We were informed last week that all Technivorm Moccamaster coffeemakers now carry a five year manufacturer’s warranty, speaking to the longevity of the product line made in Holland. For the past several years Technivorms have come with a one year warranty so this is welcome improvement.
The Best of Panama auction was held today with stunning price results. Five coffees achieved prices over $50 a pound. The first and second place coffees, both Geishas from Finca La Valentina and Hacienda Esmeralda Especial, brought $70.25 and $75.25 respectively. The top non-Geisha was from Kotowa Don K from Cafe Kotowa, a Caturra and Typica blend that fetched $20.75 a pound. Much of today’s auction winners were from Japan.
We were judges at Best of Panama this year and on the first day there was a special cupping of natural process coffees. The growers in Panama, notably in Boquete and Volcan, are pushing the envelope of what can be achieved. Two naturals brought in the top prices in the auction: Don Pachi Geisha natural brought a stunning $111.50 a pound, and, Colga Alfa from Esmeralda earned $88.50. In the near future we will have two of the coffees that were auctioned today, so stay tuned!
Last Tuesday, May 17, was the dedicated 2011 Esmeralda Special. Happily, we were the successful bidders with one of our colleagues their Montana lot, their newest growing plot and in our opinion the best coffee they offered this year. It is also the scarcest with only 600 total pounds available. Two Montana lots, one of them ours, fetched the highest prices in the auction at $52.50 and $53.50 a pound. A very limited amount will be available green to our Roastmasters customers so let us know if you have interest. The coffee should arrive in about a month.
Best of Panama 2011 auction results
Hacienda Esmeralda Especial 2011 auction results
Hottop USA announced price increases to its distributors to be effective June 15. The minimum selling price for Hottop model KN-8828B-2 will be $820, a $100 increase; the programmable KN-8828P-2 will become $1000, an $80 increase. Hottop pricing has been constant for four years as the price of just about everything has risen. The company cites rising metal and fuel costs and points out that they have made numerous design improvements during these past years.
Roastmasters.com will offer both Hottop models at the lowest allowable selling price. You have until June 15 to purchase both models at their current minimum prices: $720 and $920 respectively. Both model KN-8828B-2 and KN-8828P-2 are in stock and available. Buy now to save in advance of the upcoming increase.
The i-Roast2 ,which we were previously told would be discontinued, is back. In early January we reported the i-Roast2 roaster had its last shipment arrive at the US distributor, and we offered what we thought to be the last of them for sale. A short time ago we received a phone call from the same distributor saying that the roaster would now continue to be available. We have plenty in stock so head on over to our i-Roast2 product page. Like Mark Twain’s famed “Reports of my death are greatly exaggerated” so too is that true of the i-Roast2. We have them and it looks like they will now be around for a while.
Baratza will soon introduce the ‘New Maestro Plus’ grinder, identical to the former model with two exceptions:
- The base upon which it stands, which was formerly all metal, will now be made of plastic that is internally fitted with some metal to retain its weight.
- The change above will enable the price to drop about $20. Our price for the new Maestro Plus will be $129 upon its arrival around the 20th of February – the lowest price Baratza allows them to be sold.
Concurrently, Baratza will discontinue the Maestro, which had been the lowest price grinder they made as well as the lightest. Until now, the Maestro and Maestro Plus have both had the same conical burrs and offered identical grinding performance, so this consolidation of the two models into one simplifies the Baratza line. After the Maestro product consolidation is complete the company will have four models in all, each with its own differentiated burr sets and performance features. Those four will consist of:
- ‘new’ Maestro Plus
- Virtuoso
- Preciso
- Vario
Redesigned Baratza Maestro Plus
The grinder will be available on our site within a couple of days.
Hottop adds new thermocouple
The newest shipment of Hottop KN-8828B-2 roasters, known more affectionately around here simply as model B, will now be equipped with a K-style thermocouple. The new thermocouple replaces the original button style thermal sensor that was on the back wall of the roaster. This new thermocouple, which is extended away from the rear wall, will give more accurate temperature display and faster response time. Die to the cost and complexity involved, Hottop will not make an upgrade available for older roaster models. Roasters equipped with the thermocouple are now designated as model KN-8828B-2-K. All B roasters in our inventory are now this model.
Hottop has, at the same time, changed some of the programmed safety features of the roaster. The programmable P model, formally KN-8828P-2, does not get the thermocouple at this time.