Remarks from the SCAA lecture about ML’s
On the pannel there was a spead of industry people; co-op members, brokers, roasters, researchers.
+if you only buy a ML from a producer and not their normal harvest this is NOT seen as good practice in “relationship trade” (by some producers) its like only going out for dinner with a friend when they are shouting dinner.
+Skimming the best out, on the whole doesn’t greatly reduce the quality of the main harvest, rather- that the good quality beans are missed in the cup when left in normal harvest, so skimming can be a good way of achieving a special lot, esp when already harvested or harvest special lots at “optimum picking time”.
+Farmers (from CENFROCAFE in Peru) who attained a ML once never received it again, seemed like luck to them. This brought about big disappointment. They have often had to re-blend ML’s back into normal coffee as they had no buyers. It was mentioned that farmers (in private) like the idea of ML’s- its the co-op who mainly talk about jealousy among producers.
+In peru, ML are seen as a seperate business, requires farmer to file tax return (which the co-op would normaly do) this is also on a higher tax code and rate, and requires accountant. Also land lots which have produced ML’s are seen as more valuable so land tax and value go up too.
+everyone wants to taste samples of ML’s, but few actually buy.
+Roasters are creating (perceived) demand for ML’s, not lead by customers or market.
+ML’s can be useful for producers to develop a “new” flavour profile to meet a market, and apply these agronomic practices to main crop. (To me this seems like the best role of ML’s -develop best practice at micro level, test it on market, and roll out macro level if successful)
+There is a need to increase confidence between producers and roasters, conducting dialog and questions around adding value and ways to make ML’s work for farmers is very important as ML’s increase in trade.
Peoples Coffee has held off from pushing for ML’s from our producers due to the feedback we get when raising this topic. It is a lot of extra work for farmers and the co-op to produce, and outside of the COE auction system- it’s hard to find buyers to pay what the farmers would like to receive for all the extra work.
However some of our producers are now offering special lots which may be skimmed or ML’s, which we will be receiving later in the year !! (july 2012??)
I think it is more beneficial to raise quality of total harvest, rather than focus on ML’s which only see a few mouths. Then, when we talk about quality it is relating to our bread and butter coffee, not the ML’s which make up 0.1% of business. This issue is frustrating when other roasterys talk about buying the highest quality coffee for high prices, but it only relates to 0.1% of their business as ML’s. (Stumptown is often mentioned in this capacity)
The Cooling Tray Sessions 