What is fluid bed roasting?
There are a lot of ways to roast coffee, but we’re all in on a method that’s cleaner, sweeter, and a little more magical. It’s called Fluid Bed Roasting, and it works nothing like the old school, metal drum method most coffee companies use.
So what’s the difference?
Most coffee roasters rely on a process called drum roasting. Imagine a big metal tumbler, kind of like a cement mixer. It heats up and spins, and the beans roast by tumbling against the hot surface inside.
In a fluid bed roaster, the beans never touch hot metal. Instead, a stream of high-pressure hot air flows up from below and causes the beans to lift and float. That’s where the “fluid bed” name comes from. The beans hover and dance mid-air, getting roasted evenly from all sides all at once.
What does that mean for flavor?
This kind of roasting brings out the best in the coffees we love. Because there’s no direct contact with metal, there’s no scorching that can dull or flatten flavor. Even one scorched bean can throw off an entire pot of coffee. Instead, our method highlights clarity and natural sweetness. You’ll taste the difference in every cup.
What are the environmental impacts?
Great question! It’s one on our minds too. Our roasters are fully electric, and we power them with 100% renewable energy. That means no fossil fuels, no gas lines, and a lower carbon footprint. Even our lights run on clean energy.
Are there any downsides?
Fluid bed roasting isn’t ideal for mass production, but that’s not Joyground Coffee's vibe anyway. We roast in small batches to order, for coffee that’s as fresh as it gets. So for us, it’s the perfect method.