oakleys.org.uk

Isn’t it funny some times how all of a sudden you miss things.

I miss the portafilter podcasts from Nick and Jay tonight. Don’t know why, probably because I have a long journey ahead of me Thursday, partly because it feels a little like I have lost two friends (yes they were that good at podcasting I thought they were my friends) but I feel a little empty that Nick and Jay don’t throw it out there any more and the podcast is no more.

When I used to see there was a new one I couldn’t wait for Itunes to down load the episode, may its what Peter is thinking or maybe its a surprise appearance from Geoff Watts or from Jim the Hoff.

But alas its no more, and tonight I miss it so for one night only I’m going to listen to an old episode an remind myself of the good times. You should too (episode 47 for me tonight just becuase I’m on it)

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I feel like I’ve been neglecting my blog a little of late, and I’m determined to keep going with it all as I enjoy posting so much. Its a really cool way of keeping in touch with you all, kind of like the pub where I hang out with my friends, but I’ve widened my socializing places and I guess that was always going to slightly dilute how often I post. But not wanting to lose touch with my true friends, here’s what I’ve been up to.

Coffee 101

Over nearly 800 people in just 6 weeks of being live which is amazing. Lots of really nice feedback too, stuff people enjoyed

In My Mug

This is the block buster, I’m so shocked at how well this has gone down. Since being launched on itunes, in under two weeks it has had over 700 downloads, and from vimeo over 1400 views (and I’m fairly sure this only counts views all the way through not abandoned views). Speechless amazing, truly amazing. Number 2 in the itunes videocast charts for a day was very cool. I keep yo yoing, so if you haven’t subscribed in itunes click the link here PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE :). Nice to see it as one of the four new and notable suggestions in the video cast food section.

I cant tell you how much I love doing these, and your feedback has been constructive and very very kind, I do hope they get better over the next few weeks.

Twitter

Been doing a lot of twittering rapidly approaching 500 posts. It’s become the best way of keeping in touch with me, as I have it on while roasting. If your not using twitter you really should, I’ve made some cool friends there. My one is here

Purebeans

We took over a company run by our good friend Paul under two weeks ago. This has been a lot of work meeting new customers, and getting used to a set of new stock and processes. It’s really an extension to what we do focusing on the trade side of the business and exciting challenge.

Christmas Planning

Trying to come up with some new ideas for the festive season, which will be going live in the December newsletter, very excited. So anything you guys can think of and I can steal as my own ideas fire away.

New Roaster

I’m off to Germany next Friday to pick up our new 12kg beast. Not the best time to be converting huge amounts of money into euros while the pound hits new lows in the currency market, but it will be good to have a 12kg machine back. Unfortunately the insurance paid in pounds so I’ve had to find the difference in the exchange rate which hurts.

I’m taking my camera and video camera so I hope to get lots to blog about. Also I’ll be twittering during the trip so sign up now at the link here.

Tales of the Drip Tray Common Grinds Podcast

As I blogged about last weekend I had a second guest appearance on Chris Weavers podcast, (not bad when there have only been three). Chris is a really passionate young barista and its been good to see him get the podcast going. It was also great fun spending the day with him, he was so keen to learn more. Now all I need to teach him is how to press record on the laptop before we spend an hour chatting

Take a listen at them here for episode one and here for episode three.

12second.tv

Another toy I’m playing with I’m not so comfortable with it yet, but I’m sure it will come. My profile is at the link here, any one else on there? I think its in Alphas invite only so if you will post and want an invite I think I am allowed to give one out, let me know.

Ustream

Been looking at lots of other programs on ustream and I have a few ideas how we will be using it, probably launch something very soon, but keen not to over stretch myself too much. Any one has any ideas you know where I am.

I also got a year older on the 31st of October, which now means I am very very old, I think my body is telling me to retire from my Sunday league football, but my heart is still trying to overrule it.

But I’m thinking I may be doing a bit less now and using that time to focus on the blog and in my mug and twitter and …….. you get the idea.

Sorry for rambling, but there has been so much I’ve wanted to blog about but haven’t. I will try harder.

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I just wanted to share with you our recent apperance on the common grind podcast

Chris came to the Roastery and cupped some of our favourite coffees. Its our second appearance, (have a look at episode one).

