There are several reasons roasters make blending a regular practice as well as a regular part of their menu. An obvious reason is to build a flavor profile with multiple coffees that is outside the realm of any one of the ingredients on their own. Obviously a good single-origin coffee doesn’t need improving upon, but putting two or more coffees together to build complexity or balance can be a fun and challenging exercise. It’s also very resourceful stock management in that you’re essentially creating a new menu option built off the coffees you currently have in stock – an outlet you wouldn’t otherwise have. Roasters can take this one step further and “brand” the blend as their own, giving customers a cup of coffee/espresso that they then associate with a company. Whatever your case is for blending, we’re going to take a look at a few methods used to blend coffees and how to choose harmonious ingredients. We’ll also give you an idea of how we go about building blends, as well as a quick rundown on how they handle in the roaster.
Pre-Blending vs. Post-Roast Blend
There’s a convenience afforded to the roaster with pre-blending green coffee, allowing them to roast a single batch of blended coffees as opposed to managing several small batches of each component (especially convenient for those using larger roasters). Having this type of blend on hand and ‘ready to go’ gives the roaster ease of access as well as flexibility with batch size. One concern is that this type of blend might compromise roast evenness due to varied bean sizes, densities, moisture, etc. In most cases we don’t find this to be much of a problem, and that a certain degree of averaging occurs between ingredients, in particular with drum roasting chambers. Roast technique also plays a large role in attaining an even roast, which we’ll talk about later.
Post-roast blending means mixing the coffees after roasting each individually. One reason to do this is to retain control of the roast level of each component. Roast, of course, also adds a whole other element to the flavor possibilities, and is used to pull out or obfuscate particular notes in the profile. With this you have the ability to control roast flavors as well as sweetnessSweetness is an important positive quality in fine coffees, and is one of five basic tastes: Sour, Sweet, Salty, Bitter, Savory (Umami). In coffee, sweetness is a highly..., fruitedIn some coffee taster’s lexicon, “fruity” means the coffee is tainted with fruit, and “fruited” means a coffee is graced by positive fruit notes. We don't exactly see... notes, and acidityAcidity is a positive flavor attribute in coffee, also referred to as brightness or liveliness. It adds a brilliance to the cup, whereas low acid coffees can seem.... Slight roast variances will do fine as espressoA small coffee beverage, about 20 ml, prepared on an espresso machine where pressurized hot water extracted through compressed coffee.: In its most stripped-down, basic form, this is... or drip coffee, while more extreme differences (City roastCity roast is what we define as the earliest palatable stage that the roast process can be stopped and result in good quality coffee. City roast occurs roughly... with Full City+City+ roast is an ideal roast level that occurs roughly between 425 and 435 degrees Fahrenheit in many coffee roasters with a responsive bean probe where First Crack...) produce inconsistent grind particulates, and will only be effective as brewed coffeeBrewed Coffee refers to all coffee preparations produced by adding non-pressurized water to coffee grounds. Contrasted with espresso coffee, which is produced under pressure, brewed coffee is primarily....
Great Coffees Make Great Blends
We have a saying at Shrub: “GIGO”, which means, “garbage in=garbage out”. There’s a lot of truth in that saying, because no matter what we do as roasters we can only make the end product as good as the initial ingredient(s). It’s no secret that some roasters use blending as a way to funnel off waning coffees – but no matter how much good, fresh coffee you throw on top of a ‘tired’ one, you can’t change it (would you throw three good apples and one rotten one through your juicer?). Sure, with some roast development you might be able to mask signs of age or baggy flavors, but the ‘garbage’ coffee will only get worse with time, never better. So that’s why it’s always best to approach a blend with solid ingredients. Not only will fresh coffees bring their respective profiles at their ‘peak’, but they also have staying power and store the longest – meaning, you’ll have the opportunity to offer the blend longer.
Our coffee silo has made the actual ‘blending’ of coffees much easier on our backs!
