tommy99 Senior Member Joined: 27 Jan 2008 Posts: 22 Location: toronto Expertise: Just starting
Posted Tue Apr 29, 2008, 7:33am Subject: The greenbeanery - how good are their green beans?
These guys get in a ton of beans, and sell them obviously. They don't cup so I was wondering if anyone has an opinion on the quality of their beans. Do any Toronto and area (or anywhere else in Canada) roasters/cafes use their beans (Greenbeanery has a commercial program that rewards volume purchases)?
It is great they are local, and their prices are resonable, but in the end, if the cup isn't as good as a roaster selling their own beans (they roast and sell) then I'm not sure I'd be interested.
Noonievut Senior Member Joined: 9 Sep 2006 Posts: 457 Location: Toronto. Canada Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Brasilia Club Grinder: Rocky DL Vac Pot: Other - Aeropress Roaster: Behmor
Posted Tue Apr 29, 2008, 8:18am Subject: Re: The greenbeanery - how good are their green beans?
I've purchased their green beans a few times over the last year (roast at home with a freshroast). I'm not an expert, but I think they're good (great value). The only other place I've bought greens from is birds and beans, and the Bolivia beans bought from each tasted very similar to me. If I can buy from sweet marias for the same price (though I pickup from GB so no shipping), or slightly higher, I would definately try them because of all the good things I've read.
You can buy a few pounds from them, trying some different beans, and see if you like them.
Posted Tue Apr 29, 2008, 8:40am Subject: Re: The greenbeanery - how good are their green beans?
tommy99 Said:
These guys get in a ton of beans, and sell them obviously. They don't cup so I was wondering if anyone has an opinion on the quality of their beans. Do any Toronto and area (or anywhere else in Canada) roasters/cafes use their beans (Greenbeanery has a commercial program that rewards volume purchases)?
Hi Jim, it depends on what green bean broker/s they're buying their beans from. Birds & Beans buy from a completely different broker. I'm in the business so I know who they are. Unless you're buying relationship green directly from source, co-op, farmers, however., one major broker is (there are a number in Canada) the supplier to basically all the roasters, etc.
The Coffee “C” contract is the world benchmark contract for Arabica coffee. The contract prices physical delivery of exchange grade green beans from one of 19 countries of origin in a licensed warehouse in one of several ports in the U. S, Europe, Canada.
Grade/Standards/Quality: A Notice of Certification is issued based on testing the grade of the beans and by cup testing for flavor. The Exchange uses certain coffees to establish the “basis”. Coffees judged better are at a premium; those judged inferior are at a discount.
The majority of green coffee is "C" market quality & there are a several categories they're listed under by the brokers, Specialty Grade being one, & Fair Trade/Organic. One "C" market buy on the NYBOT New York Board Of Trade is a container lot equal to 37,500 lbs (284 60 kg bags/243.5 70 kg bags!)
I never buy any green coffee without first requesting a sample/s from the broker to roast up & cup, then make my buying decisions based on that quality in the cup., or not. It's foolish to do otherwise, as you're just guessing on the quality of the cup it'll produce & buying a 'pig in a poke'. It could be excellent, then again it could be so-so or crap!
It is great they are local, and their prices are resonable, but in the end, if the cup isn't as good as a roaster selling their own beans (they roast and sell) then I'm not sure I'd be interested.
If "X" or "Y" roaster buys their green from the same supplier, it's all a matter of roasting expertise, blending, knowing your coffees intimately, & producing the freshest product possible. You can't do that with "baggy" past crop/old green either.
tommy99 Senior Member Joined: 27 Jan 2008 Posts: 22 Location: toronto Expertise: Just starting
Posted Tue Apr 29, 2008, 11:06am Subject: Re: The greenbeanery - how good are their green beans?
Thanks Craig. Who are the Canadian coffee brokers - the only ones I can find are US based. Who has the best reputation in the industry for quality, price, delivery, customer service?
buzzmccowan Senior Member Joined: 13 Jan 2005 Posts: 168 Location: Dundas, Ontario Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Vibiemme Domobar Super Grinder: Mazzer Mini Drip: Chemex/Aeropress/Bodum Roaster: Hottop Digital
Posted Tue Apr 29, 2008, 5:39pm Subject: Re: The greenbeanery - how good are their green beans?
