4 Signs To Identify A Good Quality Roast

Learn what makes coffee's roasts so good.

In the eternal quest for seeking the best of caffeine, coffee lovers know how important it is to find a good roaster. Many of them pick their favorite local roaster, and others go to the extent of learning how to roast at home to experiment this process on their own. Whichever the case is, the truth is that most of your daily cup of coffee's magic resides in coffee roasting. If done well, it not only brings out the flavors hidden behind every bean, but it also enhances its characteristics to bring only the very best of coffee’s origins and harvest into your brew.

To begin with, the process is highly complex. It can take years of experience, skills, and a strong attention to detail to understand the many subtleties and factors that can affect coffee beans when they’re being roasted. Therefore, it’s only logical that making good quality roasts is not as simple as it would seem to be. Here are 4 signs to help you identify what makes a good roast, so you can enjoy an experience similar to going through the gates of heaven! (There’s a tiny chance we’re exaggerating with that one, but please indulge us).

Rate of Rise

Most people don’t know that maths are heavily involved in the coffee roasting process. The rate of rise (RoR) is one of the most important elements in any good quality roast. It refers to the coffee bean temperature's progression per unit time.

A well-made roast should have a steadily decreasing RoR. If you feel an unpleasant baked flavor in your roast, this part probably wasn’t done correctly, and temperature ended up stalling. If on the other hand, the roast had an increasing RoR, the final brew could probably lack sweetness.

Airflow

Although sometimes overlooked, a factor known as airflow can affect your roast more than you could think. Regulating airflow can give roasters an opportunity to control heat transfer. In an ideal scenario, airflow should be increased as roast progressed to dispense off smoke produced in the process' latest part. If roasters fail to dominate airflow, your brew could end up with flat, dull, and dry flavors.

Temperature

As expected, the temperature is one of the most important factors involved in coffee roasting. Depending on beans' characteristics, the temperature to which roast is done will change and be adjusted. However, some general conceptions stand.

For example, a roaster should be preheated before pouring any beans in. Then, the person supervising the roasting should have a way of changing the input temperature throughout the process, as well as having a method to cool beans quickly once the roasting is done. It’s especially important to pay attention to temperature during the drying phase and the first crack stage. If not, coffee beans could end up tasting dull.

Development

Every roasting process has several stages in which beans suffer transformations that will lead to the final product. Having said that, a large amount of energy upfront is ideal for coffee roasting. There are basically three stages: underdeveloped, developed, and overdeveloped. A good roast should never be under or overdeveloped. Adjustments in temperature should be made on time to guarantee that beans will be roasted to the right stage.

Also, here’s a little trick: if you want to know whether your coffee beans were well developed, you can place a tablespoonful of ground coffee on top of a glass of ice water. If the coffee leaches into the ice water within a few minutes, it means it was either under or over-roasted. If it doesn’t, not even after a half hour, then you’ve got yourself a good quality roast!

As you can see, roasting coffee is a practice way more complex than it seems. At That Coffee Roasters, we need to pay extreme attention to detail and have a full grip on the whole process to guarantee our customers an excellent product. Try for yourself some of our best roasts and start shopping today at our online store!

Get ready to pick!

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That Coffee Roasters

Phone Number: (305) 821-8811

2697 W. 76 Street, Hialeah, Florida 33016

Facebook: That Coffee Roasters

Instagram: thatcoffeeroasters

The Fourth Wave: Where Is Coffee Taking Us?

After the third wave, coffee's been entering a new age! 

Almost like a social movement, ever since coffee first came into our lives, it made a huge impact on society. Alright, it didn’t change the constitution or created new legislation, but it did transform the world’s economy and became part of many countries’ culture and history. Coffee has a powerful, and even sometimes spiritual, meaning for those who have dedicated generations and generations to its production and consumption.

Coffee culture is so influential that it’s been divided in waves. They refer to those identifiable trends and progressions that have changed the industry and the way we live it every day. In the first wave, which can be traced to early 21st century, coffee consumption grew exponentially, and people saw an opportunity on selling ready-for-the-pot coffee. This wave was strongly influenced by the Industrial Revolution.

During the second wave, consumers started to ask for coffee with higher quality. Unique roasting and brewing styles thrived, and people started to see coffee as an experience full of nuances and possibilities, rather than just an energetic beverage. This carried on and resulted in the third wave, a term first used in a 2002 article published by the Roasters Guild publication. The third wave has been characterized by coffee aficionados who started to take coffee art very seriously. This product itself became the center of the experience, going beyond production and marketing.

Most people think we’re still living in the third wave. Nowadays, anyone who’s interested can trace and appreciate coffee's origins they’re consuming and understand the heritage and culture behind that beverage. Industries are focusing on educating about the coffee beans' harvesting and roasting processes, and it seems we couldn’t get more specific that we’ve already are when it comes to coffee. So where could the fourth wave lead us?

