The Derby Times

More than just coffee.

Archives for September 2019

How to Roast Your Own Coffee

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Brewed coffee has only one limitation – the quality of the beans you start with. If you want the freshest, tastiest beans, the only option is to roast your own coffee at home. It sounds like a difficult task, but it’s actually way easier than you could imagine. Just to follow these simple steps and you’ll be on your way to drinking the freshest coffee you’ve ever had!

Buy Green, Unroasted Coffee Beans

The first step is buying some small, hard unroasted coffee beans. They don’t resemble the final roast very much, but it doesn’t matter at this stage. Many local places roast their own beans, so you could start there – or take a look at the wide variety available for online purchase. The beans increase in size and decrease in weight when roasted, so buy about two pounds of raw beans for every pound of roasted coffee you want.

Do some research before buying the beans to ensure that their particular flavor profile fits what you are looking for. Then it’s on to the equipment!

The Equipment

Commercial coffee roasters use large, complicated roasters to process an astounding number of beans per day. We’re just looking for a way to do this without breaking the bank. If you have some cash laying around, a countertop roaster runs about $200. You could also just grab a popcorn popper or a cast iron skillet for a low-cost roasting option.

Grab your roaster of choice, some metal bowls, a pair of gloves, and a wooden spoon and let’s get roasting!

The Roasting

Roasting your own coffee means you have control over everything. You can ensure that the beans are exactly to your preferred boldness and caffeine level by adjusting the time and roasting temperature. Once the beans have been placed into your heating element of choice, increase the temperature. The beans will start to crack as you stir and change color from green to light brown.

At this point, you should start hearing some popping sounds. This is referred to as the “first crack,” and soon you’ll see the “husk” of the bean rising to the top. Simply blow it off or remove it and continue to stir.

Remove From Heat

Once your beans are dark enough, remove them from the heat. Keep in mind that the darker the roast, the less caffeine your coffee will have. You can roast beans until they are black, but they can easily be over roasted so be careful not to go from French Roast to straight up charcoal.

Let Them Cool

Let your beans cool for a few hours after your remove them from the heat. They will be incredibly hot, so choose your technique wisely. I prefer to lay them out on a large cookie sheet personally. This will take a bit of time, so don’t rush it or you can get burned.

Start the Brew

Once your beans are room-temperature, it’s time to let them air out a bit. They let off carbon dioxide for about 2 days, so leave them out for about that long. Once the CO2 is gone, they will be safe to roast, brew, and drink!

Try out this easy technique today and let us know what you think!

The Coffee Wars: Espresso vs. Drip

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There are a lot of myths out there when it comes to coffee. Drink a cup in the afternoon and you’ll be up all night. Drink too much coffee and you’ll be dehydrated. Drink enough coffee and you’ll lose weight. Each and every one of them can be categorically proven false.

One of the most popular myth is that people who drink espresso risk overdosing on caffeine. After all, each one of those shots is said to have way more caffeine than a single cup of coffee, right?

Turns out that myth is busted too, thanks to Kicking Horse Coffee. They posted an exposé on the subject and broke down exactly why espresso doesn’t necessarily have way more caffeine than coffee. The difference comes in how the caffeine is measured.

One Cup vs. One Shot

A cup of coffee is generally thought of at 12 ounces. A shot of espresso is just 2 ounces. Many people claim that a 2 ounce shot of espresso has more caffeine than a cup of coffee, but it really only has around 80 milligrams. One 12 ounces cup of coffee can have up to 120 milligrams of caffeine. So one cup of regular coffee will actually get you up and kicking quicker than that “extreme” espresso.

Let’s Get Voluminous

When compared by volume, the differences become more clear. Ounce per ounce, espresso is around 4 times as strong as coffee in terms of caffeine. So you’d have to drink 4 times as much coffee to get the same kick as espresso. So while a shot of espresso might actually have less caffeine than a cup of coffee, it hits you harder because of the smaller volume. It’s much easier to down a shot of espresso than it is to sip an entire coffee, right?

