The Golden Bean 2012 - Coffee Roaster Competition

[antiXa]

Yeh I would like to enter please advise how ooh

[malliemcg]

I'm going to tip my hat into the ring for this one, will be interesting too see how the other 'snobs go as well. I've been getting some really good results of late, but then again my process is tweaked 100% to my tastes

[Andy]

Should be fine...
Get your entry in ASAP though as yhey will post you the 2 competition bags to fill and then send back to them.

All entries are in the same bags

I'm guessing that most CS'rs won't have a commercial heat sealer for the bags but a hot iron and a sheet of brown paper will also do a great job of sealing the top edge of the bags before freighting them back.

[B00sting]

Would it be too late to enter? Just saw the email today unfortunately...

[Andy]

Nice idea Amanda, love the spirit.

[commanda]

That's why i might be putting some Malabar in the mix, but i won't say to what ratio...

Now don't go letting the cat out of the white cotton bag with green printing just yet.

However, post comp, I would like to invite all CoffeeSnobs entrants to publish their blends; win. lose, or draw. I, for one, hereby make a commitment to do so.

Amanda

[Andy]

** NEWS FLASH **

I've just heard from the publisher of Cafe Culture that they are going to include a FREE 12 month subscription ($45 value) for all those that enter the CoffeSnobs home roasting categories at the Golden Bean.
Those that have already entered will receive it too. The subscription will be sent to the address on your entry form.

Shhh...don't tell the commercial guys CS'rs are getting a better deal.

They also said that entry forms should be submitted by the end of next week (Sept 14th) as they need to post out the competition issue coffee bags to pack your beans in when they roast.

[sidewayss]

Good to know. Overnight express it is.

[Andy]

Is there a reason why the deadline is set two weeks ahead?

Yep, as mentioned above, it's all about the logistics of dealing with such a huge amount of coffee. Of course the date is the same for all entries so it's still an even playing field.

those residing near Caloundra way has the home advantage of roasting to the last hour and dropping off the bags at the address

No real advantage. You can get overnight freight from anywhere in the country and the 2 week buffer means that the 1 day difference will have near zero impact on the coffee.

[sidewayss]

That's what i thought too.

The popularity of this competition means it needs time and energy to handle and process the entries, especially now that there is the Coffeesnobs category.

Anyway, it's still worth a shot even if those residing near Caloundra way has the home advantage of roasting to the last hour and dropping off the bags at the address.

That's why i might be putting some Malabar in the mix, but i won't say to what ratio...

[Thundergod]

Is there a reason why the deadline is set two weeks ahead? Why isn't the deadline set to say a week before? That way the resting time is a little more flexible especially with roasters that rather their beans rest say 5 or 8 days instead of 14 - 15 days. And the guy who want that rest of 2 weeks can do so by roasting a week before the deadline.

I had the same questions last year and I think it boils down to the logistics of getting all those entries sorted and processed. With approx 200 entries in the espresso category and about the same in SO plus a dozen more categories, that's a lot of entries to handle.

[micksquires]

Is there a reason why the deadline is set two weeks ahead? Why isn't the deadline set to say a week before? That way the resting time is a little more flexible especially with roasters that rather their beans rest say 5 or 8 days instead of 14 - 15 days. And the guy who want that rest of 2 weeks can do so by roasting a week before the deadline.

[sidewayss]

Trying to juggle this in my head.

The plan is to roast on the Monday 1st October, send it out by air express from WA to get to it's destination by Wednesday the 3rd at the latest.

Does anyone have their own plan?
The beans will have a good two weeks rest til the comp. I suspect certain beans will peak a week before the 16th and start their descend in quality, so diligent packaging would be paramount as well as roasting a slight shade lighter.

I might put some Monsoon Malabar in the mix...maybe...

It's a bean which will peak later than the others.

[GregJW]

Great opportunity for CSers. Good stuff Andy.

[Dennis]

Andy...nicely said.