Coffee Roasting

Troubleshooting Weight Loss on the Skywalker V2

Troubleshooting Weight Loss on the Skywalker V2

⏱ 1 min read The Short Version A staggering 25% weight loss suggests either a measurement error or catastrophic over-development, defying standard specialty coffee norms. Mastering the Skywalker V2 requires resisting the urge to spike burner power during the Maillard phase to avoid killing your roast consistency. In This Article Refining Heat ManagementThe Mystery of Mass Loss Real talk: mastering a new roaster requires more than just following a recipe; it demands an understanding of how heat management dictates your final yield. After a previous attempt with Brazil Santos resulted in a burnt profile, shifting to a Colombian Excelso EP…
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Mastering the light roast window on the Aillio Bullet R2

Mastering the light roast window on the Aillio Bullet R2

⏱ 2 min read The Short Version In specialty coffee, twenty seconds of development is the razor-thin margin between brilliance and mediocrity. Mastering the Aillio Bullet requires managing thermal momentum early in the roast to prevent being trapped by a window that closes in mere moments. In This Article The development time dilemmaManaging thermal momentum Precision in light roasting is measured in seconds, not minutes. When transitioning from a traditional drum roaster to the high-velocity thermal profile of an Aillio Bullet, that window of control becomes even more critical. Many roasters find themselves trapped in a frustrating development paradox where…
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Mikey Rinaldo’s New Math Coffee Challenges Coffee’s Western Narrative

Mikey Rinaldo’s New Math Coffee Challenges Coffee’s Western Narrative

⏱ 2 min read The Short Version Chicago’s coffee scene is being reshaped by New Math Coffee, which challenges Western dominance by centering Asian origins and embracing robusta, redefining the industry’s values and narratives. In This Article From Barista to RoasterReimagining Robusta’s Role There’s a quiet revolution unfolding in Chicago’s coffee scene. Mikey Rinaldo, founder of New Math Coffee, isn’t just roasting beans—they’re redefining the industry’s values. By centering Asian origins and embracing robusta, they’re challenging a system that has long prioritized Western ideals over global diversity. This isn’t just about coffee; it’s about who gets to tell the story.…
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Why Commercial Roasters Avoid Publishing Brew Recipes

Why Commercial Roasters Avoid Publishing Brew Recipes

⏱ 1 min read The Short Version Commercial roasters avoid sharing brew recipes, framing coffee as an art of interpretation rather than replication, despite the potential to provide simple, useful brewing guidelines. This leaves home brewers guessing, missing a chance for connection and validation. In This Article The Myth of One-Size-Fits-All BrewingWhy Recipes Are a Double-Edged Sword Real talk: If you're a home brewer, you’ve likely noticed that most commercial roasters offer only roast levels and tasting notes—no espresso recipes, no grind specifics, just a vague "brew however you like." Is that laziness? A business tactic? Or a dismissal of…
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