Announcement

**mauricem** · 19 March 2005, 11:44 AM

Re: Sample Tasters - Wanted.

Im happy to sample some beans and report back. My first thoughts on what a reviewer should cover would be

Roasting at least two batches lighter/darker, probably three would be better

Cupping as a SO, and in a blend with blend and roast recommendations

Test as a straight shot and latte

Comment on crema presence/ color and longjevity

Flavour acidity brightness body etc

to make it really interesting it could be a blind test where two or more different testers were sent the same bean, Im guessing the comments could be very err ...different

Maybe one of our cupping experts (hi graeme) could develop a "tasters notes template" to be sent out with the beans.

Anyway I think its a great idea and should help involve and engage more people especially those of us who are geographically remote.

cheers

Maurice

**Andy** · 19 March 2005, 12:12 PM

Re: Sample Tasters - Wanted.

Great feedback Maurice, thanks!

to make it really interesting it could be a blind test where two or more different testers were sent the same bean, Im guessing the comments could be very err .differerent

I mentioned this idea to Graeme who thought that sending out the beans with the identity of the beans in a sealed envelope would allow the taster to determine how blind a test they wanted to do. ;D

The quantity of beans that we get as samples is fairly low and then we need to split it 3 ways. There will be some restriction on how many roasts you can hope to get out of it but in time we will develop some good procedures.

**ed_vinas** · 19 March 2005, 03:34 PM

Re: Sample Tasters - Wanted.

Originally posted by mauricem link=1111162488/0#1 date=1111193057

Im happy to sample some beans and report back. My first thoughts on what a reviewer should cover would be

Roasting at least two batches lighter/darker, probably three would be better

Cupping as a SO, and in a blend with blend and roast recommendations

Test as a straight shot and latte

Comment on crema presence/ color and longjevity

Flavour acidity brightness body etc

to make it really interesting it could be a blind test where two or more different testers were sent the same bean, Im guessing the comments could be very err ...different

Maybe one of our cupping experts (hi graeme) could develop a "tasters notes template" to be sent out with the beans.

Anyway I think its a great idea and should help involve and engage more people especially those of us who are geographically remote.

Maurice,

Graeme and I usually cup them blind and I would urge anyone who is the taster for the month to do the same. Knowing the sample is a very easy way to get biased results and I am constantly amazed on the results when I blind cup.

What I usually do is cup the samples together (blind) and write down my results on a cupping form (see below). With the remainder I then make each sample into two espressos. One Ill try unsweetened and the other with a touch of sugar, I write down my comments as I go along.

In the past I’ve used the cupping evaluation form on the Roast magazine site: http://tinyurl.com/6e5zs

Here are some sites about cupping that I have found very usefull:

Naturally, this is the method I find best for me, and others might find alternative methods more useful.

On a related note, yesterday I went to one of the cupping courses held at William Angliss here in Melbourne. What a great experience, and our instructor (Jill) was very passionate about coffee and about getting to the grass roots of coffee flavour. She exhibited a great palette and the whole experience was well worth doing.

Cheers
Ed

**Avi** · 19 March 2005, 07:53 PM

Re: Sample Tasters - Wanted.

I would also like to put my hand up to cup sample coffees.

Great idea by the way!

Cheers,
Avi

**Andy** · 21 March 2005, 04:48 PM

Re: Sample Tasters - Wanted.

Thanks Avi

We will get some samples off to maurice soon (err.. prob via an Express(o) Post Pack.)

and next batch of samples have your name as the taster of the month.

**Javaphile** · 21 March 2005, 07:34 PM

Re: Sample Tasters - Wanted.

Id volunteer to be the TotM but I fear it would take far too much of your time to catch that darn cat. ;D

Java "Bean me up Scotty!" phile

**Andy** · 22 March 2005, 01:37 AM

Re: Sample Tasters - Wanted.

Javaphile, I would dearly love to have one of our international friends as the TotM... and lets face it, my initial post said nothing about country of origin. ;D

here kitty, kitty... :

The 10-14 day time lag might be a problem. Did you ever find-out if there were customs issues getting green beans into the US?

