Pioneers in Prague: Exploring Doubleshot Coffee Roastery
We met up with Jaroslav Tuček at the Doubleshot Coffee Roastery, just outside of Prague's city limits. Jaroslav is one of the founders of Doubleshot, the first specialty coffee roastery in the Czech Republic to source directly from coffee producers—a trait that still defines them today.
What began on a coffee farm in Panama has transformed into a leading coffee brand in the Czech Republic. With a commitment to consistently sourcing and roasting quality beans, Doubleshot has set itself apart in the world of specialty coffee.
A Journey from Panama to Prague
The story of Doubleshot started back in 2009 when Jaroslav, along with his girlfriend Camila, spent a year working on a coffee farm in Boquete, Panama.
Under the mentorship of renowned coffee farmer Graciano Cruz, they immersed themselves in the coffee world, learning everything from cultivation to processing.
Their journey wasn’t just about understanding coffee; it was about building relationships with the people who grow it. This hands-on experience laid the foundation for what would become Doubleshot Specialty Coffee Roastery.
Simultaneously, their partner Jaro was gaining experience at 49th Parallel, a well-respected coffee roastery in Vancouver, Canada. With these diverse experiences, they reunited in the Czech Republic and decided to introduce the country to specialty coffee, focusing on direct trade relationships with producers. In 2010, this was a groundbreaking move, as most of the Czech coffee market was dominated by Italian-style blends.
Doubleshot’s Growth and Commitment to Quality
Fast forward to today, Doubleshot isn’t just a specialty coffee roastery. The company has expanded to include four shops in downtown Prague—two espresso bars and two full-service, breakfast-oriented coffee shops. Despite this growth, the heart of the business remains its dedication to coffee.
With a team of nine passionate individuals, Doubleshot roasts approximately 12 tons of coffee every month, striving for excellence in every cup.
Innovation with SOVDA: Elevating Coffee Quality
One of the secrets to Doubleshot’s success lies in its commitment to growth and expansion. A significant step in this direction was the purchase of the Sovda Pearl Mini Color Sorter. The decision to invest in this advanced technology was pragmatic. As Jaroslav explained, “We moved to a big roaster, the IMF 60 kilo, and realized it was impossible to pick out quakers manually from the coffee moving in the cooling tray.”
Quakers—beans that don’t roast properly due to being underdeveloped or defective—can ruin a coffee's flavor. Traditionally, removing them has been a labor-intensive process, often done by hand. But with the Sovda Pearl Mini and its sophisticated optical sorting capabilities, Doubleshot can efficiently sort out these undesirable beans. This ensures that only the highest quality beans make it into each roast, enhancing the flavor profile of their coffee.
The Role of the SOVDA Coffee Color Sorter
The Sovda Color Sorter plays a crucial role beyond just removing quakers. It allows the team at Doubleshot to fine-tune the coffee’s flavor profile by sorting out semi-quakers—beans that are partially defective and might not always negatively impact the taste. “The amount of how much you sort does have a direct impact on the flavors in the cup,” Jaroslav noted, highlighting the control that the SOVDA sorter provides over the final product.
If Doubleshot had chosen a different roaster, Jaroslav believes they would still have invested in a color sorter. The sheer volume they roast makes the Sovda Pearl Mini not just a convenience but a necessity. The time saved and the precision in sorting means better coffee for their customers and a more efficient operation overall.
Staying True to Their Roots
Despite their growth and technological advancements, the team at Doubleshot remains passionate about coffee. “We are still people that really enjoy buying and roasting coffee as we were 14 years ago,” Jaroslav shared. The journey from green beans to a perfectly roasted batch is something that continues to excite and inspire them.
For coffee enthusiasts, Doubleshot is more than just a coffee roastery; it’s a testament to what happens when passion meets innovation. By combining traditional knowledge with cutting-edge technology like the Sovda Color Sorter, they’re not just roasting coffee—they’re crafting a consistently superb experience.
