A crucial part of any high quality coffee is the expertise of the person in charge of the final roast, or the "cupper", as they are known in the industry. The finest quality green beans are nothing without the hand of a qualified cupper involved in determining the temperature and amount of time the beans are roasted to produce the final product.

Roasting releases the flavors, acidity and oils within the coffee bean. There is no standard formula on how to roast coffee since every harvest is different and even coffee taken from the same farm will differ somewhat from year to year, depending on the amount of rain, sunshine and when the coffee fruit is pollinated. An experienced cupper has the ability to detect the crucial essence within the roasted coffee and decide if there is a need to increase or decrease the roast time or temperature in order to maximize the unique characteristics of each crop of green beans.

Don Marcos was as discerning in who he chose to supervise the roasting of Don Marcos Coffee as he was in choosing from the highest quality beans available. He chose the internationally renowned Juan Lizano as his expert cupper. Mr. Lizano is one of the few certified "Q Graders" in the coffee industry and is sought by the finest coffee producers in the world to ensure that their huge investments in green gourmet coffee beans are rewarded with the best possible results.

This intimate knowledge is what makes Don Marcos Coffee a truly superb coffee."