Rant: My old way of cooling beans was holding back my roasts
I stuck with just shaking beans in a bowl for years, thinking it was good enough. Then I noticed my coffee always had a smoky taste that covered up the fruity notes. After trying a simple wire colander with a fan blowing through, the change was night and day. Now I see cooling fast isn't just a detail, it's a key part of getting a clean cup.
Used to swear by the baking sheet trick for cooling beans fast. Got that same baked, flat taste once and it totally clicked for me. Now I just spread them on a towel on the counter. Takes longer but the flavor stays bright. Why risk wrecking a good roast with extra heat?