Unpacking the Craft: What is Artisanal and Hand-Roasted Coffee?
Posted on May 27 2025,
More Than Just Buzzwords
The coffee world, like all evolving cultures, comes with its own language. Words like artisanal, hand-roasted, specialty, and third wave are tossed around often but what do they really mean? And more importantly, what do they mean to you, the person sipping the final brew?
At 7000 Steps, these aren’t just trendy terms. They’re commitments to precision, passion, and process.
Let’s decode them together.
What Does “Artisanal” Really Mean?
Artisanal coffee isn’t about volume. It’s about value not just the monetary kind, but the sensory, emotional, and ethical value infused into every cup.
To us, artisanal means:
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Small batches that can be carefully observed and tuned
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Human hands and intuition guiding the process
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Flavor-forward roasting, where the unique origin of each bean is honored
Artisans don't chase consistency for its own sake they pursue excellence that’s defined by nuance, not uniformity. When you sip an artisanal coffee, you're tasting a roaster's decision-making, not a machine's programming.
What About “Hand-Roasted”?
Now, this is where the conversation gets specific.
Hand-roasted, in its purest form, conjures up the image of someone tending beans over a fire no tech, no timers, just instinct. While poetic, this method is limited in its ability to consistently deliver great coffee.
At 7000 Steps, we’ve evolved the idea.
We use a Probat P12, a world-class, small-batch drum roaster. But it’s not an autopilot system. It’s a tool in the hands of an artist.
Our roaster, Baphi, monitors and adjusts:
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Temperature curves
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Airflow
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Roast duration
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Drum speed
…all in real time, using her trained senses. She watches the color shift. She smells the sugars as they caramelize. She listens for the first crack that sharp, popcorn-like pop that signals the bean’s transformation.
This is hand-guided roasting, where tradition and technology shake hands.
Feature | Artisanal | Specialty | Commercial |
---|---|---|---|
Roast Control | Manual, intuitive | Data-driven, precise | Automated |
Scale | Small-batch | Varies | Large-scale |
Flavor Focus | Nuanced, origin-reflective | Clean, consistent | Uniform, simplified |
Human Touch | Central to process | Present but assisted by tech | Minimal |
Value Proposition | Craftsmanship, story, sensory depth | Score-based quality | Price, efficiency |
Artisanal coffee is not about scores. It’s about soul.
Why This Matters for You
When you drink a cup of coffee that’s been hand-roasted by an artisan, you’re not just tasting caffeine.
You’re tasting care.
You’re experiencing something made slowly, in a world that too often moves too fast.
That’s what we do at 7000 Steps.
Up Next: Meet the Roaster Behind the Flavor
In our next blog, we’ll introduce you to Baphi the human behind the heat. We’ll take you inside the drum, through every phase of the roast, and show you how she brings life to every batch.
Until then, browse our selection of small-batch roasted coffees and begin your own journey one cup, one step at a time.
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