All posts by Ben Gangloff

Coffee importer, blogger, and adventurer.
Coffee, Import/Export, Peru

Peru: Coffee Production Looks Strong for 2016

We’re hearing anecdotally that Peru’s coffee production is going to be strong this year, maybe even returning to levels not seen since 2011 before the dreaded coffee rust came.

It’s not just coffee though, other export crops are fairing well in Peru:

 

Peru to double its exports by 2021

According to the Exporters Association (Adex), despite the stagnation experienced in 2015, Peruvian agricultural exporters expect to double exports to USD $10 billion dollars in 2021.

The union’s goal for 2016 is to surpass the USD $6 billion dollars in exports, thus overcoming the USD $5.093 billion dollars and 0.06 percent drop over 2014 achieved in 2015.

According to data from Adex, 85 percent of the non-traditional agricultural exports abroad are of fresh grapes, coffee, asparagus, avocado, quinoa, fresh mangoes, organic bananas, and paprika.

Worldwide, Peru is the number one exporter of asparagus (fresh, frozen and canned), quinoa, and maca; the second biggest exporter of asparagus and artichokes; the third biggest exporter of organic bananas and dried paprika, and the fourth largest exporter of table grapes and paprika powder.” Continue reading Peru: Coffee Production Looks Strong for 2016 →

Coffee, Sustainable Farming

A Little Further South Commits to Sustainable Coffee Challenge

A Little Further South Coffee is committed to a sustainable coffee chain. We’re now involved in the Sustainable Coffee Challenge which seeks to make the coffee the first sustainable crop. It’s a big effort and is supported by many in the industry.

Since we work directly with farmers via coffee purchases, and also through the Curibamba Coffee Project, this is a natural fit for us.

Here’s a link to an article about the Challenge:

Unveiled last December during the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Sustainable Coffee Challenge has a stated goal of making coffee the world’s first sustainable agricultural product.

Source: The Sustainable Coffee Challenge Roadmap: What is It? | Daily Coffee News by Roast Magazine

Through our work with the only Biodynamic certified farm in Peru, Chacra D’dago, we’ve seen the amazing difference that a biodiverse, self sustaining environment can make with food production & of course, coffee.

A biodynamic farm is self contained, using their own fertilizers in a fertile “loop” that is not only sustainable, but coupled with rare plants and microbes, provides trace elements that are not often present in traditional farms.

What’s exciting about the challenge is the aspect of economic viability as part of the sustainable goal for coffee. While markets may go up and down, costs remain fixed & for their long term viability, every farmer needs to be a recognized part of the overall supply chain.

Every consumer, whether they be coffee aficiando, roaster, or importer can help by searching for ethically sourced, environmentally friendy coffees.

It’s a new endeavor, and many questions lead to yet more questions. The enormity & the possiblility of the impact that it could have is both daunting and inspiring. As we move ahead with this effort, we’ll keep you posted…

Coffee Tree Villa Rica, Peru
Peru

El Niño Rains and Heat Affecting Northern & Central Peru

Northern & Central Peru have been hard hit this year with El Niño rains and extreme heat. We use the Central Highway to reach the coffee regions in the central rainforest, and for days at a time recently, it has been closed due to landslides. Farmers have lost livestock, and crops can’t be transported. Medical emergencies can only rely on helicopter at times. Millions in dollars of produce & other products have been lost.

Besides, torrential rains, Peru has suffered through an unusually hot summer. In Piura, temperatures have been reaching extremes rarely seen.

Here’s a recent series of articles and photos from El Comercio Peru  (Google translate and authors corrections for clarity.)

Huancayo: Canal overflows and inundates homes & Drowns animals Continue reading El Niño Rains and Heat Affecting Northern & Central Peru →

Curibamba, Import/Export, Peru, Sustainable Farming

Real People, Really Good Coffee Update February 2016

It’s soon to be spring here in Arizona, and already talk is to the harvest of 2016.  and we are making new friends and contacts, each helping to grow our direct trade coffee business, and hopefully impact a few more lives in the coffee supply chain. This month, not a whole lot new to report, but behind the scenes many things are happening in the fields… Continue reading Real People, Really Good Coffee Update February 2016 →

Coffee

1912 Coffee Hosts Another Cappuccino Art Throwdown

The Roastery of Cave Creek will be hosting a cappuccino art throwdown soon:

Saturday February 27th

( One Day Only )

For info contact:

Jonathan Carroll info@nineteentwelvecoffee.com 480-699-8070

We’ll be throwin’ our 2nd cappuccino art throwdown at The Roastery of Cave Creek (Roc2) on Saturday, February 27th from 6-10pm.

Barista registration starts at 6pm and ends at 7pm. $5 entry fee due at the time of sign-up.

As we get sign-ups, we’ll have a courtesy non-competitive round from 6:45-7:15pm so you can get acquainted with the espresso machine, pulling shots, using the steam wand, etc.

A Link to the sponsors 1912 Coffee Website is here.

Coffee

CoffeeCon 2016 Los Angeles Delights

CoffeeCon, the coffee consumer festival was held this past weekend in LA’s Reef near the LA Convention Center. It was well attended, and featured the best of local roasters and baristas, and a variety of vendors ranging from Aeropress to even California grown coffee trees for that conversational piece in your home.

An extensive list of classes and presentations made for a tremendous informational opportunity. Whether learning about home roasting, or which grind is best for your coffee brewing method, there was something for every coffee lover.

For coffee aficianados, there were classes on tasting, and a variety of vendors for sampling coffees from all over the globe featuring the best of local roasters.