I used to buy from Greenbeanery. I now buy exclusively from Sweet Marias. Here's my take on this:
Greenbeanery is a business that grew out of an environmental agency, Probe International. Nobody there is an experienced cupper, they used to ask me about roast levels and were just getting what they could from the broker/importer. I wasn't completely happy with the roasts I was getting and really started questioning if it was me or the coffee. Well, when I starting using Sweet Marias, I realized that it is so important to start with good quality coffee, otherwise its a bit too hit or miss.
If you want to get some phenomenal quality beans, you can't go wrong with Sweet Marias. I got my hands on a couple of pounds of Aida Batlle's Finca Kilimanjaro coffee (she won cup of Excellence a few years back) and was blown away. I also purchased some of the Panama La Hacienda Esmerelda non-auction lot, also amazing. Tom's notes on each coffee are such a good reference and will really help you learn and get the most out of the coffee. Most of their coffees are in the 4.50-5.50 range. With the dollar strong, and shipping on 12 lbs working out to $27 (this rate applies to green coffee only). That makes it like $8.00. One other thing to note: I've never had any charges of PST or GST, duty etc. It comes straight to my door usually within a week.
Don't get me wrong, The Greenbeanery is a fabulous asset to the city, I still buy a huge amount of equipment from them. But even if the dollar plummets, I'm pretty sure I'll be sticking with Sweet Marias. cheers, Kaelin
That's because Green (raw) coffee is G.S.T, Goods & Services Tax exempt, & P.S.T., Provincial Sales Tax exempt., no Federal duties/taxes unless it's a roasted product.
tommy99 Senior Member Joined: 27 Jan 2008 Posts: 22 Location: toronto Expertise: Just starting
Posted Wed Apr 30, 2008, 2:07am Subject: Re: The greenbeanery - how good are their green beans?
Believe me, I'd like to buy from Sweet Marias as well but I certainly found the shipping costs very high (but that is what they are). Anything over 12lbs and the costs get quite high.
Anyone know of Canadian coffee importers? The US ones have great websites to learn about things but I have been unable to find a Canadian one.
Noonievut Senior Member Joined: 9 Sep 2006 Posts: 457 Location: Toronto. Canada Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Brasilia Club Grinder: Rocky DL Vac Pot: Other - Aeropress Roaster: Behmor
Posted Wed Apr 30, 2008, 4:53am Subject: Re: The greenbeanery - how good are their green beans?
buzzmccowan Said:
If you want to get some phenomenal quality beans, you can't go wrong with Sweet Marias. I got my hands on a couple of pounds of Aida Batlle's Finca Kilimanjaro coffee (she won cup of Excellence a few years back) and was blown away. I also purchased some of the Panama La Hacienda Esmerelda non-auction lot, also amazing. Tom's notes on each coffee are such a good reference and will really help you learn and get the most out of the coffee. Most of their coffees are in the 4.50-5.50 range. With the dollar strong, and shipping on 12 lbs working out to $27 (this rate applies to green coffee only). That makes it like $8.00. One other thing to note: I've never had any charges of PST or GST, duty etc. It comes straight to my door usually within a week.Kaelin
I haven't purchased from sweet marias in the past, or any other retailer if shipping was involved, because I usually pick-up my greens in person so I can save on shipping costs. However, given SM's reputation and my 'take' on your comment -- that the price per pound including shipping = CAD$8.00 -- that's not that bad if the coffee is noticably better. What I did want to know, are there certain price/pound-points where it's more advantageous (e.g. if more than x pound the shipping comes down, if under x pound it's too expensive...that sort of thing)?
buzzmccowan Senior Member Joined: 13 Jan 2005 Posts: 168 Location: Dundas, Ontario Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Vibiemme Domobar Super Grinder: Mazzer Mini Drip: Chemex/Aeropress/Bodum Roaster: Hottop Digital
Posted Wed Apr 30, 2008, 5:16am Subject: Re: The greenbeanery - how good are their green beans?
Noonievut Said:
What I did want to know, are there certain price/pound-points where it's more advantageous (e.g. if more than x pound the shipping comes down, if under x pound it's too expensive...that sort of thing)?
United States postal service has a special "Flat Box" rate for international. SM's can put up to 12lbs green only in this box, this is the best option. For my last order it was 26.50 USD shipping that way. The cheapest option is to buy bigger volumes of a single bean to get a better price from SM's, like 10lb bag of a brazil and a 2 lb bag of a whatever, as opposed to a bunch of single lb bags of different coffees. If you order, get in on some of the Harrar they have right now. It's awesome. Cheers, Kaelin
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