Color Track Lab. Instrument for Roast Color Assessment
A ROASTERS EVALUATION
As any coffee roaster knows consistency in color (degree of roast) means better consistency in taste. Whether roasting for production or for the cupping table consistency in color is always an objective.
Quick and easy monitoring of each roast and post roast production measurements are valued assets. There is no coffee QA without a color reader.
In the past electronic color monitoring during roasting was not an option for coffee. In 2007 the Fresh Roast Systems, Color Track Laser came to market and has solved that problem for many roasters.
This year a compliment, desktop Color Track instrument brings the same technology into the coffee lab. Application such as confirmation of Quality Control of roast color in contract roasting and R&D for new blends and profiling require accurate data. Fortunately for me the instrument does not replace the cupper but helps assure all cupping samples are within the tolerance demanded for quality assessments.
My experience with the Color Track laser reader has proven to me its features surpass all other coffee color assessment methods in both accuracy and efficiency. For one thing sample preparation is no longer rocket science. The laser does not require exacting sample preparation techniques for accuracy. Ground samples do not have to be exactly the same grind or density. This laser is not affected by geography.
With many lab instruments test results are only accurate or at least consistent if the same technician prepares all the samples with precision. Even then multiple readings on the same sample are taken and averaged for the official result. This is not necessary with a laser that takes gazillion readings per second and does the math itself.
Recording and logging the samples is a breeze with the support software that allows you to save all test results in a file format that lets you recall all data from a variety of fields customized by you. You can recall any past tests by Date, Origin, Reference Number, Roast Profile or any other criteria you wish to specify.
Samples can be read from the trays provided and the sample discarded or from standard five and one half inch lidded Petri dishes should you wish to label and save samples temporally for later comparisons.
Color measurements are no longer an ordeal but a pleasure. Easy prep, easy measurement, easy data logging and instant retrieval. Next to a silver spoon it’s my most useful instrument. Cupping, consulting, roasting basics and Laser Track demos in Palo
Alto, CA. near Stanford University.
"Robert Barker, currently a consulting technician to the Coffee Review, is a green coffee buyer for Keystone Coffee in San Jose, California and an organic coffee producer in San Agustin, Colombia."
The ColorTrack R/T and underlying patented ColorTrack laser technology represents the most significant advance in coffee roasting since computer profiling. Roastmasters have traditionally been totally dependent on monitoring time, temperature and color.
Time and temperature can be computer monitored and controlled, but color assessment is still totally dependent on the human eye. With the ever-changing characteristics of crops, environment and the subtle and quick changes in roast development, inconsistency and loss has been unavoidable, until now...
ColorTrack R/T takes charge of one very important part of the processing by providing an innovative solution offering unparalleled precision before, during, and after your roast. The end result is an unmatched level of quality and consistency. ColorTrack R/T uses a patented laser system to analyze color development throughout the roasting process in real time and alerts you to the actual color development as it relates to your roast profile
When time and temperature control fails to yield the best results, ColorTrack R/T will provide valuable information relative to the degree of roast, and allow you to stop the roast at the precise point when the desired color has been reached. ColorTrack closes the gap on even the most subtle differences in roasting variables making your finished product the best match to your standard. With ColorTrack R/T you get perfect results every time and absolute repeatability. Whether you’re roasting in Tokyo or Topeka, all your roasts will match regardless of local conditions.
ColorTrack R/T eliminates loss. There is never waste or the cost of labor associated with reworking. The roast is perfect every time regardless of profile. Whether your operating a global plant operation or a simple shop roaster, savings will be significant. ColorTrack R/T delivers, guaranteed.