Why the Difference?

Caffeine is water-soluble and will be removed from the coffee during the brewing process. There are many things that can affect how much of the caffeine makes it into the final product, like the temperature, how long it’s brewed, how finely ground it is, and how saturated the coffee becomes. Hotter temperature, longer brew time, and a finer grind can all lead to higher concentrations of caffeine compared to the alternatives.

Espresso is made using a specialty machine that forces boiling water through the ground espresso beans at a rapid pace. The speed with which it works means it extracts more caffeine per ounce than regular drip coffee. Drip coffee machines let the water do its job more slowly and don’t force it through like the espresso machine.

Espresso beans themselves can be identified from regular coffee beans by their darker and more oily appearance. These beans have been roasted until the last possible point to bring out all those caramelly, bold flavors. The beans are ground much more finely than regular coffee beans, and they are packed down tight prior to brewing. The brew process only takes around 25-30 seconds, compared to the minutes it takes to make a regular cup of coffee.

So which type of coffee do you prefer for your morning caffeine rush? Share with us in the comments!

The Best of Salem: The Salem Maritime National Historic Site

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Salem is full of incredible sites filled with historical significance. One of the most impressive is the Maritime National Historic Site, made up of 12 historic structures and a replica tall-ship just like the ones that used to cruise in and out of the harbor daily. These buildings span around 9 acres of absolutely stunning waterfront property on Salem Harbor.

This was the first national historic site ever established in the United States, way back in 1938. Salem was a bustling trade port during America’s infancy, and these buildings serve as a monument to the fascinating maritime roots of our little town. They also happen to be right across from our cafe on Derby Street!

The Properties

These 12 maritime artifacts, collections and structures include a variety of stories and moments in the history of Salem.

Derby House

The Derby house was erected by Captain Richard Derby, the first millionaire in America, back in 1762.  Derby dedicated the house and all it’s fine Georgian architecture to his son as a present during his lavish wedding.

Open Tuesday – Sunday, 10:00am to 4:00pm. Mondays at 1:00pm to 4:00pm. Guided tours available Wednesday – Sunday at 3:00pm, reservations required.

Derby Wharf

The Derby Wharf has been Salem’s longest wharf since it was extended in 1806. It was first built in 1762, the same year as the Derby House. It supported warehouses for various goods imported and exported around the globe.

Friendship of Salem

The Friendship of Salem is a replica of an East Indiaman ship from 1797. The replica was manufactured in Albany, New York in 2000 and now operates as a museum ship. Visitors can learn all about the history of the maritime trade in Salem while exploring a vessel that very closely resembles the original trading ships.

Hawkes House

Samuel McIntire is the most famous architect in Salem history. He started building the Hawkes House in 1780, but the project was abandoned before he could finish. Benjamin Hawkes took over and finished the house into its current state in 1800.

Narbonne House

The Narbonne House has a unique story. The house was first built in 1675, with its iconic pitch roof added later on. Additions to the south and back sides were put in place at the same time. The first occupants are unknown, but Capt. Joseph Hodges occupied the premises from 1750 to 1780. Later, it was purchased by Joseph Andrew and owned by his family until it was sold to the National Park Service in 1964.

Open Wednesday – Sunday, 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm. Guided tours available Wednesday – Sunday at 3:00pm, reservations required.

Pedrink Store House

This three story storehouse was built around the year 1770 and served as a rigging and sail loft. It wasn’t originally located in Salem Harbor, but the National Park Service moved it here due to historic relevance in 2007.

Salem Custom House

The Salem Customs House served as the place where taxes were collected upon importation of cargo. The customs house served an important purpose in any harbor and was always a busy place to be.

St. Joseph Hall

St. Joseph Hall is the original home of the St. Joseph Society. This organization supports and is made up of Polish immigrants. The first floor was a retail space, allowing the building to make a little income to pay for the property fees. The second floor was a very popular event space, and apartments were added on top as wave after wave of Polish immigrants arrived to the New World.

