To Quench or Not to Quench? That is the Question!
WHAT IS QUENCHING ? Quenching is the process of cooling freshly roasted coffee beans by spraying water inside the drum (preferred method) or in the cooling tray. This stops the roasting process quickly, locking in the desired roast profile while managing heat and smoke. What are the pros and cons, and how does it affect your cup? Let’s break it down:
PROS:
– Fast Cooling: Quenching halts the roasting process quickly, reducing the risk of over-roasting
– High consistency between roasts: Fast cooling process allows the roasts to be very consistent and much easier to manage over a full roasting day
– Smoke Control: Minimizes smoke exposure on roasted beans, preventing unwanted ashy or burnt flavours
– Weight Retention: Reduces bean weight loss during roasting
– Single Dose Compatibility: high moisture content allows easier compaction and constant flow rates
– High density: High moisture content have higher density than non quenched beans (less brittle and take less volume in single dose capsules)
CONS:
– Moisture Management: Adds water, which can increase surface moisture. This directly impacts espresso extraction, often resulting in faster extractions
– Flavour Sensitivity: Excess quenching might dull nuanced, delicate flavour notes in specialty coffee. The lipidscould be affected by this addition of steam and degrade into fatty acids + unpleasant flavours
– Storage Stability: Improper quenching can lead to long-term issues with freshness and bean stability
– Faster degassing process. High moisture content will force CO2 to leave the beans creating a loss of crema on top of the espresso
– Legal Limit Awareness: In the EU, roasted coffee must not exceed 5% moisture content—a key factor to monitor during quenching
When to Quench?
Quenching can be highly effective, especially for larger batches and when managing thermal inertia. For espresso-focused roasts, precise quenching ensures the moisture content aligns with brewing needs.
What do you think? Do you quench, or do you prefer air cooling? Let’s chat below! 👇
hashtagQuenching hashtagCoffeeRoasting hashtagCoffeeScience hashtagIMFRoasters hashtagSpecialtyCoffee