Its great to have a UK podcast and I think we should get behind it. I for one am enjoying it very much. Nice work Chris.

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Watch out Jamie I’m coming to get you.

Get me to number one and I’l die a happy man please sign up today. Please click this link here and it will ask you if you want to open your itunes program, then click subscribe and make a little coffee roaster very very happy.

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I Can not belive it. In My Mug (the video bloging thing we have done) is in the top 20 on the UK food podcvast chart. I’m just behind Gino d’aCampowhos at number 13, how cool is that.

I want the top ten I’m on a mission, please please please please, even if you watch them on the site, please click this link here and it will ask you if you want to open your itunes program, then click subscribe, just for me. It will make me smile a lot !!!

Ahh a tough day today has just got a little better

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For people who have been sending feedback about inmymug thank you thank you.

One of the problems that has come up is not everyone has broadband, and not everyone can stream the videos. Well a solution, we can now be found in the itunes store under video podcasts (is it a podcast I’m not so sure), but that’s where it lives. Either search for In My Mug, or click this link here and it will ask you if you want to open your itunes program, then click subscribe. This way you can watch on the move on your video mp3 or just watch on the computer and let it download (even on slow connections its not too long).

I’m very pleased about this I think its another great way to watch these reviews.

Happy Halloween all

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I’ve been playing with the look of http://www.inmymug.com, let me know what you think. I had some feedback that the writeing was hard for some to read, so I hope this is better.

New look for in my mug

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Were lucky to be supplying a new customer called Staying cool. There a high end serviced apartment guys who have places in Manchester and at the Rotunda in Birmingham.

I think its so cool that these guys are going to the hassle of supplying freshly roasted and personally selected coffee, its been a pleasure getting to this point with them. In a time where some people are looking to cut costs, they went and spent some more.

I’m looking forward to my free night in one very soon (wink wink).

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So the first ever African COE auction is over and we were able to share a lot with 9 other (I know a big group) from the auction. The outcome can be seen from the link here

I’ve got to say I’m disappointed that we missed out on the lot we really wanted, but very pleased to have this great coffee as a back up from the auction.

I’m also very pleased with the final prices for the farmers very well deserved.

Auctions are funny things, you start with a hopes and a budget, and then they just take over and completely change what you wanted. The lot we were after ended up being the 7th most expensive even though we were looking way down. It’s a shame but the guys who bought it have deeper pockets and I’m sure will do this great coffee lots of justice (couldn’t have gone to a better home).

So mixed emotions on this one, but I’m sure your going to love Buremera Mig - Nzirorera Lanouard that we have got.
The other great thing is we picked up a coffee while we were in Rwanda that wasn’t from the COE but just as good a coffee. On the cupping table it was one of my highest scoring coffees of my time there.

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Good times tomorrow with the first ever auction of Rwanda in the cup of excellecne. Rwanda has done so much work to get to this stage they must be very highly commended.

Will we be buying? I hope so, I’ve some of my favourites marked down. Will I be going for a high placed lot ? Probably not (see my posting here) but I hope that the prices are as high as they deserve to be.

This country has so much untapped potential and being able to see this first hand this year was amazing, and this I believe can only get better.

If you want to watch the auction take a look at the link here from 6:00 AM (Los Angeles), 9:00 AM (New York), 2:00 PM (London), 3:00 PM (Oslo) and 10:00 PM (Tokyo)

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there is a new in my mug posted today at the link here

I promise to stop posting about In my Mug videos as long as you go to http://www.inmymug.com and add it to your RSS feed, or add it to you favorites page and check twice a week

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Really excited about a new coffee I have just added to the website.

The Nicaraguan limoncillo’s brother the pacamara peaberry is now on the site at the link here

In the cup is very different. In the cup the front end is very floral and almost zesty acidity. But that changes with a flash into big body with a controlled sweetness with a herby parsley hint. The aftertaste is the highlight with huge body and funky overripe fruit. Great espresso and filter.

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Decided it might be fun to do some very small video posts for in my mug. Again a work in progress let me know what you think. Take a look here. Some little videos of stuff I want to talk about.

Got some great new coffees to sort this weekend and also plan to do a newsletter (I know its been a while).

