Key points of coffee roasting knowledge: roasting before blending, or blending before roasting?

The relationship between matching and baking

Do you want to bake and then mix, or do you want to mix and bake first? Which way is better?

If you have a definite recipe, of course the easiest way is to put different coffee beans together and then bake them together. But if you are trying and comparing different ingredients and proportions, you certainly want to bake all kinds of coffee beans before trying. Otherwise, every time you change the composition and proportion of the mix, you need to bake it again.

For "Vienna Coffee" (Melange) blending and small test blending, it is more suitable for independent roasting. For example, when a small amount of "Rob Coffee" needs to be added in a trial mix, the required "Rob Coffee" is the most suitable for independent roasting.

Some coffee is denser or changes in volume before and after roasting, and these beans are roasted differently from "washed" Arabica coffee. Arabica Coffee processed by the "drying method" is baked at a higher temperature. But in most cases, all kinds of coffee beans can be roasted together.

In general, all coffee beans can be roasted together. You need to consider using independent baking only when the baking effect is not ideal. At this time, independent baking can usually achieve better results. Especially for drum roaster, a relatively moderate baking degree can be found in general.

But some individual coffee beans are not easy to bake evenly. For example, Yemeni coffee, Ethiopian DP coffee beans, and so on. The uneven baking color is not a defect, only the "washed" Arabica coffee needs to be roasted evenly.

General steps and principles of matching

Before matching, we should be clear about the following points:

1. The theme of matching

What kind of flavor you want to match, that is, to determine the goal of the match.

two。 Understand the characteristics of each coffee bean

To mix coffee, you must first be familiar with the characteristics of each individual coffee and understand the subtle relationship between roasting and coffee flavor, all of which can only be achieved by tasting the cup.

3. Determine the task of participating in the blending of coffee beans

Since a variety of coffee beans are used together, it is necessary to know whether the task of each kind of coffee beans is to make her show soft bitterness, distinct acidity or thick mellow taste, etc.

Generally speaking, the following principles should be followed when matching:

1. Blending of raw beans requires the use of coffee beans with their own characteristics, and avoid using coffee beans with similar flavor. The choice of raw beans can be considered from three aspects:

Raw bean treatment method: that is, whether raw beans are treated by washing method or drying method, which has a lot to do with the flavor of coffee beans.

Producing areas of raw beans: coffee producing areas are generally divided into three major regions, including about 20 countries in Central and South America, namely, Brazil, Colombia, Guatemala, Mexico, Delvado, Jamaica and Peru, and about 10 countries in Southeast Asia, namely India, Indonesia (including Java and Sumatra) and Papua New Guinea. About 25 countries in the Arab and African regions, namely, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Arabia, Uganda and so on.

Coffee bean flavor: refers to the coffee bean flavor of sour, bitter, sweet, alcohol which is more prominent, or all aspects of more balanced neutral beans. Now the most commonly used raw beans are Brazil, Colombia and Mocha.

two。 The number and proportion of coffee beans involved in blending

Since it is a blending, it naturally refers to the blending of more than two kinds of raw beans, but a special example is that it can also match the same kind of coffee beans with different roasting degrees, or even the new crop and aged coffee or old crop of the same kind of coffee beans, so the type referred to in the blending is no longer a coffee variety in a narrow sense, but extends to the flavor of coffee in a broad sense. Generally use 2 to 6 kinds of coffee beans when blending, too many kinds will not be able to show the unique flavor of coffee. Blended coffee usually does not take the 1:1 blending ratio, because this may suppress each other's unique flavor, so the blending must be primary and secondary in order to produce a better taste than a single coffee. If you want the coffee to taste complex and changeable, you can reduce the proportion of raw beans, and vice versa.

3. The blending of coffee depends on constant attempts, so a blending schedule should be drawn up mathematically before blending, and then the best plan should be determined through the process of blending-tasting cups. Don't think that this is a negative and stupid approach. In fact, a good cup of coffee can only be made by the experience, inspiration and tireless attempt of the blender.