Coffee is traded or sold in very different ways.  In fact there are basically two coffee markets: commodity coffee or non-commodity coffee (specialty coffee).  Specialty coffee consumers value a variety of factors like origin, growing and processing techniques, roast level, etc.  But with commodity coffee only one thing matters: price.  Commodity coffee is like any other commodity, the only differentiating factor is price.  And the price for commodity coffee is set on the Intercontinental Exchange in New York city.  As a financial asset, commodity coffee has had a pretty terrible year in 2018.  Coffee prices decreased about 20% over the year, to lows that haven’t been seen since 2006.  This price collapse occurred due to a number of factors in the market that have lead to oversupply.

Coffee is traded or sold in very different ways.  In fact there are basically two coffee markets: commodity coffee or non-commodity coffee (specialty coffee).  Specialty coffee consumers value a variety of factors like origin, growing and processing techniques, roast level, etc.  But with commodity coffee only one thing matters: price.   Commodity coffee is like any other commodity, the only differentiating factor is price.  And the price for commodity coffee is set on the Intercontinental Exchange in New York city.   As a financial asset, commodity coffee has had a pretty terrible year in 2018.  Coffee prices decreased about 20% over the year, to lows that haven’t been seen since 2006.  This price collapse occurred due to a number of factors in the market that have lead to oversupply.

Coffee Market: 2018 Recap and 2019 Expert Predictions (RR40)

Tis the holiday season.  If you have some last minute holiday shopping this gift guide for the fellow coffee lover on your list might help.  

Tis the holiday season.  If you have some last minute holiday shopping this gift guide for the fellow coffee lover on your list might help.

Coffee Lover’s Holiday Gift Guide 2018 (RR39)

Trevin Miller

Mr. Green Beans is a one-stop shop for coffee lovers in Portland, Oregon.  This shop sells a great selection of green coffee beans and supplies for home coffee roasting and coffee brewing.  Their staff is knowledgable and extremely helpful.  So it shouldn’t come as a surprise that Mr. Green Beans has become my favorite place to buy coffee and coffee-related supplies.During this episode Trevin Miller, the owner of Mr. Green Beans, shares his expertise and experiences in the industry.  Trevin and I discuss what you really need to start home roasting, what many home roasters get wrong, some major trends in the coffee world, and more.Mr. Green Beans has a website.  So if you’re looking for coffee supplies or green coffee beans to roast at home check out their website www.diycoffeeroasting.com.  

Mr. Green Beans is a one-stop shop for coffee lovers in Portland, Oregon.  This shop sells a great selection of green coffee beans and supplies for home coffee roasting and coffee brewing.  Their staff is knowledgable and extremely helpful.  So it shouldn’t come as a surprise that Mr. Green Beans has become my favorite place to buy coffee and coffee-related supplies.During this episode Trevin Miller, the owner of Mr. Green Beans, shares his expertise and experiences in the industry.  Trevin and I discuss what you really need to start home roasting, what many home roasters get wrong, some major trends in the coffee world, and more.Mr. Green Beans has a website.  So if you’re looking for coffee supplies or green coffee beans to roast at home check out their website <a href="http://www.diycoffeeroasting.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.diycoffeeroasting.com</a>.

Mr. Green Beans:  Conversation with Trevin Miller (RR38)

Josh Webb

Fine Line Roasting is a small startup coffee roaster from Boise Idaho.  Their founder and roaster Josh Webb started listening to the Roast and Reason podcast when he was researching coffee roasting.  So I’m honored and extremely excited to share this conversation with Josh.During this conversation Josh candidly shares his experiences starting a small coffee roasting company.  He talks about his successes like his thrill when people actually liked his coffee as well as the struggles he has encountered.  Kudos to Josh and Taylor for all they have accomplished so far as a new coffee company.  I look forward to hearing and tasting much more from them moving forward.To learn more about Fine Line Roasting or try their coffee for yourself. check out their website www.finelineroasting.com.  

