TIMEING IS EVERYTHING
I’ve been spending a lot of time online lately talking about my project and beloved coffee. It has, therefore, been a while since I’ve spent an entire day actually working on the farm. Not so today. Before I fell asleep last night, I decided that I would work today.
It is now the end of the day. I am tired and sweaty. But as is the case at the end of each day in the field, I have a very satisfied feeling – a feeling that I have accomplished something sacred. It is almost a religious experience.
We here on the mountain are so very blessed. All the natural elements have come together to create the conditions to grow great coffee. It’s almost like the perfect storm. In order to produce the very best coffee in the world, however, a farmer has to be dedicated to his calling and not compromise the quality of his coffee by taking any of many possible shortcuts.
One of these shortcuts would be picking cherries before the right time. Every single cherry on each bunch has a specific day when it should be picked. On each bunch you will find cherries at different stages of maturity. When you pick the ripe cherries on a bunch, a lot of time could be saved by also picking the ones that are almost ready. We (my family) will leave these and come back in two or three days when their time has come. This is very time consuming but it is one of the sacrifices we make in order to produce the best of the best. Picking cherries at just the right time is the very critical first step of processing. If the cherry is picked even one day before maturity, the bean will not have the ideal amount of natural sweetness that Blue Mountain Coffee is famous for. If allowed to over-ripe, the coffee will have sort of a rancid aftertaste. I found this picture online (I wont say where). This is not an example of good picking. A few beans are just right. The majority, however, are either under or over ripe. Hope to get a camara soon. I cant wait to share with you more pictures of the farm.
Timing plays a very critical role in many areas of farming and processing. And even though my father half jokingly refers to me as the “capitalist” (as if it’s a dirty word), I know it is the right time to sell directly to retailers and consumers. I can feel it in my bones
Hi Michael,
Thank you for educating a novice to coffee beans. I’ve been reading everything you write on Coffee Cuppa to educate myself and share it on my blog for other newbies:)
Learning about coffee beans as a crop and the process helps me be a more informed consumer, I appreciate that.
Thank you and I’ll likely be asking some really strange questions how to do things as I learn more. For now, thank you for the lessons.
Hello Danica. Thanks for reading my stuff. It really means a lot to me. Good to know you are getting something from my posts. Feel free to ask me anything. No question is too silly or strange. Thanks again
Thanks so much for your comment. We agree that Blue Mountain is the best coffee available. On our last trip to your beautiful country we went on a trip into the Blue Mountains and agree it is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever visited.
I have saved your information and when I need to purchase more coffee, it would be a great honor to buy directly from your family.
Good luck to you getting everything set up.
I just roasted some blue mountain coffee…nothing extraordinary I must say. especially considering the price your island charges for this commodity. it was smooth and subtle, but wasn’t really expressive…a good Cup of Excellence (which can be purchased for about 75% less than your coffee) is a far superior cup of joe. sorry. I would be willing to try your coffee if you send me a kilo….
Sorry you didn’t have a more pleasant experience with our beloved coffee. Estate coffees are not consistent in quality. This is because they acquire their beans from a variety of farmers. Not all farmers have the same amount of dedication. When you drink of my family’s beans, you are experiencing the best of the best. Just go to the “price list” page of my site http://bluemountainfarm.yolasite.com and give us a try. The price simply cannot be beaten and quality is assured. Many thanks