Monthly Archives: June 2008

Coffee Cupping Challenge V

| June 27, 2008

aroma: dark chocolate and hints of berry

body: medium

acidity: moderate

flavor profile: moderately bright with dark chocolate, sun-dried cherry and citrus undertones with subtle hints of cinnamon in the finish

hint: A friendly accord between the US and this coffee’s country of origin has been delayed since a political figure suspected of orchestrating a US soldier’s death was elected president a few years ago.

the answer to the last cupping challenge IIII: Kopi Luwak – the infamous byproduct of what a large civet in indonesia likes to eat – click here and read more….

Slow Food Seattle event at the new Via Tribunali in Georgetown

| June 23, 2008


Caffé Vita and Slow Food Seattle hosted the first party inside the new Via Tribunali in Georgetown. Tribunali fired up the new ovens, built by masons from Naples, for an afternoon of Neapolitan pizza, wine, Theo chocolate, and Caffé Vita Farm Direct coffee. The proceeds from this event went directly to Slow Food Seattle, which is funding a local representative’s trip to take part in Terre Madre in Turin, Italy, an international event bringing together 7,000 food producers, cooks, and educators all seeking global sustainability in food.

More on Vita’s Kopi Luwak coffee

| June 17, 2008


This Indonesian civet, called a luwak, has a curious diet that includes eating ripe coffee cherries. Once these cherries go through its digestive system, they are harvested and washed, and then the beans are roasted.

This rare coffee is the most expensive coffee in the world.

Vita sourced some of this coffee as part of our Farm Direct coffee program and held a cupping last night for wholesale customers and other friends.

Michael Hebberoy went on The Bob Rivers Show while the crew did an on-air tasting. Click here to listen.

photos of the event taken by traca savadogo

More Kopi Luwak coffee

| June 17, 2008


To the left is a luwak, an Indonesian civet that loves ripe coffee cherries. After the cherries go through the luwak’s digestive system, they’re harvested and washed, and the beans are roasted.

These extremely expensive beans are rare…

Vita sourced some Kopi Luwak coffee beans and held a cupping last night for wholesale customers and other friends.

Vita roaster Mason Sager and Michael Hebberoy went on KOMO Radio to talk about Vita Farm Direct coffee and the Kopi Luwak coffee. Hebb also went on The Bob Rivers Show this morning, where the crew did an on-air tasting.

Kopi Luwak coffee

| June 16, 2008

Vita’s having a cupping tonight of the rare Kopi Luwak, the infamous by-product of the large Indonesian weasel, called a luwak. It likes to eat coffee beans when they’re ripe and juicy. After the beans are digested, they are harvested and roasted. Tonight at 6pm we’re having an invite-only cupping (complete with a Theo Chocolate tasting) at the Capitol Hill roasteria for our customers and friends.

Vita roaster Mason Sager and Bob Prince stopped by the KOMO News Radio studio this morning at 7:15 to cup the coffee, which is from East Java.

coffee cupping challenge week III

| June 9, 2008

this week we cupped one of the rarest coffees in the world. i am going to have to keep the hints obtuse so that it isn’t a complete lay-up.

aroma: bittersweet chocolate and fresh cut herbs

body:light

acidity:medium to light.

flavor profile: slight must, herbaceous, caramel finish

hint: the processing of this coffee is by far the most intensive procedure any coffee ever undergoes – when it is ready for roasting it is pristinely washed – almost as if it was scrubbed by tiny hands. the beans are full and plump – and are best if roasted lightly.the process is the clue – it is the most highly evolved scientifically complex washing process on the globe.

last weeks answer: a delightful coffee from columbia.

Michael Hebberoy + Gristhttp://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gif

| June 4, 2008

Hebb is now blogging with Grist, talking about his Farm Direct travels with Vita.

“I have spent the past year traveling the globe with Seattle coffee roaster Caffé Vita in their search for coffee, and I have the more enviable and slippery task of seeking out stories. Many Grist readers know that coffee is the second most heavily traded commodity on the planet, but unlike the elephant in the pole position (oil), we hear very little about the realities of the cherry-red fruit on which we are also dependent.

As long as Grist lets me, I will throw out some thoughts from the coffee road, and the other “tablemaking” adventures in which I routinely find myself…” continues at gristmill…