Lidl: Irish artisan coffee producers

zell12 · 27-05-2021 5:06am #1

Lidl has announced deals with five Irish artisan barista quality coffee producers, to stock products from;
Brady’s Coffee Company in Co. Wicklow,
Soma Coffee Company in Co. Cork,
The Galway Roast in Co. Galway,
Bravo Tango in Co. Tyrone,
SlumberJack Coffee in Co. Antrim.

https://www.shelflife.ie/lidl-makes-e2-5-million-supply-deal-with-irish-artisan-coffee-producers/

Black Sheep · 27-05-2021 1:40pm

I've bought 2 of these so far, both to bring in to share at work.

- Slumberjack, I bought it both ground and wholebean. This is very, very dark roast and personally wouldn't appeal. If someone was an espresso drinker maybe there's an application but as someone who only drinks filter it was not for me. In fairness, it's labelled fairly clearly.

- Brady's High Grade Guatemalan / Brazilian blend. I thought this was excellent for €4, would definitely buy again, and I preferred it to Aldi's Velo offering.

caviardreams · 27-05-2021 6:23pm

I posted feedback on Brady's in the other thread - I would agree exactly! Preferred it to Velo and at €18 per kg was very drinkable. Nothing exceptional or remarkable about it but a good solid option and you wouldn't throw the bag out like!

Hope the Soma is in soon - looking forward to that

I see galway roast see 4x200g bags for €20 on their website which is great value - anyone tried them?

zweton · 28-05-2021 8:56am

Any idea when they will be in stock in Lidl?

KnicksInSix · 29-05-2021 4:32pm

I'll be interested in how much the Soma beans retail for. They're one of my favourite Irish roasters and their original Cork café is one of my favourites in the city. I did try the Brady's stuff last week and couldn't stand it at all even though I've had it in cafés and enjoyed it. Recent roast date too.

SheepSeeker · 29-05-2021 4:38pm

What's the price range?

Squidgy Black · 30-05-2021 6:06pm

Here's the pricing according to the examiner:

"Taking note of the army of home baristas that the pandemic has created, Lidl is expanding its coffee range to include five new Irish roasters, including Cork’s Soma Coffee (€6.49).

Other brands coming to the country’s 209 stores include Brady’s coffee from Wicklow (€3.99), The Galway Roast (€4.49), SlumberJack Coffee from Antrim (€3.49 to €4.99), and Tyrone’s Bravo Tango (€6.49)"

mad m · 30-05-2021 6:31pm

Grabbed a bag of Brady’s to get it a try, Guatemalan. Think roast date on bag might be 29/04

caviardreams · 30-05-2021 9:26pm

Squidgy Black wrote: »

Here's the pricing according to the examiner:

"Taking note of the army of home baristas that the pandemic has created, Lidl is expanding its coffee range to include five new Irish roasters, including Cork’s Soma Coffee (€6.49).

Other brands coming to the country’s 209 stores include Brady’s coffee from Wicklow (€3.99), The Galway Roast (€4.49), SlumberJack Coffee from Antrim (€3.49 to €4.99), and Tyrone’s Bravo Tango (€6.49)"

€6.50 for the soma, if there isn't a roast date (hopefully there is), is pricey enough. They do have a good reputation though.

Hodors Appletart · 31-05-2021 8:26am

there'll be a BB, not a Roast Date you'd imagine

Black Sheep · 31-05-2021 9:57am

Maybe this is naive, but given that it's coming from in-country I would figure the effective roast date cannot be that far out. Last month or the month before at most seems credible. The logistics chain surely isn't long enough for bags to have been knocking around any longer, you'd hope?

Squidgy Black · 31-05-2021 11:00am

Hodors Appletart wrote: »

there'll be a BB, not a Roast Date you'd imagine

I might be misremembering but I think some of Lidl's own brand beans had roast dates on them, the single origin ones they had for a while.

But yeah if it's anything like what Velo did it'll be best before

Hodors Appletart · 31-05-2021 11:01am

....or they could be dumping stock they weren't able to sell

FileNotFound · 31-05-2021 11:13am

Black Sheep wrote: »

Maybe this is naive, but given that it's coming from in-country I would figure the effective roast date cannot be that far out. Last month or the month before at most seems credible. The logistics chain surely isn't long enough for bags to have been knocking around any longer, you'd hope?

I just go with the approach that no roast date then i expect to pay less.

