Tuesday, April 27, 2004


farewell djimma, hello khat

"but despite the services offered to farmers, a drive outside of jimma into the coffee plantations reveals a glimpse of roadside coffee shrubs left virtually abandoned by farmers who are busy tending more profitable crops.

'no one tends coffee plants any more because they are not worth the effort. we prefer to look after our qat crops which generate good income for us,' said one farmer in kaffa."

if you're considering tasting what can be an interesting origin, especially when washed, a coffee from the place credited as the native home of the plant, better do it now before the farmers finish uprooting the coffee to grow illegal drugs.

long-time readers may recall i've written about this before; but as the world-price depression known as the coffee crisis continues, the loss of quality coffee from great origins grows ever nearer.

with this in mind, i'm going to frankly suggest you coffee lovers descend on your favorite roaster and ask for some premium washed djimma while it can still be had. . .it can be hard to find. you may have to take a natural djimma, which can be wild.

actually right now, any high-quality djimma is probably a rare thing. . .as one roaster of my acquaintance said,"it's got a good backbeat, but it's tough to dance to, and i can't understand the lyrics. i give it a 74."

another roaster we all know and love just flatly rejects 'em outright. so all the more reason to try one for yourself. . .

posted by fortune | 10:54 AM | top | link to this | email this: | | | 0 comments