In the world of specialty coffee, roasting is the art of transforming green coffee beans into a flavorful beverage that delights the senses. Ash Roastery, one of Saudi Arabia's leading roasters, masters this art with a blend of craftsmanship and modern technology, offering an exceptional coffee experience for coffee lovers in Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam. Ash is part of the Coffee Spotlights Group, which includes Ash Cafés and the Arab Coffee Institute, reflecting its commitment to promoting specialty coffee culture. In this article from the Luxury Coffee blog, we uncover the secrets of the roasting process at Ash Roastery, review its most prominent products, and provide details about the roaster and the role of the Luxury Coffee store in providing preparation tools suitable for these products.
The secret of the roasting process in the Ash roaster
The roasting process is the heart of the specialty coffee experience, transforming green beans into complex flavors that reflect the bean's provenance and the roaster's skill. Ash Roastery follows a professional approach that combines science and art to ensure exceptional quality. Here are the details of their roasting process:
1. Choose grains carefully.
- Ash Roastery selects green coffee beans from the world's finest farms, such as Ethiopia, Colombia, and Brazil, with an emphasis on high quality.
- The beans are selected based on their strain, height, and processing method (washed or natural) to ensure distinct flavors that suit the tastes of Saudi customers.
2. Roasting stages
The roasting process in an Ash roaster goes through three main stages, with precise control of temperature and timing:
- Drying stage:
- The green beans begin heating in a rotating roasting drum at temperatures between 120-160°C.
- This stage takes 4-8 minutes, during which the beans lose moisture and begin to smell like hay or toast.
- Browning stage:
- The temperature rises to about 160-190°C, and the beans begin to brown via the Maillard reaction (a chemical reaction that enhances flavors).
- Complex flavors such as fruit or chocolate emerge depending on the type of bean.
- Development stage (first burst):
- At about 190-195°C, the grains make the “first pop” sound, which is the moment when the stored energy is released.
- This stage is carefully controlled (15-25% of the total roasting time) to avoid smoky or bitter flavors.
- This stage determines the degree of roasting (light, medium, or dark) based on the desired flavor.
3. Roasting techniques
- Ash Roasters uses modern rotary roasters that allow precise control of temperature and airflow.
- The roasting team relies on trained experts who monitor the "first pop" and adjust the timing to achieve a balance between acidity, sweetness, and bitterness.
- The beans are quickly cooled after roasting in cooling trays to preserve flavors and prevent over-roasting.
4. Customization according to the preparation method
- Ash Roasters design roasting degrees to suit different preparation methods:
- Light Roast: For drip coffee (V60, Chemex) with fruity and acidic flavors.
- Medium roast: for espresso and milk drinks with balanced flavours (chocolate, caramel).
- Dark Roast: For strong espresso with roasted notes and a slight bitterness.
- The roaster provides detailed information about each crop (country of origin, altitude, processing method) to help customers choose the right coffee.
5. Transparency and quality
- Ash Roastery demonstrates a commitment to transparency by providing detailed information about each crop, promoting specialty coffee culture.
- The beans are hand-inspected after roasting to remove any defects, ensuring high quality in every bag.
Ash Roastery's most prominent products
Ash Roastery offers a variety of specialty coffee beans to suit a variety of tastes and preparation methods. Here are some of its most popular products available through the Rafah Coffee Store and other stores:
- Classic Espresso Blend Coffee Beans (1 kg)
- Description: A distinctive blend designed for espresso and milk drinks.
- Hints: sugar cane, caramel, dark chocolate.
- Roast degree: medium.
- Uses: Ideal for espresso, latte, and cappuccino.
- Why do you prefer it?: A perfect balance of sweetness and bitterness, suitable for Italian coffee lovers in Saudi Arabia.
- Ethiopia Yirgacheffe Beans - Filter (250g)
- Description: Specialty coffee from the Yirgacheffe region of Ethiopia, naturally processed.
- Hints: Floral, Lemon, Black Tea.
- Roast degree: light.
- Uses: Ideal for drip brewing (V60, Chemex).
