June 2011 Newsletter

In the great tradition of the big Aussie retailers, I'm pleased
to announce the JUNE STOCKTAKE SALE!

Actually, what's happening is that we have a new shipment of
Lelit machines due in port in a couple of weeks time. These are
slightly "updated" from the current models (the machines have new
steam wands without froth aiders, the PL053 grinder has a
slightly larger hopper) so we're clearing out the older models.
It's 10% off time for the Lelit Combi and the PL053 grinder!

LELIT PL042 COMBI
$742.50 + Freight
Save $82.50

LELIT PL053 Grinder
$247.50 + Freight
Save $27.50

Strictly while stocks last (not long, there are only half a dozen
of each) so if you want one, please be quick.

Based on the Euro cost to get the machines here prices have
actually gone up, but luckily for us the strong Aust. Dollar has
evened things up. The same thing has happened in the coffee
world, where the US Dollar green coffee price has continued its
spectacular rise.

Most noticeable from my point of view is how crop failures and
shortages are distorting traditional price relationships.

For many years the most expensive green coffee I regularly bought
was the Nicaraguan Maragogype. Around 3 years ago weather induced
crop failures in Colombia led to shortages which made the
Colombian Maragogype the most expensive.

Then hurricane-affected Cuban coffee knocked the Colombian off
the top spot, not to mention the extra cost of Cuban Peaberry
when the standard coffee wasn't available. Now there is a severe
shortage of Sumatran green coffee after heavy rains earlier this
year damaged the coffee cherries on the trees.

This means that Sumatra Mandheling has just moved to the top of
the price list, although I won't be changing the roasted coffee
price just yet. It's a spectacular example of how shortages and
substitutions are making procuring exceptional coffees ever more
difficult and expensive.

Not all the news is bad, though. I've had many customers asking
when we see the Organic Timor Maubesse and the New Guinea Suavee
AX again. The Timor beans could be as much as 3 months off, but
with a bit of luck the New Guinea is only 4 to 5 weeks away.

The long lead times can be a real pain, because you never really
know how good a coffee you've committed to is until it arrives.
Sometimes you do get lucky, though, as is the case with the June
Special.

Ethiopian Yirgacheffe
$44.00/kg

It's taken a couple of years, but I've finally been able to get a
quality Yirg after all the problems with the Ethiopian Coffee
Exchange (ECX) and its commodity approach to Specialty Coffee.
This is a classic example, with a heady lemon and jasmine flower
aroma, sweet citrus front palate and distinctive dark chocolate
aftertaste. If you are interested, you can check out the
professional opinions of the ECX at coffeed.com , it's on the
Links page of my website.

There are a few more surprise coffees in the pipeline, but as
with my machine shipments, you never know until you've got them
off the docks ... which is another source of worry right now!

Until next month

Alan