Fine Line Roasting is a small startup coffee roaster from Boise Idaho.  Their founder and roaster Josh Webb started listening to the Roast and Reason podcast when he was researching coffee roasting.  So I’m honored and extremely excited to share this conversation with Josh.During this conversation Josh candidly shares his experiences starting a small coffee roasting company.  He talks about his successes like his thrill when people actually liked his coffee as well as the struggles he has encountered.  Kudos to Josh and Taylor for all they have accomplished so far as a new coffee company.  I look forward to hearing and tasting much more from them moving forward.To learn more about Fine Line Roasting or try their coffee for yourself. check out their website <a href="http://www.finelineroasting.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.finelineroasting.com</a>.

Fine Line Roasting:  Conversation with Founder Josh Webb (RR37)

Odds are you have tried or heard of Jamaican coffee, specifically Jamaica Blue Mountain coffee.  But how much do you know about the history of coffee growing on the island?  What makes Jamaica Blue Mountain coffee so popular and sought after?  By the end of this episode you will know all of that and more.Jamaica’s coffee growing history dates back to the early 1700s.  The island was a leading coffee producer in the early 1800s, but then the coffee industry suffered and coffee quality decreased.The Jamaican government launched several programs to increase coffee quality and created a very successful marketing program.  These changes stimulated demand for a specific designation of Jamaican coffee, Jamaica Blue Mountain.This episode will discuss the history of Jamaican coffee further, what makes Blue Mountain coffee unique and in demand, what Jamaican coffee tastes like, and more.

Odds are you have tried or heard of Jamaican coffee, specifically Jamaica Blue Mountain coffee.  But how much do you know about the history of coffee growing on the island?  What makes Jamaica Blue Mountain coffee so popular and sought after?  By the end of this episode you will know all of that and more. Jamaica’s coffee growing history dates back to the early 1700s.  The island was a leading coffee producer in the early 1800s, but then the coffee industry suffered and coffee quality decreased. The Jamaican government launched several programs to increase coffee quality and created a very successful marketing program.  These changes stimulated demand for a specific designation of Jamaican coffee, Jamaica Blue Mountain. This episode will discuss the history of Jamaican coffee further, what makes Blue Mountain coffee unique and in demand, what Jamaican coffee tastes like, and more.

Jamaica and Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee - Coffee Origin Focus (RR36)

Home roasting coffee was the thing that really sparked my interest in specialty coffee and eventually led to this podcast.  I have been home roasting for about a year and a half and very much enjoy it.  Home roasting is a great hobby that is part science, part creative, and totally delicious.Previous episodes in the home coffee roasting series have discussed DIY methods for roasting coffee including roasting in the oven or on the stovetop and also dedicated home roasting coffee machines.This episode will cover some excellent options where you can find and purchase green coffee beans that you can roast at home.

Home roasting coffee was the thing that really sparked my interest in specialty coffee and eventually led to this podcast.  I have been home roasting for about a year and a half and very much enjoy it.  Home roasting is a great hobby that is part science, part creative, and totally delicious. Previous episodes in the home coffee roasting series have discussed DIY methods for roasting coffee including roasting in the oven or on the stovetop and also dedicated home roasting coffee machines. This episode will cover some excellent options where you can find and purchase green coffee beans that you can roast at home.

Home Coffee Roasting Part 3: Where to Buy Green Coffee Beans (RR35)

Home roasting coffee was the thing that really sparked my interest in specialty coffee and eventually led to this podcast.  I have been home roasting for about a year and a half and very much enjoy it.  Home roasting is a great hobby that is part science, part creative, and totally delicious.The last episode discussed the DIY methods for roasting coffee using the oven, on the stovetop, and using an electric popcorn popper.  This episode will focus on dedicated home roasting coffee machines.  These devices come in a variety of sizes, designs, and costs.

Home roasting coffee was the thing that really sparked my interest in specialty coffee and eventually led to this podcast.  I have been home roasting for about a year and a half and very much enjoy it.  Home roasting is a great hobby that is part science, part creative, and totally delicious. The last episode discussed the DIY methods for roasting coffee using the oven, on the stovetop, and using an electric popcorn popper.  This episode will focus on dedicated home roasting coffee machines.  These devices come in a variety of sizes, designs, and costs.

