcupped the Bale
Kara and was a revelation, on subsequent days the Bale improved
against it, since it's less fade prone. I've only had one tiny Adado
sample, which I unrestrainedly drank in a day flat; it has 1 or 2
points on the Finchwa in my notes, although I've never had them head
to head.

Date: 21 Jul 2006 14:14:35
From: jim schulman
Subject: Re: Is this a generally poor year for Harar?

Date: 21 Jul 2006 15:03:06
From: Barry Jarrett
Subject: Re: Is this a generally poor year for Harar?

On Fri, 21 Jul 2006 04:31:36 GMT, Steve <not@use.net > wrote:

>My local green vendor has written on his website (in essence) that as
>a result of the poor samples he has encountered this year there will
>be no Harar until 2007.
>As Harar constitutes 50% of my favorite drip blend, I'm less than
>thrilled to hear this.
>Is this industry wide or vendor specific?

it might be that thom's bar is set so high that it's difficult to hit
every year.

it happened to me with yemen. :(

--barry

Date: 21 Jul 2006 17:13:21
From: Steve
Subject: Re: Is this a generally poor year for Harar?

On Fri, 21 Jul 2006 15:03:06 GMT, Barry Jarrett
<barry@rileys-coffee.com > wrote:

>it might be that thom's bar is set so high that it's difficult to hit
>every year.
>
>it happened to me with yemen. :(

That's why I was asking. I've never been disappointed by his coffee,
well, except that Rwandan and I wanted to see what others had to say
on the crop.

Date: 21 Jul 2006 15:21:52
From: Paul Monaghan
Subject: Re: Is this a generally poor year for Harar?

On Fri, 21 Jul 2006 15:03:06 GMT, Barry Jarrett
<barry@rileys-coffee.com > wrote:

>it might be that thom's bar is set so high that it's difficult to hit
>every year.
>
>it happened to me with yemen. :(

Great point. That's part of why my usual non-espresso coffee is paper
filtered drip. I use other methods for special occasions. If I used
those other methods every day, there would be no special occasions.

Date: 21 Jul 2006 10:33:58
From: Lloyd Parsons
Subject: Re: Is this a generally poor year for Harar?

In article <85s1c29akek2s4d8go5f1c2ijcgch57sj4@4ax.com >,
Paul Monaghan <monaghan@shorelinelegal.com > wrote:

> On Fri, 21 Jul 2006 15:03:06 GMT, Barry Jarrett
> <barry@rileys-coffee.com> wrote:
>
> >it might be that thom's bar is set so high that it's difficult to hit
> >every year.
> >
> >it happened to me with yemen. :(
>
>
> Great point. That's part of why my usual non-espresso coffee is paper
> filtered drip. I use other methods for special occasions. If I used
> those other methods every day, there would be no special occasions.

My typical day is a pod coffee as first cup of the day. Not because it
is so good, but it is ready in about 2 minutes start to finish. When I
get up, I want coffee NOW! Good is for later... ;-)

Then the rest of the day is a cap and a couple of cafe cremas.

As to Thom's bar, well from my limited experience and reading around the
'net, I think he does have a very high bar for the coffees he sells. I
like that.

Date: 21 Jul 2006 11:57:31
From: Cordo
Subject: Re: Is this a generally poor year for Harar?

> As to Thom's bar, well from my limited experience and reading around the
> 'net, I think he does have a very high bar for the coffees he sells. I
> like that.

I also like that Thom is clear that different lots of Harrar's vary wildly.
He always does the work to find a few that are really what we love about
Harrar. He had one a year and a half ago that knocked my socks off.

C

Date: 21 Jul 2006 07:01:07
From:
Subject: Re: Is this a generally poor year for Harar?

I assume your "local vendor" is

http://www.sweetmarias.com/coffee.africa.ethiopia.html

who does, indeed, state the 2006 crop is not up to standard. But, he
also notes that the early crop is ok and does have an offering of a
July 2006 arrival Harrar Horse Green Sripe.