Is it even here yet?

Even speaking about coffee waves can sound snobbish, but as we’ve seen, it can tell the fascinating story of a product that seems to have always been present in our lives. Specialty coffee and the passion we feel for it is marking a path for a new era in our love for caffeine, and while it might not be entirely here yet, we can start making our predictions.

Technological changes and our thirst for trying new experiences might be the thing that’s going to separate the third wave from the fourth wave finally. Coffee drinks made with nitrogen and new brewers capable of manipulating coffee flavors and aromas are part of this sophisticated and experimental frenzy.

Other experts believe that e-commerce is what’s truly going to draw the line between one and the other. By reaching a larger market, both businesses and consumers can leave their comfort zone and get to know all there is to know about coffee worldwide, thus opening a new door full of possibilities. Imagine it! You could have South American and East Asian bags of coffee by only clicking a button.

A ride to enjoy

The truth is that the essence in this new wave might be the same of that of the third: we’re in a period in which we still want to learn about the specifics of coffee production and have a more transparent supply chain. We want to know and have control over where our coffee comes from, and we want to experiment with flavors and roasting methods.

Maybe the fourth wave will come when we’re in a point where we’ve gone beyond specialty coffee, and people don’t need to look for it because it’s already expected in every bag and every product. Whenever that time comes, That Coffee Roasters will be here to continue to spread our love for caffeine, without any other pretension than the absolute and simple certainty that coffee makes our lives happier and better!

It's time to reconsider where the coffee industry is heading to

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That Coffee Roasters

Phone Number: (305) 821-8811

2697 W. 76 Street, Hialeah, Florida 33016

Facebook: That Coffee Roasters

Instagram: thatcoffeeroasters

Paper Filters vs. Metal Filters: Which Ones Should You Pick?

Find out which are the main differences between them.

In your everyday life, it may seem like it doesn’t matter which kind of filters you use when brewing coffee. All you truly want is to brew your coffee in the mornings so you can wake up and hopefully have a productive day. However, believe it or not, filters do make a difference worth noticing. Your daily coffee routine can change by simply asking yourself which kinds of filters you prefer. Of course, any of the options will only make sense if it has the right shape and size of your coffee maker.

Coffee beans are very susceptible to changes in the environment, so your coffee will react to whatever they’re put in contact with, including filters. But don’t worry! We’re here to guide you through. By the end of today’s article, you’ll learn the key differences that will help you understand whether it’s a better idea to use reusable or disposable filters.

Taste and body

The one thing that truly matters is whether a change in filters would alter coffee’s consistency and taste. It would, probably. Reusable metal filters, for example, are not as dense as paper filters. This means that they won’t catch as many substances as their counterparts. If you use metal filters, much of coffee's oils will also be poured into the final brew. These oils are full of flavor, but they also oxidize differently and easier, having a potential to make your coffee taste bolder and richer. With metal filters, beverages’ appearance will also be darker and more cloudy.

Which one is healthier?

As paper filters are better at filtering tiny particles, scientists believe they’re healthier. Paper filters can reduce cafestol's final amount on a coffee cup, which is a substance that can increase cholesterol's levels in your blood. Be careful with bleached paper filters though. Chemicals are used to bleach them can also be transported into your cup.

Having said this, we can conclude paper filters trap these substances better, which will make your regular cup has a brighter taste, both in appearance and flavor. Coffee brewed through a paper filter can often be described as sweeter and fruity, and it's generally more translucent than metal-filtered coffee. It will also have a lighter body, and your cup's fines will be considerably reduced.

What about clean-up?

Well, it’s fairly obvious that paper filters are easier to clean. All you have to do is throw them away, and that’s the end of it. Or you can rinse them and use them again, as some people do. With metal filters, however, you first have to remove them from the brewer, dump coffee's ground into the bin, and remove as many rubbish as you can from them, so it doesn't go down the drain.

But you’ll definitely be helping the environment if you use metal filters… as well as your wallet. Metal filters can cost between $5 and $60 but last up to seven years. On the other hand, paper filters cost between $0.01 and $0.10, which means that they can cost you up to $36,50 a year, depending on how much coffee you brew every day. Do the math, and you’ll realize that paper filters can end up being more expensive than metal ones. So if you want to save money and reduce your carbon footprint, metal filters are the way to go!

Will you be changing your coffee filters now? How do you typically enjoy your daily cup of joe? Tell us in the comments, and be sure to follow us on our social media to stay updated with all of That Coffee Roasters’ new content!

Do you know which one you prefer?

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That Coffee Roasters

Phone Number: (305) 821-8811

2697 W. 76 Street, Hialeah, Florida 33016

Facebook: That Coffee Roasters

Instagram: thatcoffeeroasters

Sweet and Unique: What Is Honey-Processed Coffee?

