S4:EP19: COFFEE SMARTER
Topic: Green Coffee for Beginners
Guest: Jared Hales, Hacea Coffee Source
Title: Co-Founder, Coffee Buyer/Broker
Instagram: @haceacoffeesource
Website: https://haceacoffee.com/
FIRST: SORRY ABOUT THAT
I just received this notice from Substack, which is the platform this newsletter is hosted on:
I noticed I had received multiples of a previous newsletter email. I assure you, I’m not trying to load up your inbox. I’m actually trying to reduce the number of newsletters I send! I’m this will get worked out shortly, but my apologies for the extra emails on behalf of Substack.
It is always exciting (and nerve-wracking) to interview a new guest for this podcast. I almost always learn something new and generally enjoy the conversations. However, until the interviewee is on the line and we’re chatting, I don’t know if we will hit it off, if the conversation will be interesting, or even if they really want to be interviewed.
When I can bring someone back and build a rapport, like Siri and Chris, who’ve appeared many times as Coffee Smarter experts, that is when I know I can really have fun. The newest Coffee Smarter episode of the R!WC podcast was the first featuring Jared Hales of Hacea Coffee Source, but it wasn’t our first chat. I interviewed him as a guest earlier this season. Even then, during our first interview, I kept thinking, I hope he comes back for a Coffee Smarter episode!
Jared is a Green Coffee Buyer and Broker. His company acts as the middle link between farmers/exporters and the eventual roasters. His job is to find the coffee, build relationships, and transport the coffee to their warehouse in Anaheim, California, so it can get sold to a roaster and eventually get brewed into a delicious cup of craft coffee that we drink.
I wasn’t wrong that Jared would make for a great Coffee Smarter expert, and I hope this is just the first of many coffee conversations we share. One of the biggest takeaways from the pod was how important storage is with green coffee. The lifespan of a green coffee bean before it becomes “Past Crop” is about 12 months, but its peak flavor could disappear much sooner if the storage isn’t up to par or last much longer if it is.
In an email, Jared shared his tips for green coffee with me and added a note, “I have tasted coffee that was amazing for more than three years in storage! …Past crop is a condition of a coffee bean, not a quality.”
TIPS FOR GREEN COFFEE STORAGE
Direct from Jared Hales:
Store in an airtight container or a container with a one-way valve (similar to roasted coffee).
Store out of direct light.
Avoid extreme humidity or dry environments. Ideal storage is about 60% humidity.
Avoid storing in extreme temperatures (hot or cold).
Avoid storing in your fridge or freezer: This topic is debated, but for the most part, our coolers have some pretty funky smells in them, and beans are essentially sponges of their environment.
Green coffee can last easily 6-12 months if stored well and isn't usually considered a "past crop" until older than 12 months.
Check the harvest date of the coffee before you buy it and plan accordingly to avoid storing coffees more than 12 months after their harvest date.
NOT FROM THE SHOW
READ: Science Says Use the 1-Cup of Coffee Rule to Solve Difficult Problems.
This was an interesting read about how coffee/caffeine can stimulate our problem-solving abilities. Here is an excerpt:
“…a 2020 double-blind study published in Consciousness and Cognition found the caffeine equivalent of one cup of coffee improves problem-solving abilities…a cup of coffee didn't necessarily improve creativity or divergent thinking. (Divergent thinking involves free-flowing, spontaneous, non-linear idea generation. Not just thinking outside the box, but thinking with no box.)…drinking a cup of coffee resulted in faster problem-solving by insight—think "Aha!" rather than step-by-step analysis—which they speculate may be caused by the faster mental processing that is associated with caffeine.”
TIP YOUR BARISTA
For every sticker sold, I will tip a local barista the proceeds.
LISTEN ON THESE PLATFORMS
APPLE PODCASTS • SPOTIFY • ANCHOR.FM • GOOGLE PODCASTS • AMAZON MUSIC • THE COAST NEWS • TUNEIN RADIO • I HEART RADIO • POCKETCASTS • BREAKER • RADIO PUBLIC • OVERCAST • YOUTUBE • STITCHER
Thank you for reading. Roast! West Coast grows through word of mouth and our optional paid subscribers. Please consider sharing this post with someone who might appreciate it. Follow @RoastWestCoast on Instagram.
R!WC INDUSTRY PARTNERS
Camp Coffee Company is hiring a new Shift Manager. Details on the Coffee Jobs Thread.
Mostra Coffee’s Director of Coffee Ryan Sullivan is competing in The United States Cup Tasters Championship. It is an intense competition in which he’ll have be identifying tastes, smells, variations, and so much more in a cup of coffee against some of the best coffee tasters in the world.
He’ll be joined by Mostra’s Head Roaster, Nick Berardi, who will be competing in the United States Roaster Championship where Competitors grade coffee, make roast plans, and then literally roast their compulsory coffee on-site.
Shout out from us, and the best of luck to them both.Leap Coffee’s 6th anniversary is Friday, April 15th. They’re offering a special coffee sale in-store and online, running Monday 4/11 through Sunday 4/17, for $6.00 off the purchase of 2 bags of coffee. The online code will be: BDAY6
Leap is also releasing a new coffee next Friday in honor of their birthday and all the awesome strong ladies who’ve brought us to where we are today. This Washed Honduras Gea Organic celebrates female producers at origin, and boasts sweet floral flavors that are perfect for springtime. An automatic 15% off discount on this coffee during the launch weekend (Friday 4/15 - Monday 4/18), in-store and online. Discount will automatically be applied at checkout for online shoppers.
Click these R!WC Industry Partners links. Drink their coffees and whiskeys. Visit their cafes. Support local coffee shops. You won’t be disappointed.
Zumbar Coffee & Tea • First Light Coffee Whiskey • Leap Coffee • Steady State Roasting • CAFÉ LaTERRE • Mostra Coffee • Cape Horn Coffee Importers • Marea Coffee • Coffee Cycle • Camp Coffee Company • Ignite Coffee Company
Coffee Smarter: Buying Green Coffee for Beginners.