From origin to cup, we at Mighty Oak Roasters are committed to the best possible quality through ethical sourcing and positive environmental impact.
We select exquisite coffees from around the world, with an emphasis on supporting growers who are committed to environmentally, economically, and socially sustainable practices. By sourcing through importers who share our commitments and even directly with farmers we are able to forge partnerships that promote a fair price paid for exceptional quality.
Why roast with wood?
The first reason is flavor. The dry heat created by a wood fire allows the coffee to develop more slowly, allowing natural sweetness and complexity to develop over a longer roast time without flattening out or "baking". Depending on the wood used and the overall roast time, the coffee is also imparted with some subtle aromatic notes.
If done properly, the environmental impact is significantly less than roasting with gas. With a very small amount of kiln dried hardwood, we can roast a full 30 lb batch of coffee. We work with local arborists who primarily source trees felled by storm damage and other natural causes - an abundant resource here in the Northeast. The real advantage of this renewable fuel source is that it is not introducing “new” carbon into the ecosystem. Extracting petroleum from deep in the earth reintroduces carbon into the atmosphere that has been removed from circulation for millions of years, disrupting the natural equilibrium. To keep any particulate from entering the atmosphere we use an extremely advanced filtration system, based around reusable trapping fields as opposed to a traditional afterburner.