Our Process

Serving up the facts.

For the curious kid in all of us, here’s everything you need to know — from beans to brewing — about Lucky Goat’s specialty coffee.

Sourcing

Our strategy is simple: Buy the best quality coffee. Carry a wide variety of flavor profiles. Find something unique to offer our customers.

We only carry specialty coffee, which means it was graded at least 80 points — usually higher — on the Specialty Coffee Association of America’s 100-point scale. The quality of the coffee depends on several factors, including altitude, season, soil and the farmers’ care in harvesting and preparing the beans.

That’s why we take such great care when sourcing our coffee. We work closely with importers to find coffees that are not only the best quality, but also interesting and pleasingly unique. We keep a variety of origins and tasting notes available, which include a mix of perennial favorites and new, unusual and seasonal flavors.

Raw green coffee image

Roasting

What Is A Coffee Bean?

The coffee “bean” is actually the seed of a berry. Dense, green and hard as a rock, they’re not something you’d normally associate with your aromatic cup of joe. The magic of turning green, stone-like seeds into coffee happens during the roasting process.

Roasting determines the flavor of the finished coffee. It’s a process by which we develop our personalized Lucky Goat flavor profiles; recipes that are crafted to perfection over time by our experienced staff who take pride and pleasure in what they do.

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Single-Origin

For each type of single-origin coffee, we develop a profile: a map that shows how we apply heat over time. It takes trial and error to create a profile that best fits each type of coffee, balancing its inherent character and the flavors that develop through roasting. Each cup is unique and appropriately reminiscent of its origin, while also being both balanced and familiar.

Our importers provide tasting notes — what they detected when they sampled the coffee — and we use that as a loose guide when creating our profiles. Sometimes, though, we find a new path. For example, we might decide to bring out a coffee’s chocolate notes instead of its citrusy flavor, just by roasting it a little darker. By experimenting with multiple small sample batches for each new single-origin coffee, we’re able to determine which combination of time and temperature brings out the best flavors in a particular bean.

Our Blends

Our blends have set recipes that we’ve perfected — combinations of coffee put together to achieve a certain flavor. From the smooth, light Billy Goat Breakfast Blend to the bold, smoky Black Gold French roast, there’s something for everyone.

Not sure what you like? We can help you pick your new (or first) favorite.

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Brewing

Every step in the creation of a cup of coffee will affect the way it tastes, from bean selection to roasting and, finally, brewing.

At Lucky Goat, our trained staff’s mindful attention to detail, combined with our precision equipment, ensure that each drink you order is beyond compare.

You won’t have to worry about which size to order, since the brew itself will determine that.

Espresso

Espresso is a brewing method that uses a metal basket filter and high pressure to extract intense flavor from the coffee. Espresso blends are coffees with flavor profiles that best suit this brewing method. See our espresso blends.

Everything on our espresso menu — including lattes, cappuccinos and other traditional drinks — stays true to espresso culture. Each cup is meant to be enjoyed in the moment, so we’ve found the ideal temperature for milk for the best flavor, texture and drinking experience.

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Cold Brew

Cold brew is smoother and less acidic than traditional hot coffee, and we’ve worked tirelessly to perfect our specialized process. It’s unlike anything you’ll taste anywhere else. Seriously, you’ve gotta try it.

We’ve even put it on tap, in growlers and in gallon-size jugs. Choose our classic “Cold Gold” or the flavor of the day.

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Chemex

Using a thick paper filter, this pour-over method produces a clean, smooth brew, which is perfect for enjoying the unique flavors of our single-origin coffees. It takes a few extra minutes to make, but that’s part of the charm.

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American-Style Drip

You’re probably already plenty familiar with this brewing method, since it’s still one of the most common. A paper filter, perfectly roasted coffee and gravity makes for a consistent pour every time. We use it for our daily selection of blends and flavored coffees.

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Tips for Brewing

Grind your coffee just before brewing for the best flavor.

The quality of the grind matters. If it’s consistent and uniform, you’ll have more control over the flavor.

Water temperature also matters. The ideal range is 195 – 205°F.

If you’re looking to upgrade your at-home brewing experience, we can help you find the perfect specialty equipment. We’d also be happy to spend a few (or many) minutes to educate you on proper brewing techniques.