Just the way I have it in my head,

Black Sheep · 31-05-2021 11:44am

I literally just went out and bought a Brady's Guatemalan blend and there's a 'best before 30-05-22' on the base.

FileNotFound · 31-05-2021 11:57am

Black Sheep wrote: »

I literally just went out and bought a Brady's Guatemalan blend and there's a 'best before 30-05-22' on the base.

Then we now have the question as to whether its a 1 yr expiry and they managed to roast yesterday, pack ship and get on shelf by today??

Bawnmore · 31-05-2021 12:05pm

I picked up a bag of Slumberjack beans last week and have been making my way through them, mostly as flat whites. Not bad, but very dark alright - not really my thing, but I'll still be drinking it.

Hodors Appletart · 31-05-2021 1:13pm

FileNotFound wrote: »

Then we now have the question as to whether its a 1 yr expiry and they managed to roast yesterday, pack ship and get on shelf by today??

very suspicious

KnicksInSix · 31-05-2021 1:27pm

The Brady's beans have a batch no. which appears to be 00-day-month-year which I would take as a roast date. Mine for example is stamped 00150421. I don't think that's too much of a leap, maybe I'm wrong though.

Black Sheep · 31-05-2021 1:36pm

KnicksInSix wrote: »

The Brady's beans have a batch no. which appears to be 00-day-month-year which I would take as a roast date. Mine for example is stamped 00150421. I don't think that's too much of a leap, maybe I'm wrong though.

Mine says 00170521.

I think you're exactly right..

FileNotFound · 31-05-2021 1:49pm

Black Sheep wrote: »

Mine says 00170521.

I think you're exactly right..

Must have a look at some bags when i am in shop - Don't get the refusal to print the detail on the bag or label.

Especially is the batch number is giving it away.

okedoke · 31-05-2021 1:58pm

Hodors Appletart wrote: »

....or they could be dumping stock they weren't able to sell

This is likely I think based on my experience of the Velo beans

Hodors Appletart · 31-05-2021 2:04pm

FileNotFound wrote: »

Don't get the refusal to print the detail on the bag or label.

Too difficult to sell if something is perceived as going stale (ie roast date is too far in the past) than having a Best Before 10 months in the future

FileNotFound wrote: »

Especially is the batch number is giving it away.

"normal" punters aren't going to be bothered trying to work this out.

mad m · 31-05-2021 7:21pm

Black Sheep wrote: »

Mine says 00170521.

I think you're exactly right..

Mine had 00290421.

Tried it this morning, not too shabby for 4euro.

Enrico Palazzo · 01-06-2021 6:19pm

barista quality...

caviardreams · 10-06-2021 6:10pm

Saw the Tango Brava in Lidl today - roast date printed don the bags - 21st May. €6.49 for the bag. Guatamalan whole bean available.

Didn't pick it up as I have loads at the moment!

RedSteve · 13-06-2021 7:37am

Does anyone know when the Soma beans are supposed to be in stock? I read it was the 10th June but I looked in 2 stores and they weren’t in stock, and I would have expected Soma to say on their Instagram that they’re available too.

Nonoperational · 13-06-2021 7:47am

No more Velo for me, anything over 3 months of so and my machine just hates them.

fits · 13-06-2021 7:49am

Nonoperational wrote: »

No more Velo for me, anything over 3 months of so and my machine just hates them.

I tried Velo from Aldi and did not like it at all!

breeno · 13-06-2021 9:35am

Using the slumber jack beans at the moment. A bit dark but not a bad cup. Using as espresso and Americano. Great value at 5 quid for 500g.

Looking forward to trying the others.

Black Sheep · 06-07-2021 11:10am

Bravo Tango on the shelf in my local Lidl today, just newly gone up. Roast date is on the pack as 21/05...

caviardreams · 23-07-2021 6:06pm

Saw the Soma in today - €6.99 and ground only I think. No roast date that I could see, just a BBE 1/1/22

ShadowSA · 10-08-2021 8:34pm

Enjoying the Brady’s in our Moka. And the bag is resealable which is great. Will buy again.

caviardreams · 15-08-2021 5:14pm

The studio roasters have a bag marked "Aroma" in LIDL special buys at the moment - marked single origin but zero details on it never mind a roast date. Poor. Could be from anywhere! €5 for 200g too so expensive enough considering.

Black Sheep · 16-08-2021 12:03pm

Picked up a bag of Soma in Lidl at the weekend.

Brazil - Eldorado Farm, ground.