Home Coffee Roasting Part 2: Home Coffee Roasting Devices (RR34)

Home roasting coffee was the thing that really sparked my interest in specialty coffee and eventually led to this podcast.  I have been home roasting for about a year and a half and very much enjoy it.  Home roasting is a great hobby that is part science, part creative, and totally delicious. This episode will focus on the different manual and do-it-yourself home coffee roasting methods.  Roasting coffee doesn’t need to be expensive or require a dedicated home roasting device.  Learn how to roast coffee using some cheap, DIY methods like roasting coffee in the oven, on the stovetop in a skillet or wok, and using an electric popcorn popper. The next episode will focus on more automated, dedicated coffee roasting devices. 

Home roasting coffee was the thing that really sparked my interest in specialty coffee and eventually led to this podcast. I have been home roasting for about a year and a half and very much enjoy it. Home roasting is a great hobby that is part science, part creative, and totally delicious. This episode will focus on the different manual and do-it-yourself home coffee roasting methods. Roasting coffee doesn’t need to be expensive or require a dedicated home roasting device. Learn how to roast coffee using some cheap, DIY methods like roasting coffee in the oven, on the stovetop in a skillet or wok, and using an electric popcorn popper. The next episode will focus on more automated, dedicated coffee roasting devices.

Home Coffee Roasting Part 1: DIY Methods (RR33)

Home roasting coffee was the thing that really sparked my interest in specialty coffee and eventually led to this podcast.  I have been home roasting for about a year and a half and very much enjoy it.  Home roasting is a great hobby that is part science, part creative, and totally delicious. This episode will focus on why I like home coffee roasting.  My goal is to provide you will some pros and cons to allow you to decide if this something that you might enjoy. Future upcoming episode will focus on different home roasting techniques and devices as well as where to purchase unroasted green coffee beans. 

Home roasting coffee was the thing that really sparked my interest in specialty coffee and eventually led to this podcast. I have been home roasting for about a year and a half and very much enjoy it. Home roasting is a great hobby that is part science, part creative, and totally delicious. This episode will focus on why I like home coffee roasting. My goal is to provide you will some pros and cons to allow you to decide if this something that you might enjoy. Future upcoming episode will focus on different home roasting techniques and devices as well as where to purchase unroasted green coffee beans.

Six Reasons Why I Roast My Own Coffee At Home (RR32)

If you listen to this podcast I am willing to bet that you enjoy drinking good coffee.  But there’s a problem.  There are literally hundreds of coffees, coffee shops, and coffee roasters out there.  So where do you even start? To help you I will occasionally recommend coffees to try.  In this episode we will discuss two recommendations for delicious, can’t miss coffees. For the complete list of 5 Can’t Miss Coffees and to be the first to hear future coffee recommendations and special news from Roast and Reason be sure to sign up for the email list on roastandreason.com. 

If you listen to this podcast I am willing to bet that you enjoy drinking good coffee. But there’s a problem. There are literally hundreds of coffees, coffee shops, and coffee roasters out there. So where do you even start? To help you I will occasionally recommend coffees to try. In this episode we will discuss two recommendations for delicious, can’t miss coffees. For the complete list of 5 Can’t Miss Coffees and to be the first to hear future coffee recommendations and special news from Roast and Reason be sure to sign up for the email list on <a href="http://roastandreason.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">roastandreason.com</a>.

A Few Coffee Recommendations (RR31)

Why suffer through a bitter cup of burnt or stale coffee when there is a world of amazing coffee out there? Roast and Reason podcast is a coffee podcast that explores the world of specialty coffee. Each week with dive into a wide variety of coffee topics with educational and actionable information. Are you curious about the best techniques for how to make coffee at home? How to buy the best coffee? How to store coffee? How a coffee roaster transforms green coffee? Join us as we answer these questions and more. Roast and Reason is here to expand your coffee knowledge, introduce you to the coffee farmers, the coffee roasters, and the baristas that push the coffee industry forward. Join us and drink better coffee. Because life is too short to drink bad coffee! 

This guy is very informative and very knowledgeable about coffee. I would give this more stars if I had the option.

Great Info

I have thoroughly enjoyed listening to this podcast. I have no experience in roasting coffee, and don’t plan to start until I gain some basic knowledge. The content is perfect for someone starting out or for a self proclaimed coffee pro.

