Roaster: Gene Café CBR-301
Batch size: 250 g
Set temperature: 250 °C
Out: 209.7 g
Weight loss: 16.1%
Total time: ~13:10
Cooling initiated: ~80 s after rolling first crack

Why this roast exists

This was a personal roast rather than a planned comparison or reference. The intent was simple: roast a washed Central American cleanly, without pushing for brightness or novelty, and see where a comfortable, supported development landed on this machine.

What happened

Drying progressed evenly, with a clear shift from grassy/hay aromas into yellowing around the 5-minute mark. Colour change through Maillard was steady and predictable, with consistent browning and visible chaff release. There were no stalls or sudden accelerations.

First crack was clear and unambiguous, beginning around 11:30 and building confidently to a short crescendo. Development was allowed to run for roughly 80 seconds after the rolling phase, based on colour, aroma, and overall momentum rather than sound alone.

The roast was ended by initiating cooling at approximately 13:10, resulting in a final weight loss of 16.1%.

How this roast is positioned

Structurally, this sits in the medium to medium-plus range for a washed Caturra on this setup. Development is assertive but controlled, fuller than a “lazy mode” natural, but well below the fatigue boundary established by darker reference roasts.

This is not intended as a showcase roast. I am hoping that this is a comfortable, drinkable, personal baseline that prioritises body, balance, and repeatability over brightness or clarity.

Early expectations

Based on structure alone, this roast should present with rounded acidity, good body, and a balanced sweetness rather than sharp or high-tone characteristics. It’s expected to perform reliably across multiple brew methods.

Formal cupping and longer-term drinking notes will be added here once the coffee has rested and been brewed in context.

This roast sits comfortably above the Lazy Mode baseline for clean naturals, more developed and structured, but guided by the same anchors of time, colour, aroma, and weight loss rather than sound or profiles.