Goal: Learn how to maintain and update Roastables as your inventory evolves.
Prerequisites: You must have created Roastables in your RoastLog account.
The Evolution of Roastables
As a specialty coffee roaster, your inventory is constantly changing. New coffees arrive, old ones are depleted, and your offerings evolve. Managing your Roastables effectively ensures smooth operations as these changes occur.
Updating Single-Origin Roastables
When you're running low on a Bean Lot used in a single-origin Roastable:
First, receive the new lot of coffee into your inventory
Go to the Roastables page
Find the Roastable that needs updating
Click Edit this item
Change the Bean Lot to the new coffee
Save your changes
Updating Blend Components
When a component in a blend is running low:
Go to the Roastables page
Click on the blend name
Click Edit this item
Click on the component that needs updating
Select the replacement Bean Lot
Adjust percentages if necessary
Save your changes
Update blend components when lots are depleted or when adjusting recipes.
Seasonal Blend Management
For seasonal blends that change throughout the year:
Option 1: Create new blends - Make an entirely new Roastable with the season in the name
Option 2: Update existing blends - Modify the components but keep the same name
We generally recommend Option 1 for better historical tracking.
Archiving Obsolete Roastables
When you no longer use a Roastable:
Go to the Roastables page
Find the obsolete Roastable
Select it and click Archive in the toolbar
Archiving keeps your active Roastables list clean while preserving historical records.
Important: If you archive a Bean Lot, rather than a Roastable, all associated single-origin Roastables are automatically archived. Make sure to update any blends using that Bean Lot before archiving. Archiving a Roastable has no impact on the Bean Lots.
Tracking Profile Evolution
If you're working to improve a roast profile over time:
Create a new version of the Roastable (e.g., "House Blend v2")
Keep the original Roastable for reference
Use the notes field to document the changes
Compare roast data between versions
This approach helps you maintain consistency while allowing for controlled improvement.
Best Practices for Roastable Management
Regular review: Schedule weekly reviews of all Roastables
Advance planning: Update Roastables before Bean Lots are completely depleted
Clear documentation: Use the notes field to explain any significant changes
Consistent naming: Develop and stick to a naming convention
Single owner: Assign one person (typically the green buyer or production manager) to manage Roastables