Love it

Why suffer through a bitter cup of burnt or stale coffee when there is a world of amazing coffee out there? Roast and Reason podcast is a coffee podcast that explores the world of specialty coffee. Each week with dive into a wide variety of coffee topics with educational and actionable information. Are you curious about the best techniques for how to make coffee at home? How to buy the best coffee? How to store coffee? How a coffee roaster transforms green coffee? Join us as we answer these questions and more. Roast and Reason is here to expand your coffee knowledge, introduce you to the coffee farmers, the coffee roasters, and the baristas that push the coffee industry forward. Join us and drink better coffee. Because life is too short to drink bad coffee!

Roast and Reason: A Coffee Podcast

Arabica coffee (Coffea arabica) is the most common type of coffee in the world.  While it is the most delicious, diverse, and prized type of coffee, Arabica is also difficult to grow and sensitive to growing conditions. However, Arabica coffee is just one of 100 different species of coffee plant.  Several other species of coffee, including Robusta coffee (Coffea canephora) are also grown for commercial use. This episode will cover the differences between Arabica coffee and Robusta coffee.  Learn about the history, growing conditions, and flavor profile of each coffee species.

Arabica coffee (Coffea arabica) is the most common type of coffee in the world. While it is the most delicious, diverse, and prized type of coffee, Arabica is also difficult to grow and sensitive to growing conditions. However, Arabica coffee is just one of 100 different species of coffee plant. Several other species of coffee, including Robusta coffee (Coffea canephora) are also grown for commercial use. This episode will cover the differences between Arabica coffee and Robusta coffee. Learn about the history, growing conditions, and flavor profile of each coffee species.

Arabica vs Robusta Coffee (RR23)

Coffee roasting is part magic, part science, and part art. This process takes a green coffee bean which doesn't smell or taste very good and transforms it into the delicious drink that we all know and love. One of the most obvious changes during coffee roasting is the change in color as the coffee beans go from green to yellow and eventually brown. This process results from a set of chemical reactions that we will briefly highlight in this episode. A variety of structural changes also occur during the roasting process. Coffee beans nearly double in size during the 10-20 minutes of roasting! The beans become more brittle and pop loud enough for you to hear them as they release water vapor and pressurized gases. The color and structural changes are also accompanied by the formation of several hundred different flavor and aromatic compounds during roasting.  We will highlight the major changes and chemical reactions that occur during coffee roasting.

Coffee roasting is part magic, part science, and part art. This process takes a green coffee bean which doesn't smell or taste very good and transforms it into the delicious drink that we all know and love. One of the most obvious changes during coffee roasting is the change in color as the coffee beans go from green to yellow and eventually brown. This process results from a set of chemical reactions that we will briefly highlight in this episode. A variety of structural changes also occur during the roasting process. Coffee beans nearly double in size during the 10-20 minutes of roasting! The beans become more brittle and pop loud enough for you to hear them as they release water vapor and pressurized gases. The color and structural changes are also accompanied by the formation of several hundred different flavor and aromatic compounds during roasting. We will highlight the major changes and chemical reactions that occur during coffee roasting.

Coffee Roasting Part 1  (RR08)

What supplies do you need to make good coffee at home? This episode will cover the basics that will help the novice coffee lover up their home coffee game.  But this information will hopefully be a valuable review to the full-blown coffee snob too. I will tell you the supplies I use to make coffee at home and how to buy good coffee, store coffee to keep it fresh, coffee grinders, and options for how to brew coffee.

What supplies do you need to make good coffee at home? This episode will cover the basics that will help the novice coffee lover up their home coffee game. But this information will hopefully be a valuable review to the full-blown coffee snob too. I will tell you the supplies I use to make coffee at home and how to buy good coffee, store coffee to keep it fresh, coffee grinders, and options for how to brew coffee.

Essentials for Making Good Coffee at Home (RR20)

In this episode we journey to the birthplace of coffee: Ethiopia. Ethiopia produces some of the most amazing, high quality, and truly unique coffee in the world.  This two-part focus on Ethiopian coffee will explore basic information about Ethiopia, the history of coffee, traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony, important growing regions, and my recommendations for some OMFG level amazing coffee.  This episode (Part 1) will include basic and historical information about Ethiopia, the story of our friend the goatherd named Kaldi, why Ethiopian coffee production and consumption is unique, and what is involved in a traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony. 

