Best Practices for Measuring the Colour of Ground Coffee

The colour of finished roasted beans is an important metric in measuring the quality of your coffee. When you test for quality, using a spectrophotometer will give you accurate colour measurements for your coffee roast. Additionally, following industry standards set by the Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCA) can help you obtain a quality cup of coffee.

Measure Ground Coffee Colour With Proper Grinding

When it comes to roast profiling, accurately measuring the colour of your ground coffee beans is critical. Grind them as fine as possible to know their actual colour — improperly grounded beans cannot accurately reflect the colour. An improper grinding process, in turn, can give you inconsistent results when measuring the colour of coffee beans. Try to follow the same timeline and waiting times when using your coffee roaster for multiple batches to get uniform readings.

Follow Industry Standards When Measuring Your Ground Coffee

The SCA has developed an industry standard for measuring roast coffee colour. The colours are set on a scale from very light to very dark, which can help you find the perfect roast for your coffee. Grinding your coffee finely may cause its colour to appear lighter, while a coarser grind can result in a darker appearance.

Commit to Colour Consistency

Each roast must have a consistent colour, which indicates its quality. Keep your spectrophotometer clean and recalibrate it often to ensure colour consistency with your roasts. Roast the beans for longer to achieve darker roasts that yield a bold flavor, or roast them for a shorter time for lighter, brighter flavor variations.

Measure Colour With a Spectrophotometer

Use a high-quality spectrophotometer to measure the colour of your coffee beans and check the colour immediately after roasting, as colour variation can differ according to the roasting time. Grinding the coffee finely can give an optimal reading by increasing the beans' lightness and differentiating them from their whole bean state.

The HunterLab Difference

We at HunterLab understand the importance of getting consistent readings for your coffee roasts. Colour measurements are much more than just looking at your coffee colour and making a determination. Take the guesswork out of the roasting process with HunterLab's ColorFlex EZ-Coffee spectrophotometer.

Our solutions help you identify when your roast has reached its full potential. Accurate colour identification saves you time and money so that you can spend more time offering your end users quality products. Get a quote by contacting us online or calling us today.