FAQ Frequently asked questions and answers
— I placed an order but haven't received a shipping email yet.
The opening days of the roasting lab are shown at the top of the page. Click on the schedule to see the image.
We aim to ship beans and equipment from the lab within 3 business days of receiving the order, but shipping may be delayed if there is a large number of orders, especially for beans. If there is a slight delay, we will notify you of the expected shipping date in advance.
— The coffee beans are being shipped from the Kanto region. Are they grown in Nagano?
Hatte Co., Ltd., which operates our shop, has member offices in Tokyo and Chiba in addition to Nagano Prefecture. This is because when members move to the Kanto region, they sometimes move the beans with them. For this reason, we are able to ship on Saturdays regardless of the store's business calendar.
In Nagano, this system is in place to avoid having to leave beans in the mailbox, especially during the cold nights.
— What are the criteria for free shipping?
There are two main types.
- Both roasted and raw coffee beans are free
- Free shipping on books sent from the lab
We do not offer free shipping based on purchase amount.
- Is there a way to find out in advance how much shipping will cost?
Due to system limitations, we cannot calculate the final shipping cost unless you enter the shipping address. The shipping cost will be displayed on the screen before payment, so please check it.
- A screen for selecting shipping fee appears
I have it set so that it doesn't appear, but it seems to come up sometimes. Just be lucky and choose the cheaper option.
— Shipping is expensive
Sorry. There's nothing we can do about this. We're trying to make it as cheap as possible (such as making it a comprehensive contract).
- Sent to me cash on delivery
Starting from June 1, 2023, Yamato will charge the fee for the section when the destination is changed . The payment method is cash on delivery, so you should have agreed to Yamato's question in advance about whether or not a fee will be charged. Please contact Yamato for more information.
We will never send products with shipping charges collected without prior notice .
— 90g beans are more expensive than 180g beans
To be honest, even if you order 90g, the amount of beans to roast is the same as when you order 180g. This is because the progress of the roasting process changes depending on the amount of beans you put in. We don't throw away the leftover beans, but make good use of them.
— Is the weight of the coffee beans unroasted or roasted?
This is the weight after roasting. This means that dark roasting is more economical in terms of cost ratio. Although it is only a small amount. I think that weighing before roasting only benefits the store.
— The beans I received contain things I didn't order
These are extra beans. There are a fair amount of samples that were made during the trial period, or beans that were offered for tasting at the same time. The extra beans are easy to tell because they are 30-45g in volume. In rare cases, for customers who order a large amount, 90g or 100g of extra beans may be included.
— I want to know the standard for roasting degree
Basically, we judge by color. Temperature can vary by more than 10 degrees depending on the variety, so we don't have a clear standard like "city" at a certain degree.
I usually decide it like this:
Medium (M): 225/250g, 1 goby included High (H): 220/250g, 1 goby peak City (C): 215/250g, 1 goby end, up to 2 goby, around 214℃ Full City (FC): 210/250g, 2 goby peak French (F): 200/250g, 2 goby end, 230℃
If the roast level of the beans you receive is different to your standards, please let us know in the comments section and we can adjust it for your next order.
— Where is the bean importer?
US Foods, Wataru, TYPICA, Origin, etc.
— What are your criteria for selecting beans?
I refer to the cupping notes of the vendors. For direct trade beans, I take cupping tests and purchase the beans I like.
-What roaster do you use?
This is Fuji Royal's COFFEE DISCOVERY, Aillio. We have also introduced a hand-cranked roaster made by Fuji Royal, but we are not yet selling our products.
— What made you decide to choose Fuji Royal?
The deciding factor for me was that it has the same emergency stop and fail-safe functions as larger roasting machines (this is really important), and that it is made in Japan.
— Are there any roasters other than Fuji Royal that you are interested in?
LORING and PROBAT. First, I need to find a property suitable for a roasting factory where I can put them.
— Why did you choose Aillio?
The place I moved to had a HI heater installed, and I thought, "Oh! With this, I can put in a larger roaster without any construction work." In the end, construction work was required, so I got certified as an electrician.
— Have the green beans been picked?
When sorting the beans, we remove any that we find questionable, but since the extent to which defective beans are removed varies from person to person, picking is kept to a minimum.
- What beans, varieties, roast levels, and recipes do you like?
They are grown in Central America, in Guatemala, Honduras, and Costa Rica. I don't have any particular preference for the variety, but there are so many varieties these days that any is fine. The one I like the most is the Pacamara variety, because they're big.
The roast level is darker than City, which makes for delicious espresso. However, if you use light roasts to make espresso, it can be surprisingly delicious if brewed well, so I make it occasionally.
My favorite coffee to brew is caffe latte.
— Why do you sell tea drippers?
There are quite a few people who don't like coffee, but their partner does, and we sell tea drippers for those who want to spend the same time together in a different way. There should be many different ways to enjoy coffee, but at the same time, we also want to cherish the feeling of "wanting to spend time together with someone."
Well, the manager is mostly alone in the roasting lab.
- I heard that you can use coffee grounds as a deodorizer, so I tried it, but it ended up getting really moldy. Do you have any tips?
If you use used coffee beans as a deodorizer, they may go moldy, depending on where you store them. Before using them as a deodorizer, dry them thoroughly as quickly as possible. I recommend drying them in the sun.
— I heard that you can use coffee grounds as fertilizer. Is that true?
It is sold as fertilizer under the name "coffee grounds." Its uses seem to be quite limited, so please research carefully before using it. (It is also used as a herbicide.)
— Don't you turn coffee grounds into soap or something?
Personally, I like to avoid exposing food products directly to bare skin, so we don't do this at our store.
— Can I have the beans you're going to throw away?
We can provide it to you if you promise not to drink it. Please let us know how you intend to use it when you inquire.