In this episode we journey to the birthplace of coffee: Ethiopia. Ethiopia produces some of the most amazing, high quality, and truly unique coffee in the world. This two-part focus on Ethiopian coffee will explore basic information about Ethiopia, the history of coffee, traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony, important growing regions, and my recommendations for some OMFG level amazing coffee. This episode (Part 1) will include basic and historical information about Ethiopia, the story of our friend the goatherd named Kaldi, why Ethiopian coffee production and consumption is unique, and what is involved in a traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony.

Ethiopia - Coffee Origin Focus Part 1 (RR21)

"Knowledge is power. Information is liberating. Education is the premise of progress, in every society, in every family." -Kofi Annan- Indeed knowledge is power. We can make better, informed decisions when we are armed with information. A better understanding of coffee and where it comes from can make us better consumers and coffee drinkers. This podcast episode is part 1 of a series of episodes about where coffee comes from. In this episode we will be discussing how coffee is grown and specifics about the coffee tree. We will examine the coffee fruit (cherry). What does a coffee cherry look like? Can you eat it? Finally, we will discuss how farmers harvest coffee.. I hope you'll join me on this virtual tour of the coffee plantation to learn more about where coffee comes from.

"Knowledge is power. Information is liberating. Education is the premise of progress, in every society, in every family." -Kofi Annan- Indeed knowledge is power. We can make better, informed decisions when we are armed with information. A better understanding of coffee and where it comes from can make us better consumers and coffee drinkers. This podcast episode is part 1 of a series of episodes about where coffee comes from. In this episode we will be discussing how coffee is grown and specifics about the coffee tree. We will examine the coffee fruit (cherry). What does a coffee cherry look like? Can you eat it? Finally, we will discuss how farmers harvest coffee.. I hope you'll join me on this virtual tour of the coffee plantation to learn more about where coffee comes from.

Coffee Basics: From Tree to Bean Part 1  (RR03)

Kenya is one of the most important coffee producing countries in the world.  There are many unique features of Kenyan coffee including a unique grading system, several unique coffee varieties, and a characteristic flavor. In this episode we will discuss the history of coffee growing in Kenya, the unique grading system and what it actually means to you as a coffee consumer, several special varieties of coffee that are grown in Kenya, and the unique flavor characteristics that can be found in Kenyan Coffee.  I will also share a few Kenyan coffee recommendations.

Kenya is one of the most important coffee producing countries in the world. There are many unique features of Kenyan coffee including a unique grading system, several unique coffee varieties, and a characteristic flavor. In this episode we will discuss the history of coffee growing in Kenya, the unique grading system and what it actually means to you as a coffee consumer, several special varieties of coffee that are grown in Kenya, and the unique flavor characteristics that can be found in Kenyan Coffee. I will also share a few Kenyan coffee recommendations.

Kenya - Coffee Origin Focus (RR30)

Steve Cuevas

Mckenzie Alexander

Black Oak Coffee Roasters is one of my favorite specialty coffee roasters out there.  These guys do an amazing job of sourcing and roasting delicious coffees. Black Oak Coffee and their head coffee roaster, Steve Cuevas have won numerous awards including several Gold Medals for different coffees, the overall Champion Roaster at the 2017 Golden Bean North America roasting competition, and the 2017 US Cup Tasters Championship. Steve and Black Oak Coffee’s production manager Mckenzie Alexander have a wealth of coffee industry knowledge.  I hope you enjoy this conversation.

Black Oak Coffee Roasters is one of my favorite specialty coffee roasters out there. These guys do an amazing job of sourcing and roasting delicious coffees. Black Oak Coffee and their head coffee roaster, Steve Cuevas have won numerous awards including several Gold Medals for different coffees, the overall Champion Roaster at the 2017 Golden Bean North America roasting competition, and the 2017 US Cup Tasters Championship. Steve and Black Oak Coffee’s production manager Mckenzie Alexander have a wealth of coffee industry knowledge. I hope you enjoy this conversation.

