Frequently Asked Questions

How do I order StroJo? 

Email me and let me know the types of coffee you usually enjoy. I will let you know what I am currently roasting and when I can roast some for you.

Where do you buy your unroasted coffee beans?

I typically buy them from Sweet Maria’s. A local coffee shop suggested I start there and they typically offer a great variety of beans and great info on the “cupping” scores for each one. I will occasionally buy beans from The Coffee Project if Sweet Maria’s is out of something. 

What type of roaster do you have? 

I started with the Fresh Roast and now use the Behmor. 

Where do you roast coffee? 

The very first time I roasted coffee, I tried it in my kitchen with the stove fan on high. When the smoke detectors went off, I realized that I needed to go out to the garage and have been doing that ever since. 

How do you know when it is ready and don’t under-roast or burn the coffee? 

Roasting coffee involves all 5 senses. You will need to watch the color, smell the aromas, listen for the cracking, touch the beans once cooled and taste a fresh bean to get the most pure flavor…and taste the ground coffee once you brew it. Coffee roasts at 400+ degrees, so even when you turn off the roaster, it still cooks a little. I often refer to Sweet Maria’s for the recommended roast for each bean. 

Is roasting coffee difficult? 

I don’t think so...but please don’t try this at home. If you found out just how easy it is, you would do it and not buy StroJo anymore…AND I wouldn’t be as cool. 

Do you flavor your coffee? 

No. I am a purist. I buy beans from different countries, regions, etc. and that provides different flavors in the coffees. I compare it to the different grapes used in making wine. 

Do you blend different kinds of beans? 

Sometimes if I am feeling adventurous…or wanting to get rid of small amounts of different kinds of beans, I will blend them. I love to learn and experiment and have made some good blends (Costa Rica + El Salvador) and some bad ones (Colombia + Sumatra). 

I don’t have a grinder, what should I do? 

I would suggest taking the coffee to the grocery store or local coffee shop. They should be happy to grind the beans for you and to the coarseness you prefer.

Why does the coarseness of the grind matter?

The most common coarseness of coffee is medium as it works well in the average drip coffee machine. If you are wanting to make Espresso with the coffee, you will want to grind it as finely as possible. On the contrary, you will want to grind the beans as coarsely as possible if you plan to use a French press, Chemex or Cold Brew method.

What kind of grinder do you recommend?

If you are a coffee snob or aspire to be one, definitely get a burr grinder. Burr grinders truly grind the beans as opposed to chop them up like some machines do. There are several good burr grinders out there and range from $20 to $600. I use the Cuisinart burr grinder and it cost about $50 5 years ago…and it is still ticking!

How do you determine how much ground coffee to use when brewing?

For dorks like me, we try to follow the Golden Ratio (17.42 grams water to 1 gram of ground coffee). Although this is usually accurate, it all depends on taste. Weak coffee is when a lesser amount of coffee grounds were used. Strong coffee is made when a lot of coffee grounds are used in the brewing process.

Note: Strong coffee is not dark coffee and vice-versa. Dark coffee comes from the roast of the bean and the strength comes from how much is used when the coffee is brewed.