Honey-processed coffee is not truly prepared with honey.

From the plant to our mugs, coffee has to undergo quite a few processes before we can enjoy its many contrasts and flavors. All coffee beans have first to be grown, then harvested and lastly, processed, before we can start roasting and grinding them. As we’ve talked about before, coffee production is a world full of nuances and complexities that make every coffee truly unique. Where it’s produced and how it’s produced can change the whole experience for you!

It’s precisely the subject of how coffee harvests are processed what we’re going to be discussing today. Have you ever looked at a coffee package and read the words "washed," "natural" or "honey"? Have you ever wondered what these terms mean? They simply refer to different methods and techniques used by coffee farmers to prepare coffee beans before they are roasted. One of the most famous ways to do it is the so-called honey process. Stick with us and learn all about it!

Coffee Cherries

First, we need to make something clear. Even though we usually refer to coffee “beans," coffee is actually made from coffee cherries’ seeds. It’s important to know this because cherries will play a significant role in the honey process. These fruits have, roughly speaking, 5 layers:

• The bean: as we’ve just explained, the bean is one of the two seeds hiding inside a cherry.
• The silverskin: a thin and silverish layer that covers the seeds.
• The mucilage: sometimes called honey, it's a sticky, gluey, and sugary substance that comes after the skin.
• The parchment: a layer of cellulose that protects each of the coffee seeds.
• The pulp: On the outside, the two coffee seeds are covered by a cherry-like, juicy skin called pulp. Its color can vary from red to orange.  

The Honey Process

Well, honey-processed coffee doesn’t use any honey. But did you notice that the mucilage is also called honey? You see, before coffee can be roasted, coffee cherry's layers must be removed and beans dried to around 11% of its moisture content. The two most common methods for removing the cherry are:

1. Removing it with water (washed processing).
2. Letting them dry in the sun before mechanically removing it (natural/dry processing).

But there is a third one: honey processing, which is kind of in the middle of the other two. If done right, your coffee has the potential to taste as if someone had poured honey or brown sugar into it! In this case, the cherry's peel is removed, but some amount of the mucilage remains, while beans are dried. The mucilage’s sweet flavors will then stick to coffee beans.

Depending on the amount of mucilage left to dry with the beans, the honey process can be classified in yellow, red, and black honey. The more mucilage, the darkest the coffee and the fuller its body will be. Honey processing is also affected by external factors such as humidity, sugar's oxidation, and heat. Because the coffee beans will conserve higher levels of moisture, the whole process must be carefully supervised to avoid over-fermentation and mold.

The final product will be roasted to become a unique experience for coffee lovers! Try honey-processed coffee with That Coffee Roasters and give yourself and your customers a treat full of sweetness. Read more about the different varieties of roasts we offer by visiting our web page and following us on our social media.

Try honey-processed coffee with That Coffee Roasters!

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That Coffee Roasters

Phone Number: (305) 821-8811

2697 W. 76 Street, Hialeah, Florida 33016

Facebook: That Coffee Roasters

Instagram: thatcoffeeroasters

The Best Types of Coffee Machines to Look For This Black Friday

Coffee's unique aroma is perfect to make your Thanksgiving warm and special! 

It’s tough to escape the Black Friday's frenzy when you live in America. Let’s say it’s almost as hard as starting your day without enjoying your favorite coffee drink in the mornings at home or on your way to work. Well, not as hard, but getting there. So once you’ve accepted you’ll be part of this year’s crazy sale-hunting, only one question remains: what are you going to buy?

For coffee aficionados, this could be the perfect time to get your first coffee maker or get rid of an old one and purchase one that fits better your preferences and needs. Whether your heart belongs to a cup of latte, espresso or a simple black coffee, finding the best coffee machine for you can be challenging if you don’t know what to look for right from the beginning.

So one of the first things you need to ask yourself is what your perfect coffee beverage is? Would you like to have coffee-shop-style creations right in your kitchen whenever you like? Or do you just want the practicality of having your drink ready to go first thing in the mornings? Whichever the case, answering this question will help you make a good investment that will improve your life and get you ready to start your projects! Check out the best types of coffee machines you can look for this Black Friday:

Manual or automatic espresso machine

Pick this one if you want the full menu and to be able to prepare anything, from a simple espresso to a macchiato or a cappuccino. You’ll have to be patient with the manual ones though because you’ll need to grind every bean and steam the milk manually. It shouldn’t be a problem if you’re a true coffee lover who adores the whole creation process that comes before pouring this beverage into your favorite coffee mug.

For the ones who are planning on becoming a barista, this option is the perfect one to practice at home! If on the other hand, you want all benefits of a professional coffee maker without investing all the time and effort it takes to prepare coffee with a manual machine, consider an automatic espresso machine. It will do all the work for you and quickly!

