Roasting a blend - how to

[Sidram]

So the roaster will be here soon. Roasting single region coffee seems pretty basic. For blends from Multi regions do you roast separate and then blend after roasting? Or do you put it all in the roaster crockpot style and roast it all together?

[Coffee Forum]

[Sidram]

Anyone want to help just a little bit.

[tazzadiluna]

I haven't started roasting yet... maybe sometime this weekend. But I've read that you should only blend 2-3 varietals. One is always the blend base and the other 1 or 2 complement, based on the taste you are looking for.

Blend before roasting to keep roast level consistent. Blend after if you want each varietal to have its own roast level as well as if you want to determine the percentage of each blend based on weight.

Another option is to blend the same varietal that has been roasted using different roast levels.

I plan on experimenting doing both... once I get around to it.

Be sure to log times and profiles to keep improving or duplicate the results you want.

[DirtyDave]

Do not pre-roast blend.
Think about it.........
You want to optimize EACH bean/roast, then blend.
Don't take the easy way out, don't listen to the uneducated roasters who say "magic happens" when you blend in the roaster.
The only magic happens when you take great care for each and every roast.
Good luck.

[tazzadiluna]

Thanks, DirtyDave. That makes a whole lot of sense since different varietals don't roast to the same level at the same time and they won't all taste the best at a particular level. That would actually make it easier to experiment, just roast each varietal to the optimum taste/level you desire and adjust the amount from each roast to come up with a great blend.

[DirtyDave]

Makes sense to me.

[DirtyDave]

WTF?!
Where do these people come from?
Is this the digital equivalent of toilet papering a house?

[wmark]

Question..........if you are doing both. How do you expect to roast a soft beans such as a brazil with a hard bean such as a central or other south america together and get anything resembling proper bean development ?

[PinkRose]

~ It's not a good idea to mix different kinds of coffee beans and then try to roast them together. They won't all come out with the same roast profile. You really should roast each type of bean first (separately) and then make your "blend"

Rose

[shadow745]

Never roasted before, but do agree with blending after roast. I have noticed that darker components of a blend tend to go rancid a bit faster than those much lighter, so keep that in mind. I'd recommend blending small amounts and consume within a reasonable time frame to avoid this.