Today the top ranked coffees from the competition I helped judge back in February went up for auction. I was hoping to get the Hama. I think the coffee is worth the price that it got, but at the price it got, I would not be able to sell it. The people at Hama should be happy with the results of the auction. Although I was unable to bring in the Hama, I was able to win the excellent rank 6 natural Yirgacheffe from Konga cooperative. This is a nice sweet coffee with a lot of dimension to the cup and we're getting all of it.
I've spent a lot of time with these coffees, cupping them in Ethiopia, cupping them here again recently, then brewing them by the pot and by the press to enjoy again. Overall I'm pleased with the results. When I was in Ethiopia, one thing I kept hearing from the farmers is that they want a good price for good coffee. This auction delivered some good prices for some good coffees. Once again, we paid the second highest price per pound in the auction. I was, however, amazed at the outcome with regard to the rank 2 natural Jimma from Kenteri cooperative which went for the opening bid price. This coffee is worth considerably more than it got at auction, so I am a little upset over that.
Now these coffees are being prepared for export. I hear they should be ready to leave Ethiopia within a couple weeks. Then the coffee should take one or two months to get from Ethiopia to the United States (in the case of coffees that are coming to the United States. I'm sure some will be going elsewhere.) and then, assuming it doesn't get held up in customs, our coffee will spend another week getting from the coast to our location and then I will need a few days to figure out the best way to roast it. In other words, this coffee is not going to be available in the near future. Don't ask for it. We won't make a secret of the coffee when it does become available. Until then, the Hama from last year's auction is still holding up very well and that should be available until very near the time the Konga becomes available. If you haven't tried it yet, you should. It's really good.