Roasting Process

Green Stage: Unroasted beans. The beans are very dense and very hard. The beans last in this state for a long time.













Yellow Stage: The first stage in roasting. The beans turn from green to a yellowish color.













Brown Stage: The second stage in the roasting process. The beans begin to brown.














First Crack: At this stage the beans begin to expand releasing water and gasses trapped inside. This expanding makes a "cracking" noise. Also at this stage, the papery membrane surrounding the beans begin to peel off. This is called the coffee "chaff". At this stage, the beans have a very uneven brown color.











City Roast: The beans have a medium brown color. They have all expanded, reducing their weight, but nearly doubling their volume. This roast is good to taste varietal character of a bean.












Full City Roast: Medium dark brown color with some slight oily drops, good for varietal character with a little bittersweet, carbony flavor.













Vienna Roast / Second Crack: At this stage the beans turn a dark brown and begin going through a second crack. During the second crack the beans begin breaking apart due to the weakening of the cellulose structure. The beans begin to develop a carbony flavor, and you cannot taste as much of the beans natural flavor.











French Roast: The beans turn very dark brown, nearly black. They are very oily and shiny. At this stage you can only taste the carbony, burnt flavors of the coffee bean.