Roasting coffee at home

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For coffee lovers roasting your coffee beans at home can be an exciting and very satisfying experience.

3 key tips for home roasters

1. Monitor Colour and Sound: Beans will change colour and emit a cracking sound (first crack and second crack) during roasting. Pay attention to these cues for desired roast levels. Dependant on the coffee bean you are roasting and the characteristics you wish to bring out, some folks don’t go as far as the second crack. Experimentation and measurement are a part of the engaging journey of roasting coffee

2. Once roasted, quickly cool the beans by spreading them out on a baking sheet or using a colander.

3. Allow roasted beans to degas for a few hours, then store them in an airtight container away from light and heat. That said we must admit that one of the founding partners is often so eager to taste the freshly roasted coffee that he often fails to wait for degassing to complete and will sneak off for a quick brew before the roasted coffee has properly degassed.

Roasting methods

Frying Pan or Skillet

At its simplest, all you need is a large pan and lots of concentration and an energetic arm. Once you have added the green beans over a medium heat, you need to watch carefully and make sure you stir the beans continuously to avoid scorching them and ensure they are roasted evenly.

Air Popcorn Popper

The machine will not need pre-heating, just add the green beans like you would popcorn and switch it on. It’s a quick method but you can only do a limited number of beans and again you’ll need to monitor and measure to taste.

Home Coffee Roaster

For the dedicated coffee lover, investing in a home roaster could ultimately be the way to go. The initial investment may be costly, but the benefits include an automated process with precise control over temperature and time, enabling you to make some very controlled measurements. 

Once you have found and noted your favourite taste profile, you can accurately set up the roaster to repeat and provide you with the consistent results you so like.

If you’re keen to try roasting your own coffee, there are a number of different roasters who sell green beans online. You can even purchase small quantities on Amazon.