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Covering grinder design and operation, coffee machine design and development, espresso formula, coffee types and milk texturing.

TRUGO - The Bendigo Club. Join up today!

You all know how I come up with crazy ideas! (don't agree that quickly). Well here's another ripper. You'll need to concentrate for a bit cause there's  a bit of history here and you might nod off.

Ever heard of Trugo? Call yourself an Oorstaaalian. Born in the Newport Workshops in Melbourne by the train and tram builders during smoko. Pretty simple concept. Take a puck off the workbench and a big wooden mallet. Place it on the ground and stand over the top of it with the goals behind you at the 50 metre mark. Hit the crap out of it and hope to blazes it goes through the goals.

 If you miss you can fine tune your aim with quick mouthful of your beer. The requirements for the sport were based on what the railway workers could find: the length of the pitch was the length of a carriage, the goalpost width was the distance between seats, the mallet was a sledge hammer, and the black rings were an internal component of buffers.

Over the years it's been played around old Melbourne clubs on a green similar to lawn bowl. see Trugo on the ABC



Coffee Select are proud to announce the launch of Australia's first and to this date only indoor Trugo Club, to be based in Bendigo, Australia.  As many of the classic W class Melbourne trams were made in Bendigo and can still be seen running up Pall Mall we see it as a fitting tribute to the cities manufacturing heritage. The pitch will run the length of our shop at 236 Hargreaves Street in the middle of the city. The hit off will be at the pizza oven end, run through the kitchen bar then the bar, roasthouse with the goals at the front door which will have a purpose built net to protect pedestrians from being hit by flying pucks. Hit off will be at 3pm every Sunday afternoon with preparatory drinks commencing at midday. Teams will be made of four people each. Every week the winning team will share a meat platter (is there a better prize).

Any team found to be practicing in any form before the day will be penalised.

New blends for the world to enjoy!!!!!!!!!

I've always believed with my simple marketing brain that Guinness was created by accident. One day one of the brewers was looking the other way and burnt the barley. Instead of throwing out tonnes of blackened barley the brewery decided to proceed with the brew - walah Guinness - a worldwide success. It was going to make a great lead into today's blog which is about the creation of new blends. Because we've come up with a beauty. Using mainly the superb Indian Monsooned which is an aged sweet, low acid coffee blended with a smaller percentage of higher acid South American coffee and another Indian to add body. It's a simple blend which works really well. We created last Friday and have been enjoying it all week. Now for a name to be really clever. What about Indian Summer? Not bad.This coffee roastings too easy really. Give it a try and tell us what us think.

Tarrawarra Winery, Yarra Valley

Everyone loves a good winery experience especially on a chilly Vic winter day. This is the arresting entrance to Tarrawarra Winery in the Yarra Valley. Through the kind referral by the winemaker, Clare Halloran we have been fortunate enough to supply the winery cafe for the past 2 years. I'm sure you'll have an experience to remember if you book a table in the cafe. When I do get a chance to deliver personally I feel inclined to take up residence on one of the tables overlooking the vines and pretend I own the place. I could phone down to the vineyard staff and give them directions. Darren and Lucy work in the cafe and will look after you I'm sure if you pay them a visit.

Indian Malobar Monsooned

Centuries ago, when coffee beans were transported from Asia to Europe in sailing ships, purely by accident a new coffee taste was discovered. Monsoon winds and high moisture levels below deck caused the beans to swell during their voyages across the sea, causing them to change colour and acquire a uniquely distinctive flavour.

Today, a handful of producers on the West Coast of Southern India with special open sided warehouses for ‘monsooning’ recreate the atmosphere of sending the beans across the sea. Raw, green beans harvested from December to February are spread across the floor of these special warehouses where moisture laden winds circulate around the coffee beans as the storms roll in from June to Sep.

This process dramatically increases the aging process - the beans turn pale yellow in color and swell in size, reducing their acidity. As the acidity levels drop, the beans take on a mellowed but consistent, musty flavour and impart a heavy syrupy flatness reminiscent of aged coffees. These ‘speciality’ coffees are predominantly used in blends to impart richness and body to fresher, more acidic full flavoured coffees.

Both Arabica and Robusta cherries (unwashed coffees) are used for the preparation of monsooned coffees. However, better quality beans make a significant difference to the final product. Monsooned beans are traditionally only available for shipment from September to March. The annual production in India ranges between 3,500 and 5,000 tonnes depending on that year’s general coffee production.

International demand for monsooned coffee has increased dramatically over the last few years. The monsooned style of coffee is extremely popular in Scandinavian countries, Norway, Switzerland, Germany, USA and Japan.

