What is coffee roasting? What does the roasting process entail? Learn about how we roast coffee at Panama Joe.

Coffee Roasting is the process that transforms the chemical and physical properties of green coffee beans into roasted coffee.  The roasting process is what creates the characteristic flavour of coffee, causing the coffee beans to expand and change colour, taste, smell and density.Green coffee beans contain similar amounts caffeine and proteins as roasted coffee, but lacks the taste.  It takes heat to initiate the chemical reactions that produce the familiar look and flavour of roasted coffee.As the green beans absorb heat, the colour changes from green to yellow and on to various shades of brown.  During the later stages of roasting, oils will appear on the bean’s surface giving darker roasts a shiny appearance.None of the “origin flavour” (the flavours distinct to the varietals, altitude, soil and weather conditions of the individual growing region) are retained at the darker stages of roasting.  These origin flavours are eclipsed by the flavours of the roasting process itself.  Chain stores generally roast dark, this provides consistency and masks defects in the beans at the price of flavour and quality.

Wet Process (Washed)

At Panama Joe, we roast in a 10kg drum roaster.  We generally roast light to medium to extenuate the the distinct nuances of particular estates and to satisfy individual preferences.  We hand sort each batch to ensure the highest quality control.  We then immediately bag our coffee in premium quality one-way valved bags so that the off gassing of the roasted coffee displaces any oxygen so as to retain the fresh roasted flavour.

Coffee Flavor Wheel

This wheel is used by expert tasters in a “cupping” event to determine the distinct characteristics of a particular coffee. See if you can find the flavours in your cup. (Click on image to enlarge.)