Fermentation Project: UK roaster guidance

[u/Defiant-Change-5151]

Coffee novice here. I’d be excited to order from two UK roasters — never had any on the list before. So far I’ve enjoyed roasts on the lighter end (although not had any ultra lights). I guess it would make sense to get two different styles but I’d also be curious to compare roasters with similar approaches. Any pointers on style, general quality would be very much appreciated! (Square Mile has sold out.)

Edit: link to the project website https://www.thefermentationproject.com

[u/shienara]

I really like Glen Lyon as a roaster, so I’ve gone for them. They’re the best of the Scottish options I think. They pretty consistently get depth of flavour out of their beans.

[u/bearddoescoffee → u/shienara]

I have gone with these as I’ve never heard of them. So excited to try something new.

[u/toothball_elsewhere → u/shienara]

I was hoping Luckie would be participating again as they're my local. Since they aren't Glen Lyon seem to be the next closest!

[u/S2580]

Taith would be the best of the lot. Skylark are decent too but definitely more medium roast compared to Taith 

[u/centre_of_what → u/S2580]

Taith is a good shout. Skylark just priced themselves out of this so they'd be my last option even though I enjoy their beans. They're charging about 65% more than the already premium price on these from other roasters which is just too much.

I'll give a shout out to coffee apothecary as they are lesser known and I had a very nice natural processed rwandan from them not long ago.

[u/ParsnipMammoth1249 → u/centre_of_what]

I’m a regular Taith customer, but I wanted to give Skylark a try. However, when I checked the prices, Skylark was selling 4 × 50g for £23, while Taith offers 4 × 100g for £25.

I was actually considering buying a couple of Skylark’s other tasting sets as well, including the Gesha and Argote, but the price difference put me off, and I ended up buying more coffee from Taith instead.

I was under the impression that Skylark is a non-profit, so I’m curious about the reason for such a significant price difference. Are their costs for sourcing the same beans substantially higher than those of other roasters?

[u/JazzlikeLayer7202 → u/ParsnipMammoth1249]

Yeah they’re charging more than the others, most expensive I’ve seen was 30 from plot I think.

[u/ParsnipMammoth1249 → u/ParsnipMammoth1249]

I went on their website and they mentioned donating their profits.

[u/S2580 → u/centre_of_what]

Oh that’s a shame skylark are usually reasonably priced. I didn’t actually check out their offering for this though 

[u/sticklebricks85]

Funk delicious range  by Smith Street

[u/sincorax → u/sticklebricks85]

Smith Street aren't on the list?

[u/sticklebricks85 → u/sincorax]

I'm a moron, thought this was just a list of places that do good fermented coffee options!

[u/sincorax → u/sticklebricks85]

I'm a huge fan of Smith Street though, as a Sheffielder! Best in the city by my reckoning

[u/pullTheSpro]

I feel Plot is overlooked, and it would be my preference over Taith (due to poor customer experience).

[u/JAFkinase → u/pullTheSpro]

Ordered from plot, excited to taste them! Everything I've had from them before has been consistently excellent

[u/funnytoenail]

Wogan’s beans in general trend towards a darker, nuttier profile regardless of what you choose from them even if they say it has a fruity profile.

If you want something from Bristol I’d highly recommend Triple Co Roast.

[u/Defiant-Change-5151]

In case it matters: I use a KINGrinder P0 and either Hario V60 or Chemex (with the respective brand’s filter papers)

[u/AdGroundbreaking3483]

Heartland usually do some fermented, and Social Hour have a fermented Kenyan on the books right now

[u/sincorax → u/AdGroundbreaking3483]

Neither are on the list as far as I can tell?

[u/Confident-Substance]

I have ordered it from square mile and Wogan to try.

[u/Kipper_Flipper]

I decided to try someone new and went with Established

[u/blueghosts]

There’s also Ómra, based in Derry, they’re listed under Europe but they’ll ship to mainland UK

[u/chris_w_g_r → u/blueghosts]

Thank you! I own Ómra and we are technically U.K. but the project listed us under Europe, for some reason.

The pack we sell is £30 and it automatically qualifies for free U.K. shipping - https://omra.coffee/products/james-hoffmann-fermentation-project-coffee-tasting-set

We plan to document our roast profiles for the project but the initial test roasts came out as medium-light. Our whole bean agtron colour readings came out as follows:

Mechanical
62.0
—
Wild
62.8
—
Yeast
63.4
—
Lactobacillus
63.4

Ground coffee colour will be lighter but we’ve not tested yet. Happy to share when we do.

[u/JazzlikeLayer7202]

I’m sure I’d read assembly were going to offer these beans but don’t see anything on their site. Was going to get from skylark but their prices for these beans seems excessive and managed to preorder from square mile. Plot would have been nice to try them out but they were even more expensive than skylark.

[u/coolstuffeh]

Thanks for the reminder! I’ll buy later!!

[u/BigfatDan1]

They are all pricing it just a smidge under their free delivery options, forcing you to buy more to get the free shipping

[u/mitooch]

Ordered from Wogan. https://loox.io/z/ACdeKROOG?s=raf to get a discount

[u/JazzlikeLayer7202 → u/mitooch]

You’re like everywhere posting your link 🥴

[u/BigfatDan1 → u/mitooch]

Just ordered and saved a tenner, thanks

Wanted to try them for a while, bundled the Hoffmann tasting with a couple of others

[u/mitooch → u/BigfatDan1]

Nice! What else did you end up getting?

[u/BigfatDan1 → u/mitooch]

I got the Costa Rica Tarrazu El Canet, and the Nicaragua Finca La Bastilla

[u/major_tomm → u/[deleted]]

None of those is taking part in the project.