Wikipedia

Monsooned Malabar is a variety of dry processed coffee beans. The harvested and processed beans are exposed to the monsoon winds for a period of about three to four months, causing the beans to swell and lose the original acidity, resulting in a sweet and syrupy brew.^[1] The coffee is unique to the Malabar Karnataka and Kerala and has protected status under the Geographical Indications of Goods Act.^[2][3] The name Monsooned Malabar is derived from exposure to the monsoon winds of the Malabar coast.^[4] coast of India. The blend is heavy bodied, pungent and of monotone quality and is considered to be dry with a chocolatey aroma and a slightly sharp taste.^[5][6] The blend has its origins from the times of the British Raj, when, during the months that the beans were transported by sea from India to Europe, the humidity and the sea winds combined to cause the coffee to ripen from the fresh green to a more aged pale yellow.^[7]

Bacchi Espresso

Agents for Nectre Wood Ovens

Nectre Pizza Ovens are the best! You know Im a foodie and love spending time at cooking and enjoying company. I first saw these ovens four years ago and had the have one. My partner at the time thought it a waste of money and that we'd never use it. Wrong. Any season of the year you'll enjoy using this oven. In Winter it gets you outside to enjoy the fire and of course every other season you just want to cook in it and enjoy the flavours and gastronomic therapy.

If your wondering about weight and base type required for the Nectre Oven  we can help. They weigh about 300kg and therefore need to be lifted by experience people with the right equipment. You will need space to do so and a solid ground to work on. The oven can be stripped of it's steel and bricks but is still super heavy. Once on the ground it is easy to move on a flat bed trolley. Your base can be any design or structural material providing it will carry the weight to an Australian Standard. The installation instructions require the oven to sit 100mm away from any flammable material to the side and rear and 100mm off a flammable base. In the pics below you can see us constructing a 100mm hearth contained in steel and made with stone set in colored mortar.

Email us for any information regarding the Nectre

Piccola Elegant & the Piccola Travel Bag

Paper pods coffee espresso machines

PICCOLA PICCOLA

Currently the quality espresso machine with the smallest footprint on the market. Ideal to take with you when travelling. Instead of a drip-tray it has a trough under the grille which is easy to clean by simply wiping it with a sponge. The espresso coffee extracted has the same quality as with our other professional pod machines. It has very low energy consumption. It can be connected to a tank, even a large one, for water intake, and to a drainage tank, so as to be able to prepare coffee non-stop with the smallest possible footprint.

Recommended for boats, campers, motor homes, domestic use, offices and hotel rooms.

Kenya - Giraffe

One of my favourite images in the world. Drawn by a four year old I know well as a first draft! Why only three legs. I don't know but it works perfectly. Available on a t-shirt if you'd like. Email us to place an order. Black or White $37.50

LOGORAMA

Check out his really cool French animation We laughed our heads off.

It was presented at the Cannes Film Festival 2009. It opened the 2010 Sundance Film Festival and won a 2010 academy award under the category of animated short.

La Cimbali DOMUS coffee machine $350

We have for sale a white La Cimbali Domus espresso coffee machine. That’s right not some brand that also sell jugs and mixmasters but a real La Cimbali who also make big commercial machines for cafes. 

Their approach to quality is seen in this little domestic. 

 It is on display in our window in Bendigo as well as seen on the blog. Call me on 0143 120 382 for more information.

There's a nice video on YOUTUBE

Manual pour over drip brewing

Manual pour-over drip brewing is one of the cheapest, easiest ways to make great coffee. All you need is a pack of good quality paper filters, a filter cone holder and heated water. With a manual method you can be assured of the water temperature (unlike most auto-drip machines) and that the grounds are thoroughly wet. The more holes a filter cone has the more you need to take care in how you add the water. Essentially add water slowly and carefully to maintain the thermal mass of the coffee and draw out the infusion time.

This porcelain wedge shaped coffee filter cone holder sits nicely atop most coffee cups and thermoses for a direct brew-in cup experience.

Contact us for availability.

Using the 'Bellman CX-25p'

Here is a quick video demonstrating how to use the BellmanCX25p.The Bellman CX25p Espresso & Cappuccino maker is a stove top model for household use. This machine makes espresso style coffee using the steam pressure method.With the Bellman you can easily make 3, 6,or 9 cups by using the brew basket 'reducer'. In addition the CX25p features a pressure gauge, so you can repeat your preferred brewing method time after time, also ensuring you to have enough pressure to froth your milk.This is a fantastic way to get the coffee you love, whether you are at home, camping or away on a caravan trip

ECM Veneziano A3 For Sale

ed since brand new. Only 6 years old. Perfect for home! but better for cafe if you want to make money with it. $4500 ONO plus gst. 0413 120 382

Coffee Select rewards home delivery customers

Our home delivery has taken off since we launched the program 18 months ago in Melbourne. This weekend we commence the same program for Bendigo households through our new roasthouse. To recognise and reward customer loyalty we are giving away a prestigious Pullman tamper to all customers who reach the goal of 10 deliveries.

learn more about these premium Australian made tampers at the website, Pullman Tampers

Coffee Select Home Delivery. Fresh roasted delivered to the door at trade price.