Pod or capsule machine

All beauty behind these coffee machines lays in their simplicity. They’re used to prepare coffee that comes in a disposable capsule or pod which is inserted directly into the device. After that, the only thing you’ll need to do is press a button and voilà! The main downside you might find with these type of machines is that the coffee offer is limited and that you’ll probably have to buy capsules sold by that specific manufacturer. It’s not very environmental-friendly either.

Filter coffee machine

This one you probably already know. They’re the best option for people who just want to have their cup of coffee and go, as it’s quite easy to use. They work by dripping water through ground beans into a warm jug below. They're a bit more time-consuming than other coffee machines, but produce stronger coffee with every cycle of use.

Bean-to-cup machine

If you don't like the idea of an espresso machine, but you still want to use coffee beans, then you should try this classic. It grinds and pours coffee automatically. Pour in the water and beans, press a button, and that’s it! Some machines even include integrated milk frothers which do the work of heating the milk to the exact and right temperature for you.

Do you already know which one to pick? Then go ahead and buy them! Then head to That Coffee Roasters’ online shop and choose among our great variety of coffees to try them out on your new machine! Start a new life as a coffee lover and make exceptional beverages for the ones you love. Show them what you can do!

Make the most delicious desserts or the best drinks with coffee for your family!

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That Coffee Roasters

Phone Number: (305) 821-8811

2697 W. 76 Street, Hialeah, Florida 33016

Facebook: That Coffee Roasters

Instagram: thatcoffeeroasters

Why You Should Add Coffee to Your Thanksgiving Celebration

Coffee's unique aroma is perfect to make your Thanksgiving warm and special! 

The air is crisp, leaves are falling, and colors are changing. Flavors are getting sweeter and family dinners bigger. We’re getting close to Christmas, and nothing calls for coffee's earthy and warm aromas like the end of a Thanksgiving dinner. A good dose of caffeine is always bound to make us feel better and replenish our energies. It’s the perfect companion for a round of childhood tales and old memories recounted around a dinner table or hearth.

Before your Thanksgiving celebration, think about coffee. When you’re shopping for the last ingredients, remember it has the potential to give that final magic touch to your dinner. You can gift your hosts a bag of coffee, or you can use it to accompany desserts. It’s also a great option for guests who don’t drink alcohol and goes incredibly well with pumpkin's and cinnamon's flavors. Just as wine, coffee has different attributes that change its properties and make it taste different. It’s an excellent ingredient for many meals as well!

For example, if you’re serving a pumpkin pie for dessert, a medium-roasted coffee with a delicate body is its perfect companion. You could even start drinking it from morning to the end of the day. If by any chance, you prefer a chocolate dessert, a dark-roasted coffee's sweetness and full body is the way to go! It tastes amazing with chocolate and will leave your guests asking for more.

If you decide to go with an apple pie or another fruity dessert, lighter coffee roasts are your perfect allies. Their brightness and citrus flavors will enhance any of these dishes’ fruity qualities. You’ll enjoy this combination like no other! It’s a matter of knowing how to mix your cup of joe to seize all benefits it can bring to your Thanksgiving dinner.

You can also take it further and prepare a delicious coffee milkshake. It’s easy to make at home, and it’ll make dessert time even more special. All you’ll need is:

• 1/2 cup brewed coffee
• Chocolate sauce (to taste)
• 1 tablespoon marshmallow cream
• 4 cups vanilla ice cream
• Crushed Graham crackers for topping
• Chocolate drops for garnish.

To prepare it, follow these instructions:

1. Brew the coffee.
2. Grab two glasses and spread the chocolate sauce all along their interior sides in a vertical pattern. The glass should look as if it's striped with chocolate.
3. Spread marshmallow cream around the lip of each glass.
4. In a blender or food processor, combine the coffee and ice cream until they are well mixed.
5. Pour the mixture into the glasses and top them with crushed Graham crackers.
6. Garnish them with a chocolate drop and serve.

Just remember not to brew your coffee ahead of time as it tends to become bitter over time. Besides, if you let it sit for too long, its flavor won’t be as strong. Start preparing it right after dinner. It can be done while you clear the table and serve dessert! Have different additions at hand, so everyone can have their coffee as they like. Milk creamers or sweeteners are a must to make this Thanksgiving as cozy as you can! Search for your favorite coffees on That Coffee Roasters’ online shop and let us join you in this and the many celebrations to come!

Make the most delicious desserts or the best drinks with coffee for your family!

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That Coffee Roasters

Phone Number: (305) 821-8811

2697 W. 76 Street, Hialeah, Florida 33016

Facebook: That Coffee Roasters

Instagram: thatcoffeeroasters