Page 13 - Port Douglas Magazine 39

Neo delved into the intricate process of coffee roasting,
transforming beans into the perfect flavour, a fusion of
scientific precision and artistic finesse - akin to cooking with
heat to achieve precise taste. Neo came to realise that achieving
the ideal roast demanded meticulous care, ensuring beans are
heated thoroughly while avoiding the risk of turning them bitter
through over-roasting.
The art lies in selecting beans, blending and controlling
temperature during heating and cooling, and exploring a wide
range of flavours hidden in beans from Arabica and Robusta
plants’ cherries. Caffeine in these plants acts as a natural bug
repellent. Nitrogen creates the creamy top of espresso and
affects its taste. The way beans are processed matters too, using
methods like sun drying or water processing, with the latter