- Why prefer it?: Fruity and citrusy flavors that suit drip coffee lovers.
- Colombia Supremo Beans - Filter & Espresso (500g)
- Description: Washed processing coffee from Colombia.
- Hints: apple, caramel, nut.
- Roast degree: medium.
- Uses: Versatile for espresso and filter.
- Why is it preferred?: Suitable for everyday sessions thanks to its balanced flavors.
- Brazilian Cerrado Beans - Espresso (1 kg)
- Description: Rich, naturally processed Brazilian coffee.
- Hints: Chocolate, hazelnut, natural sweetness.
- Roast degree: Medium to dark.
- Uses: Ideal for espresso and milk drinks.
- Why do you prefer it?: Rich flavors that suit the Saudi taste.
- Tasting Packs (4 bags x 250g)
- Description: A collection including samples from different crops (Ethiopia, Colombia, Brazil).
- Hints: Various (fruity, roasted, sweet).
- Roast degree: Mixed (light to medium).
- Uses: Perfect for experimenting with multiple flavors or as a gift.
- Why choose us?: Allows customers to explore flavors before committing to large quantities.
Ash Roastery Details
- Location and Affiliation: Ash Roastery is based in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia and is part of the Coffee Lights Group, which includes Ash Coffee Shops and the Arab Coffee Institute.
- Vision: To promote specialty coffee culture in Saudi Arabia by providing high-quality products and consulting services.
- Services:
- Professional Roasting: Using modern techniques and trained experts to ensure roasting quality.
- Integrated shopping experience: Providing an accurate description of each product through online stores such as the Rafaat Al-Qahwa store.
- Customer Support: Consulting services and recommendations for choosing the right coffee.
- Fast delivery: Shipping to all parts of the Kingdom, including Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam.
- Commitment to Quality: Emphasizing transparency in product descriptions and manually testing grains to eliminate defects.
- Activities: Organizing workshops and training courses through the Arab Coffee Institute to teach coffee lovers the art of preparation.
The role of the luxury coffee shop in supporting the Ash experience
The Luxury Coffee Shop is the perfect destination for Ash Roastery lovers to purchase its products and suitable preparation tools:
- Ash Products:
- Luxury Coffee offers a wide selection of ash beans, such as Classic Espresso Blend, Ethiopia Yirgacheffe, and Colombia Supremo.
- Tasting packages to explore diverse flavors.
- Fast delivery: Shipping to all parts of the Kingdom with product quality guarantee.
- Customer Support: Tips for preparing coffee using Ash products and brewing tools.
Visit our Luxury Coffee store today to purchase Ash roasted beans and brewing tools for an exceptional specialty coffee experience.
Tips for preparing Ash Roast Coffee
- Read the product description: Check the roast degree and recommended preparation method (espresso, filter, cold brew).
- Use precise tools.
- Purified Water: Use filtered water (TDS 50-150) to bring out the flavors.
- Proper preparation:
- For espresso: Use a Breville machine for 25-30 seconds extraction.
- For filter: Use a V60 or Chemex with water at 90-96°C.
- Storage: Store Ash beans in airtight containers away from light and heat to preserve flavor.
- Experiment with flavors: Use tasting packs to explore different flavors (fruity, chocolate, caramel).
Ash Roastery is a pioneer in the specialty coffee world in Saudi Arabia, combining careful bean selection, advanced roasting techniques, and a commitment to quality and transparency. Its roasting process is the secret to its distinctive flavors, with each stage carefully controlled to highlight acidity, sweetness, or bitterness depending on the bean type and brewing method. With products like the Classic Espresso Blend, Ethiopia Yirgacheffe, and Colombia Supremo, Ash offers an experience that appeals to both espresso and drip coffee lovers. At the Rafa'at Al-Qahwa store, you can purchase these products and tools like the Breville coffee machine, the V60 Hario, and the Baratza Encore grinder to prepare exceptional coffee at home. Order now from the Rafa'at Al-Qahwa store and embark on an unforgettable flavor journey with Ash Roastery.