PEABERRY COFFEE ROASTERS – BLOG

Africa's Largest exporter Uganda recently announced that production of the 2022- 23 crop could reach record levels due to improved rainfall and planting of seedlings over the last eight years. Ugandan coffee could be set to gain prominence, especially with Uganda Bukonzo coffee. Discovering Ugandan Coffee I can remember being slightly underwhelmed when I cupped samples about 5 years ago from another importer. I had decided after that, that Ugandan coffee was not one of my particular favourites. However when James Wilkinson (Omwani Coffee) last visited our Roastery he plonked himself straight down on my most comfortable chair and announced...

I happened to visit an independent coffee chain over the weekend looking for a cup of Joe and never wishing to miss a sales opportunity I asked how much they paid for their coffee? The very nice new manager said '£8.50 per kilo' and that they had just signed a three year contract with a new supplier, which included a lease with a new machine. Is this costly coffee? When I did my coffee roasting course with Stephen Diedrich in 2013 I met an already well established roaster, and whilst training he gave me an insight into how some coffee...

How are we able to continue to stock our range of Columbian coffee beans all year around? Most coffee producing countries only have one harvest per year and Africa is a prime example. When I discover a particularly well produced and processed harvest, for example our current African offering 'Burundi Masenga'. I usually decide to quickly reserve some more sacks. This helps when perfecting roast profiles as you have the stock available to continue to hone your Artisan skills. Roasting Columbian Coffee Beans There is nothing more frustrating than when I feel I have really come to understand the characteristics...

We are open to complete online orders which can't be done from home. Why not enjoy a lockdown coffee? Most coffee drinkers regard a cup of Joe as an essential part of their morning routine. It helps them to kick start body and mind into gear. I am terrible at meditation and find it hard to sit still for too long. However, when starting my day with a V60 lined with a wet filter paper balanced on top of a glass basin it is easier. I pour water in circles from a Japanese style teapot onto course grinds of a...

Wholesale is on lockdown and online is now the new norm for our boutique coffee business. We are roasting coffee once a week and fulfilling orders with bags of delicious freshly roasted beans that are now falling into the hands of old and new customers locally and nationally.   When making local deliveries I find myself squeezed into my little smart car with a pile of addressed book boxes in the passenger seat and my telephone showing me the Waze. Often driving down Closes that I shouldn't have, and still manage to make my escape. When eventually I reach my...

Why is it so important for us to rebrand? Once customers have tasted our coffee, surely the freshly processed product in the bag should sell itself? The latter of course is only partly relevant, providing painstaking care has been taken from the start, making sure we select the best coffees that are currently in season and then carefully manipulate them through the roasting drum. I really do like the idea of becoming a zero waste roastery or as near to one as is humanly possible.  One way of getting closer to this goal is to provide wholesale customers with plastic...