No roast date on it, or anything that would give an indication. Best before is 01/01/22.

If I were guessing I'd say this was put together in late June, early July, but can't back that up at all other than how it looks/smells/tastes to me.

Of all the premium Irish Lidl offerings I've got so far this is the best.

zell12 · 23-08-2021 8:26pm

Galway Roast’s blend of Guatemalan, Brazilian and Honduras coffee exclusively on Lidl shelves from 2 September

https://www.galwaydaily.com/news/lidl-announces-contract-with-local-galway-coffee-business/

SouthWesterly · 23-08-2021 9:44pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117734736#Comment_117734736

Opened it today. Found it very bitter.

Will finish the bag but won't be buying again

Craig_David · 01-09-2021 1:27pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117794639#Comment_117794639

great cheers for that.

Going to pick up some of this tomorrow

Black Sheep · 07-09-2021 2:55pm

I got the Galway Roast today… a roast date of 13/8 on the bag.

caviardreams · 11-09-2021 10:39am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117858688#Comment_117858688

Picked this up a few days ago - roast date 15/8.

A dark roast so not really a fit for the clever dripper. Tried it out but ay too bitter for me, might work as espresso though. Couldn't finish it, even with a much coarser grind.

zell12 · 16-09-2021 7:46am

Lidl Plus app has:

Brady's Coffee in-store price: €3.99 Lidl Plus price: €2.99 Product size: 227g Max 1 pack per coupon

SouthWesterly · 17-09-2021 8:35am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117897968#Comment_117897968

Tried it recently. Nasty stuff.

Krusty_Clown · 19-09-2021 9:07pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117875798#Comment_117875798

Thought I might try a bag as I was in between roasts. Over-roasted, bitter and oily. Had tried Bradys previously, and it was passable (ok in a pinch), but I can't see myself using any more of these beans. Pictures on the bag suggested different brewing methods (all but espresso), but yeah, too darkly roasted for any manual coffee making methods, and just not a nice espresso. I've roasted a few kgs of Brazil Santos in the past and as a light roast it's a lovely coffee. Think the other two bean additions they use are probably a cheap Robusta. But at least it re-affirmed my commitment to home roasting.

caviardreams · 19-09-2021 10:03pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117912778#Comment_117912778

Glad it's not just me! Why do they roast so dark? It's such a common thing, they should at least mark it on the bag imo, so you know not to even bother if you are going for filter.

Of the supermarket beans I have found the Velo Colombia single origin (yellow bag) in Tesco the best lately, the Brady's is not bad at the price point, and the Zambia LIDL brown bag one if really stuck, does a job! At least all three aren't roasted to a char.

Weepsie · 19-09-2021 10:09pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117875798#Comment_117875798

Still bitter as an espresso. Won't be buying it again

Krusty_Clown · 20-09-2021 11:30pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117913027#Comment_117913027

Most likely covering up for sh1tty beans. Maybe they do a better job of their own direct sales beans, and just bolster their supermarket roasts with some cheaper varieties, and then roast them to ca very dark profile so it's less noticeable. They're in good company with Insomnia, Café Nero, and Starbucks (though I believe Starbucks use good beans, they just roast the crap out of them).

zweton · 22-09-2021 4:59pm

Anyone try the warbler & wren in tesco?

Bawnmore · 22-09-2021 5:17pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117912778#Comment_117912778

Might not be the place for it, but what setup do you use for roasting? I've used the air popcorn makers and with a Whirley Pop in the past, but interested in what you use if that's your main source of beans.

Krusty_Clown · 22-09-2021 11:49pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117925060#Comment_117925060

I followed a similar path and started out with a popcorn popper. After doing around 6 batches (of around 80g each), I picked up a second hand Behmor 1600 from another coffee forum poster (Donnacha) in early March. Since then, I've roasted around 15kgs in the Behmor. I'd usually roast around 250-300g a week, more often than not, natural processed coffees that I buy from Roast Rebels in Germany. I've been buying about 5-6kgs of green beans at a time, and it ends up averaging around €15/kg delivered (some cheaper and some more expensive varieties). It takes me about 20-25 minutes start to finish to roast a batch, most of that time is just sitting around waiting. Currently I'm drinking a natural Yirgacheffe, and to my taste buds, it's as good as anything I'd get from 3FE or B&D. I love having freshly roasted beans on demand, and all-in (excluding the cost of the roaster and my personal time!), comes in at around €5/250g bag.

Lidl: Irish artisan coffee producers

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