I currently use an Ode for my drip and a Lido 3 for my espresso. I have ALS though and can no longer hand grind. My Ode is acting up after daily use 1-2 times a day for 3.5 years. I’ve cleaned it regularly it’s the motor I think having issues. Making odd noises....
From Malawi to Edinburgh: The MF Coffee Project
From Malawi to Edinburgh: The MF Coffee Project
From Malawi to Edinburgh: The MF Coffee Project
From Malawi to Edinburgh: The MF Coffee Project
From Malawi to Edinburgh: The MF Coffee Project
From Malawi to Edinburgh: The MF Coffee Project
[MOD] What have you been brewing this week?/ Coffee bean recommendations
Hey everyone! Welcome back to the weekly /r/Coffee thread where you can share what you are brewing or ask for bean recommendations. This is a place to share and talk about your favorite coffee roasters or beans. How was that new coffee you just picked up? Are you...
All arabica coffee is genetically similar: how can beans taste so different?
submitted by /u/fascinatingMundanity [link] [comments]
9 year old Baratza Encore: continue to fix or time to replace?
I’ve been fighting a slow grinding issue for a while now. It takes a long time (3-5 minutes) to grind enough coffee for a pot. The grind seems "fine" as well (the dial is set at 18). The beans seem to "bounce" up from the grinder cone a little....
Quality coffee bean grinders to invest in?
Hello everyone. I'm currently looking for a well-built coffee bean grinder to purchase. To give a little more detail, I'm looking for a grinder that can do coarse (cold brew, French press) and medium (pour over Chemex) grinds well. I currently have an...
Grinder for drip, pour over, and French press
I've been looking to buy a new grinder, I have a Eureka mignon filtro but I'm not happy with how it grinds on the courser end of the spectrum. Its just a mess of huge pieces and small fines and even on some pour overs the grind isnt very good either....
[MOD] Show off your gear! – Battle-station Central
Let's see your battle-stations or new purchases! Tell us what it is you have, post pictures if you want, let us know what you think and how you use it all to make your daily Cup of Joe. Feel free to discuss gear here as well - recommendations, reviews, etc. Feel...
When customers complain about the price of a cup of coffee, how should I respond?
I have to imagine that I'm not the only barista who has tried to give a customer a mini-lecture on the dynamics of the coffee supply chain. For those who have run into this similar question, how have you explained to people why their coffee is expensive using...
Pourover extraction temperature: If you had to accept a gradient, what direction is better?
A little coffee making puzzle I was trying to figure out. If you are making a V60 pourover with a fairly light roast (pick your recipe of choice). Saddly you cannot get water at your target temperature (say 202 F). Your water will either start warmer and get colder,...
Questions about taste, what is good acidity vs. sourness? Too much vs enough bitterness?
Hi all, so basically just got into specialty coffee, before this I'd only ever had instant and over roasted coffee from big chains, since I live in a country with no specialty coffee shops. My set up is, single origin guatamalan beans (freshly roasted a week...
Are there any good instant coffee brands at big box stores like Walmart (in the US)?
I recently went on a rabbit trail of instant coffee concoctions on YouTube, and bought some Folgers Instant Coffee to try it out. I actually quite enjoyed some of the instant coffee lattes I've been trying, but I know Folgers is generally considered pretty low...
Fruity coffee
I recently visited a coffee plantation and bought a bag there. They sold their bags there with labels on how the bean was processed. This “Natural” processed coffee is incredible. It’s fruity. It doesn’t have that like signature “burnt” flavor coffee has. It almost...
When recipes call for water temperature, do they mean the temp inside the kettle right before you pour it, or the temp while it brews?
I don't get it. I often see posts/recipes saying that light roasts need to be in the brewed in the 200F zone, but as soon as my cup is filled with water, the temperature has dropped to the low 190s range (in my case, I'm using an aeropress) So yeah, it drops...
