We unpack why specialty coffee is cleaner and safer, how quality controls work from farm to roaster, and why mycotoxin “tested” labels can mislead. We also share ways to improve Keurig brewing, highlight our El Socorro reserve, and explain what small roasters do that big brands can’t.

• rigorous grading, defect rejection, and moisture control across the supply chain
• washed vs natural processing with controlled drying and raised beds
• protective packaging using GrainPro or vacuum seals to prevent contamination
• roasting safeguards and why OTA testing claims fall short
• home storage tips and better water choices for cleaner flavor
• Keurig shortcomings and practical upgrades with reusable or compostable pods
• El Socorro Makatura flavor notes and small-batch 80 g tins
• small coffee advantages in freshness, microlots, traceability, and farmer pay

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We taste a wild yellow Pacamara and use it to crack open a bigger story about price shocks, shifting standards, and why grocery shelves rarely serve great coffee. Lawsuits, tariffs, value discovery, and practical buying tips round out a fast tour of specialty’s new map.

• Pacamara’s origin, processing, and creamy flavor profile
• Competitions driving rare varietals into the spotlight
• Washed versus natural tradeoffs for roasters
• Misleading labels and where coffee actually grows
• Tariffs, Brazil exposure, and price volatility
• Robusta shortages pressuring Arabica demand
• Specialty’s pivot from technical scoring to value discovery
• Ethics, traceability, and coferments under debate
• Why we avoid grocery shelves and margins math
• How to pick better coffee at the store
• La Marzocco visit, roasting gear, and new classes
• Holiday bundles, coffee syrup launch, and shipping deals

Find all classes under our Education tab. Christmas bundles and gift cards now live. “We ship nationwide, free shipping for everything over $40.” “Black Friday, we’re gonna ship everything for free.” “If you’re in Moscow December 6th, come to the Moscow fair because we are gonna be there.”

We dig into why brewing at home delivers better quality, value, and ease, then zoom out to Big Coffee’s shifts—Starbucks’ wobble, Luckin’s app-first push—and finish with a clear guide to experimental processing that unlocks bold flavor. Along the way, we share practical gear we love and how to build iced “espresso” drinks without an espresso machine.

• quality and convenience gains from home brewing
• cold brew concentrate as an espresso stand-in for iced drinks
• simple syrups, filtered water, and easy gear wins
• Ethos Kalita-style brewer and leak-proof travel mug
• Starbucks as simulacra and the market wobble
• Luckin’s gamified coupons and race-to-the-bottom risks
• competing at the top with objective cup quality
• value through traceability, direct trade, and fair pay
• experimental processing: anaerobic, selected yeasts, co-ferments
• flavor-forward lots from Pepe Hijon and Diego Bermudez

Go ahead and subscribe to us on YouTube if you want to see our videos and know when they come out. Share this podcast with your friends. Any recommendations or anything you want us to talk about, go ahead and shoot us an email at contact at halfmilecoffee.com

In this episode of the Half Mile Coffee Podcast, Jason and Nicole tackle three big coffee questions:

☕ Which roast has more caffeine — light or dark?

🏪 How do you choose the right roaster when starting a café?

🔥 What’s the real difference between light, medium, and dark roast coffee?

We break down myths, talk science, and share practical advice for coffee lovers, home brewers, and aspiring café owners.

👉 Whether you’re curious about caffeine content, exploring wholesale partnerships, or just want to understand roast levels better, this episode has you covered.

Don’t forget to subscribe for more coffee insights, roasting knowledge, and behind-the-scenes conversations from Half Mile Coffee.

⏱️ Timestamps / Chapters

0:00 – Intro

0:15 – Episode overview: 3 coffee questions we’ll answer

1:11 – Do light or dark roasts have more caffeine?

1:20 – Coffee plant species: Arabica vs Robusta

2:21 – Altitude’s effect on caffeine levels

4:11 – Decaf processing and caffeine sensitivity

5:38 – Roast process, weight loss, and caffeine extraction

8:05 – Grind size, water temperature, and caffeine in the cup

9:20 – Scoop vs weigh: caffeine differences in brewing

11:03 – Espresso vs drip: where caffeine hits hardest

12:26 – Key takeaways on caffeine and roast

13:08 – How to pick a roaster when starting a café

14:29 – Drink-centric vs coffee-centric cafés

16:15 – Price vs quality and customer experience

18:00 – Certifications, sourcing, and roast quality

20:12 – Knowing your numbers and market realities

22:57 – Customer-first vs roaster-first partnerships

24:03 – Multi-roaster café models

25:29 – Different types of café experiences

26:50 – Passion for coffee vs running it as “just a business”

27:01 – What’s the difference between light, medium, and dark roasts?

27:22 – Roast color and Agtron scale

28:41 – Flavor, body, and mouthfeel differences by roast level

29:33 – Sensory perspective: sweetness, body, and intensity

Get deep into the world of specialty coffee with Episode 2 of the Half Mile Coffee Podcast. We dive into roasting technology—from drum to air to hybrid roasters—plus practical tips for flash brewing and cold brew coffee at home. We also share some exciting news: the launch of the Idaho Coffee Institute!

🎧 Whether you’re a home barista, café owner, or just coffee curious, this episode delivers high-quality insight with plenty of laughs and lots of actionable info.

In this episode:
• Roaster technology explained: drum, air, hybrid systems
• Understanding first crack, Maillard reactions, and rate of rise
• Cold brew vs. flash brew: which one’s best for summer?
• Brewing Pepe Reserve for max flavor
• How total dissolved solids (TDS) affect taste
• Big news: Idaho Coffee Institute is here!

☕ Subscribe to stay caffeinated with knowledge and coffee culture!
👋 Like, comment, and share if this episode brewed up something good for you.

#specialtycoffee #coffeeeducation #roastertechnology #coldbrew #flashbrew #homebarista #coffeegeek #coffeegrind #halfmilecoffee #idahocoffee

01:32 – Roaster Technology: Drum, air, and hybrid roasters
10:10 – Roast Phases: Drying, Maillard, Development
17:42 – Roast Profiles: Manual vs. software
25:50 – Consistency, automation & repeatability
29:40 – Cold Coffee Vibes: Cold brew vs. flash brew
33:20 – How to Flash Brew: Tips, ratios & brewing advice
40:55 – TDS Explained: What’s in your cup?
44:10 – Cold Brew Deep Dive: Methods, ratios & why it rocks
52:45 – Cold Brew for Iced Lattes: Better than espresso?
55:50 – Idaho Coffee Institute Launch

Why does specialty coffee cost more than grocery store beans? In this first episode of the Half Mile Coffee Podcast, we break down the real reasons behind the price—like bean quality, labor, and expert grading—and give practical brewing advice for home baristas.

Learn about Arabica vs. Robusta, what a Q Grader does, how we roast for flavor, and how YOU can brew better coffee at home without fancy gear.

Perfect for anyone who loves great coffee and wants to understand what’s in their cup.

🔗 Links:
• Half Mile Coffee: halfmilecoffee.com/
• Interactive Coffee Flavor Wheel: notbadcoffee.com/flavor-wheel-en/
• CQI Q Grader Database: database.coffeeinstitute.org/users/graders/arabica