Coffee insider - AMA

[Anonymous No.17189837]

Hi guys, I'm a sales manager for a SME specialty coffee roaster in Europe. I work with our operations team on purchasing green beans as well as working with the quality team on daily tastings and roast profiles.

I've over 10 years in the coffee industry, have had a few drinks and am willing to answer any questions you have.

>AMA
>pic related, one of the best marketing images of coffee I've ever found

[Anonymous No.17189848]

>>17189837
Why do you refer to coffee as beans when they're seeds from the coffee cherry?

[Anonymous No.17189855]

>>17189848
Because that's what the industry calls them.

Why do they call it "almond milk" or "dairy alternatives" instead of what it really is - "nut juice"?

[Anonymous No.17189881]

>>17189837
whats the BEST coffee drink you have ever had??
What beans? What drink? DESCRIBE IT!!!

[Anonymous No.17189887]

>>17189837
whenever i see a bunch of coffees on my isle from different countries i like to imagine all the poor third world children who are probably picking the beans while working for pennies a day and pick coffee based on that. i think it's hilarious. do you do the same?

[Anonymous No.17189895]

How do I throw a haduken fireball in Street Fighter 2 Turbo?ws0ks

[Anonymous No.17189897]

>>17189887
that's not true, this guy's entire career and livelihood is not based on the exploitation of third world children in poverty. right OP?

[Anonymous No.17189907]

>>17189848
Why do you refer to coffee drupes as cherries when the genus Coffea is obviously not Prunus nor is it even in the order Rosales?

[Anonymous No.17189910]

>>17189881
I had a Yemen single origin through a V60 that was super-high grade and it blew my fucking mind.

One of the quality consultants brought it in from a competitor and did a brew in our coffee area and I tried it and it was hands down the best coffee I've ever had.

That being said it was €40 for 227g so not commercially viable and the rest of the coffee from that company is alright but not worth the price.

>>17189887
>>17189897
Depends - you could say the same for rice or any sort of commodity.

The company I work for does a lot of work with farmers at farm level and we would pay over the odds for good crops which means they are getting above market value. If you think the roasters are taking advantage of workers you don't understand supply chains.

In case you weren't aware raw coffee (at least Arabica) has reached 7 year highs on commodity markets due to freight costs and lack of production.

Brazil lost 20% of their harvest to frost which drove up prices, along with speculators looking to hedge in the commodity market (but this has dropped off recently).

[Anonymous No.17189925]

>>17189837
What decaf beans have you tried that are actually good?

[Anonymous No.17189940]

>>17189925
I don't normally drink decaf...

Might be controversial but I've had a MC decaf coffee that tasted exactly like normal coffee that I really enjoyed, but again I don't drink decaf.

Otherwise normal Swiss water tastes fine, it's more about how you roast it.

[Anonymous No.17189943]

How does decaf coffee work? For me it seems like black satanic shit. Sick shit.

[Anonymous No.17189949]

>>17189943
Unless you have to drink it, don't.

It pisses barista's off to make and it's more expensive.

If you want to learn about it check out this site:
https://coffeeconfidential.org/health/decaffeination/

[Anonymous No.17189969]

As a basic bitch consumer what's my best bet for single origin Arabica? I'm not asking for a specific brand but rather an origin like Brazil/Guatemala/Yemen I can blindly buy and have the highest chance not to be disappointed.

[Anonymous No.17189972]

>>17189837
I heard that the highest quality coffee beans were ate and shit out by some kind of animal in part of processing them, is this true?

[Anonymous No.17189974]

Here is an interesting fact about coffee, the reason coffee pants produce caffeine is it serves to both protect itself from pests and to attract pollinators.

That's what Arabica coffee, which grows as higher altitudes, contains less caffeine then Robusta (meaning robust) or other low-level varieties. Because there are less bugs/pests to eat the cherries.

[Anonymous No.17189978]

have you ever had this coffee?

[Anonymous No.17189979]

>>17189972
The process drives up the price but that it's the best coffee is an absolute meme, it's literally shit coffee.

