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Jen Apodaca
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Jen Apodaca

Articles by Jen Apodaca

  • Reconsidering How We Roast Decaffeinated Coffees

    Decaf is often the unfortunate stepchild in any coffee roasting operation. Most roasters offer only one decaf coffee and if there are two, then the other decaf is usually referred to as the organic decaf. Decaf is mistreated at roasting facilities around the world every morning as the first batch of the day. I admit […]

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    Holiday Coffee Selections!

    If you are still shopping around for an amazing competition coffee or a unique holiday offering, there are several coffees on our Crown Jewel menu that fit the bill. As the team prepares to go to Denver for the US Coffee Champs qualifying events, I have selected some of my favorite coffees to brew at […]
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    Roasting Coffee for Competitions

    Roasting coffee influences flavor, but it is not the final step in the process. Unless you are roasting your own competition coffee, roasting for a barista or brewer competitor is a similar process to roasting for any other customer. Once a competitor chooses a coffee, they will need the roasted coffee to consistently produce the […]
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  • Coffee Course Review: Roasting Styles

    Chris Kornman and I traveled North to Portland, Oregon along with Coffee Traders Laurel Wirth and Kevin Morales to teach some classes and visit with friends. The first day we were privileged to participate in a full day of presentations on buying green coffee hosted by the Oregon Coffee Board at Buckman Coffee Factory. Kevin […]

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  • Passing the Q

    Passing the Q

      Passing the Q   Becoming a certified Q grader was a long time goal of mine, a way to prove to myself that I am a coffee sensory professional. Even though I have been cupping coffee five times a week for over a decade, I was still apprehensive to take the test, not to […]

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  • Past Crop Coffees Part 1: Roasting

    INTRODUCTION Every year in late winter and early spring, all US Roasters face a “time” where there are few freshly harvested coffees to refill their stocks. It is a waiting game familiar to everyone in the industry. During this time, many Roasters may wonder, “Did I buy enough coffee to get me through to next […]

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  • 考Q的经验分享

    考Q的经验分享

      考Q的经验分享   2003年,CQI(咖啡品质协会)推出了阿拉比卡咖啡Q grader项目,向咖啡专业人士授予专业证书,并利用这套体系对咖啡进行评分和定级。这是一项致力于咖啡全球标准化的项目,因为曾经通过感官来对咖啡进行分析和评价是非常主观的认定。一个人认为的深度烘焙,在另外一个人眼中可能是中度烘焙,或者在一个人的认识当中这种...

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