OAK WOOD ROASTING
One of the only roasters in the country to roast exclusively over a wood fire.
THE TRADITION
Fire. Patience. Perfection.
Wood-fired roasting delivers a gentler, more humid heat that slowly develops flavor while preserving the coffee's natural oils. The result is lower acidity, fuller body, richer crema, and a remarkably smooth finish.
Perfecting this process takes experience. After nearly 50 years of roasting over responsibly sourced Northern California oak, we've combined time-honored craftsmanship with modern roasting technology to achieve exceptional consistency. It's a balance of art and science that gives Mr. Espresso its signature character.
THE OAK WOOD DIFFERENCE
An Exacting Craft, Done Right
What sets this labor-intensive process apart isn’t smoke or wood-fired flavor, but the way the dynamic heat fully realizes the flavor of the beans.
THE PROCESS
Fire. Patience. Perfection.
We are one of the only roasters in the United States to roast coffee beans exclusively over a fire fueled by wood. The more common source of fuel is gas.
Heat derived from wood has higher moisture content and is better suited for slow roasting. The natural humidity within the wood seems to envelop the beans during the roasting process, preserving more of the oils within. Meanwhile, the slow roasting aspect ensures the coffee is lower in acidity and higher in body. The result is most apparent in our espresso, yielding more crema, fuller flavor, and a smoother finish.
The unique advantages of wood roasting do not come without challenges. For an inexperienced roaster, the use of such an unpredictable fuel can make consistency between roasts difficult. Luckily, we have more than 48 years of wood roasting experience under our belt.
We begin by selecting well seasoned oak wood from responsible Northern California suppliers. We then utilize thermocouple data collected at key locations on the roaster along with motor controls that allow us to make fan and drum speed adjustments during the roasting process. Powerful burners destroy wood smoke to meet local air quality rules.
Wood roasting is a delicate blend of art and science, where human experience and old world methods meet the latest technological advances in roasting. We hope you will enjoy our distinctive oak wood roasted coffee experience.