Also they keep the possums in a cage and treat them like shit. Avoid.

[Anonymous No.17189985]

>>17189979
what coffees do this and why?

[Anonymous No.17189986]

>>17189837
What are the benefits of butt chugging espresso?

[Anonymous No.17189992]

>>17189910
>227g
Aka a half pound. I fucking hate Europeans. Metric is useless.

[Anonymous No.17190005]

>>17189978
Never heard of them in Europe. Had a look at their website and about us - Where do they roast? All I'll say is if their are roasting in the US or South America, would be difficult to sell here because of transport times. Tthey don't have the economies of scale like Lavazza and are attacking the "quality" segment of the market.

>>17189985
Don't understand your question

>>17189986
Never done it but I'd say you'd get a kick quicker?

>>17189992
haters gonna hate.

[Anonymous No.17190028]

>>17190005
it's roasted in Florida

[Anonymous No.17190040]

>>17190028
Ok. Seems nice, I might buy some to try it. I don't really like the branding though.

Would it sell here? Short answer, not yet.

Long answer, unless you able to develop you brand scale up production like, say Sierra Nevada, I don't think so.

I feel coffee has such a low barrier to entry in the greater scheme of things that it's hard to grow passed your region unless you have massive capital support or were one of the first to market and thus have developed your own capital and base.

[Anonymous No.17190052]

>>17189837
how do you feel about meme coffee like bulleproof coffee?
are there any brands i should stay far the fuck away from for whatever reason?
what's the biggest scam in terms of wasting money for a product that isn't really better?

[Anonymous No.17190074]

>>17189907
I've got a pair of meaty drupes for you right here, buddy.

[Anonymous No.17190082]

>>17190052
>how do you feel about meme coffee like bulleproof coffee?
meme - had it once, never again.

>are there any brands i should stay far the fuck away from for whatever reason?
No - you need to find what you like. I also think it depends on the context in which your having it. For example, I'd never normally drink an "Italian" roast normally, but I would if I've just had an Italian meal or when I'm in Italy. I also love instant coffee.

>what's the biggest scam in terms of wasting money for a product that isn't really better?
The possum coffee I mentioned above.

[Anonymous No.17190088]

>>17189985
Its called kopi luwak. You would have to specifically seek it out to get it, and its exceptionally expensive, so its not mixed into like folgers or whatever.
As for the why, the idea is that the palm civet's digestive enzymes do shit to the beans.

[Anonymous No.17190091]

I work for a small roaster in Canada and I've been worried lately about how climate change is going to effect the market. We survived covid but I don't know if we have the funds to deal with a mass inflation of the price of green. What do you think of climate collapse and it's effect on coffee?

[Anonymous No.17190102]

>>17190091
You're not the owner from Street_Brew are you? She's blowing up on Instagram. Don't rate her coffee though.

What I would say about climate change is that it would have a positive effect on coffee growing in that it would allow coffee to be grown in more regions due to preferable climatic conditions - much like wine used to be produced in England in Roman times - that would mean more product and thus cheaper beans.

[Anonymous No.17190110]

>>17190102
Sorry - I haven't tried her coffee so I couldn't say. Was rude of me to dismiss her completely.

[Anonymous No.17190122]

>>17190102
No we're not big enough to be known but that is an interesting take I haven't heard before.

[Anonymous No.17190125]

>>17190091
how could any small roaster survive not only covid but also climate change, racism, and anti-scientism? you are the real heros, thank you

[Anonymous No.17190143]

test

[Anonymous No.17190185]

>>17189837
Are women good for you?

[Anonymous No.17190196]

>>17190185
Yes. Women love me and I love women.

[Anonymous No.17190199]

>>17190196
i am an alpha male. i am true. i am honest.

[Anonymous No.17190211]

>>17190199
Woman make life worth living if you don't listen to /b/ or /pol/

Find a good woman who will love and support you for being you, and you will be able to live a fulfilling life. Don't get me wrong, they annoy the shit out of you sometimes but so do kids... it doesn't mean you love them less.

[Anonymous No.17190435]

>>17189940
Kys you're not a Coffee expert.

