We go inside the coffee roasting room with Cam Dittmann and Steve Novello from Bancroft Roasters to explore the science behind the perfect coffee shot.

In Episode 162 - The conversation covers how roasting, green bean sourcing, barista training and espresso extraction all work together to create consistent coffee quality across the Stellarossa franchise network. Cam also breaks down the key variables behind a great espresso, including dose, grind size, water quality, machine temperature and brew ratio.

Steve shares how Bancroft Roasters manages roast profiles, seasonal coffee sourcing and flavour consistency, while explaining why vertical integration matters for franchise coffee businesses. 

This episode is ideal for coffee lovers, café owners, franchise operators and aspiring baristas who want to understand what really goes into a great cup of coffee.

0:00 - Welcome and guest introductions

0:40 - Understanding the relationship between Stellarossa and Bancroft Roasters 

1:41 - The perfect shot of coffee starts with a recipe and a system 

3:17 - Steve's role as the roaster in creating the perfect shot 

4:13 - Collaborating on a crowd pleasing flavour profile for Stellarossa 

5:29 - Daily flavour profile testing and pre-shipment green bean sampling 

6:51 - The collaborative cupping process between Steve and Cam

7:17 - How the Stellarossa and Bancroft Roasters relationship improved consistency 

8:41 - The importance of passion and self directed learning beyond the workday 

9:36 - The yin and yang dynamic between Steve and Cam 

10:35 - The risk of quality drift when using a third party roaster 

11:34 - How Stellarossa maintains full oversight of coffee quality and cost 

12:26 - Live extraction demonstration with Cam 

14:33 - Understanding yield and brew ratio in espresso 

15:49 - The degassing process and finding the peak flavor zone after roasting 

16:46 - The 48 hour degassing window before packaging and distribution

17:46 - Why locking down the dose is the golden rule in coffee  

19:19 - The full quality assurance chain from farmer to consumer 

20:43 - Managing the doubling of green bean prices with long term farmer relationships 

21:40 - Why vertical integration helps control cost and quality simultaneously 

22:01 - Wrap up and final thanks

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