VSalon Coffee Exchange kick off meeting

[Too Tall]

We talked about using Jun 26 as a start date.

Someone suggested we all roast enough to send a modest amt. to each member eg everyone gets some from each person. I *think that will work as long as the total number of participants is < 6 ???

Alternately, we create a round robin system. Somebody who is either a school teacher or good at setting up brackets please step up ;)

I will create a sticky thread with home addresses. These will only be visible to folks with the password to this forum.

[WadePatton]

Interesting and thanks for the invite but as my roasting method is low-volume and I live in a desert devoid of green coffee and that I've not even roasted coffee for myself in several months, I must pass. I am curious as to the world outside of lightly roasted Ethiopian, but not so much as to risk buying other beans. Java

[Too Tall]

NP W. I just want to make sure everyone has a shot ;)

[gkk]

I just want to make sure everyone has a shot ;)

I see what you did there.

[Too Tall]

While we are waiting for the crew to congeal.

Last week I over roasted a batch. Honestly, if I don't burn this house down it is a miracle. Anywho, my neighbor commented that he loves almost burnt coffee so I gave him all of it. Yuck. The color was near coal black and smelled like charcoal. Who would like that? My neighbor.

[Jimmybagadonuts]

I'm in, just let me know when. What are we talking - 1/4 lb to each?

[Too Tall]

I'm in, just let me know when. What are we talking - 1/4 lb to each?

Something like that. Depends how many want to do this. I'm thinking everyone can roast 1 lb without too much trouble. More analytical minds may want to chime in.

[defspace]

if it's about 0.25lbs each for ~6 participants, I'm in.

[Too Tall]

if it's about 0.25lbs each for ~6 participants, I'm in.

I'm searching out ideas how to do this. If anyone wants to step up than go for it. I'm sending out the basic tenants of this to a pal who is a math genius to see if he has a good spreadsheet solution.

It is sort of like secret santa but with coffee ;)

I'm really looking forward to this. As far as I'm concerned it matters not if your batch is roasted in a cast iron pan or a $10,000 machine. The range of beans and all of us learning together will be awesome not to mention the ball busting.

[gkk]

If we are only about a half-dozen in number, we might just think about having everyone roast 2-3 lbs. of the same varietal of bean and ship 1/4-1/2 lb. to everyone in the group. That way everyone ends up with 2-3 lbs of beans roasted by everyone else, and we can compare notes. Shipping will be a bit of a pain / expense, but if we're only doing it once a quarter it shouldn't be prohibitive?

[Too Tall]

If we are only about a half-dozen in number, we might just think about having everyone roast 2-3 lbs. of the same varietal of bean and ship 1/4-1/2 lb. to everyone in the group. That way everyone ends up with 2-3 lbs of beans roasted by everyone else, and we can compare notes. Shipping will be a bit of a pain / expense, but if we're only doing it once a quarter it shouldn't be prohibitive?

Sounds good. FWIIW I'm using stamps.com for shipping and get the best rates based on nothing important. My take away is that shipping 1 to 2 lbs in a small box of your choosing ends up costing about the same as USPS flat rate maybe less. As you say it's a wash considering.

Let's set the date of June 26 for roasting and shipping NLT 27/28. By than we'll have a head count and some method for who sends to who. I'll begin a new thread for that soon.

This place is password and invite only so I think it's ok to use real names and address in plain view. Agreed?

[Too Tall]

Who is on board so far:

Too Tall
twowheels
gkk
VertigoCycles
Cookietruck
Shoogs
defspace
Jimmybagadonuts
Sean Doyle
*A few more on the wings

[LarryA]

I'm not roasting yet so will sit on the sidelines and watch for now;-)

[devlin]

Same here. I've just moved but am looking at getting into roasting. I'll watch and learn in the meantime.

[Too Tall]

Cool Sean, Larry.

[Shoogs]

Definitely looking fwd to this. I like the idea of selecting one bean and we each have our hand at it. Rotating regions.
As my palate has evolved, I know which beans and regions tickle my fancy, this could be a good opportunity to keep an open mind and try beans from outside my norm.


NOTE. I won't be up and running in house for next weeks roasting and ship date, but I may be able to go to the roaster and use it.

[Cookietruck]

sorry guys, I have to decline on the exchange. Pretty busy right now and barely have time to keep up with just what we drink at home!!!

I will check in here though and watch everything evolve.

[Too Tall]

That's cool with me.

sorry guys, I have to decline on the exchange. Pretty busy right now and barely have time to keep up with just what we drink at home!!!

I will check in here though and watch everything evolve.

[Jimmybagadonuts]

I need to order some beans in order to ship out to everyone. May have them here by the end of next week.

How should we do mailing addresses for all? Should we all pick the same varietal to showcase roasting skills or should we each pick a different varietal so everyone gets a mix of roasts?

I'm not an expert roaster by any means, I just like good coffee. I'd probably snort it if I had too

[Too Tall]

Let's start by doing what we have on hand. I'm roasting a columbian bean....details to follow.