Have a great weekend everyone.

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I’ve been able to finally get episode two of in my mug up. Unfortunately my hard drive in my desk top computer gave up over the weekend, and I’ve only just got the computer back. The good news was I had a full back up, the bad news was having to get that back up installed.

Its still not exactly as I would like and I’m a little dissapointed with the sound, I think I may need to get a microphone. I also have an idea I hope to start on the next one as an on going development.

Take a look at it here.

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Continuing in the series I’ve posted pt four of four on how has bean stated. If you missed previous articles take a look on our articles section on the blog section here, or you can go direct to part 4 here.

I’ve enjoyed writing this very very much, I hope you have enjoyed reading it. Its been a rollercoaster, and I expect many more ups and downs, but as long as the ups are more than the downs.

In my mug posting is going to be a little delayed, my home desk computer hard drive gave up the ghost on Sunday, and this has all the important files on it to finish it off. I should (SHOULD) be back in business tomorrow.

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One of last years favorites is back the new crop Nicaragua Limoncilo is here. We were lucky enough to get get this last year in the cup of excellence, I know a few of you wont have tried it because of the high price. Well this time its a much nicer price, so there is no excuse. Its also improved for me with an increase in body, which means its quite at home in espresso.

Erwin Mierich

It was also one of the farms I visited on my trip earlier this year. Erwin is the farm manager and his dad owns the farm. A beautiful farm thats so well looked after.

Watch out tomorrow for another varietal from this farm coming in. One of the highlights of this year.

Stephen Leighton & Erwin Mierich

Take a look at the link here

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So my new project I’ve been talking about on twitter. I’ve been thinking for a while about video bloging but wasn’t so sure what to do. My spelling (as you will know) is not so good, and people tell me all the time that my passion for coffee comes across when I talk to people, so it seems like a good idea.

I have a voice for text bloging but I’m giving it a go any way. The project is called http://www.inmymug.com and is a weekly video blog, on a different coffee each week. I’m not sure how it will develop but I hope it will branch into cupping’s, espresso, roasting, blending and all things coffee. It’s also a chance to share a special offer on that coffee for the week.

I would really like some feedback on this first edition(email the bad, post comments on the good ☺ ) . I know I speak to fast on this one, I know it’s not as polished as it could be but I hope you agree its something to build on.

I also want your interaction on them, I’d love some questions and some ideas what you would like to see.

I see it as complimentary to the blog the twitter and all the other things I love doing in the social world. I also hope it’s a chance to share some of the things I’ve learnt about coffee.

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I’ve done a cupping yesterday that made me so excited. Some of you from last year may remember Limoncillo we bought from the cup of excellence. I’ve know Erwin (who’s dad owns the farm) for a few years and has become a good friend. Friday we received new samples from this years crop, and something special.

I was lucky enough to go out and visit the farm this year too on my El Salvador / Nicaragua trip which was very special.

So when the samples arrived yesterday in the post they were straight into the sample roaster. Its the first time I’ve seen Pacamara Peaberry, and if they all taste like these then I want to see more.

The coffee is amazing cupping notes to follow and the coffee should be available by the end of the week.

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Shocked and surprised Sanremo have been announced as the UKBC machine sponsors.

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Continuing in the series I’ve posted pt three of four on how has bean stated. If you missed part one or two take a look on our articles section on the blog section here, or you can go direct to part 3 here.

Thanks very much for all your very kind words via email or on orders about the series it’s been fantastic fun writing it, and you out there seem to have enjoyed reading it.

On other news we are seeing some really good coffee come through our cupping lab at the moment, and some stuff that’s finding its way on to the site. I’ll tell you more in the blog over the next few days, but I’ve also been working very hard on a blend that’s going to blow your mind.

Were also seeing the end of some of our regular coffees for a few weeks while we wait for few crops to arrive. What’s been a real spurt in demand and in how busy we are has caught me off guard, we normally have things quite tightly planned, but alas not this time. Coffees we are seeing disappear for a while are the Brazil Sata Terazina, the Brazil Perfetio, Verano and maybe some more once I check out our stocks. But don’t worry they will be back as soon as new crop lands. I’ll post some more late this week / the weekend.

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