The Roast it Yourself Podcast

An Easy Way To Use the Coffee Taster's Flavor Wheel

Episode 68: This week, we dive into the colorful world of the Coffee Taster's Flavor Wheel! While this tool can seem intimidating or overwhelming, it's actually quite useful for beginner coffee enthusiasts and professionals alike! Check out this episode to see how Catherine and Stephen use the Wheel, and how you can too!
SEND YOUR QUESTIONS TO: questions@riypod.com
NOTES:
Check out our limited offering of Arabica Coffee Plants here!
Here's an interactive Coffee Taster's Flavor Wheel
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"Does Great Crema Mean Great Espresso?"

Episode 67: This week, we dive into a question from a listener about what makes a good shot of espresso, specifically, whether or not crema affects the overall quality of the espresso shot. This question is actually an interesting one, and more complicated than you might think! So check out this episode and share your thoughts in the comments!
SEND YOUR QUESTIONS TO: questions@riypod.com
NOTES:
Sumatra Mutu Batak from Current Crop Roasting Shop
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CHECK US OUT HERE:
Coffee Bean Corral YouTube
Coffee Bean Corral Website
Current Crop Roasting Shop Website
Rancher Wholesale Website

3 Keys to Crafting a Perfect Blend

Episode 66: If you want a consistent, well-rounded, complex, full-bodied brew without sacrificing flavor, you might have a hard time finding a single origin that'll fit the bill. That's where blending comes in! Blends have a lot of pros, but one major con -- creating them takes work. In this episode, we lay out a simple method to start coffee blending the right way, so you can get a delicious cup without chasing your tail. Happy roasting!
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NOTES:
1st Key: Know what flavors each coffee brings to the table. 
2nd Key: Roast to medium, and keep them separate until you're ready to brew.
3rd Key: Experiment with different ratios to find the perfect blend!
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Coffee Bean Corral YouTube
Coffee Bean Corral Website
Current Crop Roasting Shop Website
Rancher Wholesale Website

Roaster Head to Head: Kaleido vs. Bullet

Episode 65: Ever wondered how two of the most popular "level up" roasters perform head-to-head? Catherine and Stephen discuss the pros and cons of the Bullet R2 1-kilo roaster vs. the Kaleido M10 1.2-kilo roaster. From roast performance to chaff handling to ease of use/transport, we cover a lot of the real-world features/bugs that don't show up on the product page. If you're considering upgrading to a larger capacity roaster, you don't want to miss this discussion!
SEND YOUR QUESTIONS TO: questions@riypod.com
NOTES:
Kaleido M10 1.2 Kilo Roaster at Coffee Bean Corral
Bullet R2 1 Kilo Roaster at Current Crop Roasting Shop
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CHECK US OUT HERE:
Coffee Bean Corral YouTube
Coffee Bean Corral Website
Current Crop Roasting Shop Website
Rancher Wholesale Website

Is Co-Fermenting Just Artificial Flavoring?

Episode 64: This week, we explore the world of "alternative" processing methods, from co-fermenting to carbonic maceration. Our discussion is wide-ranging and seeks to answer the questions: "What? How? WHY???" PLUS: Stephen (a recovering coffee snob) shares his take on when a coffee processing method crosses the line into artificial flavoring.
SEND YOUR QUESTIONS TO: questions@riypod.com
NOTES:
Follow Our NEW Instagram Account @RIY_POD
CHECK US OUT HERE:
Coffee Bean Corral YouTube
Coffee Bean Corral Website
Current Crop Roasting Shop Website
Rancher Wholesale Website

How to Buy, Roast and Brew Lower Acid Coffee

Episode 63: A listener is roasting coffee for a friend who finds the acid in many coffees hard on their stomach. We offer a suggestions at every stage of the process, from selecting a coffee, to roasting it, to brewing it, all to produce the lowest possible acidity in the cup.
SEND YOUR QUESTIONS TO: questions@riypod.com
NOTES:
Find coffees with lower Brightness ratings with the Coffee Bean Matrix
Follow Our NEW Instagram Account @RIY_POD
CHECK US OUT HERE:
Coffee Bean Corral YouTube
Coffee Bean Corral Website
Current Crop Roasting Shop Website
Rancher Wholesale Website

"Should I Upgrade to an Air Roaster or a Drum Roaster?"

Episode 62: We're sure we'll step on some toes with this one...
This week, we got a question from a small batch roaster looking to upgrade to a larger commercial roaster, but is unsure of which way to go. The two main categories of coffee roasters are "fluid bed" and "drum," and there are pros and cons to each. Check out our answer and drop into the comments to share your own perspective!
SEND YOUR QUESTIONS TO: questions@riypod.com
NOTES:
The roaster brand I couldn't remember is Loring - Stephen
Check out our commercial roasters lineup here
Check out the Bullet roaster at CCRS here
Follow Our NEW Instagram Account @RIY_POD
CHECK US OUT HERE:
Coffee Bean Corral YouTube
Coffee Bean Corral Website
Current Crop Roasting Shop Website
Rancher Wholesale Website

How To Find Exactly The Coffee You're Looking For

Episode 61: This week, we're responding to a listener's question about how to consistently find coffees that he enjoys and how to find good "taste-a-like" coffees when his favorites are unavailable. What can I say? We've got set up for a shameless plug!
SEND YOUR QUESTIONS TO: questions@riypod.com
NOTES:
Follow Our NEW Instagram Account @RIY_POD
CHECK US OUT HERE:
Coffee Bean Corral YouTube
Coffee Bean Corral Website
Current Crop Roasting Shop Website
Rancher Wholesale Website

"Newbie Roaster Here, Does This Look Normal?"

Episode 60: This week, we got an excellent question from a self-proclaimed newbie roaster, including a picture (linked here). He gave us some details about his roast and his setup, and asked us to evaluate how he was doing. This is an excellent discussion for home roasters, whether you've just started or you have years of roasting under your belt. Throw your comments in the mix, ask questions, or teach us something new!
SEND YOUR QUESTIONS TO: questions@riypod.com
NOTES:
The delicious but barely pronounceable Kenya: Ndaroini AB, Nyeri District
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CHECK US OUT HERE:
Coffee Bean Corral YouTube
Coffee Bean Corral Website
Current Crop Roasting Shop Website
Rancher Wholesale Website

Great results from a cheap machine?

Episode 59: In this episode, Stephen tackles a question from a local questioner about how to steam milk for his lattes and cappuccinos using the cheap, old, big box store espresso machine he has on hand. Stephen discusses milk steaming technique, points to a few excellent resources and tools for getting great milk foam, and (because home coffee roasters are a scrappy bunch) proposes some solutions that will (hopefully) elevate the results of even low-end equipment!
SEND YOUR QUESTIONS TO: questions@riypod.com
NOTES:
Lance Hedrick's intro milk steaming video
Low-priced espresso machine with a quality steam wand (Breville Bambino)
Follow Our NEW Instagram Account @RIY_POD
CHECK US OUT HERE:
Coffee Bean Corral YouTube
Coffee Bean Corral Website
Current Crop Roasting Shop Website
Rancher Wholesale Website