What is Micro Roasting?
Micro-roasting is the process of roasting coffee beans in small batches, generally less than 150 pounds per batch. This contrasts with commercial roasting, which processes hundreds of pounds of beans per batch. The small scale allows micro-roasters more control over the roasting process and flavor.
Different Roasting Machinery
Micro-roasting machinery is designed for small batch roasting. Options include sample roasters, drum roasters, and fluid bed roasters. Specialty coffee retailers increasingly use terms like "micro-roasted" and "nano-roastery" to market these small-production beans. The emphasis is on exceptional quality and taste through artisanal technique.
Flavor Profiles and Quality Control
The flavor profiles associated with different roasts can be enjoyed when sipping a micro-roasted coffee. Words like caramel, chocolate, fruit, floral, rich, and spicy come to mind when thinking about the bouquet of a micro-roasted cup. While more labor-intensive in the short term, micro-roasting allows for better quality control over each small batch. It’s easier to visually detect and remove defective beans before roasting starts, resulting in more consistent and higher quality flavor compared to large industrial roasters that lack the same granular control.