Black Oak Coffee Roasters: Steve Cuevas and Mckenzie Alexander (RR26)

Are you a dark roast coffee fan?  Or maybe you think dark roasts taste burnt and you prefer a light or medium roast? What about Cinnamon roast?  City Roast?  French Roast?  All of these terms can be confusing!  In this episode we will cover the different roast levels of coffee.  What do these terms mean?  What flavors might you expect from a light roast compared to a dark roast?   Part 2 of our discussion on coffee roasting will also cover the coffee roasting machine--how it works and several common designs.

Are you a dark roast coffee fan? Or maybe you think dark roasts taste burnt and you prefer a light or medium roast? What about Cinnamon roast? City Roast? French Roast? All of these terms can be confusing! In this episode we will cover the different roast levels of coffee. What do these terms mean? What flavors might you expect from a light roast compared to a dark roast? Part 2 of our discussion on coffee roasting will also cover the coffee roasting machine--how it works and several common designs.

Coffee Roasting Part 2  (RR09)

In this episode we journey to the birthplace of coffee: Ethiopia. Ethiopia produces some of the most amazing, high quality, and truly unique coffee in the world.  This two-part focus on Ethiopian coffee will explore basic information about Ethiopia, the history of coffee, traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony, important growing regions, and my recommendations for some OMFG level amazing coffee.  This episode (Part 2) will focus on the varieties of the Arabica coffee plant grown in Ethiopia, the most important growing regions, and the flavors that you might expect from an Ethiopian coffee.  I will also give my recommendations for some of my favorite Ethiopian coffees. 

In this episode we journey to the birthplace of coffee: Ethiopia. Ethiopia produces some of the most amazing, high quality, and truly unique coffee in the world. This two-part focus on Ethiopian coffee will explore basic information about Ethiopia, the history of coffee, traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony, important growing regions, and my recommendations for some OMFG level amazing coffee. This episode (Part 2) will focus on the varieties of the Arabica coffee plant grown in Ethiopia, the most important growing regions, and the flavors that you might expect from an Ethiopian coffee. I will also give my recommendations for some of my favorite Ethiopian coffees.

Ethiopia - Coffee Origin Focus Part 2 (RR22)

Wine people often talk about tasting notes in wine, like raspberries, tobacco, or leather.   Just like wine there are tasting notes in coffee.  These flavors are often listed on specialty coffee bags and can help give you a general idea of what that particular coffee will taste like. What are some of the most common coffee tasting notes?  And are some tasting notes more common in coffee from certain origins? The Coffee Taster's Flavor Wheel and the more recent World Coffee Research Sensory Lexicon serve as the industry standard resources to describe flavors in coffee.  In this episode we will explore the World Coffee Research Sensory Lexicon and cover the standard coffee tasting notes.  We will also highlight some of the most common tasting notes.  This is a great place to start when learning how to describe the subtle flavors in coffee.

Wine people often talk about tasting notes in wine, like raspberries, tobacco, or leather. Just like wine there are tasting notes in coffee. These flavors are often listed on specialty coffee bags and can help give you a general idea of what that particular coffee will taste like. What are some of the most common coffee tasting notes? And are some tasting notes more common in coffee from certain origins? The Coffee Taster's Flavor Wheel and the more recent World Coffee Research Sensory Lexicon serve as the industry standard resources to describe flavors in coffee. In this episode we will explore the World Coffee Research Sensory Lexicon and cover the standard coffee tasting notes. We will also highlight some of the most common tasting notes. This is a great place to start when learning how to describe the subtle flavors in coffee.

Coffee Tasting Notes  (RR13)

In part 2 of our Coffee Basics: From Tree to Bean journey we focus on coffee processing. If you haven't already listened to episode 03 (part 1 of our series) I would highly recommend that you do so before listening to this episode. In the last episode we discussed coffee farming, the coffee tree, coffee cherry, and coffee harvesting. We ended with the coffee cherry being harvested and sorted. It is now ready to be processed. Coffee processing is the step that separates the coffee bean from the coffee cherry and surrounding layers. There are several different processing methods including washed, natural, honey, and wet-hulled. This episode will cover each of these methods and their impact on the quality and taste of coffee. After coffee is processed and dried it undergoes several additional steps, is packaged, and shipped to it's destination--the coffee roaster and eventually your cup.

