What’s better than learning how to roast coffee beans? is a rhetorical question because for us, there is nothing better than learning how to roast coffee beans at home.
Understanding the roasting process broadens your appreciation for the art and science of serving the perfect cup of coffee. home roasting also ensures that your coffee is as fresh as possible and that the roast is as light or dark as you prefer.
Reading: Best way to roast coffee at home
home grounds is a big proponent of home roasting. we love! we’ve seen countless people intending to try it just once, only to become addicted to roasting at home. it is a passion for lifelong learning with endless surprises and satisfactions. enjoy the best coffee in your home by following our simple guide. we cover the various methods, their pros and cons, and explore which one is best for you.
what will I need to start?
The beauty of selecting the best green coffee beans and roasting them at home is that there are virtually no barriers to entry. Depending on the method you choose and what you already have at home, you can start roasting today.
but before you start, be sure to watch this short video on the basics. will improve your chances of success in just a few minutes:
how to start: 4 ways to roast coffee (at home)
Dive into the world of home roasting is incredibly easy. choose the method with which you feel most comfortable among the following:
- pan roast/grill
- roasted in an oven
- roasted in a popcorn machine
- roast in a specially designed home coffee roaster
- <Popcorn machines are designed for popcorn. Using a popcorn machine to roast your coffee will void your warranty and the machine may break after a few months of regular roasting. Also, not all popcorn machines are suitable for popping beans.
- make sure your popcorn machine is hot on the sides. don’t roast coffee in a machine that heats from below! Not only will this result in a weak and uneven roast, but the buildup of straw can ignite and cause house fires.
- always clean up all the straw between roasts and never leave your popcorn machine unattended!
- beans get hot
- the beans are roasted
- beans get cold
- beans become delicious
- temperature: 350f to 500f is the widely accepted temperature range. this varies depending on the method you are using.
- agitation: your beans can never sit and roast! constant stirring ensures even heat distribution and therefore an even roast.
- First Crack: After 3-5 minutes, the kernels will produce an audible crack. this crack indicates that its beans are slightly roasted and are ideal for coffee with milk. this is the minimum time required to produce roasted beans. continue roasting and stirring for darker roasts.
- second crack: after a few more minutes another crack is heard. this crack indicates a medium roast. a few more minutes of roasting and your beans will be charred and unusable. experiment with the times to find your favorite roast.
- tip: we usually wait about 30 seconds after hearing the second crack.
- Chill: Transfer beans to a metal colander or parchment paper to cool. use two metal strainers (plastic can melt). shake and transfer your roasted beans between strainers. this cools the beans quickly and removes chaff. spread evenly over parchment paper to substitute for a metal strainer. this method is not as effective.
- remove chaff: chaff is the dried husk of the coffee bean. it’s too messy chill the beans outside or in the sink to reduce cleanup
- co2 helps naturally preserve roasted beans by displacing oxygen
- Oxidation ruins the beans. become obsolete
- too much co2 in the coffee beans creates too much crema (a bad thing)
- lack of co2 creates stale tasting coffee (also a bad thing)
- sealing freshly roasted beans in storage too soon will lead to co2 pressurization. this can pop off the top of your container, potentially damaging it.
- coffee beans that contain too much co2 will result in an off-flavor. give your beans a chance to degas!
- opinions differ. from a few hours to a few days. in our experience, we have found that 12 hours is a good rule of thumb. your experience may prove otherwise – do what works for you
- wait 24 hours before grinding & brew beer. the beans need a day to mature and achieve a full-bodied flavor
- store in an airtight container – keep beans fresh and use within seven days
- Coffee is always better when it’s fresh. after more than a week, your roasted beans will start to go stale as oxidation does its thing
- green coffee beans
- thick pan (cast iron/steel/uncoated)
- hot plate/grill (gas preferred)
- strainer x 2 (metal)
- mittens
- wooden spoon
- airtight storage container
- maximize ventilation. turn on the exhaust fan and open the windows. it’s going to get smoky and smelly (the good kind of smell, the bad kind of smoke). outdoor grilling is the preferred option to avoid overwhelming other occupants
- Place a heavy skillet over medium heat. around 450f will usually do the trick
- getting the temperature right the first time can be difficult. experiment to find the best heat
- a gas stove/grill will make reaching and adjusting the temperature much easier
- add a shallow layer of beans to the pan. just enough so you can stir easily
- keep stirring. never let beans sit. make sure they heat evenly
- listen to the first crack after 4-5 minutes. your beans are now lightly roasted
- Listen for second crack after 6-7 minutes. A few minutes later, the beans will crack a second time, indicating a medium roast. roasting for much longer will result in burnt beans. most people, including us, will wait about 30 seconds after this second crack before removing it from the heat
- Pour beans into strainer. Stir and shake. Cool them down as soon as possible. do it in the sink or outside to avoid the inevitable mess. wear heat resistant gloves! everything will be very hot
- leave beans exposed for 12 hours to degas
- green coffee beans
- perforated baking tray (regular trays work too)
- an oven
- strainer x 2 (metal)
- heat resistant gloves
- airtight storage container
- preheat oven to 500f: turn up to 11. temperature will vary for different beans and different ovens. start at 500f and experiment up and down from here to find what works for you
- open everything except the oven door: smoke will come out. maximize ventilation
- Spread beans on perforated pan: just one layer deep. don’t stack them!
