Project Description
Brazil
Donieverson Afrânio dos Santos
Bourbon Specialty Coffees
Please tell us a little about yourself:
I’m a 25 year old Agronomic Engineer who started to work with coffee in 2014, while in college. In college, I had contact with field work in coffee, followed by several courses and internships. In 2017, I started to work with coffee quality control, learning more about Sensory Analysis and Roasting. I graduated at the end of 2017, and in 2018 I joined Bourbon Specialty Coffees to work with coffee quality, classification and roasting. Since then, I competed and won the Alta Mogiana Roasting Championship and had the pleasure to represent my region at the National Championship, reaching first place. I was born in a coffee producing region, and I’m completly in love with coffee. I’ve never stopped studying and learning about these beautiful bean.
How long have you been roasting for?:
One and a half year.
What roaster do you currently roast on?:
Probat.
How did you learn to roast? Did you have a trainer or coach?:
I learned roasting from Professor Leandro Paiva, my teacher at Instituto Federal do Sul de Minas. After that, I started studying more and more, learning from my mistakes so that I could finally get the best from the coffees I was working with.
What is your coffee of choice?:
I like all of them! Every coffee is different, so isn’t one that I prefer. Some are easier to work with, some are more difficult, but regardless of the coffee, I’ll try to get the best from it.
Who is your roasting hero?:
All the professionals that search to learn about coffee behavior, and do their best to deliver the best coffee to their clients.
What’s your favorite weather to roast in?:
Not too hot, not too cold, no rain.
What music do you listen to when roasting?:
I generally don’t listen to music, but I sing… I sing popular Brazilian music, bird whistles… it depends on my mood! I just cannot roast quietly.
What is your secret weapon when roasting?:
Understand the clues that beans give during the roasting process.
What is your BEST roasting memory?:
The roast that gave me the National Championship awards!
What is your WORST roasting memory?:
When I burn coffee. That’s the worst feeling ever.
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