In part 2 of our Coffee Basics: From Tree to Bean journey we focus on coffee processing. If you haven't already listened to episode 03 (part 1 of our series) I would highly recommend that you do so before listening to this episode. In the last episode we discussed coffee farming, the coffee tree, coffee cherry, and coffee harvesting. We ended with the coffee cherry being harvested and sorted. It is now ready to be processed. Coffee processing is the step that separates the coffee bean from the coffee cherry and surrounding layers. There are several different processing methods including washed, natural, honey, and wet-hulled. This episode will cover each of these methods and their impact on the quality and taste of coffee. After coffee is processed and dried it undergoes several additional steps, is packaged, and shipped to it's destination--the coffee roaster and eventually your cup.

Coffee Basics: From Tree to Bean Part 2  (RR04)

Welcome to part 3 of the Coffee Basics series. In this episode we will discuss how coffee is traded and purchased from the coffee producers. We will also cover the common coffee certification programs like Fair Trade, Organic, and Rainforest Alliance. In the past two episodes we have discussed coffee farming, harvesting, coffee processing, and how coffee is packaged and shipped. Those episodes are a great place to start but they aren’t necessary to understand the content in this episode. After all of the steps we have previously discussed occur coffee has to be traded, or sold from the coffee farmer/producer to a coffee roaster or large coffee company. Coffee is traded in a variety of ways. Coffee is actually considered a commodity and is traded on an electronic commodities exchange, very similar to the stock market. While very little coffee is actually purchased this way, this does set the commodity or floor price in the coffee market. Coffee can be bought and sold through distributors or exporters or directly between the coffee growers and coffee roasters. Occasionally, coffee roasters and companies have direct relationships with the coffee farmers they partner with, working together to improve the quality and yield of the coffee crop. Historically, coffee farmers have been treated very poorly and have been underpaid. Many of the common coffee certification programs such as Fair Trade try to address this issue or other issues in the industry. There are many common certification programs that you are likely to encounter. In this episode we will highlight the goals, benefits, and limitations of each program so that you can make an informed decision next time you’re buying coffee.

Welcome to part 3 of the Coffee Basics series. In this episode we will discuss how coffee is traded and purchased from the coffee producers. We will also cover the common coffee certification programs like Fair Trade, Organic, and Rainforest Alliance. In the past two episodes we have discussed coffee farming, harvesting, coffee processing, and how coffee is packaged and shipped. Those episodes are a great place to start but they aren’t necessary to understand the content in this episode. After all of the steps we have previously discussed occur coffee has to be traded, or sold from the coffee farmer/producer to a coffee roaster or large coffee company. Coffee is traded in a variety of ways. Coffee is actually considered a commodity and is traded on an electronic commodities exchange, very similar to the stock market. While very little coffee is actually purchased this way, this does set the commodity or floor price in the coffee market. Coffee can be bought and sold through distributors or exporters or directly between the coffee growers and coffee roasters. Occasionally, coffee roasters and companies have direct relationships with the coffee farmers they partner with, working together to improve the quality and yield of the coffee crop. Historically, coffee farmers have been treated very poorly and have been underpaid. Many of the common coffee certification programs such as Fair Trade try to address this issue or other issues in the industry. There are many common certification programs that you are likely to encounter. In this episode we will highlight the goals, benefits, and limitations of each program so that you can make an informed decision next time you’re buying coffee.

Coffee Basics: From Tree to Bean Part 3 - Coffee Trading and Certification Programs  (RR05)

The best podcast episodes on physical health. Episodes talk about your diet, sleep, exercise and all the things that people do to improve their physical health and live a healthier life. This topic is for everyone, with applications in all of our everyday lives. Add episodes you're interested into your queue below!

Best Episodes on Physical Health & Your Body

The best podcast episodes on Startups. For anyone working in a startup, or anyone interested in the incredible stories behind how people built companies like Instagram, and Facebook. Offering both practical advice and insights, as well as the stories for how many of the biggest startups got to where they are today. Add episodes you're interested into your queue below!