- a perforated tray will produce the best results. just make sure the pan you’re using doesn’t allow the beans to slip through the holes
- beans expand during roasting and get stuck in any hole that is large enough to accommodate a green bean
- Don’t you have a perforated tray? try your luck with a regular cookie sheet and place a sheet of parchment paper under the beans. give them a couple of shakes while they toast
- place in pan on middle rack: the middle of the oven provides the most consistent temperature
- Listen for the first “crack” after 5-7 minutes: Your beans are now lightly toasted. roasting for much longer will result in burnt beans.
- listen for the second “crack”: beans are now medium roast. most people, us included, will wait about 60 seconds after this second crack before removing from the oven
- transfer to a colander. stir and shake: cool as quickly as possible. do it in the sink or outside to avoid the inevitable mess. wear heat resistant gloves at all times
- leave beans exposed for 12 hours to vent co2.
- beans
- side vent popcorn machine
- wooden spoon
- strainer x 2 (metal)
- heat resistant gloves
- airtight storage container
- ventilate! grill near an open window, or outdoors, if possible, to avoid filling your home with fumes and odors
- preheat the machine. 30 seconds, depending on the model
- measure ½ cup of beans. place them in the machine. make sure the beans can spin
- popcorn machines should shake the beans. if there is no agitation, you have probably filled the machine too much
- using the same number of beans as the number of corn kernels recommended by the machines is a great starting point
- assist with stirring. use a spatula or wooden spoon and encourage the beans to start moving
- once you have steady movement, put the lid on
- keep an eye on this throughout the roast and lend a hand if needed
- use the handle if your spoon is too big
- collect the straw in a large bowl. Collect all the straw that will come out of the spout of the machine. as soon as you put the lid back on, put the bowl back in position to avoid a massive cleanup
- listen to the first “crack” at 3-5 minutes. You have achieved a light roast!
- listen for second crack at 6-8 minutes. your roast is medium! continue roasting for another 30 to 60 seconds for a darker roast. much longer and your beans will start to burn
- transfer between strainers to cool grains. wear oven mitts when handling machine and strainers. things are going to be suffocating. do this outside or over your sink to avoid a mess.
- allow 12 hours for the beans to release their co2. this is known as outgassing.
- beans
- coffee roasting machine
- heat resistant gloves
- optional: strainer x 2
- ventilation. all roasting methods, including dedicated machines, will produce a lot of smoke
- turn on the machine. add beans follow manufacturer’s directions. machines are similar, but requirements differ
- supervise the entire roasting process. Many machines call for full automation. however, with all the variables (bean size/type, ambient temperature, machine age, etc.) roast times can still vary
- listen to the first and second “cracks”. The first indicates a light roast. the second indicates medium. finish roasting once the beans have reached the desired roast
- transfer between strainers to cool beans: your machine may have its own cooling process. if not, cool them as soon as possible.
- Do this in the sink or outside to avoid the inevitable mess.
- use oven mitts for this process
- allow 12 hours for the beans to release co2
- airtight
- opaque/solid
- keep it cool
here’s a look at using the freshroast sr540 for home roasting – a great machine for beginners:
3. store them correctly
When you buy pre-roasted beans, you’ll notice a small valve on the outside of the bag. This is a one-way valve that allows accumulated CO2 to vent without letting in oxygen. This keeps the beans fresh for longer.
regardless of your storage solution, space age or stone age, it must be airtight (4). should also be kept cool and in the dark to ensure flavors are preserved as long as possible.
For something a little different, check out the must-have zevro smartspace wall-mounted dry food dispenser (below) that promises to be airtight and delivers about 1 ounce per shift.
There’s also the alligator vacuum sealed coffee canister (below) that promises a 100% money back lifetime guarantee. the only thing you need to remember is that to take advantage of its features you will need to seal it after each use of your beans.
Fancy storage solutions are all well and good and can help extend the shelf life of home-roasted beans by a few more days. however, you can avoid buying something extra by simply reusing an old mason jar.
And if you don’t have anything that fits your purpose, grab something cheap like the 16oz Stainless Steel Fries Vault:
Regardless of how you end up storing your beans, just remember:
verdict: should you roast your own coffee at home?
If you ask us, the answer is unequivocally yes.
