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| Coffee Criteria |
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Liquid Planet Coffee Criteria - Sourcing and Cupping
Coffee Sourcing:
We look for exceptional coffees grown by caring farmers via our great many contacts in nearly all the coffee producing countries of the world. We let ‘the world’ know what we are looking for in terms of a particular coffee. For example, if we are looking for a Guatemalan
Organic, we talk to the best brokers in the world (a fairly short list
that deal in great coffees) and the best producers in Guatemala and
let them know what we desire.
Coffee Cupping:
We get samples from those who believe they have what we desire. We
roast the samples and do a double-blind cupping (we don’t know the
farm, broker, exporter, importer, or price). Three of us generally do
the cupping and we’ll compare notes. We are usually in close agreement
(>95%) on the top two samples, after having cupped up to 30 or 40
samples. If there is any disagreement, we’ll cup them again until we
agree. Then, we decide which one we’re going to buy - still not
knowing the price.
Next, we get to know the farmers, their communities, and negotiate a
fair price. Just before the coffee is ready to leave the country, they
send us what is called a “pre-ship sample.”
We do another double-blind cupping of the “pre-ship sample” against
the first sample. We either approve or we don’t (we’re checking to
make sure that it’s the same that we agreed to buy). Then, when it
lands here in the U.S., they send us what is called a “landed sample”
and we go through the same process again. Finally, when it arrives on
our dock we go through the process again. Plus, we keep a sample of it
in the cupping room until that lot is used up and we are into another.
That is called the “control sample.”
Few roasters, if any, go through this critical process. Our
brokers and growers continue to tell us that we are the only roaster willing to
go through this detailed process. The end result is
exceptional coffee and farmers who are rewarded for producing phenomenal
coffee.
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