Next bean swap

Lacehim

So, who's in charge with this bean swap?  Not harrassing anyone, but it seems like we have loads of folk interested.  Is there a time frame to getting going?  Also a basic run down on how it all works for the newbies like me would be great.

UNM

if nobody else wants to take charge I will try to kick it off this weekend - prob Sunday. this is shaping up to be a 90+ hour week not including breaks so I have been rather slack about coffee. I actually ran out of beans and had to juggle a roast while polishing the trailer and eating lunch crap roast but at least it is caffeine and I can always send it to my swap buddy...

Brett H

on 1342675817:

if nobody else wants to take charge I will try to kick it off this weekend - prob Sunday. this is shaping up to be a 90+ hour week not including breaks so I have been rather slack about coffee. I actually ran out of beans and had to juggle a roast while polishing the trailer and eating lunch crap roast but at least it is caffeine and I can always send it to my swap buddy...

I heard that...  :rofl:

shape_shifter

Rmember I changed my vote to random blend so it's actually 6/5 with random blend in the lead  :angel: UNM I can do it, I'm not doing much but sitting around home for the next couple of weekends, especially if it keeps raining!

Muscles

I'm gonna have to withdraw from this one. Have lost a family member and will soon be moving house.

Kelsey

Sorry to hear that Muscles, let us know if there's anything we can do.

Koffee_Kosmo

on 1342754187:

I'm gonna have to withdraw from this one. Have lost a family member and will soon be moving house.

Condolences mate And fully understand with 2 members of our family passing last month You can still participate as a tester Some can send you beans without the need for an actual swap KK

derrilex

So sorry to hear Muscles.

shape_shifter

Muscles, I hope everything goes easily for all.. I'm it for the swap organiser  :o PM me or email: nics.stuff at rocketmail.com if you want to join in. I think if we give everyone to the end of next weekend to join up and then I'll let everyone know their swap names (I'll get OH to pull them out of a hat).  I think the same way we did it the first time is best, I think it's fairer to all that we just have one postage cost per person when we're posting. I would advise everyone to send them express, even if not in an express area (like myself) just for tracking sake, of course you don't have to, that is completely up to you Once you have a swap name you are free to send out your beans whenever they are ready, hopefully not too long after everyone has their names, two weeks at the most I think is fair to give people time to roast on the weekends if they haven't got a roast already done that they want to send. I think since the poll has been open for 9 days and it's so far random blends to single 7-5 (remembering I stated my desire to swap my vote 2 seconds after I voted  ::)) we'll go for the blends this time. I think this time we should go for 400 grams (brown), being that the postage was getting a bit ridiculous when people were going just over the 500 gram mark once the beans were packed. How you want to get to that amount is up to you, all one blend, two blends, etc. I think I say I think too much, if anyone wants to suggest anything go for it, I'm all ears  :rofl: The one thing I will make sure happens though hopefully (if UNM still has the list) is that no one gets the same person from last time.

Brett H

on 1342756142:

Condolences mate And fully understand with 2 members of our family passing last month You can still participate as a tester Some can send you beans without the need for an actual swap KK

Absolutely!  My sincerest condolences Marc! 

shape_shifter

KK, Brett we will make it so

Muscles

Thanks all, father in law passed away on Monday aged 65, tuff times ahead but will get through it. Im happy to accept beans and repay later when I find time to roast if anyone is willing to wait a short while  :coffee2:

Brett H

on 1342779035:

Thanks all, father in law passed away on Monday aged 65, tuff times ahead but will get through it. Im happy to accept beans and repay later when I find time to roast if anyone is willing to wait a short while  :coffee2:

65 is too young.  You have my deepest sympathies mate.  PM me ya address.  The family has gone north for a couple of weeks so I have some free time!  Not much, but some!

Muscles

Thanks mate I will take you up on that... Getty get any help you can right?!

Brett H

on 1342791582:

Thanks mate I will take you up on that... Getty get any help you can right?!

Absolutely right!  More than glad to return some of the kindness others have shown me!

shape_shifter

I just wanted to say please everyone thinking they aren't good enough, give it a go. The last bean swap I was fortunate enough to get Jeff/mycuppa and was shitting myself.  Sure my beans weren't anywhere near good enough but due to Jeffs kindness and going into depth about how I could improve, I think I've made a big leap forward in my roasting, well I hope, I've only just started blending so I hope whoever I get goes gently on me LOL My big lesson was that I was so afraid of ending up with GJ beans re: black and oily that I wasn't roasting long enough and my beans were under roasted.  I often wondered where this chocolate taste was that everyone was raving about in certain beans!!!  Well I found it in spades once I realised what I was doing wrong  So please please give it a go and have fun learning after all it's what we're all about, learning and having fun doing it to get the best we can out of our roasting.

