The process of roasting is a fascinating aspect of coffee drinking. Understanding the commitment and thought that goes into roasting will completely alter your appreciation of coffee.  Your local coffee roasters are at the forefront of the roasting industry producing some of the best coffee beans you’ll ever experience. Just as winemakers can produce different tasting wines from the exact same grape, Roasters can do the same with the coffee bean.  There’s an experience waiting behind every bag. 

Like Winemakers

Through science, Roasters use high-end roasting equipment to achieve consistency and control three key aspects of taste: sweetness, acidity and bitterness. Their preference of equipment comes down to the Roaster, some prefer to be hands on and micro-manage each roast while others defer to computer software to assist them.  Roasting is not a ‘set it and forget it’ process as some believe. It’s a highly sensitive process where the smallest shift in controllable factors can drastically alter the chemistry and finishing quality of the coffee bean. High-end roasting equipment achieves consistency by controlling these variables to produce coffee that tastes the same time and time again. Like the same bottle of wine, you should expect a consistent taste from the same bag of beans every time.

The Artist

The art of roasting is discovering what flavour notes are hidden within each batch of green beans. The Roaster, acting as an artist, uses their experience and imagination to determine what flavour notes are hidden and which ones to pronounce.  Is it a nutty bean with an almond undertone they want to enhance or maybe it’s a fruity bean with a hint of blackberry? Remember, coffee has more flavour notes than wine so it’s up to the Roaster to discover and bring out specific notes. The green bean is their blank canvas, with their experience and knowledge of the beans origin, terroir and history, the Roaster uses their roasting skills to shape the final character of the coffee. Every Roaster is producing something different and they want to share their results with you.

(the Coffee Taster’s Flavor Wheel by the Specialty Coffee Association)

So Now What?

Through My Local Coffees you can immerse yourself in the exciting world of coffee and discover some of the best coffee beans produced locally. Subscribe now and start exploring coffee from local roasters in your area.  It’s better and it’s local!