Getting Started
There are many approaches to choosing blend ingredients and one thing to consider is having an idea of what kind of a profile you’re trying to achieve. For instance, if “classic” espresso is what you desire, try starting with a low acid, big bodied South or Central American coffeeCentral American coffee is known for its "classic," balanced profile.: Central American coffee is known for its "classic," balanced profile. Centrals are primarily wet-processed since the climate is... as nearly half the base, and then make up the difference with coffee(s) that you’d like to use as highlights. If you like to shoot from the hip (which is how we usually come up with our Workshop blends) try roasting up a few different coffees you know work well as single-origin espresso, and then play around with ratios until you find one that fits. One thing to keep in mind is that to blend efficiently, it helps to have a basic idea of what characteristics are associated with various origins and processingThe removal of the cherry and parchment from the coffee seed.: Coffee is either wet-processed (also called washed or wet-milled) or dry-processed (also called wild, natural or natural... methods, and it really helps to have a thorough knowledge of how the coffees you currently have function as both espresso and brewed coffee.
With espresso in mind, we put together a general list of espresso attributes and the roasts, processing methods and regions that are generally associated with them. These are fairly gross generalizations, and there are always exceptions to the rule. Not all Brazils are going to be bodied, nuttyNutty is a broad flavor term, reminiscent of nuts ... but what kind exactly?: Nutty is a broad flavor term, reminiscent of nuts. It is tied intrinsically to... and low acidity, and likewise, not every African coffee is floralFloral notes in coffee exemplify the connection between taste and smell. Describing the taste of a specific flower is near impossible...we always default to “it tastes like it..., complexThe co-presence of many aroma and flavor attributes, with multiple layers. A general impression of a coffee, similar to judgments such as "balanced" or "structured", or citric. But this list will give you an idea of where to start – a base, if you will – when considering a blend profile that works.
BodyAssociated with and sensed by mouthfeel, body is sense of weight and thickness of the brew, caused by the percentage of soluble solids in the cup, including all...:
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Roasting for body can be tricky. To really develop mouthfeelHow a coffee feels in the mouth or its apparent texture, a tactile sensation : A major component in the flavor profile of a coffee, it is a... in the roast requires stretching out the 1st CrackAn audible popping sound heard during roasting. In coffee, one refers to "first crack" and "second crack," which come from two different classes of chemical reactions.: An audible.... During this stage, the cellular structure of the bean is at its most elastic and the breaking down of celluloseCellulose is the principle fiber of the cell wall of coffee. It is partially ordered (crystalline) and partially disordered (amorphous). The amorphous regions are highly accessible and react... into non-sugar carbohydrates lends to a thicker mouthfeel. What makes this tricky is that you have to be careful not to stall the caramelizationA reaction involving sugars that occurs during coffee roasting. A caramelized sugar is less sweet, but has greater complexity of flavor and aroma. Caramelization is slower than Maillard... that is occurring at this same time. To do that would bake the coffee which will develop harsh flavors that can be medicinalMedicine-like, alcohol or chemical type flavor taint.: A defective flavor characterized by a penetrating medicine-like, alcohol or chemical type taint flavor. This type of defect usually comes from..., to oaty, to popcorn-like.
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Natural and Pulp NaturalPulp natural is a hybrid method of processing coffee to transform it from the tree fruit to a green bean, ready for export. Specifically, it involves the removal... coffees are great for this, especially those from BrazilBrazil is a coffee giant . As Frank Sinatra sang, "they grow an awful lot of coffee in Brazil".: Brazil is a coffee giant . As Frank Sinatra... and YemenYemen has a coffee culture like no other place, and perhaps some of what we enjoy in this cup is due to their old style of trade...: Technically,.... They often bring with them layered chocolateA general flavor or aroma term reminiscent of chocolate. But what type? Usually described with more specifics.: Chocolate is a broad, general flavor or aroma term reminiscent of..., and nut flavors – try using as a base, or equally blended with other bodied coffees. With Yemeni coffees factor in the possibility of rusticA general characterization of pleasantly "natural" flavors, less sophisticated and less refined, but appealing. : What is Rustic? This is a general term we came up with... Dried... sweetness and sometimes rougher flavors – you might use sparingly at first, like %25.
