We use a fluid bed roaster to ensure our coffee beans do not taste like tar or burnt. A cleaner cup of coffee is developed through a fluid bed roaster. This roaster works a lot like a hot air popcorn popper. It keeps the beans constantly moving (by hot air) so they are never resting in one spot. The beans do not have a chance to burn because they are constantly popping around in the glass chamber. {In a conventional roaster, the beans tend to burn because they rest against the hot drum during the roasting process} Through the fluid bed roaster, the beans roast more evenly which develops a cleaner cup of coffee.
While the roaster is roasting the green coffee beans, a thin flaky layer of chaff is removed from the coffee cherry pulp. This is collected in the silver compartment above the glass chamber. After each roast the silver compartment is cleaned out before beginning a new batch of raw beans.
(chaff)
When the coffee beans are measured out into the roaster they are pale green in color, throughout the roasting process you will notice the beans change in color from pale green to shades of yellow/gold into shades of brown depending on the roast level. The beans change color as they develop their character and taste. Throughout the roast, you can hear a cracking sound, similar to the sound of popcorn when it pops. There are 2 cracks to listen for, the 1st crack is the beginning of light roasts and the 2nd crack is the dividing point between medium and dark roasts. Each batch of coffee starts at a low temperature, heats up to a specific degree (depending on roast level) and then cools down, all within the roast cycle. When the roaster turns off, the beans have already cooled down and are ready to be packaged. They do not have to sit in a bowl to cool down.
Once the roaster has finished a batch of coffee beans, they are not quite ready to be consumed. Coffee emits CO2 after roasting; therefore has to de-gas for 24 hours before it has reached its optimal flavor.
Not only do we roast our own coffee beans in house, we also flavor our coffee beans in house. We offer over a wide range of flavored coffee from fruity flavors to nutty flavors. Some are seasonal and some are offered year round.
We roast small batches on a daily basis to guarantee our coffee beans are fresh.
This is just a little run down of what goes on behind the scenes of our coffee beans!
Would you like to see our roaster in action? Stop by the Farmer's Market and watch us roast & try a pound of coffee for yourself!!
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