I actually read that review before this thread. I figured those who already know Steve's coffees would find it disbelievable anyway.
Matt, in my view, whatever gives the reviewer the right to express his written opinion is the same right that affords TMCers in this thread to express their written opinion of his review. Clearly, this is because every single one of them has had a different experience to that of the reviewer.
Who knows why the reviewer had that experience. It may have been his genuine experience for a myriad of reasons for which none of us can even conceive. Also, it may not have been. Whatever it is, here we are today.
I suspect Steve left that review, well, because it's supposed to be a review of his customers' experience. It's not a strictly "commendations only" list. More importantly, I think it's because Steve: a) knows his coffee is fantastic; b) is confident a huge majority of his customers do as well; and, c) due to his integrity, wouldn't even conceive of removing scathing reviews... even if it were out of line. I'd even bet that Steve has contacted the reviewer for more info and to send back that 'bad batch' and replace it.
As for the reviewer reading this on TMC, well, not so different from HB's (potential) and existing (incl TMC) customers reading his review. Surely said reviewer would understand that and perhaps even realise that his experience is such an extreme exception.
Without having also tasted from the same bag as the reviewer, we don't really know whether or not he knew what he was doing, let alone whether it was 'according' to coffee-making guidelines or not. A lot of people refer to mokka pots as espresso makers... it still doesn't mean they can't discern a pleasant taste from a bad one... which may be totally different from our own perception of good/bad tastes.
The reviewer did say "We are used to drinking dark roasted Monsoon Malabar (not from you) with oils in abundance so maybe it is our palates which betray us and your coffee but I do not think so." Clearly, he did consider that 'maybe it was him/them' - at least for a moment
Clearly, TMCers in this thread objected to the 'full-stop' not being six words earlier
*edit* crap... cross-posted with breako & gauzeman
Too bloody wordy to be quick enough