$12 for syphon brew in WA

shape_shifter

Has anyone else seen this yet?

http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/lifestyle/a/-/food/9911873/12-cuppa-an-elaborate-brew/

Koffee_Kosmo

At least they are using good coffee

Even at up to $12 a cup, Mr Muratore said syphon coffee tended to be a "loss leader" in terms of high labour cost and the price of the raw ingredients, such as Esmeralda Geisha coffee from Panama, which costs over $100 per kilo. "All the effort behind it is reflected in the pricing and so it's not unrealistic to pay $8 to $12 for a cup," Mr Muratore said. Several other Perth venues intend to introduce alternative brewing methods by the end of the year and the WA Barista Academy is starting brewing courses for syphon

Dry_bean.

Hmmmm, I've had similar discussions about red wine, the most recent being last Sat evening over a bottle of Pepperjack Shiraz. How much better is an expensive bottle of red compared to a more modestly priced drop, and the answer is invariably not much, in fact faced with a blind tasting just as many choose the cheaper drop over its better bred cousin, I suspect you would see similar results with a blind cupping of good to high quality beans prepared in the same manner. Coffee is (in my opinion) very much the same, some people believe that because they pay three times as much for a brew it naturally follows that said brew will be three times better than the cheaper cup, it simply ain't the case, very much a case of diminishing return for dollar spent. There are some (very few) who have exceptional palates and probably can discern a quality difference, then there are the rest of us who would fall into the 50/50 basket, they may or may not pick the more expensive brew. The Esmeralda Geisha from Panama, may well taste like nectar of the gods (which I very much doubt) but I will never know, because as long as my backside is pointing to the ground I ain't never gonna pay $12 for a 150ML cup of coffee. ;D

beanflying

At $12 for a good Geisha with a retail price at $25-50+ per 250g and using 20g in a Syphon it's a fair price. Normal pricing around Melbourne runs from $7-12 for 240-300ml brews.

Dry_bean.

$12 may well be a fair price, but is it value for money? Reminds me of the old saying. A fool and his money are soon parted. ::)

beanflying

Unless you have tried a good Geisha or two or 10 then you will never know  They are like a good bottle of Wine a treat a few times a year for those of us who value them. Still wouldn't want to drink it everyday. Some of the COE beans and in particular the Esmer are at risk of becoming over the top awesome as they are. The counter to this will be that a more diverse range in the case of the Geisha varietal is starting to make it out of Central America the pricing we are seeing now may well tend to ease unless the Japanese keep on snapping it up.

hazchem

on 1311671822:

Unless you have tried a good Geisha or two or 10 then you will never know   They are like a good bottle of Wine a treat a few times a year for those of us who value them. Still wouldn't want to drink it everyday. Some of the COE beans and in particular the Esmer are at risk of becoming over the top awesome as they are. The counter to this will be that a more diverse range in the case of the Geisha varietal is starting to make it out of Central America the pricing we are seeing now may well tend to ease unless the Japanese keep on snapping it up.

It's alright beanflying, if some people don't want to drink coffees that score in the 90+ range it's their loss. Just means more for those of us who are willing to try different things, and don't mind paying for the efforts of the farmer, processor, importer, roaster & brewer. I've tasted some stunning geishas this year. Interestingly, the current crop of esmeralda is probably the least compelling of them all. The Don Pachi Natural from St Ali/Sensory Lab, La Canedllila from Market Lane, and a new planting of geisha from honduras that was on the cupping table at the Wendelseminar. All of these have been more interesting & complex in the cup than the current esmeralda. Also, I seem to remember a similar kerfuffle about prices for high end syphon coffees when Sensory Lab opened. and you know what? I don't care. I like to put delicious things in my mouth, and I'm willing to pay for the experience. If liking tasty things & having respect and understanding for all the steps involved in producing said tasty thing and being willing to pay for the privilege makes me a FOOL as drybean suggests, then I hope I never, ever wake up to myself. Being a fool is delicious. all of that said, esmeralda at my local costs $5 a cup. As mentioned I don't think it's a stunning as previous years crops, but it's still pretty tasty.

RichardM

I'd happily pay $12 IF and only IF the person behind the counter could tell me about the beans and express some enthusiasm. If I paid such money, and then just got a cup dumped on my table, I'd be ticked off. I would only do it here and there, not as a regular daily brew.

beanflying

on 1311680791:

I've tasted some stunning geishas this year. Interestingly, the current crop of esmeralda is probably the least compelling of them all. The Don Pachi Natural from St Ali/Sensory Lab, La Canedllila from Market Lane, and a new planting of geisha from honduras that was on the cupping table at the Wendelseminar. All of these have been more interesting & complex in the cup than the current esmeralda.

