Coffee Roast History
Starbucks coffees have been roasted for decades, ever since the company was founded in 1971. Coffee brewing and roasting has a long-established history and roots in cultures around the world. Arabica beans have typically been the main style roasted for centuries for European markets, with other origins such as Robusta beans as a backup for stronger and cheaper tasting coffees. Starbucks has always driven innovation in the coffee roasting category — and when the company was launched, the founder Howard Schultz wanted to mimic the Italian-style espresso roast by darkening the beans ever-so-slightly and introducing what would become their iconic and unmistakable flavor profile.
Starbucks Roasting Process
Starbucks has always prided itself on using a painstaking, precise and repeatable roasting process. Every Starbucks roast is designed to bring out the most nuanced and rich flavors of the bean, balancing the taste to both the region that it comes from, as well as the specific flavor profile that Howard Schulz wanted to achieve for the company.
The cause of a burnt bean, however, has never been discounted as part of the company’s core roasting process. Starbucks has constantly invested in precision tools and systems to ensure the beans are not roasted too quickly and burned during the process. One of the more recent innovations is the development of an in-house Roast Image Scanner, which recognizes and categorizes every unique bean as it is roasted and also provides feedback on the process.
For a Perfect Roast
Starbucks aims for a perfect roast time for each bean section in its lineup. Whether that’s a light, medium or dark roast, there is a degree of precision involved in making sure the roast is not too light or too dark. Too light of a roast can lead to lack of flavor, while too dark a roast can result in burned coffee. The company also takes into consideration the origin of the bean — including its altitude, climate, acidity and sweetness — as well as how the beans are processed in order to give each cup of coffee a distinct and unique flavor profile.
When the beans are being roasted, they have to be heated up to a temperature of around 435-445°F (224-228°C). The beans are rotated during the process so that they’re heated evenly. This ensures that the roasting process is consistent and does not result in any burnt beans.
Growing Demand
The demand for Starbucks coffee has grown significantly over the years. The company now roasts over one million bags of beans (roughly 4,000 bags per hour) across their eight roasting plants in the U.S., Mexico and China. In order to meet their growing production needs, every single bag is roasted meticulously and carefully to ensure a consistent and delicious flavor in every cup of Starbucks coffee.
Starbucks also offers an entire range of different coffees for customers to choose from — including light and medium roasts, as well as some stronger roasts. This means that there is a flavor for everyone, whether you’re looking for something fruity, earthy, or even a little smoky.
The Barista’s Touch
Finally, Starbucks emphasizes one of the most crucial elements of a great cup of coffee — the barista. The training and experience of Starbucks baristas ensure that the coffee that is brewed is of the highest quality and according to the standards set by the company. The barista plays a crucial role in ensuring that the coffee beans are ground properly and that the coffee is brewed with the right combination of temperature, time and control.
Impact On the Environment
Starbucks is committed to sustainability, responsibly sourcing its coffee beans and reducing its environmental footprint, which includes the waste associated with roasting. The company has taken several measures to reduce energy use, water consumption and the need for raw materials. Starbucks also has collaborated with farmers to create environmentally-friendly practices.
These measures help to ensure that the company’s high-quality coffee beans have a minimal impact on the planet, from where they are sourced to the roasting process. The company has also taken measures to ensure that all of its roasting plants comply with local regulations.
Quality Control & Consistency
Starbucks maintains a tight control over its roasting process to produce consistent flavor profiles for each of its coffees. Each of the roasting plants has systems in place to ensure the beans are not only roasted correctly, but also packaged and shipped quickly to preserve freshness. The company also employs a rigorous quality control process to make sure the beans are consistent throughout the roasting process.
Starbucks implements stringent measures, including sample roasting and testing, to ensure the correct roast temperature is maintained and that the beans are not over-roasted or burnt. In addition, experienced roasting specialists are always on hand to monitor the roasting process, looking for any inconsistencies that might impact flavor and other aspects of the coffees.
Flavours & Blends
The flavors and blends that Starbucks creates are designed to appeal to different tastes and preferences. From light, citrusy Costa Rican coffees to smoky dark roast Sumatran beans, each blend has its own distinct character with subtle and nuanced flavors. The company takes the customer feedback into account when formulating its special blends, ensuring each blend captures a specific flavor profile that is perfect for the tastes and preferences of the customer.
The company has also included several specialty coffees such as the Ethiopia-based Harrar, the Blue Mountain of Jamaica, and the Peaberry of Kenya in its lineup. These coffees often have tasting notes that are unique in aroma and flavor. For example, the Peaberry of Kenya boasts a deep, syrupy flavor and a berry-like aroma, while the Blue Mountain of Jamaica has a smooth and sweet taste with lemon, toffee and fruity notes.
Conclusion
Overall, Starbucks has always taken a meticulous and precise approach to roasting its coffee beans. The beans themselves are sourced from different countries and regions around the world, and the company carefully selects the highest-quality beans for its blends. With its sophisticated and comprehensive roasting process, Starbucks is able to consistently produce coffees with a variety of flavors and nuances that suit the tastes of coffee drinkers all over the world.