Getting it to you

For mail deliveries we've made the switch! For years we've used normal postage packs to send order but this week have been trialling Express Post. Orders we sent last night arrived in Melbourne suburbs btn 10 and 11 so from now on all orders will sent in Express Post satchels. No more lost or slow orders.

Home deliveries will still be sent around Melbourne and Bendigo for the nominal $3

Cool coffee from China

hey there, Leon the youngest face at Coffee Select Bendigo bought into the shop these way cool coffee gift packs just back from the People's Republic. check out the beautiful design and packaging. Mao would be proud. We can only dream of doing these as they would cost around A$10.

Saeco Royale Professional

hi guys, I've got a great little Saeco twin boiler for sale second hand. It's been in stock as a stand in machine for when the big autos need repairing. As a result the usage is rather low - 5000 cups. So it has a lot of life left in it. Say another 6-8'000 cups of good coffee making. Asking price is only $500 plus gst. Be good for an office.

Discounted Stock and Specials from Coffee Select

we're getting more organised in the roasthouse and planning to send out the blog weekly again so you know what's going on up here and when you can expect to see your orders. All orders received this week were delivered yesterday and those which arrived today will be delivered on Monday. We've been non-stop over the past few months with the move but this will be the last as I own the Bendigo shop and can only argue with myself about the rent!

In the move some stock was water damaged (packaging only) and is now on special to you guys only. I have also listed second hand and surplus stock. It's a bit time consuming describing each item so google if interested or you need info email me and Ill take a pic and provide a description. until next time enjoy your coffee Rog.

Coffee Accessories
5; Sets of 6 brown and white espresso cups $10 rrp$20
2; Sets of 6 Black Cappuccino cups $10 rrp$20

Coffee Makers
1; Presso damaged box only $150 rrp $220
3; Sorrentina (Atomic espreso maker) $395 rrp $445
1; Pepito Stainless steel with bakelite handle
1; Aroma Stainless steel stovetop $95 rrp $125
2: Belman Stovetop Coffee makers with gauge CX - 25P $125 rrp$165

Espresso Machines
1: KS Coffee grinder $450 rrp $650
1; Saeco Royal Professional Silver ex rental $750 rrp $1950
1: KitchenAid Red $850 rrp $1450

March Update

Hi Coffee Selectors,

I know it's been ages since I tapped the keyboard with news. The latest is that we have decided to close the Northcote shop as a result of the landlord playing funny buggers with the lease. So I've relocated the roaster to our vacant shop in our favorite regional Bendigo and will revisit a new Melbourne shop in a little while. In Westgarth we have negotiated with Paul Deeming who owns "From the Vine" a little up the road to retail our coffee bean range and use our coffee through a machine we have installed so if you like buying at retail he's your man and can also introduce you to some great bottles of red and/or white.

Since it's introduction over a year ago many of our time poor customers have chosen to join our "home delivery program" which offers a 30% discount on retail (min 1kg) and delivery to the door. Moving the roaster has slowed some of our deliveries down (sorry Mr Brunton) but we are back up to speed after a few visits from the Bendigo CFA. Smoke doesn't always mean fire but it does mean I should have cleaned the flu a bit more regularly!

In addition to benefits of Home Delivery I've decided to reward you guys with a little coffee related gift everytime a milestone is reached. I'll work it out and send you details in the next news (which won't be so long in coming). The value of the prize will be higher at each level so stand by for some detail.

PS I've got some Honduras coffee in but haven't roasted it yet. Will do this week and release some tasting notes for you to peruse (love that word).

cheers, Rog

Mint KitchenAid for Sale - Red (goes fast)

Hi Coffee Selectors, This machine has become available via one of our home delivery customers who found it a little to big for their trnedy inner city townhouse with views of the city so traded down in size to a Isomac Maverick and ask me to flog the old fire engine. It is in mint condition and has no leaks or drips. It features two boilers which are the bell shaped features on the front of the machine. If you'd like to see it in person come into the shop and have a touch and feel. I believe at $850 the value is good. Brnd new rrp is A$1500. Rog

• Die cast metal construction
• Quick-heating dual boilers
• Chrome-plated brass brew group and 58mm portafilter
• Rotating frothing arm & steam dial to froth milk, steam water
• Drip-Free system
• Brew temperature stability and abundant steam
• 15 Bar Pump
• Stainless steel filter baskets & rail
• Cup Warmer
• Dual pressure gauges
• 2-liter water reservoir
• Drip tray full indicator with a water-level sensor
• Stainless steel drip plate & frothing pitcher
• Dimensions: 16" H x 12.375" W x 12.5" D