Not only is it a fun and rewarding experience, it’s the only way to guarantee the freshest, tastiest beans while ensuring you always drink the roast you prefer: light, medium or dark. . the choice is yours.
with virtually no barriers to entry, you can start roasting with what you already own or make a few small purchases to get going. And now you know how to roast coffee beans from the comfort of your humble abode.
Wondering which is the best roast for each preparation method? see this article here.
Buying pre-roasted beans is still a good option. but with a little time and effort, you can start drinking the best coffee you’ve ever tasted!
plus, home roasted coffee is an ideal gift for your coffee-loving friends and family, as long as they love coffee as much as you do.
If you like to be a scientist and you like to check the extraction performance of the beans you roasted, our guide to coffee refractometers can help you.
so what do you think? Are you going to give the roast a try? have you already tried? Leave us a comment and share your experiences.
See also: 50 mẫu decor quán cafe đẹp, mới nhất 2022
roasting coffee in a home coffee roaster
If you’re serious about roasting, chances are you’ll end up buying a good home roaster. they’re getting cheaper and they toast much better than some of the tricks above.
See also: Coffee Enema Grinds and how to choose the right roast strength for you
two we can recommend are the freshroast sr540 (best for beginners, small batch roasting) or the behmor 5400 1600 drum roaster (for more experienced roasters looking to roast a pound at a time)
what you will need
method
toast coffee in a popcorn machine
Popcorn machines are made for popcorn. however, certain types, especially a hot air popcorn maker, can do a great job of roasting coffee beans. just be sure to read our safety concerns about popping with a popcorn machine before you get started.
what you will need
method
Note: If you’re looking for a French roast, this method isn’t the best option. keep reading.
toast coffee in the oven
Another popular method of home roasting involves the oven, but be careful: you will need ventilation as it will fill with smoke!
what you will need
method
Roasting in a pan or oven is the cheapest way to get fresh beans. but to produce the best possible results, we recommend that you choose a specially designed popcorn machine or coffee roaster for its simplicity and consistency.
If you want to start roasting on a budget, this video will show you how:
However, the jump in price from a popcorn machine to a coffee roaster can be huge. popcorn machines can be purchased new for as little as $20, while a high-quality home toaster can cost around $500, shooting up from there. the cheapest machines can cost around $150, but are often of inferior quality and can break down sooner.
a word of caution
Buy a dedicated roaster if it’s within your budget. the resulting roast is often better than popping out of a popcorn machine, and these are specially designed so they will generally last much longer than a popcorn machine.
The only method we don’t cover in this guide is microwave toasting. It is possible to roast beans this way, but the poor results and inconsistencies involved make it impossible for us to recommend this method. use one of our other four methods if you’re grilling at home.
The process is simple, and if you follow our guide, you’re guaranteed a fantastic roast no matter which method you choose.
understand the roasting process
In this article, we provide step-by-step instructions for each of the four home methods. your exact approach to toasting will vary depending on the method chosen.
but what never changes is the process:
It’s a simple process with a few necessary steps to take along the way to ensure great results. these important steps are valid for all methods.
Let’s take a quick look at what happens during and after roasting so you know what’s happening while the magic happens:
toasted
is one of those things you’ll get used to (and see) with practice. this video is a good start:
post-roasting and chemistry
See also: 5 Best Espresso Beans For Breville Machine
When you roast coffee beans, you are creating an incredible chemical transformation: the maillard reaction.
over 800 compounds are transformed (1) from the boring, flavorless compounds found in raw beans to the deliciously delicious, aromatic compounds found in roasted beans.
This is why raw beans don’t smell or taste anything like roasted beans. bean compounds are waiting to be transformed!
Roasted beans release gas (CO2): this continues for weeks (2) after roasting. why should you care?
degas: wait 12 hours before sealing in a container (allow initial co2 to escape)
grinding and storage after roasting
starting
alright, enough with the scientific side of things, you’re here to learn how to roast your own beans at home, so follow these steps and you’ll be roasting like a pro in no time…
1. buy green beans
It all starts with the beans, which technically speaking are seeds. fresh beans are green. once dry, they become several shades lighter. once roasted, they completely transform and become the beautiful and attractive shades of brown that we are used to seeing.
Great coffee is all about consistency. choose beans that are uniform in size and color – this ensures an even and consistent roast and flavor. getting these two elements right (color and size) is vital to avoid producing coffee with inconsistent and unfavorable flavor (3).
2. roast
This is where the magic happens. choose one of the four methods below and follow our guide to producing the freshest, most delicious beans you’ll ever taste.
Next, we’ll show you how to grill with a skillet, oven, popcorn maker, and home toaster.
toasted beans on a grill or pan
everyone has a skillet or grill, which means this method is very popular with the home roasting community.
You’ll find plenty of instructional videos on youtube, however be careful what advice you’re given – many DIY roasters tend to overcook their beans using this method!
