August 2009

• International Left Handers Day 2009

  Mon 10 August, 2009
  Left Handed Grumpy Mule Coffee

  Louise, who looks after all things coffee and quality related at Grumpy Mule, has reported that Thursday 13th August is International Left Handers Day which goes against the grain of the 364 "right handers days" that exist in the year. As a fellow left hander - along with Louise and JP who roasts our coffee - I feel duty bound to mention such a momentus occasion. Naturally our Grumpy Mule mugs are equally favourable to left handers, as the image shows.

• New Season Diamond Mountain Arrives from Panama

  Mon 10 August, 2009
  Panama Diamond Mountain Sacks

  We're pleased to announce the arrival of the new crop of Panama Diamond Mountain from Hacienda La Esmeralda. This will be the second year that we've offered this coffee and it certainly proved very popular in the first - it is now widely stocked through our retailer customers, including Booths (with 25 stores in the north-west) and House of Fraser food halls.
  
  Having just had a cup myself, I can report that it is delightfully smooth this year.

• Organic Costa Rican Coffee from Finca Las Lajas

  Thu 06 August, 2009
  Finca Las Lajas

  In light of the FSA’s report the other day, it seemed a good time to announce the imminent arrival of a new organic Grumpy Mule coffee. This Costa Rican coffee from Finca Las Lajas possesses both an exceptional flavour - it's almost butterscotch like - and story. There aren’t all that many organically certified farms in Costa Rica, but this fantastic coffee ticks all of the right boxes in terms of farm management and quality.
  
  It's a great time right now for micro-mill farms and beneficios in Costa Rica and although the coffees attract a price premium, the exceptional flavours, variety and consistency in preparation make them very appealing to us - and hopefully to you!

• Grumpy Mule on the Word of Mouth Blog

  Wed 05 August, 2009

  Grumpy Mule got a brief mention on the Guardian's Word of Mouth blog yesterday in relation to judging speciality food and drink products and the 2009 Great Taste Awards. Reading this light-hearted article, you can well imagine that there are pros and cons to sampling waves of food and drink products from the yummy and tempting like chocolate (and surely coffee fits into this too) to the somewhat less appealing (you'd have to be glad there isn't a "salad" category).
  
  For us, winning awards like this are gratefully received and very helpful when your products are fighting for consumers attention on the shelves of delis and food shops. It also makes us feel like we're heading in the right direction when it comes to the quality of our coffees, particular as the tea and coffee categories remain popular to enter.
  
  However, it reminded me to put these successes into perspective. It can dent the ego when your products don't quite make the cut, or if you face fair - yet discouraging - remarks from the judges about the taste and flavour, but ultimately your customers will decide whether your product is enjoyable and worth a repeat purchase.
  
  This is a different situation altogether, but when judging in coffee competitions at origin we're often reminded that "behind every coffee...

• Cancelled - Wiltshire & Berkshire Food Festival 2009

  Wed 05 August, 2009

  We've just discovered that the Wiltshire & Berkshire Food Festival at Cobb's Farm has been cancelled, so apologies for the dubious information put up onto the site yesterday - it was correct in our minds at least. Apparantly the festival hasn't just been cancelled, it was just we hadn't been told it was off!