The Reading Room

Coffee tasting made simple - supertasters
I just love the way this article makes coffee tasting as simple as possible. And really it should be. 25% of the population is defined as “supertasters” meaning they have the capability to easily distinguish between different tastes.For the lucky...
150 steps that affect your cup of coffee
I attended a fascinating talk given by a green coffee expert at Dillano's Coffee.  (They're a large national wholesale and private label roaster). He said something amazing:  there are 150 different steps between sprouting a coffee plant and when it...
How do I choose coffee? How would you?
When we have over 100 -- and someday 500 -- coffees for sale on ROASTe.com, how do you choose the right coffee? I've tried over 125 different coffees and I'll explain how I choose. First, I think about the country...
Going prime-time
It’s been almost two months since our stealth-mode beta went live and we are ready to go prime-time. So hopefully you will find us, starting this weekend, on our main internet address www.ROASTe.com. We have already had tens of orders...
What grind type should I buy for gourmet coffee?
What type of grind should you buy from ROASTe.com's roasters?They've definitely made many types of grinds available-- whole bean, drip grind, espresso grind, fine, medium, etc. Here's my suggestion based on drinking over 100 different coffees so far this year:Buy WHOLE...
Truth in Labeling
      This content first appeared as a response letter to Hawai‘i State senators concerning a proposed bill (HB 931) to increase the blend content minimum of a Hawaiian blend from 10% to  51%.  The bill also stipulated that the origins...
Welcome to ROASTe.com!
Today is a special day for us at ROASTe.com. After brewing for many months we are finally bringing the site up. Yes, it’s only a beta, and yes we only invite a few of our friends to begin with, but...
Respect for Hawaiian Coffee
A few months ago, I had a conversation with a friend about whether the Hawai‘i coffee industry was diverse and dynamic. I had mostly forgotten about it until this weekend when I was at the 2009 Specialty Coffee Association of...
Industry Buzz at the SCAA Trade Show
 Launching ROASTe.com, I just got back from the annual SCAA show. For the coffeegentsia, that's the biggest annual trade show of the Specialty Coffee Association of America. They had the World Barista Championship going on.  Totally incredible.  Competitors from around the...
The best coffee in the US for 85% less than a Starbucks Latte
Considering how much gourmet coffee I go through, I've calculated how inexpensive it is.Would you believe that you can brew at home the best coffees in America for over 85% less than a latte at Starbucks?  That's just 40 cents...
Tiramisu Recipe
Treviso, just northwest of Venice, in the northeastern province of Veneto, is best known for its canals, frescoes and . . . Tiramisu. The famous Italian gastronome Giuseppe Maffioli wrote in an article in 1981: “Tiramisu was born recently, just...
What Is the Coffee Flavor Wheel and How Do You Use It?

The coffee flavor wheel lists over 110 terms to describe what you taste in your cup. Here is how it works and how to use it at home.

Regional taste profiles
I’ve met a lot of coffee folk who are very concerned that a coffee from a certain region should fit a flavor profile for that region. I can see how this made sense even 10 years ago. However, much has...
Review of IronBrew Cerrado Gold Coffee: Wow
Every once in a while a coffee grabs you by the palate and says "Notice me!"IronBrew's Gold is one of them.From the first sip of IronBrew's Brazilian coffee, it's strong, powerful, dark, and rich. It is kind of like what...
What coffee sweeteners work best?
I'm always trying to reduce the amount of sugar in my diet. Maybe you are too. Coffee is one of the places where I use the most sugar. (That and the huge piece of pie that I have most nights...)....
Coffee Review: Paradise Roasters Brazil Yellow Bourbon
This coffee from Paradise Roasters is AWESOME.It highlights exactly how gourmet coffee from a high quality coffee roaster from a single-origin farm differs from your corner Starbucks or supermarket Maxwell House. When I poured boiling water over the ground coffee...
CNN video features Latte Art
You've got to see this new video on CNN about Latte Art.For those who don't know, latte art means creating designs on the top of a latte.And there is a whole segment of professional baristas that take tremendous pride in...
Is Fair Trade Coffee worth it?
Did you know that a small farmer in rural Colombia might get paid $1 a pound for his coffee beans? By the time it reaches us it may sell for $12.00 a pound. Why the difference? Middlemen and powerful distributors....
What Is Gourmet Coffee? How It Differs from Regular Coffee

Gourmet coffee starts with 100% Arabica beans, hand-picked at peak ripeness, carefully processed, and roasted in small batches. Here is exactly what separates it from supermarket coffee and what to look for when you buy.

How the World Barista Championship Works: Scoring, Judging, and 15 Minutes

15 minutes. 12 drinks. 7 judges. The World Barista Championship is coffee competition at its most demanding. Here is exactly how the scoring, judging, and routine structure work.

Why can't you get a decent cup of coffee at the European Commission's headquarters?
Something tasted wrong in the espresso made at the European Commission's headquarters in Brussels. And an EU archivist found out why. Something tasted a little bit metallic in the espresso that Alexander Just, an EU archivist, was getting in his...