It takes a long time to get coffee from Ethiopia to Oakland. Could it
be that Tom is telling us the next crop is poor, so get what's
available now while you can?

What is the cropping season in Ethiopia?

On another note: You might want to give that DP Sidamo a try. Most
excellent coffee.

Having said that, you cannot go wrong by ordering from
www.coffeewholesalers.com. Good to expand your supplier base.

On Fri, 21 Jul 2006 04:31:36 GMT, Steve <not@use.net > wrote:

>My local green vendor has written on his website (in essence) that as
>a result of the poor samples he has encountered this year there will
>be no Harar until 2007.
>As Harar constitutes 50% of my favorite drip blend, I'm less than
>thrilled to hear this.
>Is this industry wide or vendor specific?

_______________________________________
Please Note: If you find a posting or message from me
offensive, inappropriate, or disruptive, please ignore it.
If you don't know how to ignore a posting, complain to
me and I will be only too happy to demonstrate.

Date: 21 Jul 2006 05:51:16
From: Dan
Subject: Re: Is this a generally poor year for Harar?

Steve wrote:
> My local green vendor has written on his website (in essence) that as
> a result of the poor samples he has encountered this year there will
> be no Harar until 2007.
> As Harar constitutes 50% of my favorite drip blend, I'm less than
> thrilled to hear this.
> Is this industry wide or vendor specific?

That sounds very odd - the harrar I've had from james gourmet (in the
uk) has been pretty spectacular! (they also list it as an exceptional
lot on their site)

Date: 20 Jul 2006 22:53:40
From: cpl593h
Subject: Re: Is this a generally poor year for Harar?

Wow - that's weird for your supplier to say. I've had some outstanding
harrars from this crop, and some exceptional lots of some Sidamos. It
seems to me like this is a good year for Ethiopia, but this isn't based
on judgement of very many crops. However, these "outstanding" harrars
that I have had have exceeded (some of them far exceeded) my
expectations.

Date: 21 Jul 2006 06:27:15
From: Steve
Subject: Re: Is this a generally poor year for Harar?

On 20 Jul 2006 22:53:40 -0700, "cpl593h" <CPL593H@gmail.com > wrote:

>Wow - that's weird for your supplier to say. I've had some outstanding
>harrars from this crop, and some exceptional lots of some Sidamos. It
>seems to me like this is a good year for Ethiopia, but this isn't based
>on judgement of very many crops. However, these "outstanding" harrars
>that I have had have exceeded (some of them far exceeded) my
>expectations.

I can't offer an explanation, and I won't post the statement as I'm
sure there are copyright issues, but it's a well known West Coast
vendor.
Fortunately, this will offer a chance to try another's offerings and
perhaps end up with even better coffee. Not a bad deal...

Date: 21 Jul 2006 18:36:08
From: Don C.
Subject: Re: Is this a generally poor year for Harar?

I didn't know that you had tried the Lot 30. You should have said so.
In that case, if you want more the Harar at Morecoffee.com is
indistinguishable from the Lot 30. That is if he still has some. He did
a few weeks ago when I ordered a bunch but he said he was getting low.