For home roasters, Joe Behm maker of the Behmor home roaster hosted a standing room omly class on home roasting. This popular topic is sweeping the country as more and more consumers discover the joy & freshness of home roast.

Joe shared some recent experiences in Guatamala, and answered a wide variety of questions from a very appreciative audience.

It was a fun filled day of making new acquaintances, learning about all the latest developments in coffee technology, and inspirational stories connecting the coffee to the real lives of coffee farmers.

Here’s a photo tour: Continue reading CoffeeCon 2016 Los Angeles Delights →

Curibamba, Import/Export, Peru, Sustainable Farming

Real People, Really Good Coffee Update January 2016

It’s a new year, and as we look back at 2015, we realize that so many good things happened that seemed far off and fuzzy just a short year ago. January has flown by, and we are making new friends and contacts, each helping to grow our direct trade coffee business, and hopefully impact a few more lives in the coffee supply chain. Continue reading Real People, Really Good Coffee Update January 2016 →

Peru, Travel

Peruvian & Bolivian Experts to Measure Lake Titicaca Depth

Lake Titicaca by volume is the largest lake in all of South America. At over 12,000 ft. high, it is considered the highest navigable body of water in the world.

Recently, it was decided to measure the depth, and take better measurements of the lake.

Via El Comercio Peru (Google translate & authors corrections for clarity.)

Experts from Peru and Bolivia will measure the depth of Lake Titicaca, located over 3,500 meters above sea level, to adopt measures aimed at the preservation of this natural resource shared by both nations.

The president of the Binational Autonomous Authority of Lake Titicaca (ALT), Alfredo Mamani, told reporters that the task, which has not been done for 40 years, will be entrusted to 17 experts.

In 1977, the study noted that the maximum depth of Lake Titicaca was 300 meters in an area which corresponds to the Peruvian sovereignty. “It could be that the depth of now is less or has moved,” said Mamani.

Measuring jobs require an investment of $500,000 and will be performed by the Hydrography Naval Navy of Peru (DHN) and the National Naval Hydrology Service of Bolivia (SNHN).

Coffee

1912 Coffee Announces Another Cappuccino Art Throw Down

Our friends over at 1912 Coffee continue to get good press with an article appearing recently in Daily Coffee News at Roast magazine:

 

A pair of coffee pros with a wealth of experience on the Arizona coffee scene have launched 1912 Coffee, a full-service marketing and consultancy firm with lofty ambitions to elevate coffee quality and culture throughout the state.

The coffee expertise behind 1912 comes from Jonathan Carroll, co-owner of Phoenix’s Songbird Coffeehouse, and Ron Cortez of roaster Cortez Coffee Co. in Tempe. While the two have maintained a wholesale relationship for years, they’ve also had many a conversation regarding the state of Arizona coffee and how it might be improved, or at least better marketed, on a shop-by-shop basis.

With a name referencing the year Arizona joined the Union, the business is being pitched as “the Grand Canyon of coffee marketing and branding,” as it hopes to fill some holes not only in existing businesses, but in the bigger image of Arizona coffee.

The list of services 1912 is offering to independent coffee retail and roasting clients includes social media planning and delivery, web design and maintenance, photography, videography, event planning and booking, barista training, quality control programming, and virtually any other day-to-day operational requirement. “We’re trying to reach the small shops and help them with any services we can provide,” Carroll told Daily Coffee News. “The goal is to help and promote the small, independent coffee shops because that’s where coffee culture comes from.”

Culture-building will also come in the form of 1912-produced events such as monthly latte art throwdowns at different coffee locations around the state. Carroll and Cortez have been busy lining up event sponsors and extending invitations to anyone in Arizona interested in coffee, with the goal of building local and statewide networks of coffee professionals.

Full article here: 1912 Coffee Has Grand Plans for Arizona’s Coffee Landscape | Daily Coffee News by Roast Magazine

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Cappuccino Art Throw Down

The next Cappuccino Art throw down which had originally been scheduled for this week coming up is now at Exo Roast Company Saturday, January 30th 2016 from 6 p.m. – 11 p.m.

Exo Roast Company

403 N 6th Ave, Tucson, AZ

All baristas across the state are welcome to compete.

From 6-7pm || Barista Registration $5 Entry Fee

 

All are welcome, baristas bring your best!

 

Coffee, Sustainable Farming

2016 New Year’s Coffee Links

Happy New Year 2016! We start a new year, a little fresher, perhaps reminiscent. Wherever we are today, one thing is for sure: last year is over. Welcome New Year, and may it bring the best to all of us.

I’ve been able to do some reading over the holidays in between family, and odd bits of work that cropped up. Here are some that I feel worthy of your attention:

Ethical Coffee

Modern Slavery in the Coffeelands

This eight part series by Michael Sheridan investigates Brazils efforts to reduce slavery in agriculture. A must read.

Three Reasons Why You Should Drink Direct Market Coffee From the vault…

Equity for Coffee Farmers via Fortune

Odds & Ends

A Photo Journey to La Revancha Estate

A Coffee Bar Recording Studio in Brooklyn Via Sprudge: A Coffee Loving Musicians dream studio

Dating a Coffee Lover 5 Things You Need to Know Lots of good info on what makes your coffee loving significant other tick. Via: Perfect Daily Grind

The Rise of the Robot Barista: Fact or Fiction

Ports of Long Beach & Los Angeles Seek Expanded Latin Trade

Coffee crisis to hit within three years as finer tastes lead to shortage

Best wishes for a truly happy and prosperous 2016!