Eight coffees a small roaster will meet. Start with the first four. Prices are per pound in a 65 lb box, shipping included, October 2026.
| Coffee | Tastes of | Green price | Roast it to | How to roast it | How NOT to roast it | On the stall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Start here: forgiving, and liked by almost everyone | ||||||
| Colombia, washed | Caramel, nuts, mild citrus | about $6.10 | City+ to Full City | A dense, hard bean: give it strong heat early. Finish 1½–2½ minutes after first crack starts. | Low and slow: a flat, drawn-out roast tastes baked. Or dark: the sweetness burns off. | The house coffee |
| Guatemala, washed | Chocolate, nuts, a little fruit | $7–$8 | City+ to Full City | As Colombia: a hard bean that likes firm heat | Stopped at the first pops: sour and grassy | A second medium; the pour-over |
| Brazil, natural | Nuts, chocolate, low acidity, heavy body | about $5.75 | Full City to Full City+ | A softer, lower-grown bean: gentler heat than a Colombia. Expect a lot of chaff. | Light: flat, peanutty, woody. Or with high heat early: the surface scorches. | The dark roast; the base of a blend |
| Decaf (Colombia sugarcane, or Swiss Water) | Like its origin, softer | $6.55–$7.20 | City+ to Full City | Starts brown, so go by sound and time. Use less heat. | On regular-coffee settings: decaf roasts faster and darkens quickly. Or judged by color. | One decaf, always |
| Add next | ||||||
| Ethiopia, washed | Lemon, flowers, tea | about $7.35 | City to City+ | Small, dense beans that roast fast. Keep it short; stop soon after first crack ends. | Dark: everything worth paying for is gone by second crack. Often arrives very dry and finishes darker than planned. | The light roast |
| Sumatra, wet-hulled | Earth, cedar, spice; heavy body | $7.50–$8.40 (20 lb price) | Full City+ | Roasts unevenly and looks lighter than it is. Go by smell and the first snaps of second crack. | Light: raw wood and green pepper. Or by color: it misleads. | A dark roast with character |
| Leave until the roasting is consistent | ||||||
| Ethiopia, natural | Blueberry, strawberry, wine | $6.80–$7.00 (full-bag price) | City+ to Full City | Unevenly sorted, heavy chaff. Smaller batches, good airflow, steady heat. | As a first coffee: uneven beans roast unevenly, and the chaff is a fire risk in a small drum. | A special, later |
| Robusta | Bitter, woody, heavy; high caffeine | $6.65–$8.85 (1 lb price) | French | Dark and long; it is meant for condensed milk | Light or medium: rubbery and harsh. A Behmor cannot take it dark enough. | Phin coffee only |