04/07/2026
This is our current Ethiopia Guji showing off and we love it!
As green coffee heats up in the roaster, pressure builds inside each bean from water v***r and gases. Then…pop, pop, pop you hear it!
That’s first crack.
It’s similar to popcorn:
• The beans expand
• Their structure breaks open
• Flavor development accelerates
This is the turning point where:
• Bright acidity starts to shine
• Sugars begin caramelizing
• Aromas become recognizable as coffee
Roasters use first crack as a key marker:
-Stop here: lighter roast, more origin character
-Go beyond: deeper body, more developed sweetness
At the roastery, it’s one of the most exciting moments because everything before it is potential… and everything after it is flavor.