Colorado

The Science of Coffee Color: Why Roasters Are Rethinking Their Craft

The Science of Coffee Color: Why Roasters Are Rethinking Their Craft

Consider this your morning briefing: The difference between great and exceptional specialty coffee often hinges on seconds of adjustment during the roasting process. While temperature curves have long guided roasters, coffee color—measured via spectrophotometers or Agtron meters—reveals a more precise snapshot of roast development. Yet this critical metric remains shrouded in ambiguity, with no universal standard to unify the industry. For roasters, the stakes are high: misaligned color readings can mislead customers, distort flavor profiles, and erode trust. Here’s what you need to know. Color analysis is the missing piece in the roasting puzzle. As beans transition from green to…
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Mastering Roast Color: The Science Behind Coffee’s Perfect Hue

Mastering Roast Color: The Science Behind Coffee’s Perfect Hue

Listen up: The color of your coffee isn’t just an aesthetic—it’s a data point. For roasters, roast color analysis is a critical tool for precision, yet it’s often overlooked in favor of temperature curves. While temperature guides the roast, color provides an objective measure of development, revealing nuances that define flavor. The Specialty Coffee Association’s recent white paper highlights this shift, proposing a standardized scale for roast color to bridge inconsistencies across the industry. But how do roasters harness this science without breaking the bank? Color analysis tools like spectrophotometers and Agtron meters offer numerical readings that translate to roast…
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Compact Coffee Unveils Its First Brick-and-Mortar Cafe in Salida, Colorado

Compact Coffee Unveils Its First Brick-and-Mortar Cafe in Salida, Colorado

In the heart of Salida, Colorado, a quiet revolution is brewing. Compact Coffee, the mobile service company known for its wrenches and portafilters, has opened its first brick-and-mortar cafe, redefining what a coffee shop can be. Tucked into an alley between a ceramics workshop and a vintage clothing store, this space isn’t about speed—it’s about slowing down. The result? A Slow Bar where pour-over rituals and espresso artistry take center stage, far from the frantic pace of traditional cafes. The menu is a masterclass in intention. Decent Espresso machines hum alongside Filter 3.0 drip baskets and Solo Brewers, the latter…
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Colorado’s Coffee Scene Shines: Three Cities Ranked Among Top U.S. Coffee Cities

Colorado’s Coffee Scene Shines: Three Cities Ranked Among Top U.S. Coffee Cities

Coffee culture in Colorado is thriving, and it shows as three of its cities have made a national list. According to WalletHub, Denver, Aurora, and Colorado Springs rank among the top coffee cities in America, demonstrating a strong emphasis on caffeine consumption and quality coffee establishments. The Mile High City, Denver, places 15th on the list with an impressive ratio of 20.5 coffee shops per 100,000 residents—that's a whole lot of java! Aurora and Colorado Springs also made the top 100, further cementing Colorado as a coffee-loving state. Interestingly, Colorado Springs holds the fifth-highest price for a cappuccino in the…
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