It may sound complicated and challenging to roast coffee at home. In fact, the process is simply exciting, joyful, and economical. At the same time, with just a couple of easy steps and some little bucks that you surely can afford, you will learn how to roast the coffee beans like a pro. That’s why you should give it a try.
What’s more, it would take you a very short time, probably 10mn at maximum, to finish the roasting process. So do it once; you can drink your freshly brewed coffee with the best flavor and incredible aroma for the next several days. This simple action would make you feel like a reward.
One thing for sure, you don’t need a lot of expensive or complex equipment to get started with roasting coffee at home. The truth is you can roast green coffee beans in various methods, like roasting beans in the machine, in the oven, or a skillet on the stovetop.
Remember that all of these techniques are fine to follow, but they take a lot longer to roast and tend to be fussier if you don’t do it well. As a result, a simple hot air popcorn maker always ranks on the top when roasting coffee at home. It is one of the best approaches. Long story short, it is speedy, stress-free, and cost-effective for you to make the work done faster and quicker.
List of the most primary equipment you need for roasting coffee at home:
- A hot air popcorn maker to roast the green bean
- A big bowl to remove the messy chaff from coffee
- A wooden tray to cool down the beans after roasting
Best Procedures To Roast Coffee At Home
- Choose a proper place you can roast the Beans
- Measure the preferred quantity of green coffee beans you want to roast
- Start the bean roasting process
- Pay attention to the first crack
- Take note of your perfect definition of roast level, timing, and color of the beans
- Wait for the roasted beans to degas
FAQs
How To Choose The Right Green Beans For Roasting?
If you want to be a future pro home roaster, you should have the aspiring aptitude to learn how to choose the best possible green beans or unroasted beans.
Indeed, you need some basic knowledge regarding the special profiles of each green bean type; then, all things will be well-equipped for you to brew a perfect cup of joe for your people.
Likewise, the global market of green beans can be flabbergasted for you as a home roaster newbie to select the right type of coffee for the first time.
Auspiciously, you need to do more research and experiments and get more training from industry experts about the distinctions of green bean types; then, you will choose the one you demand the most. Here are some basic green bean characteristics you should be skeptical about before purchasing:
- Coffee’s origin is determined by the conditions in which it was grown. This includes the environment of soil, humidity, and climate. You can taste coffee from all corners of the world, from small towns to large cities, and then compare the different flavors between each region.
- Coffee variety and species have an incredible impact on the quality of brewed coffee.
- Higher altitude with lower temperature produces the best coffee. This can make green coffee grow slower, allowing the sugars to develop more in the bean with a richer, sweeter, and more acidic flavor.
- Coffee bean processing is how coffee beans or seeds are removed from the fruit. The entire coffee cherry is dehydrated before the fruit’s skin is removed in dry processing, giving it a fruitier and sweeter flavor. Meanwhile, in wet processing, coffees are washed from the fruit in advance; thus, they are less sweet but a lot cleaner.
What Is The Roasting Time For Your Coffee?
Many factors affect the time for coffee roasting. Moreover, it doesn’t necessarily mean that every roasted coffee will taste the same even if you use the same method or length. Always remember that every coffee is different. The influences include room temperature, humidity, desired roast level, types of equipment for roasting, bean types, bean sizes, and even the amount of beans you want to roast.
If you want to roast a small number of beans, the process can be done in a hot air popcorn maker in less than 10 minutes. Of course, it could take you even less time if you prefer a light roast.
You may need to pay attention to the first few times you roast coffee at home. Then, more or less, you will get accustomed to the process as you practice, practice, and practice. This will allow you to improve your judgment of what stage you are at and estimate the time it will take to reach your desired roast level.
What is The First Crack?
Two “cracks” occur during the entire roasting process. These cracks refer to the popping sounds that appear when the coffee beans enlarge and become dehydrated. In general, the first crack appears in between 3 and 5 minutes.
Right after the first crack, it’s called a light roast. Medium roasts usually finish within a few minutes of the first crack but not straight to the second crack. Dark roasts are completed right after the second crack or a little earlier.
It can be difficult at first to distinguish between the first and second cracks. As you get used to roasting and its cracked sounds, this work will become easier.
How To Start Roasting Coffee?
It’s significant to seek somewhere appropriate to roast your popcorn before you start. Although you don’t need much space, the popcorn popper can get louder and produce some smoke.
You should ensure that the space is proper, free, safe, and big enough for your popcorn popper to settle. Furthermore, it would be best to have a big bowl to collect the chaff from roasting beans. The most recommended sites are as follow:
- Find a place near a sink because it is easy for the chaff to stay in one place
- Always choose outdoors, especially on a clean surface
- A table to hold a popcorn popper and a bowl
- Turn on a fan under the stove for a better cool down system
Allow Your Freshly Roasted Beans To Degas After Roasting
The bean is subject to gases when it roasts coffee. So, degassing refers to the release of gases from roasted coffee. Therefore, brewing coffee while the beans are still in degassing progress can result in uneven coffee extraction.
It may undeniably be alluring to start brewing your coffee immediately right after roasting. The best practice is to wait for the beans to cool down for some time, at least a couple of days before you brew it. In short, patience is key to getting the best result out of your hard work of home roasting.
Final Thought
Roasting your coffee is an exceptional experience. You can choose whichever types of green coffee bean you are fond of and control the level you roast you like for the perfect brew you love. Keep in mind that research is helpful, but experimentation is the best way to practice and learn. It will be easier to discover your favorite bean when you try more beans and compare them.