Some of you may not remember (OK most of you) but last year I did a blog post here prediciting the last twelve months for Has Bean (or really setting an agenda for what I wanted to do) so time to see if I did what I planned

http://www.hasblog.co.uk/the-next-twelve-months

In My Mug

So I said

I see in my mug as a really important part of what we do. I plan over the next twelve months to do much more out the roastery shoots, and continue to find the amazing coffees we have in the past. I also hope with the help of Aiden to develop the app, and get more people able to use it (as desk top and an android and windows 7 version all planned)

The desk top app went live, and in my mug has been in Colombia, Ireland, Cardiff, York, Ethiopia, Norwich, Bristol, Google Offices Dublin, Nantwich all off the top of my head.

I think the way its moved and kept changing has been good and I think the same will happen in the new year, lots more ideas to implement.

So this one changed a little but I think that In My Mug has gone from strength to strength. I think a PASS

Blog posting

So I said

I want to try and be more focused on my blog postings. I’d appreciate if you can let me know what kind of thing you would like me to focus on. My varietal posts are something I want to personally do some more with and collate in some way, but thats a personal indulgence. Do let me know but the blog will be more used.

So I’d say this one has not been so successful. The highlights have been the audioboo’s, I have enjoyed them, and ethiopia seemed to go down very well.

Direct Trade

So I said

the very end of 2010 saw us bring in our first ever container from Brazil. At the time of writing our second has landed and were awaiting the first delivery from Bolivia. This is going to be an ongoing theme of 2011 for me doing direct trade, but also finding out much more about the farms.

More on this the beginning of January 2012 but we did direct trades in Nicaragua, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Bolivia with a deal done for Colombia and Bolivia that will arrive very early this year. Direct trade has become a foundation stone we have begun building on, and something were going to formalise a little more in 2012, but I think this has been a resounding pass and will continue to get better

Has Bean App

So I said

We have already started this one with Nigel but an ipad version is planned of the app and we will continue to develop this. Let us know what you want need and we will make sure we keep making it better

Ipad version (TICK) increased app sales (TICK) more downloads than ever(TICK) pass. If you want more from the app let me know were keen to keep improving

Blends

I said

The blends will continue to develop and change (even if the names don’t) I have some ideas for a killer filter blend for 2011 and I also want to keep looking at how we can do better with some guest type blends.

I think I am very very happy with our espresso blends, we have a range that covers many bases for many people. I think Blake has been the biggest success, whilst Jailbreak was a 2010 thing, I still think it rocks. I have some more plans for this in 2012 but thats to come another time.

Trips

I said

I have a trip planned in February to central america where I will be looking to cement some already built relationships and look to find some more exciting coffees for 2011-12 I’m also have some plans afoot to get to Africa this year if I can. Africa is somewhere I think I can do better, and will continue to try to do so.

Trips have been more than ever this year. Started with El Salvador then Costa Rica, then Colombia and most importantly Ethiopia. I said I wanted to do Afrcia better, and this was the first step.

Africa and Asia

I said

As I said in the trips section we need to do better here, and I want to make sure we do exactly that. Africa we have three coffees at the time of writing and asia we have six. I want this to be more, so the cupping table will be overflowing.

We had more Africans this year than ever. Ethiopia we got much better at, Rwandas we had two brilliant coffee,s Kenya we had four (thats right count them four) amazing coffees. Did we do Africa better ? Yes, can we continue to improve 100%. Asia needs some more work, and I vow this year, that will happen. Kind of pass.

Barista Competition

I said

I announced in April last year I wasn’t going to do any more competition blends for barista competition. I think looking back at the past year, I’d have a big hole if I did this, so I expect to continue to work with great baristas, and continue to learn from them, as and where we can.

PASS lets move on

Brew Guides

Is Said

I have loved the brew guides so far, the last one of 2010 eva solo was one that not so many people use, but the first of 2011 will be a very popular brew method, and the plan is to build up a large library of these, tackling some of the difficult ones, like espresso, milk steaming etc that will take lots of work to get right.

There are some other ideas I have for 2011 but things need to be lined up before then and thought through but I see it as a very exciting year ahead.

Brew guides have rocked. We did the cupping and the french press ones. We have more for 2012, but two is not bad I reckon. I have three booked in for this year, with a whole heap more ideas too. Not quite a pass.

A mixed year in my goals, but I’m happy with them.

But in other way’s my stuff I wasn’t expecting it was amazing. I shall look back at 2011 with a great deal of fondness, a new roastery, a great year for stunning coffees, some great additions to the Has Bean team, and some AMAZING wholesale customers who are doing great things with our lovely coffee.

If 2012 is half as good its going to be a special year.