We are all pretty excited about our latest Voyager offering over here at B&B. I asked Bob how he discovered this coffee and what made him want to buy it, here is what he had to say: The Tanzania peaberry is what I consider to be a long lost classic here at Batdorf and Bronson. Our long-time customers will tell you that it was once a staple of our coffee offerings. However, as time passed sourcing this coffee became increasingly more difficult. It seemed like the peaberry grade was taking priority and as a result the coffee quality suffered. Traceability of these coffees also became a challenge. While we knew the coffee came from Tanzania, that was about all we did know, and that is just not enough. As a company committed to both top quality and traceability we had to let the Tanzania go.
Enter the Mlama Estate.
About 8 months ago a friend and green coffee producer from Colombia told me about a project on the slopes of Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. I said I would have interest in the coffee but it obviously must meet quality standards and be shipped in a timely manner.
When type samples arrived I knew immediately the raw material for great quality coffee was there. We discussed grading and screening and agreed that Batdorf would purchase all of the peaberry screens when the crop was ready. This was a bit of a gamble because often the quality of coffees can diminish on the long journey from Africa. Green coffee is often held up at ports in various places in addition to the mileage that it must endure on a container ship. Before leaving Tanzania the Mlama estate coffee was entered in a Taste of Tanzania competition where of 41 coffees it received 5th place. Another quality confirmation indeed. Three months later the coffee has landed here in our roastery. I hope you are as pleased with the results as I am. Enjoy!