We are now offering some of our coffees in "bulk" packaging, at least in our own diminutive way. Some of our coffees are now available in 60lb amounts packed in Grain-Pro bags and shipped in re-used packaging (we have a lot of Dormans boxes and what-not and we are always looking for ways to reduce waste). You'll notice that the bulk price reflects a lower price per pound as there is a little less labor involved in getting it out the door. Take a look through the offerings, we hope that you'll find this program to be helpful.
So, I got to see some shrub types up here in Northern Colorado over the weekend at the Mountain Regional Barista Rodeo and it was great to meet and chat with them. Apparently, I also missed some people who were there and I would've liked to say hello. I know that it is kind of early, but I did want to let you all know that I will be at the SCAA Expo in Anaheim April 15th-18th. I'll mostly be in the Roasters Guild Roasting Labs, but I'll be around otherwise. If any of you are planning on being there, please let me know or come and find me. It would be great to say hello.
Lucio Huaman's micro-lot from Las Delicias in Peru is up and available on shrub. You may remember this coffee from some recent cupping videos; but if not, this is a very fine Peru with a body like clarified butter and delicate citrus notes with sweet creme in the finish.
I also want to highlight two coffees that have been on the offering list for a while now.
Just got a big old box of samples from home base to start playing round with in the lab. Some of the new additions, and some yet to be named. I'll keep you posted, but be sure to check out the new Ethiopia Maduro and Nicaragua Java Longberry and also two other new offerings that are coming this week. Also, this is your last chance to grab some of the Luchadores and the Guatemala Pixcaya, get it while it's hot.
Happily, there were quite a lot of Shrub orders before the holiday and all throughout. Thanks! On the flip side, we are working on limited hours and with a bit less staff. The main man who has been fulfilling your orders, Josh, is out, and with the rest of the crew so busy with Sweet Maria's shipping, I (Tom) stepped in to do all the packaging. And it was a lot of packaging at that! (My sample roaster is being retooled anyway, so there was a cupping room hiatus).
Happy Holidays to everybody. Thanks for helping to nurture this diminutive little shrub this year. We hope that everybody is enjoying some amazing coffees and sharing/selling them with/to your loved ones and friends. As noted on the front page, Shrub is closed for the holidays this week and all orders made through the holiday and the weekend with ship on Monday the 28th.
Chris Schooley was here for a long weekend and we did massive amounts of cupping and such. We looked at all the lots for calibration purposes and to flesh out a few comments on the reviews. We ran a lot of coffees through the Giotto espresso machine to look at them as SO espresso. We have also added El Salvador Los Luchadores Pacamara today. It's an amazing cup, the best I can remember from this coffee; complex, syrupy body, sweet.
I spent the last part of the week catching up after a week off the beaten path in Peru (which should yield a nice micro for shrub). We have 2 new lots lined up, but not quite ready for full release. I'll be working on that next week. Chris Schooley is here for the weekend for extensive cupping, and we'll be running a lot of coffees through the espresso machine to test SO possibilities as well. -Tom
The way we see it, shipping cost is our common problem. It's a drag for you, a drag for us. Wouldn't it be great is you could download the beans from your computer? Free shipping always sounds great, but then you have to wonder if the product prices are adjusted to cover that cost. For us it is a dilemma, especially since coffee is so darn heavy. (Low grade coffee is sometimes actually partially roasted in the origin country so it is less heavy and costs less to ship. Isn't that a great idea?