Agreed on the La Canedllila for the best one of the year and I haven't tried the Don Pachi yet (next weekend I hope when I am up for the Naked Espresso opening). I got lucky a few months back at a cupping at 7S they were cupping their pics from the best of Panama which included 4 Geisha's, my pic for the best wasn't Esme so the future for diversity looks good  

Lacehim

I paid $12 for a syphon in the only place you can get one (that I've found) on the Sunshine Coast (Clandestino Roasters at Belmondo's Noosa). For me it was good to see how it's done first hand, ask questions and to taste the results, then take that knowledge home. Also out of that syphon you can get 2 lovely cups of coffee, so when you think about it, only a few dollars more than the usual latte, cap, fw etc. I've also had a chemex (same price) just for the hell of it, but can't say it was much different from the syphon taste wise for me.  Same bean.  I was flying home after drinking 2 cups of that on my own!  ;D It was great for a nice change, and it's nice to be offered these brewing methods.  Yes the price is more than what I would usally pay, but they are interesting all the same.  Coffee isn't just about espresso after all.

shape_shifter

Richard I have the same thoughts.  I'd like to know that I'm not drinking just an ordinary bean if I'm going to pay that much for it and as Lacehim said see the whole process. KK I did look up the coffee when reading the article and thought well for that type of bean, if it's good then I'd give it a try, along with the above comments

hiphipharar

on 1311680791:

I like to put delicious things in my mouth, and I'm willing to pay for the experience. all of that said, esmeralda at my local costs $5 a cup. As mentioned I don't think it's a stunning as previous years crops, but it's still pretty tasty.

Hear, hear...one $12 cup of stunning coffee > 4 cups of $3 mediocre coffee. Coffee enthusiasts owe it to themselves to try the very best. Having said that, I agree with your last comment. When I saw Mecca was selling $8 Clover brews of Panama La Esmeralda Geisha I had to give it a try. I think whoever made it nailed it (for a change, as more often than not Clover brews are a bit underwhelming). It was brilliant - such delicate flavours and wonderful florals. So I bought a bag but couldn't produce a great brew from my syphon or CCD. Still, I wouldn't hesitate buying another bag if it came my way. I'll have to look up the La Canedllila.

Koffee_Kosmo

Yesterday I roasted Colombia Andes Santa Rita and it cupped @ 85 points Roasted lighter due to this thread and after a little rest , post roast I will be sampling some on my Cona glass rod syphon KK

greenman

The press always zero in on the price, expensive coffee makes an eye-catching promo! In Perth not a lot of cafes do syphon/pourover but that is gradually changing. Emanuelle from Specialty roaster Ristretto (who this story was about) is totally focused on quality going to great lengths to source high rating greens. The usual price for a syphon brew is $6 which if you share with a friend equates to $3 a cup which aint' too bad for quality coffee, when a 'special' coffee is on offer I don't consider paying $10-12 excessive--it's my special treat and hang the expense!!! Rob Broadfield (author of this story)  is a restaurant reviewer and critic and not a coffee person, he commented that the syphon brew was 'wimpy' compared to espresso, at least specialty coffee got a plug on  page three of Perths' main daily newspaper.

beanflying

I saw on Twitter yesterday $15 for a Syphon brew in Sydney, the question then arose did it come with sexual favours too :o It's unfortunate in some ways the mass media looks at the headline first and the content second. Its also a shame that they don't use industry professionals or at least someone with a coffee background as the writers like they do for other parts of their publications. You wouldn't see a sports reporter commenting on politics.

beanflying

on 1311681362:

I haven't tried the Don Pachi yet (next weekend I hope when I am up for the Naked Espresso opening)........

During yesterdays 700km coffee chasing drive to Melbourne I stumbled over Don Pachi on the menu at Proud Mary Sweet Juicy and mild Tannins in a Pourover, best Geisha I have had since the 2008 Esme Geisha from BBB and worth every penny. Chased up a second one of the same lot at a different location as a Syphon elsewhere, pale by comparison less juicy not as sweet and lower in Tannins not a bad coffee by any means just not as good in the cup. Cost of the coffees $20 for the pair and well worth it.

greenman

on 1312585353:

During yesterdays 700km coffee chasing drive to Melbourne I stumbled over Don Pachi on the menu at Proud Mary Sweet Juicy and mild Tannins in a Pourover, best Geisha I have had since the 2008 Esme Geisha from BBB and worth every penny.

Visited Proud Mary today and savoured the Don Pache as a syphon brew, the aroma from the roasted beans and then the grinds were mesmerising with the flavours in the cup full of strawberry and florals, sweet fruity mouthfeel and it just got better and better as it cooled down --well  worth the investment for this brilliant sensory experience  Thank you Nolan