Coffee has become a staple in almost every home for centuries, but in recent years, coffee has been placed on a higher level now that specialty coffee has garnered the spotlight. There's no denying that choosing the right roast can ultimately change your coffee experience, but the truth is, there is no "best" type of roast when it comes to coffee.
In essence, the roast is meant to bring out the nuances of each coffee, making each of them unique and stand out with specific flavor notes. The way a roaster roasts the coffee can bring out the flavors of the beans, but there's a lot more that goes into the coffee before roasting. These stages ultimately affect a roaster's decision about how the coffee should be roasted.
It's Not Only About the Coffee Roast
Different coffees are roasted with various profiles and techniques. Although this can truly alter the beans' taste, roasting is only a small part of the whole coffee chain. Because of this, it's also essential to consider the way the coffees were farmed, processed, and harvested so you can completely understand the "narrative" of the coffee. 😉
Know How Your Coffee is Sourced
One thing to remember is that coffee comes from crops, just like any product in the food chain. But with specialty coffee, it's important to know where coffee was grown, which farm, the elevation, and the climate of the area.
All of this needs to be checked because these factors influence the flavor and aroma of the coffee. No matter how the coffee is roasted, if it's low-quality and poorly sourced, then the cup will not taste good overall.
Consider How Your Coffee is Harvested, Dried, and Processed
Before coffee is sent to a roaster, it first goes under a strenuous chain of various processes. During harvest, specialty coffee is hand-picked by farmers to ensure that only the best quality coffee cherries are chosen. After the cherries are picked, they are then processed.
As for the process, coffees can go through dry, wet, or honey processes that can modify the flavors of the coffee. After processing, the coffees are then sorted to ensure that no damaged beans are overlooked. This way, roasters can ensure that they are receiving high-quality beans for roasting.
The Real Question: Should the Roast be the Deciding Factor?
When you choose coffee, it's best to know more about the product than just one part of the story. In this case, besides the roast, you should also pay attention to the other steps of the coffee chain that it had to go through to understand what you can expect in a coffee.
Of course, when it comes to specialty coffee, it's best to get your beans from your local specialty coffee shop because they can share all the knowledge you need when choosing the best beans for your preference.
Read more: The Relationship of Flavor and the Roasting of Coffee Beans
How Can Kunjani Help You?
We opened our doors in 2016, offering specialty coffee and handcrafted lattes, selling fair-trade African items and supporting local charities. Kunjani, besides serving fantastic coffee, also believes in putting a spotlight on every aspect of our business — from the way we source our coffee to how we roast them down to how we serve our customers.
Visit us or sign up for a coffee subscription today!
Leave a comment