When master roaster Ben Turiano speaks, it’s “bright orange and caramel overtones” for Colombian Excelso Ocamonte and it’s “deep and earthy with hints of blueberry and distinct lemon notes” for Ethiopian Natural Sidamo. Turiano, of Webster, is speaking the language of Joe Bean Coffee Roasters, 128 North Ave., Webster.
Turiano is a barista, and he has just returned from his first coffee competition in Boston. His original creation for the competition was “Autumn Coffee Drink,” an espresso-based drink infused with acorn squash-flavored heavy cream, poured over buckwheat honey, with a spoonful of honeycomb. He used local ingredients from Pittsford Dairies and Doan Family Farms in the competition to ensure the right flavor.
The espresso, he created. Turiano starts with fresh coffee beans from fair trade farms around the globe, including Jamaica, Sumatra and Rwanda. He roasts the beans in small batches, using organic processes to trigger natural chemical reactions to create the desired flavor balance in the bean.
Turiano, who started by just helping out at the original café on Main Street, said he “couldn’t help falling in love with the whole process of making coffee beans."
