For all us Coffee roasters to think about

[coffeechris]

Hi all,

I found an interesting read posted today and thought I would share it for all those who roast and wish to roast in the future.

Gasping for Action | Watchdog Report - Coffee roasters' health at risk from chemical compound, air samples suggest

Cheers,

Chris

[flynnaus]

I get the sense that this will be a risk for those who work in high volume environments. It was interesting that the grinder produced higher levels of diacetyl.
I roast indoors but at small volumes (~500g pw)and with the fan blowing fumes and smoke directly out the window. I really only notice aromas after roasting has finished/
Cynical perhaps but how long before another health study comes out reporting that there's nothing to worry about (unless you're a lab rat)

[coffeechris]

So true, I'm sure there will be a rebuttal from some other so called "Scientific Test". Mind you I would prefer to go down with people saying he died roasting coffee rather than died smoking cigarettes!!

Chris

[Gavisconi007]

So true, I'm sure there will be a rebuttal from some other so called "Scientific Test". Mind you I would prefer to go down with people saying he died roasting coffee rather than died smoking cigarettes!!

Chris

Or even more likely....,next month there will be an article saying that coffee roasting fumes actually lengthen one's lifespan. Just like the one 20 years ago.....burnt toast causes cancer...., does anyone know of anyone who has died due to blackened Tip Top?

[pyrmontboy200]

I've never had any illusions that the crap I inhale every time I've home roasted coffee over the last 7 or so years is doing me any good. They've picked out one chemical, there are probably hundreds of others which are harmful. I think it is really good to point out to people's attention, so thanks to the OP.

To add some balance though, anyone who cooks steaks on a barbeque, or stir fries at a really high temperature is inhaling a small quantity of carcinogens. I'm not going to stop doing roasting or any of these other things.

[flynnaus]

I've never had any illusions that the crap I inhale every time I've home roasted coffee over the last 7 or so years is doing me any good.

Surely it's generated a sense of anticipation of good coffee to come when your senses tell you that you nailed the roast

[TOK]

Or even more likely....,next month there will be an article saying that coffee roasting fumes actually lengthen one's lifespan. Just like the one 20 years ago.....burnt toast causes cancer...., does anyone know of anyone who has died due to blackened Tip Top?

"...Or even more likely....,next month there will be an article saying that coffee roasting fumes actually lengthen one's lifespan..."
Yes, waiting for that one too...

"...burnt toast causes cancer...., does anyone know of anyone who has died due to blackened Tip Top..."
a) In my family, I am the person designated to eat anything that has been darkened further than anyone else likes, the easiest example of this being, the toast. I eat all the burnt toast, with suitable toppings (eg butter and vegemite for a start) and I love it. This has been going on for decades, and I am still here with a clean bill of health, and no cholesterol problem from eating real butter (there is no margarine in my home).

I am also the person that stood over a smokie old Probat roasting machine for decades. It did cause some problems that were taken care of with judicious use of a common facial respirator, with replacement cartridges fitted as and when required.

Is this article written by a recognized scientific body, and was the experiment conducted in a recognized scientific way? Are the results credible, or are they hearsay? Is the writer trying to find a problem, or simply reporting on something.

We used to talk in terms of parts per million. Are the instruments used these days, so sensitive that they can pick up "parts per BILLION". What does it all mean?

[chokkidog]

I would have thought I'm exposed to higher levels of more dangerous toxins/carcinogens on my delivery day,

or driving into the city for a cupping......

Slow news day.............

[TOK]

For what its worth, some years ago I used to ride my push bike to work and back on a daily basis. I eventually stopped the practice due to the polluted air on the city roads. Bit of a contradiction, wanting to keep fit while breathing smog. Not to mention the high risk of sharing the road with cars and trucks....

Just been knocking myself out reading the commentaries at the bottom of the article, and also went over to read the original article and the reader commentaries under that.

I think I would prefer to read a more balanced view than the one presented in the articles, supplied to me by suitably qualified paid professional advisers, tailored to the individual enterprise, before reacting.

[kyeba]

If roasting coffee is "bad" for you, then I'm screwed with all the glue, concrete dust and floor prep I'm sniffing on a daily basis at work