More Questions From Our Customers
We always enjoy talking with customers at markets and online. Every conversation reminds us that people are just as curious about how we make our coffee as they are about why we do it.
Here are a few more of the questions we hear most often.
Q: Does the coffee taste like honey?
A: Not really.
The primary purpose of our honey-curing process isn’t to sweeten the coffee—it’s to help preserve the freshness of the beans after roasting.
That said, we’d be dishonest if we said it had no effect on flavor.
If you’re specifically looking for it, you may notice an extremely subtle honey note. More than adding sweetness, however, we believe the honey tends to accentuate some of the coffee’s naturally occurring characteristics, particularly floral aromas and chocolatey undertones.
The coffee still tastes like coffee—it simply allows some of those more delicate flavors to shine a little brighter.
Q: How long does your coffee stay fresh?
A: Whole bean coffee always stays fresh longer than pre-ground coffee, and our honey-curing process helps extend that freshness even further.
Generally speaking, whole beans are at their absolute best within the first six months after roasting, though properly stored coffee can remain enjoyable for up to a year or more. Our honey cure helps preserve the bean’s natural oils, allowing freshness to last significantly longer than untreated beans.
Ground coffee naturally begins losing freshness more quickly because of the increased surface area exposed to air. That’s one reason we roast in small batches.
We don’t believe in roasting hundreds of pounds only to let bags sit on shelves waiting to be sold.
Instead, we roast regularly, grind only when needed, and package each order just before it leaves our shop. That means when you receive a bag of Green Man Coffee, it’s not just fresh by industry standards—it’s about as fresh as we can possibly make it.
Q: What’s one coffee myth you wish would disappear?
A: Probably the countless myths claiming that coffee is inherently bad for your health.
Over the years, coffee has been blamed for just about everything imaginable.
The reality is far more encouraging. Modern research consistently shows that, for most healthy adults, moderate coffee consumption can be part of a healthy lifestyle. Like anything else, moderation matters, but coffee itself has often received an unfair reputation.
Of course, everyone’s health is different, so it’s always wise to follow your doctor’s advice if you have specific medical concerns. But for most people, a good cup of coffee is something to enjoy—not something to fear.
Q: Have you ever ruined an entire batch?
A: Absolutely.
In fact, we’ve ruined more than one.
When we first began experimenting with open-fire roasting, we were trying to determine the ideal batch size. Larger batches required longer roasting times and hotter fires.
Coffee beans naturally release oils during roasting. Under the wrong conditions, those oils can ignite.
Let’s just say… we learned that lesson firsthand.
A few batches caught fire and were completely unsalvageable.
It was an expensive lesson, especially for a young company, but it taught us the importance of understanding fire management, respecting batch sizes, and never rushing the roasting process.
Every mistake helped shape the methods we use today.
Q: If you could drink coffee with anyone in history, who would it be?
A: We actually have different answers.
Sharon: Jesus.
“I would have so many questions, and I can’t imagine a more meaningful or insightful conversation.”
Blake: Either Carl Gustav Jung or Sigmund Freud.
“Freud would certainly make for an iconic conversation—and one that’s hard to top as a story. But I think Jung would be the more fascinating person to spend an afternoon with. His ideas about mythology, symbolism, archetypes, and the human mind have had a tremendous influence on how I think about history, culture, and even our own company. I think we’d leave that conversation with far more questions than answers—and that’s usually a sign of a good conversation.”
Thanks for reading another round of our Q&A! We love hearing your questions because they give us an opportunity to share not only what we do, but why we do it.
If there’s something you’ve always wondered about Green Man Coffee Co., don’t hesitate to ask. It may just end up in the next edition of our Q&A series.