There's a Roaster in My Grocer!!!

There is a new Shoprite Supermarket in Somers Point, New Jersey that has a coffee kiosk and a coffee roaster. The coffee kiosk, Avenue Bean, sells all the usual coffee drinks and roasted coffee by the pound. They have installed a coffee roaster so customers can order their coffee, do some grocery shopping, and then come back for their fresh roasted coffee. What a great idea!

The green coffee sells for $7.99 per pound and the roasting is no extra charge. I know, I know, you can buy green coffee for less, but not everyone wants to home roast their coffee. Most coffee drinkers don't even want to brew their own coffee, but they are probably not the ones who will buy fresh roasted beans.

I've been roasting my coffee for several years and I recommend it to everyone I know, but it really is not for everyone. Sit in a convenience store parking for a little while in the morning and watch how many come out with coffee cups.

I really like the idea of being able to buy your own green beans and having it roasted while you wait. Coffee is noticeably better when brewed within a week or so of roasting and this is a good way to ensure its freshness. It takes the guesswork out of buying roasted coffee. Customers no longer have to wonder how long the bag of beans has been sitting on the shelf.

Coffee shop owners should try this idea, too. People who appreciate fresh roasted coffee make great customers for coffee shops. Make every detail important and you will gain friends, not just customers.

Robert

A Great Morning Blend

2 parts Sumatra Mandheling Gayo Mountain Organic
2 parts Ethiopian Yirgacheffe
1 part Mexican Altura
All roasted to a nice, full oil sheen.

One of the many advantages of roasting your own coffee is being able to experiment with different blends of coffee. I can't say I have a favorite coffee, but every time I order green beans, I order more Sumatra Mandheling than any other. I really like Sumatra's smooth, earthy flavor.

I often blend Sumatra with a more acidic coffee to give it a little more "bite." I like to blend it with Ethiopian Yirgacheffe to get a full bodied coffee with a little more "brightness" in the cup.

Recently, I was looking through my pile of green bean bags and found some Mexican Altura. I roasted 2 batches Sumatra, 2 batches Yirgacheffe, and 1 batch Mexican. The result was a great cup of coffee! My tongue is not good enough to detect all the tastes I read about on different coffee sites, but I can tell you what I enjoy.

If you have a favorite blend, please post it in the comments link above so other readers can try it.

Robert