Sure, ground coffee is often touted as a natural deodorizer, and it truly is quite effective. But what about the effects of smells and odors on green coffee beans? This is a less-discussed but equally important topic, especially for coffee roasters and enthusiasts who care deeply about quality and flavor integrity.
Green Coffee: A Sponge for Smells
It might come as a surprise to some, but green coffee exposed to the air acts as a sponge, readily absorbing the smells and odors around it. This is one of the reasons why many professional coffee roasters prohibit people from wearing perfumes or colognes in roasting spaces. Personally, I’m glad that through my years of roasting, I’ve rarely worn colognes since this information is relatively new to me too. However, this raises an important question: How often do we consider the potential impact of external odors on coffee quality?
If green coffee absorbs ambient smells, think about the potential consequences for a roasting space. Strong external odors—whether from food, cleaning chemicals, or perfumes—could subtly influence the final flavor of the roast. For this reason, maintaining a clean and controlled roasting environment is not just ideal but essential for anyone serious about delivering high-quality coffee.
The Role of Clean Roasting Processes
This brings me to a crucial point: How clean is your roasting process?
Many coffee roasters rely on gas-powered equipment, which raises some interesting questions. For instance:
- Do gas-powered roasters leave any traceable gas odor in the final product?
- Are there health implications tied to roasting with gas?
Personally, I’ve leaned towards electric roasters, partly due to practical and family-related reasons. Two family members have allergies to propane and natural gas appliances, so we’ve grilled with charcoal for years and have exclusively used electric coffee roasters for our business. This choice aligns with our branding, as we’ve consistently touted our coffee’s exceptionally clean taste. And I stand by that claim today.
However, I’m not asserting that electric roasting is inherently more environmentally friendly than gas roasting. In fact, achieving true sustainability in coffee roasting remains a challenge. My dream is to one day have a fully solar-powered electric coffee roaster, combining both clean taste and environmental responsibility.
The Gas Question
While I’m less focused on whether gas roasting affects flavor, I am deeply curious about potential health impacts and whether coffee absorbs trace elements of gas during roasting. For those of you who roast with commercial-grade gas equipment:
- Do you notice any lingering smell of gas during or after the roasting process?
- Is the gas completely burned off, or could there be residual effects?
As someone who’s never used a gas-powered roaster, I’m genuinely curious about your experiences. Does the process feel clean and efficient, or do you notice subtle differences compared to electric roasting?
What are the Solutions?
It remains to be confirmed whether or not this is an issue though it is something I think about quite often. If you feel the same and want to move away from gas powered roasters then here are some electric alternatives that are available on the market. The options available range in sizes from small batch (less than a pound roasting weight) to around 18lbs. For many large scale commercial roasters, this would be a drop in the bucket for the kind of output they need to produce on a daily basis and therefore not even an option. But if you are looking to start a roasting hobby and scale it up and into a business then this list below could be quite helpful.
There may not be many options above but I can personally speak to the quality of the machines designed and fabricated by the team at Coffee Crafters. They are constantly innovating and improving each and every one of their builds. Though some of the products like the Artisan Series are no longer produced, the customer service that Coffee Crafters will give you is top of the line. The very few times we have needed to call and ask about our roaster, they answer the phone, get you in quick contact with the person necessary, and often can diagnose and offer a solution to the problem right away. If you are able to pick up a used machine from this company, I think you would be getting a deal. They are workhorses with little need for constant maintenance. We own and actively operate 3 of their Artisan series roasters and have been very pleased with their performance over the many years.
Or better yet buy a new one and see for yourself how a simple machine can transform one of your favorite products into something you feel good about every single day and furthermore is wildly marketable!
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re a coffee enthusiast or a professional roaster, understanding how external factors—like ambient odors or roasting methods—affect coffee is essential. Green coffee’s tendency to absorb smells highlights the need for a clean, controlled roasting environment. Meanwhile, the debate between gas and electric roasting raises questions about taste, health, and sustainability that deserve more exploration.
If you’ve had experience with gas or electric roasting, or if you’ve noticed the impact of external odors on your coffee, I’d love to hear your thoughts. Let’s continue this conversation and deepen our collective understanding of what it takes to produce truly exceptional coffee.