Terrelli Coffee: The Taste of Italy — One Cup at a Time

With more than 17 years of roasting experience and credits that include serving as a judge for international coffee roasting competitions, Larry Davidson knows the value of premiere roasting equipment. In the café and restaurant business, you don't get very far without it. That's why Larry and his wife, Melissa, chose to roast their own coffee on a Probat Burns coffee roaster at Bean Bros. Cafe, the eatery they ran in Vancouver, British Columbia, for 15 years. In fact, the love of well-roasted coffee is what led Larry and Melissa to sell their restaurant in 2008 and open a wholesale coffee business, Terrelli Coffee. They now use two Probat Burns roasters, the L12 and the L25, to facilitate their mission of helping people experience the best Italian-style coffee.

It's one thing to know that Probat Burns equipment has a good reputation, but it's another thing entirely to know how it actually compares to other equipment in the industry. Larry knows this from firsthand experience. In the past he has helped several friends learn how to roast by training them on other brands of roasters — many of which included some supposedly exciting features.

"I looked at all the bells and whistles of these other roasters, and I could see why my friends liked them," Larry says. "But once I started playing with the machines, I realized that the ‘special features’ created far too many variables during the roasting process. I had to run around like a mad man, opening and closing vents just to manage the airflow and the heat. It was both exhausting and inefficient."

In contrast, Probat Burns coffee roasters feature a built-in choke that allows the machines to reach a precise temperature and maintain the heat in an efficient way. While Larry originally thought he wanted completely manual controls on his coffee roaster, Launtia Taylor, director of sales and marketing at Probat Burns, assessed his business needs and suggested an automatic machine instead. He's glad she did. As Larry explains, "The Probat Burns roasters simply do what they're supposed to do. The machines do the work, allowing me to stay focused on the art of the roast."

These machines are incredibly easy to operate. As a result, Larry is able to run both of his Probat Burns coffee roasters at the same time for even greater output per hour. He also likes that the machines allow for easy loading of green beans and quick cleaning after each use, saving him a lot of time and ensuring a safe, clean shop.

What impresses Larry is that Probat Burns not only manufactures such well-designed machines, but also offers exceptional service and support. In addition to Launtia's guidance during the equipment selection process, Larry received excellent support throughout the startup and commissioning of his new L12 roaster and L25 roasting system. Andreas Van Honk walked Larry through the installation process and answered all of his questions as he began using his new equipment. From then on, it was smooth roasting.

Larry says, "There are certain features you just can't appreciate until you start roasting. You then see that the Probat Burns equipment is truly exceptional." The obvious result is that the coffee is, as well!

Much of the coffee being consumed on North America today is high in acidity, low in flavor and brewed fast for people who drink it on the run. Larry says that most people can only stand to drink a cup or two of that kind of coffee — it leaves an unpleasant aftertaste and bothers their stomachs.

In contrast, European coffee, especially Italian coffee, is much more flavorful and is meant to be enjoyed throughout the day while taking the time to sit and sip it. That's the kind of coffee Larry roasts. He prefers to take it slow: roast slow, brew slow, drink slow.

Larry encourages his customers to enjoy that full Italian coffee experience by using the newest pulse brewing technologies and espresso machines from providers like Bunn and Nuova Simonelli. These machines are designed to brew the coffee for five or six minutes, rather than the standard three or four minutes. Larry explains that the result is a much richer cup of coffee — like drinking a thick merlot instead of a table wine.

"It actually enhances your mood. And it's just one part of a larger experience that might also include good company, a pleasant view or just a peaceful moment during an otherwise hectic day."

Terrelli Coffee invites you to sit back, relax and experience coffee the way it was meant to be enjoyed. If you close your eyes, you won't even realize you're not actually in Venice. Buona giornata!