Steve wrote:
> On 21 Jul 2006 16:04:39 -0700, "Don C." <DonRCummings@gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> >Steve,
> >
> >I did not mean to imply that you were being snide or had a hidden
> >agenda although I can see that my original answer might lead you to
> >think that.
> >This is an example of the medium we are using hiding the
> >fact that I was replying in good humor with no ill will at all.
>
>
> Thanks for that, I thought otherwise. I apologize for the tone of the
> rejoinder. Nuff said :-)
>
>
>
> >In
> >reality until I reread your post I did not think you meant SMs since he
> >has had three Harars this year.
> >
> >I am still a little confused though. But now it is in regard to Tom's
> >reticence towards the '06 Harars. I hadn't read what he wrote. I guess
> >from his perspective he has had to sift through an excessive amount of
> >subpar coffee to get his 3 lots and maybe this has tainted his views of
> >the Harars in general this year. But I mean, that Lot 30 was a
> >powerhouse of a coffee. From my perspective it is hard for me to think
> >of any crop from which that Lot was pulled as anything but spectacular.
> > I ordered 24# of the Green Stripe without even reading the review.
> >
> >Now that I have read what Tom wrote about this year's crop (thanks to
> >Roque) I would be very reluctant to order a Harar from anyone but Tom
> >since I now know that there are so many subpar lots to be had.
>
>
> I'm going to order 2lbs of Green Stripe first, because of his
> cautionary review.
> And that's what motivated me to ask about the general consensus. He
> really, in my admittedly limited experience with his review style,
> seemed down on the Harars and that is contrary to what I've read
> elsewhere. Barry may be right, Thom's standards may be tough to
> attain.
> Lucky for his customers :-)
> BTW, since we're on the subject, Lot 30 was amazing, but Lot 19 was,
> um, just OK for me. I still have some laying around.
>
>
> >
> >BTW, I fully agree with your assessment of "the tone here lately." I
> >hate to contribute to 'that tone' but sometimes I slip.
>
>
> As I've learned today, the addition or omission of a single word
> changes perceptions :-) I'm going to be more careful.
>
> --
> Steve <--- doesn't like being in the dunk tank

Date: 22 Jul 2006 05:45:49
From: Steve
Subject: Re: Is this a generally poor year for Harar?

On 21 Jul 2006 18:36:08 -0700, "Don C." <DonRCummings@gmail.com >
wrote:

>I didn't know that you had tried the Lot 30. You should have said so.
>In that case, if you want more the Harar at Morecoffee.com is
>indistinguishable from the Lot 30. That is if he still has some. He did
>a few weeks ago when I ordered a bunch but he said he was getting low.

I'll give them a try, thanks for the suggestion!

Date: 21 Jul 2006 16:04:39
From: Don C.
Subject: Re: Is this a generally poor year for Harar?

Steve,

I did not mean to imply that you were being snide or had a hidden
agenda although I can see that my original answer might lead you to
think that. This is an example of the medium we are using hiding the
fact that I was replying in good humor with no ill will at all. In
reality until I reread your post I did not think you meant SMs since he
has had three Harars this year.

I am still a little confused though. But now it is in regard to Tom's
reticence towards the '06 Harars. I hadn't read what he wrote. I guess
from his perspective he has had to sift through an excessive amount of
subpar coffee to get his 3 lots and maybe this has tainted his views of
the Harars in general this year. But I mean, that Lot 30 was a
powerhouse of a coffee. From my perspective it is hard for me to think
of any crop from which that Lot was pulled as anything but spectacular.
I ordered 24# of the Green Stripe without even reading the review.

Now that I have read what Tom wrote about this year's crop (thanks to
Roque) I would be very reluctant to order a Harar from anyone but Tom
since I now know that there are so many subpar lots to be had.

BTW, I fully agree with your assessment of "the tone here lately." I
hate to contribute to 'that tone' but sometimes I slip.

