About us
How was Aladdin Roastery founded?
Aladdin Roastery was founded in 1989 by my father and is now run by me, Charles.
How did your father get involved in the coffee business?
My father was introduced to the joys of roasting at an early age. When he was a child, his mother would ask him to roast coffee by hand for house guests. He was intrigued by coffee ever since and in 1989 he decided to start a business in the world of coffee. Initially, he ordered several varieties of coffee from a major supplier. His goal was to sell the coffee at a good price to restaurants in the area only. At first, he stored his coffee in the family’s garage, until he ran out of room. Then he bought a warehouse, and my mother was happy to get her garage back!
With this warehouse, he began roasting coffee on site. The aroma of freshly roasted coffee filled the warehouse and spilled out into the street. Passersby rushed in to buy some coffee, but because of the lack of equipment he couldn’t sell to the individual. My father then had a genius idea and decided to open the first Aladdin Roastery store.
What I do as Aladdin Roastery’s Coffee
Roastmaster
It is no secret that I appreciate a good cup of coffee. It has become increasingly common for people to chase the perfect cup of coffee outside of coffee shops by carefully selecting their beans and brewing methods to make their morning cup of coffee taste as good as possible. At Aladdin Roastery, I tried to bring that same sort of dedication to a large-scale operation.
What’s a typical day-in-the-life of a
Roastmaster?
I usually start my workday by doing some housekeeping around the roastery. To get our coffee machines ready for another day of roasting, I give them a deep clean by removing all the coffee chaff from the inside, which builds up from the roasting previous roasted. After that, I warm up the coffee roaster so that I can accurately control and make changes to the temperature of the machine and the coffee beans.
What drove you to choose your career
path?
As previously mentioned, I was introduced to the joys of coffee
at an early age. At first, my father taught me how to become a barista. My
experience brewing coffee day after day led me to understand that a roast
profile can make or break a batch. While a barista can do an amazing job of
brewing coffee, it is up to the roaster to bring out the best qualities of
coffee by highlighting the flavours of the roast. As far as coffee brewing was
concerned, I wanted to be involved in every aspect. To become a master roaster,
my father taught me how to source high-quality green beans, experiment with
various profiles, and ensure that the coffee is well roasted.
A day spent roasting and exploring
distinct tasting profiles, is quite a satisfying experience for me. During my daily
cupping sessions, I learned to compare different roast batches of coffee so
that I could ensure consistency between all the coffees Aladdin Roastery
produces. Being meticulous is the nature of a roaster – every variable in the
roasting process can contribute to the cup of coffee our customers are
drinking, so it is the roaster’s job to pay attention to detail and ensure
every batch of coffee is well roasted and consistently delicious.
In addition to being a roaster and a barista, I am also responsible for sourcing single origins. My cupping sessions allow me to cherry-pick my favourite beans, as well as discover the ideal roast profile, through samples from the green bean suppliers. As a result, details matter to me. From the carefully selected beans, to roasting, down to the packaging of the coffee beans, at Aladdin Roastery every aspect of the process is very important.
Why choose organic and Fairtrade
coffees?
The choice to drink
organic and fairtrade coffees demonstrates your support for farmers who use
farming methods that respect the environment and promote sustainable
development. Organic farming guarantees a coffee without harmful chemical
pesticides or herbicides - an advantage significantly to the health of farmers
and for your health as a consumer. In addition, since the organic coffees are
grown under forest cover, you help preserve ecosystems and provide a natural
habitat for insects, microorganisms, animals, and migratory birds. The protection of the environment and
social equity are among the core values I hold dear. Fairtrade advocates for thriving farmer and
worker communities that have more control over their futures. We stand in
solidarity with producer organizations, without compromise, to our standards,
prices, or vision to make trade work for everyone along the supply chain. Here
is what sets us apart from other certifications.
What’s
the most enjoyable part of the job?
Having the privilege of tasting some of
the best coffees in the world is an intriguing, delightful and fortunate
experience for me. Everyday I come in in hopes of making my customers happy by
serving them the best cup of coffee possible. I’m extremely lucky.
What’s the worst challenging part of the job?
I would say that although developing
blends can be a trial-and-error process, I consider myself very fortunate to be
able to focus on my craft and my passion for coffee day in and day out.
What advice would you give to those aspiring to join your profession?
The real work is behind the coffee
counter. To become a roaster, it takes fortitude as the job requires long hours
on your feet. It is also important to have confidence because every decision
that you take is critical. Over
the years, roasting has become a true passion for me. Today, Aladdin Roastery
continues to evolve, and my main goal is to continually ensure customer
satisfaction while safeguarding the health of our planet and its people.
Give us a quick fact about you
My go-to coffee is a single shot of espresso or even a
drip coffee. I think it makes sense for roasters to prefer black coffee over
white coffee, since we get to taste the different notes of each coffee in its
original state. I especially enjoy single origins from