West India Goods Store

The West India Goods Store was first established by Captain Henry Price in the early 19th century. At first, it was simply used as a warehouse for Price’s imported goods like pepper, animal hides, shells, and of course – coffee! Who could forget that. More shops started setting up in the building, and soon it was a makeshift mall for people to buy all sorts of goods, trade items, and trinkets from across the world.

Come check out this amazing National Historic Site today and swing by Derby Joe after for a cup of coffee! Let us know what you thought of the Salem Maritime National Historic Site while you’re here.

7 Coffee Beans From Around the World That You Need To Try

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  1. Kona Coffee (Hawaii, USA)

Grown in the volcanic soils of the Kona district on Big Island, Hawaii, Kona is a medium-bodied arabica with a bright acidity and milk-chocolatey profile. Kona coffee is available under several different brand names such as Volcanica Coffee and Koa Coffee, but keep in mind that a pound real Kona coffee may set you back anywhere between $20-$55. (Something about it being very expensive, and advising not to settle for “kona blends” as they’ll only contain a small fraction of actual kona coffee)

2. Tanzania Peaberry Coffee (Africa)

The Tanzania Peabody coffee beans are beloved by coffee lovers across the globe for their medium and fruity body. These delicious beans are grown exclusively on Mt. Meru and Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. the site espressocoffeeguide.com describes the flavors as, “exhibiting hints of pineapple, citrus, or coconut,” and contains, “winey notes and a velvety feeling on the palate.”

3. Sulawesi Toraja Coffee

Sulawesi is an island in Indonesia that has become world-renowned for their Toraja coffee beans. Aficionados rave about how multidimensional and complex the flavor of this rare coffee. They are well-balanced, with hints of deep, dark chocolate and bright, citrus fruits. It is more earthy than some other Arabica coffees, which gives it a sweet, almost pungent flavor with hints of spice. These rich, varied flavors lend themselves best to a dark roast.

4. Nicaraguan Coffee

Nicaragua is a relative newcomer to the high-quality coffee game. They are already making a name for themselves with a variety of interesting and unique beans. Nicaraguan coffee has an almost cocoa-like quality to it with lots of notes of chocolate and light hints of fruits like dark berries or grapes.

5. Mocha Java Coffee

Mocha Java has become a household name in recent years thanks to an explosive growth in popularity. Arabica Mocha coffee from Yemen and Indonesian Java Arabica coffee are both included under this umbrella term. The two distinct beans have complementary flavors, with the bright, fresh java coffee contrasting with the dark, chocolatey flavor of the Yemen Mocha variety. According to the World’s Best History of Coffee, sailing ships arrived from Java Island to Yemen, specifically the port of Mocha. Coffee beans got mixed up in the hull, someone ground and brewed them, and the rest was history!

6. Sumatra Manheling Coffee

Every coffee drinker has heard of or tried Sumatra coffee. Sumatra is another island in Indonesia, just west of Java. They are famous for their Manheling coffee beans, which are perfect for those of you craving a smooth, sweet coffee. Unlike most of the coffees on this list, Sumatran Manheling beans have very low acidity so they won’t turn your stomach. The only place in the world these beans are grown is near Lake Toba in north central Sumatra.

7. Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee

Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee would be higher on this list if it wasn’t so expensive. The full-flavored, well-balanced coffee features significant notes of fruit and acidity. Described on VolcanicCoffee.com as the “Rolls-Royce of coffees regarded by many as the best coffee in the world.” If you want to try this delightful coffee, go for a medium roast. It is roasted to order and sent straight to your door, so you won’t get it fresher unless you brew it yourself. The coffee beans are grown in the Blue Mountains of Jamaica, above 2,000 feet sea level. The location has the perfect soil and rainfall conditions to make it possibly the best place to grow coffee in the entire world.

What’s your favorite type of coffee? Come by Derby Joe and let us know what you think of our signature cold-brew!