Brett H

on 1342869497:

I just wanted to say please everyone thinking they aren't good enough, give it a go. The last bean swap I was fortunate enough to get Jeff/mycuppa and was shitting myself.  Sure my beans weren't anywhere near good enough but due to Jeffs kindness and going into depth about how I could improve, I think I've made a big leap forward in my roasting, well I hope, I've only just started blending so I hope whoever I get goes gently on me LOL My big lesson was that I was so afraid of ending up with GJ beans re: black and oily that I wasn't roasting long enough and my beans were under roasted.  I often wondered where this chocolate taste was that everyone was raving about in certain beans!!!  Well I found it in spades once I realised what I was doing wrong  So please please give it a go and have fun learning after all it's what we're all about, learning and having fun doing it to get the best we can out of our roasting.

Exactly right Nic!  I can't tell you how much I enjoyed the whole experience last time.  It really helps us to grow as home roasters when we get obstructive feedback from other coffee lovers and home barista.  Tango sent me beans that were roasted much lighter than I'd usually drink and guess what.... They were great and really opened my eyes to the clean citrus acidity of some really terrific beans! It's a great experience and everyone who can should get involved!

madpierre

Once you'se said blend I freaKED OUt  :tearhair: My blending is usually partial bags made up to about 250gm and tossed in the roaster  ;D  Looking forward to seeing how this goes given otrhers' experince of feedback helping improve their roasting skills and knowledge base.  :thumb: Muscles...my condolences and best wishes for you and your family working through the grieving process.  It's tough and it's life, and we do get through it . All the best. 

shape_shifter

mp seriously don't worry, I've only just done my very first blend and it's crap :D I have to give some quick and serious thought on how to improve it before it's right to send out. Does that mean you're in  :thumb:

WotB

Swappers please note: My offering will be a filter roast.  I'm sure most of us have a manual brewer of some sort, if not, even the humble plunger will suffice.

madpierre

Definitely in SS.....not necessarily rising to the challenge, more a slight upward lean  ;D 

Ronin

Is it OK to buy some beans to swap? I might be in transit, between houses with the beans and roaster packed.

derrilex

on 1343008056:

Swappers please note: My offering will be a filter roast.  I'm sure most of us have a manual brewer of some sort, if not, even the humble plunger will suffice.

SS - take note. I have neither. Espresso only for me please. I need to taste the crimmas- and the notes :rofl:

Kelsey

Let me know before it's all finalised. I want to take part, but don't even have time to roast for myself at the moment.

Brett H

on 1343023676:

Is it OK to buy some beans to swap? I might be in transit, between houses with the beans and roaster packed.

In special circumstances like moving house I don't see why not.  Does anyone else want to chime in with a negative?  Sure the point is is to share our own roasts but with the wonderful addition of some professional roasters I'm thinking the wider the experience palette, the greater the range of experience and knowledge shared.

RichardM

on 1343115083:

In special circumstances like moving house I don't see why not.  Does anyone else want to chime in with a negative?  Sure the point is is to share our own roasts but with the wonderful addition of some professional roasters I'm thinking the wider the experience palette, the greater the range of experience and knowledge shared.

Seems fine to me. If I get supermarket bought Vittoria, I'll just mark it return to sender though.

Ronin

on 1343116323:

Seems fine to me. If I get supermarket bought Vittoria, I'll just mark it return to sender though.

I don't blame you as I'd do the same. I should be ok but wanted a back up plan, just in case. And if I need to, beans will be purchased from a good roaster. Some good ones local to me and my work.

shape_shifter

What Brett said - hopefully everyone can get a chance to roast but I can't see the harm in sharing a fantastic blend that you like from our local roaster. derrilex - noted Where is everyone else, I'm still missing quite a few people that were in the last swap :P

Lacehim

on 1343176819:

Where is everyone else, I'm still missing quite a few people that were in the last swap :P

Maybe PM them SS, just incase they haven't seen the thread.

Ronin

on 1343008056:

Swappers please note: My offering will be a filter roast.  I'm sure most of us have a manual brewer of some sort, if not, even the humble plunger will suffice.

Perhaps include a recipe  for the filter WotB. Might help us novices with pour overs get the best out of it.