There is a certain satisfaction if you drink a cup of coffee from coffee beans that you roast yourself. Home-roasted coffee tastes fresher and has a complex flavor not found in store-bought coffee. Begin with Step 1 below to learn how to roast your own coffee beans and experience the difference firsthand.
Step
Coffee Roasting Basics
Whatever method you choose to roast your coffee beans, there are some characteristics of the coffee beans to keep in mind when you roast them. In general, your taste or preference will determine when the coffee roasting time is over.
Step 1. Remember the smell of coffee
When you first start heating green, raw coffee beans, they will turn a yellowish color and begin to give off a grassy aroma. When they start to really roast, the beans will start to smoke and smell like the roasted coffee you're used to smelling.
Step 2. Know that the roasting time is based on the color of the coffee beans
While you'll start with a 'green' bean, the beans will go through a series of color changes once they start roasting. A rule of thumb to remember is that the darker the coffee bean, the fuller the bean will be.
- Light brown: this color is generally avoided as the result can be sour. The coffee texture is weak, the aroma is medium, and the sweetness is low.
- Medium light brown: roasted coffee of this color is common in the eastern United States. This roasted coffee has a full body, full aroma and a mild sweet taste.
- Full medium chocolate: coffee beans of this color are common in the Western United States. This roasted coffee has a full body, strong aroma, and a mild sweet taste.
- Medium dark chocolate: roasted coffee beans of this color are also known as Viennese or light French roasts. This roasted coffee has a very full body, strong aroma, and a strong sweet taste.
- Dark chocolate: This roasted coffee bean is known as espresso or French roast coffee. This roasted coffee has a full body, medium aroma and full sweetness.
- Very dark (almost black): This roasted coffee bean is also known as dark Spanish and French roast. This roasted coffee has a weak texture, mild aroma, and low sweetness.
Step 3. Listen for the crackling sound
As the coffee beans begin to roast, the water in them will begin to evaporate, causing a crackling or crackling sound. There are generally two stages of rattling, called the first and second creaking. These two sounds occur as the temperature rises during the roasting process.
Method 1 of 3: Using the Oven
Since there is very little airflow, roasting coffee beans in the oven can sometimes result in a slightly uneven roast. However, the lack of airflow in the oven can also increase the richness of the roasted coffee produced if the oven is used properly.
Step 1. Preheat your oven to 232°C
While the oven is heating, prepare the baking sheet that will be used. For this method you will need a pan that has lots of small holes and walls that will keep all the coffee beans in the pan. These pans can be found at kitchen supply stores.
If you don't want to buy a new baking sheet but happen to have an old one with walls, you can make your own one for roasting your coffee. Take a baking sheet and use a 0.2 cm drill bit to carefully punch holes in the pan. The holes should be 1.27 cm apart and small enough so that no coffee beans will fall through the holes
Step 2. Spread the coffee beans on the baking sheet
Pour the coffee beans into the baking dish and flatten them so that they form only one layer. Coffee beans should be close to each other but not overlapping. Once the oven has reached the desired temperature, place the baking sheet containing the coffee beans onto the center rack of the oven.
Step 3. Roast the coffee beans for 15 to 20 minutes
Listen for a cracking or popping sound. This sound is caused by the water contained in the evaporating coffee beans. An audible popping sound indicates that the coffee beans are roasting and getting darker. Stir the coffee every few minutes to help it roast more evenly.
Step 4. Remove the coffee from the oven
Once the coffee beans are roasted to your liking, remove them from the oven immediately. To help the coffee cool quickly, pour the coffee into a perforated container or metal filter and stir. This will help cool the coffee beans and remove the bran/husk.
Method 2 of 3: Using a Popcorn Popper
Roasting coffee beans on the stove is best done with a traditional popcorn maker. And the best thing to use is the crank-type popcorn maker, which can generally be found at used kitchen supply stores or online. Roasting coffee beans on the stove will produce roasted coffee beans with a darker color and fuller body, but will reduce the aroma and feel of the lighter coffee color.
Step 1. Place the empty popcorn maker on the stove
Heat over medium heat until the temperature of the appliance is around 232°C. If possible, use a candy thermometer or deep fryer thermometer to check the temperature.
If you don't have a popcorn maker and don't want to buy one, you can use a large skillet. Make sure the pan is very clean, otherwise your coffee beans may absorb any aroma or taste left over from the food that was previously cooked in the pan
Step 2. Add the coffee beans
You should only roast 226.8 g of coffee beans per process. Close the popcorn maker and start turning the crank handle. You need to stir constantly so that the coffee beans roast evenly.
If you're using a skillet, you'll also need to stir constantly – there's a greater chance that the coffee beans will burn if you use a skillet
Step 3. Listen for the crackling sound
After about four minutes (although it could be up to seven minutes) you should start to hear a crackling sound from the coffee beans - this means the coffee is starting to roast. At the same time, the coffee will start to produce smoke with a coffee aroma that can be very strong. Turn on your oven hood fan and open the window to let the smoke out. Record the time when the coffee beans start to crackle.
Step 4. Check the color of the coffee beans frequently
Once it starts to crackle, wait a minute then start checking the color of the coffee beans. When the coffee beans have reached your desired color, pour them into a metal colander and keep stirring until the coffee beans cool down.
Method 3 of 3: Using an Air Roaster
Step 1. Consider the pros and cons
Mechanical coffee roasters are more expensive, but are a very efficient roaster alternative. This tool works in the same way as a popcorn maker, in that hot air is blown into the coffee beans. However, this roaster produces coffee beans that are roasted very evenly.
Step 2. Consider a grill with hot air as the heating medium
This type of roaster is also called a fluid bed roaster. This type of roaster has a glass case that allows you to monitor the color of the coffee beans as they roast, so you can roast them to the color you want.
Grills of this type include FreshRoast8, Hearthware I-Roast 2, and Nesco Professional. Follow your roaster's instructions to roast your coffee beans to perfection
Step 3. Done
Tips
- Let the roasted coffee beans rest for 24 hours before you grind them and use them to make coffee.
- Do the above in a well-ventilated area to avoid smoke problems. Also, don't do it near a smoke alarm. The smoke produced from the roasting process of coffee beans will trigger a smoke alarm, as if there is an emergency such as a fire when in fact it is not.
