FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the benefits of air-roasted coffee versus drum-roasted?
1. Cleaner Flavor Profile
Air roasting uses hot, clean air to roast the beans, allowing chaff (the papery outer skin) to be separated and removed immediately. This prevents the chaff from burning and affecting the taste, resulting in a cleaner, smoother cup with more defined flavor notes.
2. Even Roasting
Because beans are suspended in a fluid bed of hot air, they roast more evenly and consistently than in a drum roaster, which relies on contact with hot metal and can cause uneven roasting or scorching.
3. Less Bitter Aftertaste
The cleaner roasting environment and reduced risk of over-roasting mean that air roasted coffee often has less bitterness or burnt flavor.
4. More Control and Repeatability
Air roasters offer precise temperature and airflow control, making it easier to replicate roast profiles. This is great for consistency and quality control, especially important in specialty coffee.
What is "ultra-specialty" coffee?
Truth be told, it's a term we made up because it sounds cool, but it's very fitting for the exceptionally high quality of coffee beans that we roast. See the grading scale below for reference. Green (raw) coffee beans are graded on a scale of 0–100, with 'specialty' coffee at the top (80–100), scored on a basis looking at defect count, uniformity, cupping for flavor, etc. Not only do we use only specialty grade beans, but our lowest Q score is an 86.5. Our Oromo blend even comes in at a whopping 90!
Does light roast coffee really have more caffeine than a darker roast?
No, not particularly. Caffeine is a stable compound in coffee and doesn't sublimate (evaporate) easily at common roasting temperatures. Where a light roast coffee would contain more caffeine would be if measured by volume (scoops), since light roast beans are more dense than their darker counterparts. If the ground coffee is measured by weight, caffeine content is similar.
Where do you source your coffee beans from?
We partner with trusted importers to source high-quality green coffee from regions like Ethiopia, Kenya, Guatemala, Brazil, Costa Rica and beyond. We prioritize transparency and sustainable farming practices.
Do you have any decaf options?
Yes! Our Stillwater Decaf is Swiss Water Processed (meaning no harsh chemicals) and still delivers great flavor with none of the jitters.
Do you offer ground coffee or whole bean only?
We sell both! Whole bean is always best for freshness (!), but we’re happy to grind it to your brew method, just choose your preference at checkout.
How fresh is the coffee when I receive it?
We roast in small batches and ship within 24–48 hours, so your coffee is as fresh as it gets when it arrives.