Question 1

How much roasted coffee does 1kg of green make?

Accepted Answer

Around 830 to 850g, depending on how far you take the roast. Coffee loses water and mass in the roaster, roughly 15 to 18% for a lighter roast and up to 20% for a darker one. So a 1kg bag gives you a little over 800g of roasted coffee, or about 50 to 55 double shots.

Question 2

Can I buy less than 1kg?

Accepted Answer

No. We sell green coffee in whole kilos and 1kg is our smallest bag. There is no minimum number of bags, so a single 1kg order is fine.

Question 3

How should I store green coffee?

Accepted Answer

Cool, dry and dark, in the bag it came in or an airtight container. Keep it off concrete floors, which draw moisture, and away from anything strongly scented, because green coffee absorbs odours readily. Do not refrigerate or freeze it. Green coffee is far more stable than roasted. Stored properly it holds up for months rather than days, which is why roasting at home in small batches works.

Question 4

What is an SCA score?

Accepted Answer

A quality score out of 100, given by trained cuppers using the Specialty Coffee Association's protocol. It grades aroma, flavour, acidity, body, balance and defects. Anything at 80 or above is classed as specialty. Most of what you drink daily sits in the low 80s. Above 85 you are into genuinely distinctive coffees, and above 87 the volumes get small and the price reflects that. Every coffee we stock is 82 or higher. The scores are on each listing.

Question 5

What is the difference between washed and natural process?

Accepted Answer

It comes down to what happens to the fruit around the seed. Washed: the skin and pulp are removed within hours of picking, and the sticky layer underneath is fermented off and rinsed away. The seed dries bare, so nothing from the fruit carries into the cup. The result is cleaner and brighter, with more defined acidity and lighter body. Natural: the whole cherry dries intact with the fruit still on, over several weeks. The seed takes on flavour from the fruit around it. Heavier body, more sweetness, more fruit character, softer acidity. For roasting at home, the practical difference is that naturals colour faster and less evenly because of the residual sugars, and they are less forgiving if you rush the finish. Washed coffees behave more predictably. If you are new to it, start washed.

Question 6

What does grade mean, and is this single origin?

Accepted Answer

Most green coffee is graded rather than sold by farm. The grade tells you about screen size and defect count, not about a specific grower. Screen size grades like AA refer to how large the beans are, sorted by passing them over perforated screens. Larger is not automatically better, but it does mean consistency, and consistent bean size roasts more evenly. Other grades like Excelso or B Grade are country-specific export classifications covering a defined screen size range and defect count. Coffees graded this way are regional lots, blended from many small farms within one growing area. That is normal, and it is what most specialty coffee is. It also makes them consistent, well priced and reliable, which is why they work as everyday coffees and blend components. Some coffees are more specific. A single farm coffee is traceable to one named property. A microlot is a small batch kept separate through picking, processing and milling because its quality justified the extra handling, usually with a score to back it up. Microlots come in small volumes and are priced accordingly. Our range moves across all of these. Each listing tells you which you are buying.

Question 7

What is Swiss Water decaf?

Accepted Answer

A decaffeination process that uses only water, temperature and carbon filtration. No chemical solvents at any stage. Caffeine is drawn out of the green beans into water, which is then passed through carbon filters that trap the caffeine molecules and leave the flavour compounds behind. Decaf greens behave differently in the roaster. They start out darker, colour faster, and give you less visual warning before first crack. Expect to pull it earlier than you would the same coffee with caffeine in it.

Question 8

Why does altitude matter?

Accepted Answer

Coffee grown higher up matures more slowly, which produces a denser bean with more developed sugars and more complexity. For roasting, density is the practical part. Denser high-altitude beans need more heat to get moving and can take a longer development, while lower-grown coffee scorches more easily. The altitude figure on each listing tells you roughly what to expect before you load the drum.

Question 9

What is a varietal?

Accepted Answer

The botanical variety of the coffee plant, in the same way grapes have varieties. Bourbon, Typica, Caturra and Catuai are the common ones you will see on our listings. Varietal influences flavour, but processing, altitude and roast all have more effect on the final cup. Treat it as useful context rather than a deciding factor.

Question 10

What do roast levels mean?

Accepted Answer

Roast levels are named after the colour and the point at which you stop. City: stopped shortly after first crack. Lighter, more acidity, origin character forward. City plus and Full City: taken further through the development phase. More body and sweetness, less acidity. Full City sits just before second crack. Vienna and beyond: into second crack, where oils come to the surface and roast flavour starts to dominate origin flavour. Our roasting notes on each listing recommend a level. As a general rule, lighter suits filter and the more delicate coffees, darker suits espresso and coffees with body.

Question 11

When does shipping cost anything?

Accepted Answer

Shipping is free on orders over $100, GST inclusive, calculated on the order subtotal before shipping. That is three 1kg bags on most of our coffees. Delivery is nationwide, including rural addresses. Orders under $100 are charged at a rate based on weight and destination, shown at checkout.

Question 12

Do I need a proper roaster to get started?

Accepted Answer

No. People roast green coffee successfully in dedicated home roasters, air poppers, pans and drum attachments on a barbecue. What matters more than the machine is being able to control heat and see or hear what the beans are doing. The harder part is knowing what you are looking for. If you would rather learn on commercial equipment before buying anything, we run Sample roasting 101 in the roastery. It is 90 minutes, small groups, and you take home what you roast.

Question 13

Can I learn to roast properly?

Accepted Answer

Yes, and it is the fastest way to get better. Sample roasting 101 is 90 minutes and a good introduction. You roast on our sample roaster, taste the results, and leave with your own coffee. Roasting foundations goes further. Four and a half hours on the commercial roaster covering green selection, heat application, roast development and how to read a curve, with lunch included. It is built for people intending to roast seriously, whether at home or commercially. If you want time on the machine without a course, our roastery hire sessions are bookable directly, with a safety induction on your first visit.

Swiss Water Decaf Sumatra (1kg)

New to roasting?

Swiss Water Decaf Sumatra (1kg)

New to roasting?

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