Blending coffee is a process most roasters should be encouraged to try at least once. Creating your own blend will also encourage you to better define your own personal brand or draw customers back again and again. Combining different coffee blends adds complexity to your coffee as well as highlighting specialty coffee notes and flavor profiles. It is impossible to master the art of coffee blending overnight. But with lots of practice and resources, you can be up and blending in just a short time!.
Choosing the right coffee beans is extremely important for a good blend. Coffee from different parts of the world have different profiles from fruity and bright, to nutty and acidic. Try to pair coffee blends that complement each other and one that will not over power the flavor of mix. If you would prefer a balanced coffee or light acidic choose Arabica beans. If you want a bitter tasting coffee with tasting notes from specific origin choose Robusta beans.
How much coffee should you blend? Well most sources suggest no more that 5 blends with each blend making up at least 8%. It is recommended to start with a 40% base with sweet base notes, 40% mid palate notes, and 20% high notes. Tweak around with ratios and blends until you find one that is right for you and have fun with it.
Now how do you create your own blends? The next step is to piece it all together. Here is a step by step guide from https://www.teaandcoffee.net of how to create your own blend.
Start with a base coffee you like that is brewed the way you typically brew your coffee.
Think about what you might add to improve the taste. A hint of cocoa or cinnamon? More sweetness? Choose a second coffee that has these qualities.
Next, choose a third coffee and a fourth – up to five coffees maximum to prevent from cancelling out the benefits of blending.
Brew a cup of each coffee and transfer them to insulated, covered vessels to keep the coffee hot.
Once you have all of your coffee samples brewed, start mixing and keep a running list of the ratios you use. For example, pour 3 ounces of coffee in one cup and add 1 ounce of a second coffee in the same cup. Adjust the proportions to highlight the qualities you want to accent.
Once you have a blend ratio you like, mix roasted beans in the same ration and brew to see if it retains its qualities. If it does, then you have successfully created your very own artisan blend, congratulations!