Types of Roasting: Natural, Blend and Torrefacto and where specialty coffee comes in.

At Curador, our mission is to bring the authentic enjoyment of specialty coffee into people’s everyday lives. We firmly believe that education is key to appreciating good coffee, and that’s why we want to share with you crucial information about the different types of roasts and why specialty coffee makes all the difference.

It is common to find coffee on the market labeled as "natural", "blend" or "roasted". However, it is important to understand that these terms refer to roasting and processing methods, not to the quality of the coffee itself. Let's look at each one in detail:

Natural Roast: The Purity of Coffee

Natural roasting is the preferred method in the specialty coffee world.

• The coffee beans are roasted without adding any additives.
• Preserves the original flavors and aromas of the grain.
• It allows you to appreciate the unique characteristics of each origin and variety of coffee.

At Curador, all our roasters produce naturally roasted coffees, respecting the integrity of the bean.

Blended Coffee: A Controversial Practice

Blended coffee combines different types of coffee, often including roasted coffee.

• May include lower quality grains to reduce costs.
• It is often used to create a consistent flavor in commercial coffees.
• It does not allow us to appreciate the unique characteristics of each origin.

Roasted Coffee: A Problematic Legacy

Roasted coffee became popular as a solution to preserve coffee during wartime and economic downturns as a way to preserve beans for longer, make a more uniform taste and disguise quality, but its use persists for the wrong reasons.

• Sugar is added during the roasting process (up to 15% of the weight).
• The sugar caramelizes, creating a dark coating around the grain.
• It results in a bitter, burnt taste that masks the real quality of the coffee.
• It can have negative health effects due to added sugar and compounds formed during roasting.
• Damages super-automatic coffee machines. S

According to a study published in the journal "Food Chemistry" in 2019, the roasting process can increase the formation of acrylamide, a potentially carcinogenic compound[^1].

Why Specialty Coffee is the best coffee

At Curador, we specialize exclusively in specialty coffee. But what makes it so special?

1. Superior Quality : Specialty coffee comes from the top 5% of the world's coffee production[^2].
2. Traceability : We know the exact origin of each grain, including the farm and the producer.
3. Sustainability : We promote farming and trading practices that benefit producers and the environment.
4. Expert Roasting : Our artisan roasters highlight the best qualities of each origin.
5. Freshness : We offer freshly roasted coffee, guaranteeing maximum flavor and aroma.

The Bean-to-Cup Process: Why Specialty Coffee Costs More

Specialty coffee requires care and attention at every stage to achieve superior quality:

1. Cultivation : High quality varieties are selected and grown under optimal conditions.
2. Harvest : The beans are picked by hand at their optimum point of ripeness.
3. Processing : Methods that preserve the quality of the grain are used.
4. Selection : Only the best beans pass quality control.
5. Roasting : Roasted in small batches to highlight the unique characteristics of each origin.
6. Packaging and Distribution : It is packaged and distributed quickly to maintain freshness.

This meticulous process results in a superior quality coffee, but also explains why specialty coffee costs more.

The Curator Experience: Discovering the Difference

At our cupping events, participants are amazed to discover the difference between commercial coffee (often blended or roasted) and specialty coffee. The clarity of flavors, aromatic complexity, and absence of unpleasant bitterness are eye-openers for many.

At Curador, we invite you to explore the world of true specialty coffee. Our commitment is to offer you:

• A careful selection of naturally roasted coffees from the best origins.
• Detailed information about each coffee, including tasting notes and recommended brewing methods.
• Personalized advice to find the coffee that best suits your tastes.

Discover the difference with Curador and join the quality coffee revolution. Because we believe that every cup of coffee should be an extraordinary experience, respectful of producers and the environment.

[^1]: Acrylamide formation and color development in coffee during roasting. Food Chemistry, 2019. [^2]: Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA) standards.