How can I test the consistency of a coffee roaster’s blends?

Arrange a tasting that you control. Ask for bags of the same blend roasted on different days, taste them together, and bring someone with a trained palate if you can. Note differences in aroma, body, sweetness and finish. Repeat the test several times, on different days, and note whether the differences you taste are the same ones each time. A roaster whose coffee changes from batch to batch will soon hear it from customers.

Then read the paperwork. Roast logs should show the green coffee used, the profile, the times and temperatures, and the person responsible. Ask whether profiles are saved and followed or adjusted by feel. Ask how the roaster adapts blends when a crop changes, and whether there is a written tasting routine. A clean, well-kept roaster helps, so ask how often it is checked.

Finally, find out who the consistency depends on. If it lives in one person’s palate, plan for how it will be taught or replaced. Have a technician inspect the roaster and ask for maintenance records, since worn equipment affects results. Your accountant can help you see how waste from failed batches shows up in the numbers.

Key takeaways

• Taste batches roasted on different days side by side, with a trained palate if possible.
• Compare roast logs with the cup results and ask who approves each batch.
• Find out whether consistency depends on one person, and inspect the roaster.