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Colombian coffees can fit the bill. Washed coffee from Huila or Cauca often have great body and honeyed sweetness. Defined acidity may come with it so play with portions for balanceSuggests a harmony and proportion of qualities, and implies mildness since no one quality dominates.: Balance is both an obvious and slippery taste term. It implies a harmony....
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Indonesian coffees often have heavy and sometimes oily mouthfee,l and for this reason are historically popular espresso blend components. With SumatraIndonesians are available as a unique wet-hulled or dry-hulled (washed) coffees. Giling Basah is the name for the wet-hulling process in Bahasa language, and will have more body... you don’t need a lot, as anything more that even 20% tends to overwhelm all other components. The herbaceous notes common in these coffees also add sharpness in an espresso. Javas can add really sturdy body, refined sweetness, and a sweet nuttiness to the finishSimilar to aftertaste, but it refers to the impression as the coffee leaves the palate. Aftertaste is the sensations gathered after the coffee has left the mouth. We....
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Robustas are also commonly used to add body to a coffee. They definitely do that (lots of cremaCrema is a dense foam that floats on top of a shot of espresso. It ranges in color from blond to reddish-brown to black. Blond crema may be...), but come with a flavor profileFlavor Profile implies a graphical impression of a particular coffee, whether it be an artistic portrait or data graph of the perception of flavor compounds. In the case... that is uniquely, well, “RobustaAteng is a common name for Catimor coffees widely planted in Sumatra and other Indonesia isles.: Ateng, with several subtypes, is a common name for Catimor coffees widely...” – wood, paper, and a the bitterness of nutskins.
Chocolate:
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Roast level has more of an impact on cocoa flavors coming out of the blend, and roasting closer to Full City will produce those chocolate notes in coffees. Avoid toasty, roasty, and carbonized flavors by not taking the roast too far into 2nd Crack (and by not pushing the roast too fast!). Stretching out the drying phase can also help develop the sweeter side of chocolate flavors.
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Dry Processed coffees are known for their overt fruitedness, but at deeper roast levels they can also have intense syrupy chocolate notes. Brazil coffees are great for syrupy chocolate flavors in the middle cup profile as well as nice cocoa powder notes in the finish.
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Central and South American coffees are also a nice addition to a chocolatey espresso. We often use washed coffees from the Libertad and Santa Ana areas of El SalvadorEl Salvador coffee had an undeservingly poor reputation for years, marred mostly by the inability to deliver coffee of high quality in an unstable political climate. Unfortunately, agriculture..., adding chocolate flavors as well as a nice viscosity. GuatemalaGuatemalan coffee is considered a top quality coffee producer in Central America. Due to our proximity to Guatemala, some of the nicest coffees from this origin come to..., MexicoMexican coffee originates from South-central to Southern regions of the country. For that reason, coffees from Coatepec and Veracruz are much different from Oaxacan Plumas, which are in..., ColombiaColombian coffee is highly marketed and widely available in the US. They have been largely successful at equating the name Colombian Coffee with "Good" Coffee. This is half-true...., PeruPeruvian coffees have Central American brightness but in a South American coffee flavor package overall. The good organic lots do have more of a "rustic" coffee character.: Organic... and PanamaPanama coffee ranges from medium quality lower altitude farms to those at 1600 - 1800 meters centered in the area of Boquete in the Chirqui district near the... coffees can also work, often adding caramelCaramel is a desirable form of sweetness found in the flavor and aroma of coffee, and is an extension of roast taste. Extremely light or dark coffees will... and vanillaVanilla notes in coffee are often related to caramelization notes, as butter and vanilla can be found in flavors and aromatics of roast reactions from reducing of sugars. notes as well.
Acidity:
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Roast level and development have a large impact on acidity as well. Lighter roasts will maintain more of the perceived acidity, and the development will determine where you experience that on the palate. Shorter development will promote that perceived acidity to the front of the palate. Roast development moves perceived acidity across the palate, and too much (or too long) will diminish it altogether.
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Wet-Processed coffees are much better for applying acidity to a blend. You’ll get a cleaner, prominent, more sustained and confident acidity, whereas with a dry-processed coffee roasted lightly you’ll get a much more muddled acidity (not to mention more prominent earthyEarthy is a flavor term with some ambivalence, used positively in some cases, negatively in others.: Sumatra coffees can have a positive earthy flavor, sometimes described as "wet... notes).