And Roque, as far as that DP Yirg. It is very good. And very unusual
for a Yirg. If I tasted that one blind I would never be able to guess
it right. Well worth a try.
Steve wrote:
> On 21 Jul 2006 08:56:21 -0700, "Don C." <DonRCummings@gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> >Although I can't be sure of the OP's intent or veiled reference but Tom
> >has carried 3 Harars this season so it seems unlikely that the OP could
> >be referring to them. In addition, all 3 of the Harars that they have
> >carried have been exceptional. Plus he just added another Harar last
> >night (Thursday the 20th.)
> (snip)
> >So my question is, since the OP could not possibly be referring to SMs
> >;) what other greens vendors are there in Oakland?????
>
> The OP's intent is clearly stated: is this a uniformly off year for
> Harar?
> I did not say that SM did not have other offerings this year, nor did
> I make any statement as to the offering's quality. AAMOF, the comment
> "But what a strange year it has been: an early lot (Lot 30) with great
> blueberry character, a solid lot after that (Lot 19) and then? Well,
> nothing. I cupped Harars to the verge of coffee nausea looking for
> something special, and it was not to be found. Earth, hide/leather;
> those were the dominate flavors in samples I evaluated from a host of
> sources. What happened? Bad weather, too much rain, too little: who
> knows! It seemed to be a crop-wide issue." in last night's offering
> was what prompted me to ask the question. You are more knowledgeable
> than I, but to my mind it prompted the question, "does everyone feel
> this way about the crop?
>
> As to a "veiled reference", I doubt there was a single person reading
> this group who was unsure of whom I was referring to. I just didn't
> feel, with the tone here lately, that posting a "Thom sez the Harar
> sux" subject line would get the answer I was looking for.
>
> I'm here to learn about coffee and to glean the opinions of those who
> have been around a bit, I don't have a hidden agenda, which is what I
> read your post to suggest.

Date: 21 Jul 2006 23:26:16
From: Steve
Subject: Re: Is this a generally poor year for Harar?

On 21 Jul 2006 16:04:39 -0700, "Don C." <DonRCummings@gmail.com >
wrote:

>Steve,
>
>I did not mean to imply that you were being snide or had a hidden
>agenda although I can see that my original answer might lead you to
>think that.
>This is an example of the medium we are using hiding the
>fact that I was replying in good humor with no ill will at all.

Thanks for that, I thought otherwise. I apologize for the tone of the
rejoinder. Nuff said :-)

>In
>reality until I reread your post I did not think you meant SMs since he
>has had three Harars this year.
>
>I am still a little confused though. But now it is in regard to Tom's
>reticence towards the '06 Harars. I hadn't read what he wrote. I guess
>from his perspective he has had to sift through an excessive amount of
>subpar coffee to get his 3 lots and maybe this has tainted his views of
>the Harars in general this year. But I mean, that Lot 30 was a
>powerhouse of a coffee. From my perspective it is hard for me to think
>of any crop from which that Lot was pulled as anything but spectacular.
> I ordered 24# of the Green Stripe without even reading the review.
>
>Now that I have read what Tom wrote about this year's crop (thanks to
>Roque) I would be very reluctant to order a Harar from anyone but Tom
>since I now know that there are so many subpar lots to be had.

I'm going to order 2lbs of Green Stripe first, because of his
cautionary review.
And that's what motivated me to ask about the general consensus. He
really, in my admittedly limited experience with his review style,
seemed down on the Harars and that is contrary to what I've read
elsewhere. Barry may be right, Thom's standards may be tough to
attain.
Lucky for his customers :-)
BTW, since we're on the subject, Lot 30 was amazing, but Lot 19 was,
um, just OK for me. I still have some laying around.

>
>BTW, I fully agree with your assessment of "the tone here lately." I
>hate to contribute to 'that tone' but sometimes I slip.

As I've learned today, the addition or omission of a single word
changes perceptions :-) I'm going to be more careful.

--
Steve <--- doesn't like being in the dunk tank

Date: 24 Jul 2006 22:56:33
From: Doug Cadmus
Subject: Re: Is this a generally poor year for Harar?

Lloyd Parsons wrote:
> In article <uru1c2ht2dnpobafr8p4oafnin0tt6j9qt@4ax.com>, Roque Ja
> wrote:
>
> >
> > On another note: Has anyone tried the DP Yirg?
>
> Yep, it is very good. I got it in my initial sample pack with my
> roaster. Since then, I've ordered some more.

Tried it. Like it. Like the DP Sidamo better still... see:

> http://www.bloggle.com/2006/07/tasting-fto-ethiopian-sidamo-dry-process/

-deCadmus

www.bloggle.com
Made in Vermont