**Javaphile** · 22 March 2005, 03:20 AM

Re: Sample Tasters - Wanted.

Hey Andy,

There are no customs issues with shipping beans to the US. They are Duty Free. BUT (You *knew there had to be one) there are issues with the Food & Drug Administration. Apparently coffee beans are considered to be a possible source of bio-terrorism and as such all shipments of them must be reported a minimum of 24 hours before they hit the US shores or they are subject to confiscation. Additionally both the shipper and the recieptient must be registered.

From everybody Ive talked too theres nothing to prevent the shipping of beans to the US, as long as the paperwork is done ahead of time. If youd like I can do more indepth research and get all the details that would need to be done figured out. From what I know at this point the biggest pain is getting the paperwork/registration done and then making *sure that the proper authorities are notified ahead of time that the shipment is on its way to the US.

Java "Beans, beans the magical fruit. The more you eat the more you toot...oops, wrong bean!" phile

**Javaphile** · 22 March 2005, 04:46 AM

Re: Sample Tasters - Wanted.

Doing some further reasearch it appears to make life as easy as possible you should avoid using any jute or burlap bags to hold the beans as they require additional paperwork and testing for possible noxious substances. Additionally as its very likely that beans coming from you will transit Hawaii they will need to be in an airtight container/bag or they will potentially be refused entry at Hawaii. The same holds true for any coffee beans transiting Puerto Rico.

Quoting from a USFDA doc "Coffee is regulated to prevent the entry of the Mediterranean fruit fly, coffee berry borers, and Hemilela vastatrix which is an injurious rust disease of coffee.". Apparently no beans with pulp still attached is allowed entry into the US.

Additionally labeling the shipment as "Samples" appears to reduce the number of hoops one has to jump through as well as delays at the border for testing.

I currently have calls in too the local Importing division of the Food & Drug Administration that will hopefully answer all our questions. At this point it seems to be purely a matter of filling out the proper forms and then notifying the FDA of any incoming shipments ahead of time. The registration process is a one time thing and does not have to be repeated for every shipment.

People tend to make like its a big hairy deal to import stuff but from my personal experience (I hold an importers license for Canada) its simply a matter of having the proper forms filled out AHEAD of time. When one tries to import items with-out the proper forms on file is when things can turn into a nightmare.

As part of my research I will be determining if its easier to ship them as a business transaction or for personal use. Quite often the rules governing the two vary widely with personal use importation being much easier.

Ill keep you updated on what I discover.

Java "Swimming through the seas of regulations" phile

**Javaphile** · 22 March 2005, 07:46 AM

Re: Sample Tasters - Wanted.

Hhhmmmm......it appears that if the beans are sent from a private party to a private party for private use no registration is needed but Prior Notice of any shipment must be done. If they are sent from or too a business that manufacturers, processes, or stores food then that business must register as well as provide Prior Notice.

Prior Notice is apparently now required on all food stuffs entering the US.

Both the registration and prior notification can be done on-line at www.access.fda.gov

Java "Let the catless shipping begin!" phile

**Andy** · 22 March 2005, 10:45 AM

Re: Sample Tasters - Wanted.

Very nice work Javaphile

Im not a cat sort of guy anyway so that is great news.

You will be the TotM after Maurice and Avi.

We will sort the, now minimal, paperwork closer to shipping date and Ill select a shipper that avoids Hawaii.

**Javaphile** · 22 March 2005, 01:01 PM

Re: Sample Tasters - Wanted.

Hhhhmmmm.......new beans to try!

Now I just gotta figure out how to make my roaster work upside down!

Java "Donning the leather gloves to open the upside-down package just in case Andy is trying to get rid of a cat" phile

**fatboy_1999** · 22 March 2005, 02:24 PM

Re: Sample Tasters - Wanted.

Maybe we can package some Australian air with the beans.
Hope the coriolis effect doesnt make the roasting process too hard.

**BeanPusher** · 23 March 2005, 05:10 PM

Re: Sample Tasters - Wanted.

Id put my hand up for taster but all you would get from me is "Yup I liked it" or it was Nutty. ;D

So Ill put my hand down again.

Rich