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African coffees are well known for their vividly bright citric acidity. Washed Ethiopias will add lemonLemon notes, as well as other related citrusy flavors or acidities, are prized in coffee. These usually express themselves as a bright accent in the cup, or aromatic... and bergamotBergamot Orange is the size of an orange, with a yellow color similar to a lemon, and has a pleasant fragrance. The juice tastes less sour than lemon,... brightnessA euphemistic term we use often to describe acidity in coffee. A bright coffee has more high, acidic notes. : A euphemistic term to describe acidity in coffee...., while Rwandas have a mandarin orangeOrange aromatics and flavors are prized in coffee, whether they take the form of sweet orange flesh and pulp, or orange peel. Orange flavors or aromatics can range... character. If you want a Sauvignon Blanc type of acidity, a KenyaKenya is the East African powerhouse of the coffee world. Both in the cup, and the way they run their trade, everything is topnotch.: Kenya is the East... might do the trick.
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Central American coffees roasted to lighter levels add citric and brassy/punchy acidity. Cleaner, simpler Centrals are best for this purpose as more complex coffee can add unwanted tactility or even muddled flavors into the blend.
Fruit:
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Roasting for fruit notes is really determined by what type of fruit you’re trying to promote. If you’re looking for something citrusyQualities in coffee that are reminiscent of a citrus fruit; orange, lemon, grapefruit, kumquat, etc.: Qualities in coffee that are reminiscent of a citrus fruit; orange, lemon, grapefruit,... than you’ll want to keep it light. But if you want cherryEither a flavor in the coffee, or referring to the fruit of the coffee tree, which somewhat resembles a red cherry.: Either a flavor in the coffee, or..., berry and stone fruit flavors then you’ll actually want to roast a little deeper into City+ and even early Full City in some cases. The development of sweetness in the roast generally moves from cereal and malty, to candy-like, to fruited, and then into vanilla, caramel and cocoa, and beyond that into more bittering.
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Dry Processed coffees of course have a very distinct fruitiness that plays well in blends. This is also a function though of what kind of fruit you’re looking for. If you want more clean citrus like fruits, then washed coffees are a better component here.
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African Coffees their wineyA taste term to describe a wine-like flavor with a similar perceived acidity and fruit, and some level of acetic acid. It is found most commonly in East... fruit notes, from the bright lemon and orange to more perfumed bergamot and even the raisin and blueberryBlueberry flavors in coffee take different forms. Dried blueberry was something we first encountered in natural Harar coffee from Ethiopia. It seemed to be most potent in fresh... of dry processed Ethiopias. A Kenya can give you anything from grapefruit to cherry to peach and apricot, but can also be overwhelming. When blending with Kenyas, finding the complimentary coffees and flavors can be tricky. A blend that I think is interesting is a Kenya and a dry processed EthiopiaEthiopia, formerly known as Abyssinia, or a coffee cultivar: Ethiopia, or more specifically the Empire under Haile Selassie, was known as Abyssinia. The name is Latin, derived from..., emphasizing the Kenya and using the DP Ethiopia as more of an accent.
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Central/South American regions have many options for fruited characteristics. Colombia coffees can have intensely bright cherry notes offering brilliant highlights in blends. They are very sympathetic to a wide array of coffees as well. I always think of a Colombia in a blend as a big red balloon that you can fill with other accents. Guatemalan coffees from Antigua and Huehuetenango often lend flavors of dark berry, stone fruits and rhubarb tartness.
Managing Our Blends
We have 2 different types of blends: our “Standard Blends”, ones we try to keep in stock as close to year round as possible (as long as fresh components allow), and a rotating list of “Workshop Blends” that highlight specific new cropRefers to fresh shipments of green coffee within the first month or two of the earliest arrivals ... not quite the same as Current Crop, which means the... coffees, often outside the realm of a classic espresso profile. Both are an alternative to SO espressoShort for Single Origin espresso, meaning using one origin specific coffee to make espresso, as opposed to using a blended coffee./coffee, and with our Standard Blends, allows customers to fill a specific need for an espresso profile that is closely repeated no matter when they buy it. The Workshops come and go – a constant rotation closely following the cyclical nature of new crop acquisition.
