thoughtfulcoffee

The Substack 'thoughtfulcoffee' centers on detailed insights into coffee roasting, brewing methods, and the operational aspects of running coffee-related projects, including setting up a coffee club and cafe aspirations. It covers equipment selection, bean sourcing, flavor profiling, and engaging with a coffee enthusiast community in Brooklyn.

Coffee Roasting Brewing Methods Coffee Equipment Bean Sourcing Coffee Flavors Coffee Business Operations Community Engagement Event Planning and Execution Barista Experiences

The hottest Substack posts of thoughtfulcoffee

And their main takeaways

Roast #34: V5 Brewing Guide

98 implied HN points • 22 Jan 24
🍲 Food & Drink Coffee Brewing Tasting Recipes
  1. The brewing guide shares varied flavor notes from different coffee beans.
  2. Using specific equipment like a coffee grinder and scale is crucial for brewing.
  3. Experimenting with brewing methods is key to finding the best flavor profiles for each coffee.

Roast #32: Coffee Club V5

117 implied HN points • 11 Nov 23
🍲 Food & Drink Coffee Subscription Business Quality Culture
  1. The coffee project is entering a new phase with V5, featuring changes like a rented roaster and wholesale strategy.
  2. Presale offers a discount but also comes with risks like stock availability and costly upfront investment.
  3. V5 coffee boxes feature unique flavors like High Ferment Natural Catimor and Double Anaerobic Washed Orange Bourbon.

Roast #33: My processes

58 implied HN points • 07 Dec 23
🍲 Food & Drink
  1. When sourcing green coffee, focus on varietal, processing, price, and farm/farmer
  2. Always sample coffee before making a purchase to avoid potential disappointment
  3. Adjust sample roasting based on bean properties for accurate evaluation

Roast #31: V4 Survey Results

39 implied HN points • 19 Oct 23
🍲 Food & Drink Coffee Packaging Marketing SOURCING
  1. The survey results showed a different preference pattern than expected.
  2. Considerations for better brewing instructions and addressing inconsistencies between batches were highlighted.
  3. Feedback on packaging, marketing, and audience focus showed areas for improvement.

Roast #15: About Us (or just me)

98 implied HN points • 30 Jan 23
  1. The vision is to open a cafe in NYC like Suju's Coffee, prioritizing function and conversation.
  2. The focus is on roasting unique and interesting coffees, prioritizing taste over aesthetics.
  3. Goals for 2023 include finding a barista temp job, running more coffee clubs, building an in-person presence, and continuing to learn.
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:

Roast #21: V3 - Quantity: 50

39 implied HN points • 28 Mar 23
🍲 Food & Drink Coffee Business Pricing Events
  1. Coffee Club V3 is offering three unique coffee blends in limited quantity.
  2. The goals for this release include making 50 sales, scaling roast profiles, and hosting pop-up events.
  3. The pricing has increased due to more expensive green beans, with a discount available before April 7.

Roast #23: V3 Brewing Methods

39 implied HN points • 19 Apr 23
🍲 Food & Drink Coffee Roasting
  1. Different brewing methods work best for different coffee beans
  2. Grind size, brew temperature, and resting time greatly impact the coffee's taste
  3. Experimenting with brewing strategies is key to finding your perfect cup of coffee

Roast #10: The Coffees

39 implied HN points • 07 Nov 22
  1. Coffee #1 from Brazil has notes of Honey, Green Melon, and Peach.
  2. Coffee #2 from Colombia offers flavors of Black Tea, Lemongrass, and Wild Berries.
  3. Coffee #3 from Ethiopia has tasting notes of Malbec, Dark Plum, and Dried Blackberry.

Roast #26: V3 Survey Results

19 implied HN points • 16 Jun 23
🍲 Food & Drink Coffee Brewing Community Packaging
  1. Customers preferred monthly coffee club subscriptions over weekly or other intervals.
  2. Feedback on packaging improvements included suggestions to reduce packaging, offer larger bags, and improve bean packaging.
  3. Maintaining community engagement through pop-up events and keeping coffee selections on the experimental side were highlighted as important for future coffee club versions.

Roast #1: Roaster Decision

58 implied HN points • 08 Apr 22
  1. Upgrade your equipment for better coffee results.
  2. Consider factors like support and capacity when choosing a roaster.
  3. Choose a roaster that aligns with innovation and future trends.

Roast #20: The Barista Series, Part 1

19 implied HN points • 22 Mar 23
🍲 Food & Drink Coffee Career Training Job Market
  1. Getting a barista job can be challenging, especially if you want to be selective about where you work and focus on specialty coffee training.
  2. Seasonality can impact job availability, with some cafes needing less help during certain times of the year.
  3. Having no prior service experience can make the job search tougher, but persistence can lead to success in the end.