[MOD] Inside Scoop – Ask the coffee industry
This is a thread for the enthusiasts of /r/Coffee to connect with the industry insiders who post in this sub! Do you want to know what it's like to work in the industry? How different companies source beans? About any other aspects of running or working for a...
Different espresso recipe?
I work at a cafe where they are using a dark roast blend and they are pulling 32g from a 18g dose for espresso. Strangely however, they pull it in 6 seconds instead of the usual 20s-30s. I’m not sure why they don’t use the standard recipe and am too afraid to ask...
Fellow Ode SSP astringent and lacking clarity on filter compared to even espresso-focused grinders
I recently acquired a Timemore Sculptor 078s, which is intended to be used primarily for espresso and supposedly doesn’t make the cleanest drip coffee according to reviewers. So out of curiosity I’ve been comparing it a lot over the past couple weeks to my gen 1 Ode...
There Are Two More Qualifying Events This Weekend
This article is from the coffee website Sprudge at http://sprudge.com. This is the RSS feed version. The 2024 United States Coffee In Good Spirits, Brewers Cup, and Latte Art Championship Qualifying Events take place in Bethesda, Maryland and Washington, DC.
Competition, Cold, and More from the 2024 U.S. Coffee Competition Qualifiers in Houston
The first round of qualifiers for the 2024 season of the United States Coffee Competitions featured the U.S. Barista, Cup Tasters, and Roasters qualifying competitions. BY KATE VAN PETTENSPECIAL TO BARISTA MAGAZINE Photos courtesy of U.S. CoffeeChamps The first round...
Aging of coffee (specifically decaf) in freezer
Hey, My girlfriend mostly drink decaf and she has a favorite coffee that she gets from a reputable roaster. Problem is, she really likes it when she gets one at the cafe, but she doesnt when we brew it at home. Even I struggle to get a correct grind size (DF64 V1) and...
Target / Good & Gather Coffee & other "unexpectedly delicious" store brand coffees?
Has anyone tried Target's in-house brand of specialty coffee? I recently decided it was too much money to continue buying super specialty beans from roasters - I know, I feel guilty not supporting smaller local roasters and will still do it every so oftenwhen I...
Examples of refractometer use in a café’s workflow?
Hello all. Curious if any baristas/qc folks here can provide examples of how they’ve used refractometers in their cafés? I understand their limitations, and I am comfortable using refractometry to gain reference points when testing recipes. But I’d really appreciate...
Drip Coffee – Does the machine matter?
Hello, Everyone! I am in a bit of a predicament and would like some guidance. For context - I am still an amateur coffee guy. I have begun to dabble in the coffee world and am slowly building my knowledge. A few years back, I began to explore quality coffee and get...
UK coffee bean recommendations
Hi. Can anyone recommend some companies that do speciality beans. I’ve tried a fair few but I like to rotate and try something new. Here’s a few I’ve tried, some do really good coffee, some I thought were just ok: - Hasbean - Horsham - Perky Blenders - North Star -...
Visiting Amsterdam. Any coffee suggestions?
I'm in Amsterdam this week. Are there any coffee's I should check out while I'm here? I'm from the US so ideally something not available back home. submitted by /u/OlDirtyBrewer [link] [comments]
From Malawi to Edinburgh: The MF Coffee Project
We take a trip from North Carolina to Northern Malawi to Edinburgh, exploring the roots, roasts, and impact of the MF Coffee Project.
BY VASILEIA FANARIOTI
SENIOR ONLINE CORRESPONDENT
Photos courtesy of the MF Coffee Project
In the quaint village of Manchewe, Northern Malawi, a story unfolded when Cameron Mcallister made the life-altering decision to relocate from North Carolina to this picturesque corner of the world in 2013. Taking the reins of an off-grid eco-lodge perched on a cliff overlooking Lake Malawi, Cameron and his sister embarked on a journey that would intertwine their lives with the vibrant community and the MF Coffee Project.
