The roasting is remarkably easy - literally just like making popcorn. The entire process takes no more than 5 minutes. As for blends, that's part of the fun. I roast a little Arrabica and Robusta from different locations, each with different characteristics - then grind to a fine powder and mix them in different proportions and roasts (e.g. dark roasted Robusta with brown roasted Arrabica mixing Bali and Sumatera). Try using chocolate milk instead of regular. Use brown sugar instead of white. Use Bailey's Irish Cream for a little kick. Top with whipped cream. Add a dash of cinemon, nutmeg or vanilla extract. With a few simple ingredients and a total investment of about half an hour, you can have all sorts of exotic coffee and never even have to say the word "starclucks". Cost per cup is on the order of pennies.