A Look into Amberdo’s Local Vancouver Process
Coffee is more than just a morning pick-me-up; it’s a craft that begins with the roasting of green coffee beans. At Amberdo, we take pride in roasting our coffee beans locally in Vancouver, ensuring every cup delivers unparalleled freshness and flavor. But how exactly are coffee beans roasted, and what makes our process at Amberdo stand out? Let’s dive into the art and science of coffee roasting, with a focus on our commitment to quality and local craftsmanship.
What Is Coffee Roasting?
Coffee roasting transforms raw, green coffee beans into the aromatic, flavorful beans we know and love. Green coffee beans are naturally soft, with a grassy aroma, and lack the rich taste we associate with coffee. Roasting triggers chemical changes that develop the beans’ complex flavors, aromas, and colors. At Amberdo, we roast our beans in small batches right here in Vancouver, ensuring precision and care in every step.
The Science Behind Roasting
Roasting is a delicate balance of heat, time, and technique. When green coffee beans are exposed to high temperatures (typically 350–500°F or 175–260°C), they undergo a series of chemical reactions, including the Maillard reaction and caramelization. These processes break down sugars and amino acids, creating the rich, nutty, and chocolatey notes coffee lovers crave. At Amberdo, our Vancouver-based roasters carefully monitor these reactions to achieve the perfect roast profile for each bean variety.
The Coffee Roasting Process
The journey from green bean to roasted perfection involves several key stages. Here’s a breakdown of how we roast coffee beans at Amberdo’s Vancouver facility:
1. Sourcing Quality Green Beans
The roasting process starts with premium green coffee beans. At Amberdo, we source high-quality beans from sustainable farms around the world, ensuring ethical and environmentally friendly practices. These beans arrive at our Vancouver roastery, where our team inspects them for quality before roasting begins. By partnering with farmers who share our values, we ensure that every bean tells a story of sustainability and care.
2. Preheating the Roaster
Our state-of-the-art roasters in Vancouver are preheated to the ideal temperature for each batch. This ensures consistency and allows us to highlight the unique characteristics of each coffee bean variety, whether it’s a bright Ethiopian Yirgacheffe or a bold Colombian Supremo. Our roasters are calibrated to maintain precise temperatures, ensuring every batch is roasted to perfection.
3. Roasting the Beans
Once the roaster is ready, the green beans are loaded into the drum. The beans are heated and rotated to ensure even roasting. During this stage, the beans go through several transformations:
Drying Phase: The beans lose moisture and turn from green to yellow, releasing a grassy aroma.
First Crack: As the beans reach around 390°F (199°C), they emit a popping sound, known as the “first crack.” This signals the release of water vapor and the start of flavor development.
Development Phase: After the first crack, the beans develop their unique flavor profile. Our Vancouver roasters carefully control the temperature and timing to achieve the desired roast level—light, medium, or dark. For example, a light roast preserves the bean’s delicate floral notes, while a dark roast brings out bold, smoky flavors.
4. Cooling and Quality Control
Once the beans reach the perfect roast level, they’re quickly cooled to halt the roasting process. At Amberdo, we use air-cooling systems to preserve the beans’ flavor. Each batch undergoes rigorous quality control at our Vancouver facility to ensure consistency and excellence. Our team tastes samples from every batch to confirm that the flavors meet our high standards.
5. Packaging with Care
Freshness is key to great coffee. After roasting, our beans are packaged immediately at our Vancouver roastery to lock in flavor. We use eco-friendly packaging to ensure sustainability without compromising quality. Whether you visit our café or order online, you’re getting coffee roasted locally with love and precision.
Types of Coffee Roasts
Coffee roasts vary based on time and temperature, each offering distinct flavors:
Light Roast: Roasted for a shorter time, light roasts retain the bean’s original flavors, with bright, acidic notes. Think fruity and floral, perfect for pour-over enthusiasts.
Medium Roast: A balanced roast with a mix of acidity and body, offering caramel and nutty flavors, ideal for everyday sipping.
Dark Roast: Roasted longer, dark roasts have bold, smoky flavors with lower acidity, perfect for espresso lovers.
At Amberdo, our Vancouver roasters craft each roast to highlight the beans’ unique origins, ensuring a cup that’s both flavorful and authentic.
Why Choose Amberdo’s Locally Roasted Coffee?
What sets Amberdo apart is our commitment to roasting coffee beans right here in Vancouver. Local roasting means fresher beans, as they go from roaster to your cup in record time. Our small-batch approach allows us to focus on quality, not quantity, ensuring every bean is roasted to perfection. Plus, by roasting in Vancouver, we support the local economy and reduce our carbon footprint. Our roasters are part of the community, and their passion for coffee shines through in every batch.
The Amberdo Difference
Freshness Guaranteed: Roasted in Vancouver, our beans are as fresh as it gets, delivering vibrant flavors to your cup.
Community Focus: We’re proud to be part of Vancouver’s vibrant coffee scene, crafting beans that reflect our city’s passion for quality.
Sustainability: From sourcing to roasting, we prioritize eco-friendly practices, ensuring a better future for coffee lovers and the planet.
How to Enjoy Amberdo’s Coffee
Ready to taste the difference of locally roasted coffee? Visit Amberdo in Vancouver or order online to experience our small-batch roasts. Whether you prefer a light roast pour-over or a dark roast espresso, our Vancouver-roasted beans deliver unmatched flavor. Pair your coffee with one of our locally baked pastries for the ultimate Vancouver coffee experience.
In conclusion, coffee roasting is an art form that transforms humble green beans into a sensory delight. At Amberdo, we’re proud to roast our beans locally in Vancouver, ensuring every cup tells a story of craftsmanship and community. Try our coffee today and savor the taste of Vancouver in every sip.