A few of our ‘standard’ and ‘workshop’ blends bagged up and ready to go
The common thread tying these two together is the subject of availability. With our Standard Blends, we keep the profile as consistent as possible, which means not straying far from the original recipe. One way of dealing with this need is “cellaring” the components – thankfully made easier with the creation of Grain Probags. Still, we’re sensitive to damage such as age in our coffees, and so we constantly check the quality of blend ingredients to make sure all the counterparts are “on the level”. And if we run out of options, well, that blend is nixed from the list until the ingredients are back in stock (again, changing with the different seasons).
Workshop Blends are a different animal, and built around new crop coffees that inspire us in the espresso machine. This is where we take liberties with using components that aren’t necessarily what you’d find in a “classic” espresso profile. Wild and rustic Sulawesis, floral Ethiopians, and ultra fruityIn some coffee taster’s lexicon, “fruity” means the coffee is tainted with fruit, and “fruited” means a coffee is graced by positive fruit notes. We don't exactly see... naturals, all have a place here as long as we find a pleasurable shot in the aggregate sum. We enjoy putting these together, and they’re an opportunity for our customers to add an espresso offering to their list that is out of the ordinary and an alternative to the more ‘standard’ espresso profile. But when these are gone, they’re gone, and eventually replaced with a new Workshop edition that is hopefully far from a reflection of ones from the past.
So How do they Roast?
We’ve had several emails from customers worried about the evenness of roast for pre-blended coffees. It’s a valid concern as not all coffees are the same size, densityThe density of a coffee bean is often taken as a sign of quality, as a more dense bean will roast more with a better dynamic. The density..., etc. First off, we take this into account when putting a blend together and roast to both light and dark ends of the roast spectrum in order to check the consistency of roast development between the individual coffees. One thing we’ve found is there’s a sort of equilibrium that is reached when roasting these blends in most drum roasters. We do our best to take these factors into consideration when blending, and include roast recommendations based off of our roasting experience.
Evenness in the roast for a green blend can have a lot to do with the thickness of your roasting drum, the intensityWe have a simple scale to rate intensity in our coffee reviews, from Mild to Bold. Low intensity does not mean low quality!: We have a simple scale... of the burners, or at the very least how you react to these particulars with your roasting technique. Because of this, infra-red burners or lower flame work really well to produce evenly roasted, green-blended blends. Not having an active flame licking the underside of the drum allows for a slightly more gentle conductive transfer, as well as makes it easier to add a little extra time to the drying phase. It’s also important not to use too much airflow on these roasts, especially during 1st Crack and after, as this could lead to tippingTipping refers to a roast error that can be discerned by inspecting the roasted coffee, where the ends of the elongated bean appear burnt. It can easily be... in some of the lower density coffees.
Adding a little extra time to your drying phase is truly the key to roasting a pre-blended coffee. The extra time allows you to better “normalize” all the components so that when you enter into 1st Crack they’re all start cracking together. You definitely don’t want to try to extend the time during 1st Crack itself, this could easily lead to the stalling of caramelization and baked flavors. We’re also not talking about a lot of time here, more like 30 seconds to a minute or so depending on how much brightness you want to see in the coffee. If this is for an espresso, then even a little more time on the drying phase can really help push the sweetness of the blend.
Ultimately, in addition to their being a demand for blends, we blend because we love the coffee that comes out of it. It’s rewarding to put together a varietyA botanical variety is a rank in the taxonomic hierarchy below the rank of species and subspecies and above the rank of form (form / variety / subspecies... of beans based on their “best” aspects, and obtain a flavor profile that no one of the components could produce on its own. Our approach is pre-blending the green beans, and our experience shows that this type of blend actually roasts quite evenly when taking a “slow and low” approach in the roaster. There’s certainly many many ways to blend coffees, and we encourage you to try your hand at it – and why not start with the ingredients you currently have in stock? That’s always been the ideal starting point for us.