[Anonymous No.17190448]

>>17190435
kek, aren't I?

[Anonymous No.17191874]

>>17189837
That picture is ridiculous on multiple fronts.
1) You're going to break your mugs
2) You're going to burn the crap out of your hands
3) Why pour yourself coffee if you're going to spill it everywhere?

But... but it makes a heart shape!!
Get outta here.

[Anonymous No.17191989]

As someone who grew up in a household that did not drink coffee, explain the appeal of it to me, I'll assume you're not just a caffeine crackhead looking for their next fix.

I'm interested in it just to see what coffee is all about, my only real experiences with it are just instant coffee and other such cheap stuff, but the coffee scene seems to be chock full of pretentious hipsters

[Anonymous No.17192688]

What is the best mass market coffee in your opinion? Something that's available in many large grocery stores across a region/continent (North America, Europe, East Asia, etcetera).

[Anonymous No.17192722]

>>17189837
Why the FUCK does my homemade chilled coffee always taste shit the following day.
>brewed hot, looses all flavour
>brewed cold, looses all flavour and picks up a negative flavour
I've tried using a aeropress and pourover. It will taste nice the night before but taste bad at work the following day. It's not fridge flavour because it's in an airtight bottle. How the fuck do storebought iced coffees maintain their flavour on the shelf?

[Anonymous No.17192848]

>>17192722
Please respond OP I need this

[Anonymous No.17193274]

>>17189910
I think I had that same coffee!

[Anonymous No.17193467]

>>17189837
Teach me about the coffee supply chain senpai. How does it work? How does it go wrong? What do I need to do to get into the various levels of the chain? From growing to brewing and everything in between.

[Anonymous No.17193495]

>>17189837
>one of the best marketing images of coffee I've ever found

I take it you never found this one.

[Anonymous No.17193507]

>>17189837
What is the easiest and what is the best way to make coffee? Also, what is your favorite and preferred way to make coffee?

[Anonymous No.17193652]

>>17189837
What is the best temperature to brew coffee at?

[Anonymous No.17193749]

>>17189837
Be honest OP, coffee just tastes like astray-juice, yea?

[Anonymous No.17193824]

>>17189837
Did the holocaust happen?

[Anonymous No.17193968]

>>17189969
I wish OP replied to this question.

[Anonymous No.17193977]

>>17192688
Where did OP go?

[Anonymous No.17194058]

>>17193652
not op but i’m a certified barista.
it really depends on the roast, if you are using medium - medium dark i wouldn’t recommend going above 89c.
if you are using a light roasted beans start with 92c and you can go as high as 98c

[Anonymous No.17194062]

>>17189969
again im not op but i know my coffee.

each country has it’s own taste profile but there are other factors like the process and altitude.

Panama is definitely one of the highest quality coffee out there but there are other regions like Columbia, Kenya, El Salvador

[Anonymous No.17195072]

OP here, I'll be back the rest of tonight

>>17191989
Coffee has such a great breath of flavour and so many different ways to make it. It's an acquired taste but if you want to get into it you can.

>>17192722
It's probably because you're storing it in an open container next to aromatics. make sure it's stored in an air-tight container and see if you still loose flavour/pick up negative flavours

>>17193467
Most roasters buy their coffee through coffee brokers. Coffee is like any comodity, it's effected by world events such as drought, frosts etc. and logistic issues like frieght costs.

Check out these websites:
>https://comparebrokers.co/compare/trading-coffee/
>https://ictcoffee.com/

>>17193495
uWu

>>17193507
>Easiest
Instant
>best
depends on how you want your coffee
>my preferred way
Espresso or French Press

>>17193652
see >>17194058

>>17189969
This is why a lot of coffee companies use blends, it's easier to control consistency and. However for single origins it really depends. The best single origin I've ever had was a Yeman coffee.
see >>17189910
As they say the tools are only as good as the handyman using them i.e. you can have the best beans in the world but the roaster roasts the shit out of them and ruins them

[Anonymous No.17195084]

>>17195072
Since you work with the operations team:

I keep seeing news articles pop up over the last half year or so, saying that coffee is going to be mighty expensive the coming years, due to climate change, coronavirus and increasing shipping costs. Do you have any clue on how bad it will be? Will I be paying more than €20 for a 250g bag of specialty coffee in 2022?

