Coldchill's Coffee Break Challenge

Inspired by a similar event revolving around grilling Tri-Tip, caffeine hounds over at The Beer Spot will be competing for bragging rights and a swell prize box in Coldchill's Coffee Break Challenge.

Seven competitors from Connecticut to California were each sent a half pound bag of freshly roasted coffee beans. The Challenge Blend is a blend of Indian Monsooned Malabar and Rwandan Washed Bourbon beans. The goal is to create a photolog of the best coffee break by documenting the preparation of the coffee, preparation of a dish to be enjoyed with the coffee and the challenger's enjoyment of the coffee break.

The winner will be determined by a vote of the Beerspot members.

Coldchill's Coffee Roasting

I love coffee almost as much as I love beer, so it seemed like the natural supplement to my homebrewing hobby to roast coffee. To start this adventure I ordered a Whirlypop popcorn kettly and a thermometer. I decided that outside roasting would be the best, due to the smoke.

A local roaster, Bongo Java, sold me some green coffee beans and I fired up the propane burner. The process was pretty straight forward. Basically, preheat the kettle, add the bead, and stir until you've achieved the roast you want, cool quickly, and viola! I think I pulled the first 1/2lb a little early as the roast was a little lighter than I had intended. But practice makes perfect and subsequent batches have been better.

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Coffee Roasting