Roasting With Russ

Russ is responsible for the task of roasting Bisbee Coffee company’s coffee beans upon their arrival from all parts of the world. He states that most of the coffee comes from Equatorial countries that are mostly third world countries or close to it.

As a result, it has a large impact on those countries economy. He continues,

“Just as oil has a large impact in areas such as Saudi Arabia and the middle east, the same thing happens with coffee because it’s such a huge commodity. And Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Brazil...all of these are third world countries that depend on the coffee bean to provide their livelihood. So when there are situations such as pirates in Somalia, you will see a flux or a change in choosing markets. But most of the time it is a result from droughts and they will get their supply from another source.”

Generating $18 billion in annual sales, coffee is the world's second-largest legally traded commodity after oil. Each year the United States, the largest coffee importer, consumes about a fifth of the total. The bean is the most important agricultural export for dozens of Third World countries, including Mexico, the chief U.S. supplier.

Referring to a graph that represents 10 categories of the coffee bean, he finds that in the area of complexity, he will need to even out that flat side with a blend of French roasted beans along with the Mexican Chiapas. This will then round out the “circle” of flavor.