heads up coffee drinkers

[ensho]

http://www.enn.com/top_stories/article/41006


Climate change affecting Kenya's coffee output


Climate change has affected Kenyan coffee production through unpredictable rainfall patterns and excessive droughts, making crop management and disease control a nightmare, a researcher said on Thursday.

Intermittent rainfall in the 2007/08 crop year, for example, caused a terrible bout of the Coffee Berry Disease that cut Kenyan output 23 percent to 42,000 metric tons as farmers were caught out by rains and did not protect their crop in time.

"We have seen climate change in intermittent rainfall patterns, extended drought and very high temperatures," said Joseph Kimemia, director of research at Kenya's Coffee Research Foundation (CRF).

-snip-

"You look at a coffee tree and cannot determine the season because it has beans of all ages. That is a problem when it comes to disease management, insect management and the worst problem is in harvesting," he said. "The cost is enormous."
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Cuba's coffee almost had trouble due to rain at the wrong time

[no_hypocrisy]

1. Sour grapes, be damned! I was thinking about giving it up anyway.

[hlthe2b]

6. I have given up so many dietary vices/luxuries... coffee is one of my last

Thus, when the data showing the antioxidant levels of brewed coffee and espresso came out, I was really happy. I can make the best latte at home--better than the coffee shops and with the best cinnamon in the world on top (Vietnamese cinnamon from Penskey's spices), I don't even need to sweeten it, so, as with good tea-- I've kicked that source of sugar.

So, even with rising costs, I look at it like I do those vitamin supplements that I take daily-- a bit of an expense, but worth it.

[Maine-ah]

8. coffee would be my last too

you'll have to pull my hot coffee from my cold dead hands....

[hlthe2b]

2. East African Coffees are among my favorites...

Unfortunately, I think we are destined to have lots of these problems with various crops. Coffee will end up being grown in areas never before possible while the traditional areas literally dry up or as in this case get their rainfall at the wrong time.

From a selfish standpoint... my fav coffee for spring and summer iced lattes is made with an East African blend, but I stocked up last summer so still have several pounds left.

[KittyWampus]

3. can you characterize the taste difference that E. African beans yield?

just curious.

All i really know about coffee- Starbucks tastes like burnt. Do.Not.Want.

Otherwise, as long as it's fresh, it's fine with me.

[asjr]

4. I've always liked the Kenyan coffee, but so

much of coffee now is being overpriced or outpriced for me. Really can't describe the taste other than is for me a milder coffee than Colombian.

[hlthe2b]

5. Well, one of the blends I really like (for iced coffee) is Gazebo Blend

from Starbucks. It is a blend of Kenyan and other East African coffees... I include S'Buck's description of it below, but my description would be quite smooth, yet sort of complex in its flavors (and I can pick up the citrus-like undertones). I love iced lattes, so you have to have a sort of bold complex coffee to mesh with all that milk without tasting bitter. But I think the way I make Iced Coffee makes a big difference too (I use a slow cold-filtered method that locks in the flavor and produces a concentrate that can be refrigerated and used over a couple of weeks... See Toddy System if you want to know more: http://www.toddycafe.com/) I really like this way of producing coffee in the summer since there is no waste of those precious and expensive beans. BTW, I have had East African blends from other coffee sources that were likewise quite good, so I'm not pushing Starbucks.


From Starbucks:
Gazebo Blend by Starbucks Coffee
The official coffee of summer: This blend of East African coffees is as versatile as the days are long. Serve it hot to enjoy crisp, clean acidity and floral, fruity flavor notes. Serve it iced and experience a heightened, tangy acidity with a juicy, mouth-watering finish.

First offered in 1991, Gazebo Blend® was designed to highlight the often overlooked African coffees and offer a blend specifically designed for summer. The search for this citrusy summer flavor profile brings a new challenge each year. Some years, Ethiopia and Kenya provide all Starbucks needs to make a great blend. In other years, our buyers consider coffees from other East African countries as well. Whatever the case, Gazebo Blend® is a much anticipated offering every summer.

Gazebo Blend® is categorized as having a bold intensity and is processed using the washed or wet method, the most widely used method for processing coffee.

[KittyWampus]

7. thanks for the link. It might be fun to experiment if I can get samplers

[hlthe2b]

9. The East African blends aren't usually available until mid Summer

I know last year that Peet's coffee (another really good, but far limited chain) had a really good anniversary blend of E. African origin. Even if S'Bucks won't give you a sample (and they might), I know Peets has in the past if there is one anywhere near you.