Greens

Brett H

So.... I've been using DiBella occasionally for green beans but when I looked there were only two single origins and one decaf.  Does anyone know if they are winding up their green offerings?  We really are spoiled for choice in Brisbane with Lwowiak, BeanGreen and Dibella... but I'd hate to see a supplier disappear.  I know there's no good business sense for a commercial roaster to offer green beans but I often buy complimentary products with my order in the hope that, well.... long may it continue.

Anyone in the know??

lukemc

I thought they were starting a new green bean company call international coffee traders? I saw a video with PHIL Di Bella saying he had left the roasted business totally and was starting a new venture at ICT. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

West Village

That was also my understanding lukemc, they have only launched ICT fairly recently as a green coffee supplier. Check out the website for further deets, not sure if they sell retail or purely wholesale/commercial now. If looking for greens, I've had so much success popping into local roastery/cafes around my area and asking if they would sell the odd kilo to a home roaster and the majority are always keen to strike up a friendly combo, offer plenty of advice and sell me whatever greens they have in hand. I've approached 3 so far and all three have been more than willing. Get them on a quieter day and I reckon you'll be in luck! Most of the guys I have asked get their coffee from either coficom or Melbourne coffee merchants up here in Sydney.

Brett H

Great information chaps... Thank you.  I've also used Aye Karamba for their greens and found them to be as good as the Dibella offerings.  BeanGreen and Lwowiak are stil, the gold-standard!

mycuppa

DiBella Coffee has been owned by RFG for a few years and for those that have been keeping up with the news in recent months will have seen the challenges faced by RFG franchisees at a retail level and the impact upon RFG’s business. As a shareholder it’s been difficult to watch the rapid fall in market value of their equities in such a short timeframe. Actually it’s scandalous when comparing the market releases from 2017 to 2018. RFG is a big company and it’s roasting operations are jaw dropping in capacity and throughput. It’s also a diverse business with wholesale and vertical integration across food and beverage. The individual performance of DBC within the RFG portfolio is likely to be strong and healthy (successful), so it can’t be tarred with the same brush as say some of the struggling brands inside the group. RFG also operated a green bean supply business that fed the various roasting operations inside of RFG as well as sell like a broker to the external wholesale market, e.g. coffee roasting companies. Mostly this was QLD centric with a bit in NSW and less in VIC. RFG may well be tightening the focus inside all of its units and activities that don’t add a lot of value, like selling small quantities of green beans to consumers, may be part of a plan to rationalise. The market for green beans is finally starting to see healthy competition after too many decades of duopoly. This will bring much needed innovation and sharper focus on service. It’s a tough segment of the coffee lifecycle with huge capital requirements a high risks.

Brett H

I too have followed the RFG fall from grace and I sold out after the first big drop.  It's been a tough time in the market and at the moment everything I touch turns to crud but it's a long game.  The franchise side of the business has allowed the short-sellers to make a fortune on the back of a meteoric rise.  Disappointing really and I hope to get back in once the dust settles but it's a game for traders and punters at the moment. It's interesting that PDB is getting back into coffee, though not surprising.  The shake-up Jeff will be interesting but at my level I personally wouldn't expect any greater access to higher quality better priced greens than I get currently... I'm a keen reader of your newsletter and a realist

mycuppa

Thanks Brett. Yeah, it's probable there were restrictions placed upon him when selling DBC to RFG and some of those constraints may have reached expiry. Things like non-compete clauses with terms, etc. but who knows and it's a private and confidential topic anyway. Raw coffee trading may not conflict with "essence" of what is DBC and therefore not subject to a breach. There is no doubt he has been the most successful businessman in Australian coffee history and kudos to him. In fact, anyone that makes a decent success in this difficult industry deserves a pat on the back.  For PDB, it may be a case of difficult to **stay away **  - spend so much of your life learning and developing knowledge around coffee. Trading of green coffee needs to be a volume game for scale and efficiencies. Whilst we know a certain business in that other place does quite well out of it, that model is rather unique in the commercial realm as it evolved in a window of opportunity that has since narrowed considerably.

Brett H

*nodding head in agreement while synthesising........ Yes... I have lots to say about the quality of greens received from.... Ah heck, its a low margin business that is better off as a complimentary value-added sideline.  I'm not going to whinge about any green supplier, I'm very glad they exist and I'm really grateful to Lwowiak who fronts his own money for big purchases then distribute as a co-op.

Koffee_Kosmo

Because ITC is a new venture they are only selling green beans in commercial quantities or by the 60 kg bag They are located in Bowen Hills and they hold cupping sessions of current offerings Only last week I shared in bags of Ethiopian and South American greens And Brett I still have your Robur grounds exit guide ready to collect or post KK

askthecoffeeguy

So where are folks getting their green beans from these days apart from the usual culprits? Pat

Brett H

ITC is selling awesome quality beans directly imported in low volumes for home roasters!! I’m really excited about the results I’m getting from their product! Google International Coffee Traders!

Koffee_Kosmo

I have been using some greens from ICT , some from Stan and both have been great You already have greens from Stan but you probably never heard about ICT That’s why I mentioned them KK

Brett H

And I’m glad you did! I’m now through the last of Stan’s which were as usual ‘top shelf’. ICT is filling the gap nicely for the moment until Stan goes BIG!

Paolo5

I received some greens from ICT last week.... Some Monsooned Malabar Arabica and Monsooned Malabar Robusta. Great service and quite reasonable freight, which was around $28 for 20 kg to my home near Sydney. I have already done a roast with them. I  combined 1100gm of the Arabica to 100 gm of the Robusta. After 3 days I am already getting lots of spiced chocolate smoothness. Really enjoyable. How does a person order from Stan, who is mentioned in some of the above posts?

Brett H

Great to hear Pablo! Send a PM to Lwowiak! Enjoy!!

Paolo5

Thanks, Brett.

Cuir Beluga

Is BeanGreen still up and running?

Brett H

on 1558499442:

Is BeanGreen still up and running?

Hey there... the short answer is no. The longer answer is that I believe they’re focused more on commercial amounts. Happy to be corrected! Nice to hear from you CB

Cuir Beluga

on 1558589164:

Hey there... the short answer is no. The longer answer is that I believe they’re focused more on commercial amounts. Happy to be corrected! Nice to hear from you CB

Oh poo! That would explain the security certificate thing  ;D Thanks, I plan to pop in more often.

Brett H

Check out ICT in Brisbane!

Cuir Beluga

on 1558593579:

Check out ICT in Brisbane!

Will do, thanks very much.