The Role of Luminary Roast Technology in Reducing Acrylamide Formation
Acrylamide is a chemical compound that forms on foods during high-temperature cooking processes, such as frying, baking, or roasting. In coffee production, acrylamide forms during the roasting of coffee beans. This compound has been classified as a potential carcinogen, raising concerns among health-conscious consumers.
Traditional Roasting Methods and Acrylamide Formation
Traditional coffee roasting methods usually involve heating green coffee beans at high temperatures using gas-powered flames. While this process develops the desired flavors and aromas, it also contributes to acrylamide formation. Research indicates that acrylamide levels peak during the initial stages of roasting and decrease as the process continues, meaning lighter roasts often contain higher acrylamide concentrations than darker roasts.
Luminary Roast Technology: A Novel Approach to Coffee Roasting
Luminary Roast technology develops the bean in an airless environment and offers precise control over temperature and heating patterns, allowing for uniform roasting and reduced acrylamide formation.
Advantages of Luminary Coffee Bean Roasting
- Airless Roasting: Roasting in a vacuum environment, where air is pumped out of the roasting chamber, removes acrylamides during the roast process.
- Precise Environment Control: Luminary Roast systems use light emitting diodes (LEDs) in a vacuum to roast. The light, temperature, and pressure, are finely tuned to specific wavelengths and intensities, enabling accurate temperature management.
- Uniform Heating: Traditional coffee bean roasting methods can result in uneven heat distribution, leading to inconsistent bean development. LED roasting provides more uniform heating, ensuring that beans are roasted evenly from the inside out.
- Energy Efficiency: LEDs are known for their energy efficiency. Implementing LED technology in coffee roasting reduces energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions compared to gas-powered systems. This leads to sustainable and eco-friendly coffee bean roasting.
A Healthier Cup of Coffee
At Outer Worlds Coffee, our Luminary Roast technology harnesses the power of LEDs instead of gas-powered flame to roast the beans from the inside out, leading to a healthier and more flavorful coffee experience.
Originally developed by our Chief Roast Engineer as part of the NASA space program, Luminary Roasting simulates the conditions spacecraft experience orbiting the sun with high-power light-based roasting in a vacuum environment. Our goal is to eliminate carbon emissions in roasting and are proud that Outer Worlds Coffee is not only pushing the boundaries of flavor, but also contributing to a cleaner, greener planet.