Roast #3: Coffee Club

39 implied HN points • 27 May 22
  1. The coffee club project offers three 80g bags of interestingly sourced coffee per release.
  2. The first release includes unique beans like Ethiopia Sidama and experimental honey from Ecuador.
  3. The project is still evolving, with opportunities for collaboration in areas like label art and drop-off points.

Roast #12: The brewing methods

19 implied HN points • 01 Dec 22
  1. Adjust brewing methods based on personal taste preferences
  2. Experiment with different bean resting times for optimal flavor
  3. Consider various pouring techniques and tips for a better brew

Roast # 8: Coffee Club V2

19 implied HN points • 08 Oct 22
  1. The upcoming Coffee Club V2 will feature unique and high-quality coffee beans
  2. The price for the Coffee Club V2 has increased due to better quality beans and additional costs
  3. Logistics for the Coffee Club V2 include a pickup date in mid-November and a plan for pick up/drop off at a cafe

Roast #2: Coffee and where it can go wrong

19 implied HN points • 08 May 22
  1. There are many variables to consider in coffee roasting that can lead to poor tasting coffee.
  2. Common issues in roasting include scorching, quakers, underdevelopment, and baking.
  3. To make a good cup of coffee, many factors need to align from roasting to brewing.

Roast #9: Roast Analysis - Kenya Mumwe Mahiga

0 implied HN points • 27 Oct 22
  1. The Kenya Mumwe Mahiga coffee bean stood out for its buttery, caramel-like mouthfeel and unique texture.
  2. Different roasting methods resulted in varying taste profiles and body qualities in the coffee.
  3. Prolonged duration in the Maillard and Caramelization phases during roasting contributes to better body and mouthfeel of the brew.

Roast #11: The roasts

0 implied HN points • 29 Nov 22
  1. The author thanked supporters for backing their coffee project
  2. The author shared their detailed coffee roasting process
  3. The author discussed the unique roasting strategies for different coffee beans

Roast #13: Reflection on V2

0 implied HN points • 27 Dec 22
  1. Quality of coffee beans improved in V2 with a better selection process
  2. Roasting process was enhanced by conducting research and planning multiple roasting profiles
  3. Efficiency issues arose in manual processes for roasting and labeling, indicating a need for scaling and automation

Roast #14: 2022 Year-end wrap up

0 implied HN points • 30 Dec 22
  1. Experimenting and adapting is key to finding success.
  2. Sharing and connecting with others can be rewarding.
  3. Continuous improvement and learning are essential for growth.

Roast #4: Beans, Location, Pricing, +more

0 implied HN points • 27 Jun 22
  1. The coffee club is swapping to Ethiopian Guji Natural with Anaerobic Fermentation
  2. They are looking for a store to act as a dropoff location for the beans
  3. Pricing for the coffee boxes will range from $15-$20 and Venmo payment will be required upfront

Roast #28: Coffee Club V4

0 implied HN points • 27 Jul 23
🍲 Food & Drink Coffee Retail Production Tasting
  1. Coffee Club V4 is open for orders featuring unique coffee selections from different exporters.
  2. Boxes have a limit of 50 and offer options for different sizes and shipping or in-person pickup.
  3. Featured coffees include Diego Bermudez Lychee Y-05 Castillo, Gesha Village's Gori Gesha, and Hacienda Sonora's SL-28 with detailed processing information.

Roast # 7: Reflection on V1

0 implied HN points • 23 Aug 22
  1. Successfully generated interest and sold out quickly
  2. Learned lessons for next release like time estimation and supply planning
  3. Acknowledged areas for improvement in the pickup experience

Roast #6: Dialing in a roast

0 implied HN points • 15 Aug 22
  1. How you roast affects the flavor greatly, from savory to fruity.
  2. Finding the perfect roast profile can be a challenging and iterative process.
  3. Understanding different chemical reactions during roasting can help adjust flavors.

Roast #25: Reflection on V3

0 implied HN points • 23 May 23
🍲 Food & Drink Coffee Roasting Events Marketing Community
  1. Roasting profiles were affected by changes in ambient temperature, leading to burnt roasts
  2. Small batch sizes caused extra work and inefficiency, planning to switch to larger batches
  3. Not cupping beans before purchase resulted in unusable 60 pounds of coffee, importance of quality control

Roast #5: Ready for orders.

0 implied HN points • 29 Jul 22
  1. Coffee orders are now available for $15 through Instagram or email.
  2. The coffee pickup process involves scheduling, payment, and flexible pickup options.
  3. Three types of coffee are discussed - Ethiopian Guji, Ecuador San Jose De Minas, and Ethiopian Sidama Keramo.