From Cliffside Views to Coffee Adventures: MF Coffee Project
The idea of venturing into the world of coffee came up when Cameron decided to explore local coffee farms. What started as a quest for a local coffee supply turned into a profound connection with Lyson, a co-founder of MF Coffee Project and a seasoned coffee farmer. Together, they explored the enchanting smallholder coffee farms perched on rolling hills, cultivating a blend of crops within a harmonious ecosystem.
Inspired by the intimate connection smallholder farmers had with the land, Cameron envisioned a shift from treating coffee as a commodity to cultivating specialty coffee with a unique narrative. “Visiting these farms felt like stepping into a magical world. It revealed the challenging truths of the coffee industry and the untapped potential of smallholder farmers,“ Cameron says.
Empowering Communities Through Coffee
Recognizing the challenges faced by local farmers, particularly in Lyson’s village of Nkhota, Cameron and the Tiko Coffee Collective envisioned a communal washing station in 2016. Designed by Lyson, this station aimed to empower farmers and breathe new life into the dwindling coffee-farming tradition.
The Tiko Coffee Collective, comprising 48 farmers, became the cornerstone of MF Coffee Project. Noel Nyrenda, an experienced local coffee farmer, joined forces with Lyson and Cameron, laying the foundation for a collective that would shape the future of coffee in the region. “Our focus was to bring a direct link to the harvest, embodying the true essence of specialty coffee,“ Cameron explains. “The prevalent approach of treating coffee as a commodity was flawed for smallholder farmers. We firmly believed in their ability to cultivate something extraordinary.“
Roasting Adventures in Scotland
In 2020, Cameron and his sister handed over the eco-lodge to a couple of former Peace Corps volunteers, marking a pivotal moment. The transition allowed them to fully embrace their roles as coffee enthusiasts, leading to the establishment of MF Coffee Shop in Edinburgh, Scotland. Scotland’s vibrant coffee scene and progressive ethos provided the ideal backdrop for roasting MF coffee.
Reflecting on their journey, Cameron says, “Roasting coffee in Scotland became a natural progression. The goal was to independently bring our exceptional coffee to international markets and redefine our role in the coffee supply chain.“ A successful pop-up at Summerhall, an eclectic arts venue, led to the permanent takeover of the coffee shop, aligning perfectly with their mission to roast coffee and connect with MF enthusiasts.
Impact Beyond the Bean
The MF Coffee Project has made a tangible impact on the lives of the locals. Cameron’s involvement in the Chipopoma Power NGO initiative, harnessing hydroelectricity from Manchewe Falls, brought renewable electricity to over 100 homes, businesses, and a local school. Entrepreneurs emerged, powered by renewable energy, while students benefited from improved study conditions, and deforestation decreased with the shift to electricity.
Looking ahead, the MF Coffee Project aims to construct a dry mill, adding further value to the coffee’s origin. By utilizing hydroelectricity and embracing sustainable practices, the project strives to be an environmentally conscious coffee producer. “Our commitment goes beyond curating unique coffee varieties,“ Cameron says. “We prioritize environmentally friendly practices, resist monocropping trends, and ensure our collaboration with Tiko remains the driving force behind our existence.“
The MF Coffee Project, with its roots in Northern Malawi and branches stretching into the vibrant coffee scene of Edinburgh, is a testament to the fusion of passion, sustainability, and community. From North Carolina to Northern Malawi and on to the streets of Edinburgh, this journey is yet another example of how coffee binds us together.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Vasileia Fanarioti (she/her) is a senior online correspondent for Barista Magazine and a freelance copywriter and editor with a primary focus on the coffee niche. She has also been a volunteer copywriter for the I’M NOT A BARISTA NPO, providing content to help educate people about baristas and their work. You can follow her adventures at thewanderingbean.net.
Subscribe and More!
Out now: It’s the December 2023 + January 2024 issue! Read it for free with our digital edition. And for more than three years’ worth of issues, visit our digital edition archives here.
You can order a hard copy of the magazine through our online store here, or start a subscription for one year or two.
The post From Malawi to Edinburgh: The MF Coffee Project appeared first on Barista Magazine Online.