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Author Topic: What roaster does Whole Foods use?  (Read 938 times)

Offline John F

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What roaster does Whole Foods use?
« on: January 09, 2010, 07:32:32 PM »
It looks like a Sono on the front but it can't be that they are roasting batches that small.

Anybody know what they are using?
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BoldJava

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Re: What roaster does Whole Foods use?
« Reply #1 on: January 09, 2010, 07:41:27 PM »
Quote from: John F on January 09, 2010, 07:32:32 PM
It looks like a Sono on the front but it can't be that they are roasting batches that small.

Anybody know what they are using?



No, it is an air-roaster made in Michigan.  Had a long discussion about it with the MidWest Coffee manager. It is a JavaMaster:  http://javamasters.com/index.html

All pre-sets.  Coffee clerk pushes a button, based on the bean.

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« Last Edit: January 09, 2010, 07:47:30 PM by BoldJava »
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Offline Warrior372

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Re: What roaster does Whole Foods use?
« Reply #2 on: January 09, 2010, 07:45:33 PM »
Funny you ask that question! I was at the Whole Foods in Downtown Chicago about 2 hours ago drinking a few beers (this location has a microbrew beer bar). I wandered over to the roasting area to inspect / try to identify the coffee roaster, but I could not see a name anywhere. It is a fluid bed roaster, but not a Sono or any type of Sivetz I have ever seen.

Odd that it is all presets . . . the one I saw had two temperature controls the roaster could play with. . . I guess that is not to say they have to play with them.

Any idea on the price?
« Last Edit: January 09, 2010, 07:59:16 PM by Warrior372 »
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Offline John F

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Re: What roaster does Whole Foods use?
« Reply #3 on: January 09, 2010, 07:57:12 PM »
I had a cup of drip there earlier (Tanz Peaberry) and it was pretty good.

I looked in the bin and the roast looked good, the cup was good....it made me curious. 
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BoldJava

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Re: What roaster does Whole Foods use?
« Reply #4 on: January 09, 2010, 07:58:40 PM »
Quote from: Warrior372 on January 09, 2010, 07:45:33 PM
Odd that it is all presets . . . the one I saw had two temperature controls the roaster could play with. . . I guess that is not to say they have to play with them.

Any idea on the price?

They push (1) weight and (2) origin, if I remember correctly.  Price?  I could tell she preferred not to discuss price.  As well, I got the idea that all beans came out of Denver <?>  (they bought Allegro in late 90's) rather than from JavaMasters.

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« Last Edit: January 09, 2010, 08:00:42 PM by BoldJava »
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BoldJava

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Re: What roaster does Whole Foods use?
« Reply #5 on: January 09, 2010, 07:59:25 PM »
Quote from: John F on January 09, 2010, 07:57:12 PM
I had a cup of drip there earlier (Tanz Peaberry) and it was pretty good.

I looked in the bin and the roast looked good, the cup was good....it made me curious.  

Wholefoods is hit or miss.  Most beans are over-roasted.  Lots are very generic, air exposed in bins.  At least date of roast is always provided.

B|Java
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Offline Warrior372

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Re: What roaster does Whole Foods use?
« Reply #6 on: January 09, 2010, 08:05:46 PM »
It is interesting that they state they reinvented the way coffee was roasted in 1995. Apparently they have never head of Michael Sivetz. Last time I checked I thought he originally invented and patented the process :) . Maybe JavaMasters came out with a glass tube fluid bed roaster (versus the metal triangular chamber roasters) before Sivetz?

I give them credit for roasting their own coffee at some of their locations. Regardless of how spot on their pre-programmed roast profiles are, at least they do it weekly or so?!?
« Last Edit: January 09, 2010, 08:07:24 PM by Warrior372 »
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BoldJava

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Re: What roaster does Whole Foods use?
« Reply #7 on: January 09, 2010, 08:19:09 PM »
Quote from: Warrior372 on January 09, 2010, 08:05:46 PM

I give them credit for roasting their own coffee at some of their locations. Regardless of how spot on their pre-programmed roast profiles are, at least they do it weekly or so?!?

Daily.
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Offline peter

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Re: What roaster does Whole Foods use?
« Reply #8 on: January 09, 2010, 08:39:03 PM »
Quote from: BoldJava on January 09, 2010, 08:19:09 PM
Quote from: Warrior372 on January 09, 2010, 08:05:46 PM

I give them credit for roasting their own coffee at some of their locations. Regardless of how spot on their pre-programmed roast profiles are, at least they do it weekly or so?!?

Daily.

That's even more often than me.
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