Firstly, as I've mentioned here before, I'm an enthusiastic coffee amateur and at the ripe young age of 63, cannot truly be considered as the future of coffee, in any meaningful sense. I am though intending to be around for a time yet!
I enjoy learning stuff. Lots of stuff. Some useable, plenty, not so much. Coffee fascinates me. From such a seemingly straightforward beverage, so much complexity, at every angle. That said, I'm an information gatherer and happy to bore anyone on the subject, for as long as they can put up with my witterings...obviously, I'm a real catch at parties. I have learned things already, from your posts. Things that matter to me, but purely in a personal sense. Paying for a subscription, would be a wholly self-indulgent exercise and although I'd be overjoyed to receive some sporadic beans, such was the quality of the recent Colombian Orange Bourbon gift, I reckon sticking to my own objective selections from a small group of personally favoured roasters, would satisfy my determinedly non-pro status!
We have all undoubtedly been spoilt by receiving so much information for no payment up to more recent times, by the good/evil interweb. So, whilst seeking recompense for imparting knowledge is eminently and commercially fair, the crux comes for the end user, in determining just how many subs one needs, to satisfy ones thirst for expert opinion/information, whether relevant to ones profession, or simply as a pastime. In my humble opinion, you certainly deserve that to be successful and only time will tell whether or not it's a sustainable model for the additional time you'll need to spend, putting virtual pen to virtual paper.
For my part, as long as open access exists, i'll look forward to your articles and likely rue the fact that I won't be enjoying those delicious samples! I'll just need to order bags online, along with the rest of the riff-raff...
So David...subscriptions.
Firstly, as I've mentioned here before, I'm an enthusiastic coffee amateur and at the ripe young age of 63, cannot truly be considered as the future of coffee, in any meaningful sense. I am though intending to be around for a time yet!
I enjoy learning stuff. Lots of stuff. Some useable, plenty, not so much. Coffee fascinates me. From such a seemingly straightforward beverage, so much complexity, at every angle. That said, I'm an information gatherer and happy to bore anyone on the subject, for as long as they can put up with my witterings...obviously, I'm a real catch at parties. I have learned things already, from your posts. Things that matter to me, but purely in a personal sense. Paying for a subscription, would be a wholly self-indulgent exercise and although I'd be overjoyed to receive some sporadic beans, such was the quality of the recent Colombian Orange Bourbon gift, I reckon sticking to my own objective selections from a small group of personally favoured roasters, would satisfy my determinedly non-pro status!
We have all undoubtedly been spoilt by receiving so much information for no payment up to more recent times, by the good/evil interweb. So, whilst seeking recompense for imparting knowledge is eminently and commercially fair, the crux comes for the end user, in determining just how many subs one needs, to satisfy ones thirst for expert opinion/information, whether relevant to ones profession, or simply as a pastime. In my humble opinion, you certainly deserve that to be successful and only time will tell whether or not it's a sustainable model for the additional time you'll need to spend, putting virtual pen to virtual paper.
For my part, as long as open access exists, i'll look forward to your articles and likely rue the fact that I won't be enjoying those delicious samples! I'll just need to order bags online, along with the rest of the riff-raff...
Best,
Colin.