Since these forums are publicly viewable I felt the need to join in order to be able to answer some criticisms and comments made about me here, so I could at least balance the somewhat negative views expressed by some.
I don't intend this as a flame. Life is too short. But we are discussing "me", and that's important (to me!) I've never consciously defamed anyone in public. I go about my business as professionally as I can.
I hope to be able to contribute in the forums as time permits, and would like my participation to be of a friendly nature. In order to achieve this I need to answer some of the points written in the past.
The quotes below were made in the forums here, and I will answer each post below.
>How can it be difficult to import and distribute some beans? Yes, it is >time intensive, but really... it takes an afternoon's work at best. Besides >he makes money on it.
Actually, there's a couple of points here. Firstly, I started selling Malabar Gold Blend (MBG) as a favour to the UK roasting community since I am a home roaster myself. I was prompted by Dr. John of Malabar Gold who was impressed with my efforts at serving quality espresso beverages to the coffee challenged of Portsmouth. He subsequently visited the espresso trailer and we had a great afternoon pulling shots, of which he was complimentary. I was using my commercial blend (Trucillo), which he apparently liked, as a "standard" southern Italian blend.
It takes several hours a week to deal with orders, pack and ship them etc.
I do this around the 70-80 hours a week I spend in the espresso bar.
It's not remotely profitable, given the work it involves.
>Neku, like you said he gave some sort of sob story about being busy. I >have to agree with Eward here. Selling MG is a business he's chosen to >get into, not a favour he's doing for some guys. He's making a profit. >Consequently I find his behaviour unacceptable. I promised to buy some >greens so I will, but I'd rather buy more (if I want it) from other sources.
I'm sorry if I let anyone down, but I'm not aware that I have. I answer all email queries received. I had difficulties initially because Dr. John asked me sell MBG here when I was virtually penniless, having just started the espresso business after 18 months of unemployment. Several thousand pounds were involved in the mobile espresso bar, and I really didn't have the finances to buy MBG in the quantity needed to supply any volume of orders.
Malabar Gold is available only in 100lb sacks, which is too much for conventional shippers. Dr. John agreed to split sacks (for a charge) so that they could be delivered by normal post. The alternative is to order by the pallet and have it imported by freight carriers etc.
I agreed to order 66lb at a time (the limit for post) and started to fulfill orders. Given that it takes 5-6 weeks to receive more MBG, at a cost exceeding £250 I was caught out by a couple of large orders that meant I had insufficient beans left whilst waiting for more stock.
Now that the $ rate is more friendly I can arrange to keep a larger stock, so I hope this situation wouldn't arise again.
>Danny just bought some from Dr John - well actually he bought a bag, >or rather a large part of a bag - something to do with a large jump in >shipping costs. Steve, I can get some for you if you like, so Danny >doesn't know it's for you? Or alternatively any of us can put you in >touch. Your call.
I don't care who orders MBG. As you (Steve) already know, Dr John is extremely concerned about the possibility of his blend being reverse engineered, as has happened in the US, where a very public slanging match was staged between a famous green supplier and an alt.coffee regular who was disatisfied that what he was sold as MBG was in fact a different blend being sold under the name. MBG is registered and is Dr. John's main source of income. He (or his lawyers) aggressively pursue any who attempt to interfere with, or who sell other coffees as his blend. He requires non disclosure agreements from all commercial partners and would actually like even end users of his blend to agree not to reverse engineer the blend. I have desisted from this so far, but it may be impossible to supply MBG at some time in the future without this clause being noted.
Regarding shipping costs, this is explained in the previous paragraph.
>I'll get a couple more kilos from Danny and pass them on if you like - no >problem with that. Alternatively you could use your "toomuchcoffee" >email and contact him at "danny@gaggia-espresso.com" - I don't think >he'd rumble you if you didn't mention Hasbean. He might not even care >anyway.
You should have just been honest.
As stated, I don't mind who orders MBG. I only have a problem with large orders, since I once was asked to fulfill an order for 40lbs, which would have exhausted my supply for regulars, of which I have many.
>I received my 3kg today. Mr Danny McNulty must be Scottish: The bags >were exactly 1000g (including the plastic bag)... makes me laugh.
My nationality has nothing to do with it
It's to do with postage. I used to supply MBG in kilos, but as postage is charged in kilos I had to be careful that the shipped weight, including packaging, didn't tip the scales at the post office, thereby incurring the next postage rate. This happened a few times, wiping out the small profit I make from sellling MBG.
I now sell MBG by the lb, so 2lbs allows me to safely package them within the 1 kilo postal rate etc. I only charge actual postage, which is based on the PO website, and since postage is paid for in advance I have to ensure that the parcel weighs in at the correct rate.
Anyway, that's enough about Malabar Gold etc.
My main interest is in serving espresso at the highest standards it's (commercially) possible to. I use lever machines, for fun and artistry, and I wouldn't use anything else now as long as theyremain serviceable.
I still roast some, I play with other brewing methods like vacpot.
I rescue old commercial lever machines and grinders and refit them for a working life again.
Any questions, fire away...and thanks for allowing me the opportunity to introduce myself here and to answer your previous comments.