[Anonymous No.17195085]

>>17193749
If you put your cigarettes out in it then yes, yes it will

[Anonymous No.17195097]

>>17195084
Freight cost have gone up 400% in the last 18 months. A container that cost €400-€500 in 2019 now costs around €2000. That's a huge increase but it's only one factor in total costs.

Coffee prices to the consumer at cafes will not increase by much due to economies of scale but you will see price increases passed on.

I'd say with the way inflation is going and the increase in costs you might be paying an extra 10 cents per coffee at a cafe and maybe an extra €2 - €5 per retail bag. But that's just me guessing.

[Anonymous No.17195282]

>>17189837
>Explain the importance of robusta in the industry, I've read some articles saying a good espresso mix should at least have some, at the same time manufacturers advertise with 100% arabica because it's seen as higher quality. Mostly every blend that even includes robusta happens to be the cheapest entry level shit you buy in bulk.
>Is it always bad if my coffee beans are oily out of the bag?
>Also, is blue mountain a meme?

[Anonymous No.17195295]

>>17189837
how did they make this image? is the coffee 100% photoshop or they actually clash the cups hundreds of times to make that shape?

[Anonymous No.17195344]

>>17195072
here's a tough one: do you get free coffee at your job? there's something about shitty complementary coffee that pleases me.

[Anonymous No.17195569]

>>17195295
No, it's one guy wearing two different sleeves, so he can control the clink and arc of the coffee much more easily.

[Anonymous No.17195574]

>>17195569
but who was phone?

[Anonymous No.17195597]

>>17189837
if i made youtube videos and streamed who do i need to talk to to get a coffee sponsorship so i can get money and more importantly good coffee.

[Anonymous No.17195863]

>>17195569
Robusta is used mainly as way to decrease production costs and give a coffee blend more body. In most "Italian" style blends, they will cut with up to 20% robusta to give that bitter flavour and increase the body and creme. It's also mainly used in instant.

I don't rate any coffee that is cut with robusta. 100% Arabica coffee is more expensive and has a better flavour profile.

>inb4 some sensory expert says they've used 100% robusta in a competition and it tastes just as good
>No. in general it doesn't.

Oily beans usually mean they've been roasted passed the 2nd crack. make sure you're storing them in an air tight container and using them quickly otherwise they will go rancid.

>>17195295
No idea, found it on Instagram

>>17195344
Not only do I get free coffee out our office/cafe, I can claim back any meals I have at other cafes as expenses. Part of my job is business development and that means going around to cafes/restaurants/hotels etc. trying to get them to use our coffee. Anytime I eat in or have a coffee at a potential new business, I can keep the receipt and claim that as an expense. Very cool part of the job.

>>17195597
You'd need to develop a following and give them a reason to sponsor you. They wouldn't just do it first. There are a lot of barista's who have instagrams etc. that try to do that but unless there is a good reason for a company to sponsor them they usually don't get it.

[Anonymous No.17195879]

sorry I mean >>17195863 to answer >>17195282

[Anonymous No.17195894]

>>17189837
Where to get cheap green coffee beans in small bulk (like 50lbs at a time).

I really like my melange roast in cast iron pans and I'm about to run out of my previous bulk purchase

[Anonymous No.17195903]

>>17195894
Sorry pal, couldn't help you on that - we only by in standard 60kg bags.

[Anonymous No.17196509]

I haven't had a cup of coffee in in 17 years.

[Anonymous No.17196525]

>>17196509
I haven't had a cup ever.

t. chocolate drinker

[Anonymous No.17197244]

Is liberica coffee any good?

[Anonymous No.17198119]

>>17197244
Not OP but the videos I've seen describe the taste as being like a smokey black tea mixed with coffee

[Anonymous No.17198544]

>>17197244
OP here - haven't had it so couldn't say.