Can you roast coffee beans at home? Of course, you can! For some coffee lovers, grinding and roasting their coffee can be fun and relaxing.
Besides helping you to control the flavor and aroma profile of the beans, you can always enjoy a fresh cup of coffee every morning!
Are you interested in trying it yourself? Unfortunately, some people, including you, might hesitate to roast their coffee at home.
Does it require a specific technique? Or is the process complicated? Don’t worry; you only need a guide on how to roast coffee beans at home and some supporting equipment.
Let’s get into what are the stages you will go through when roasting coffee beans at home.
Table of Contents
Stages of Coffee Beans Roasting
Each stage plays a vital role in the final flavor of the coffee beverage. By understanding each stage and what it entails, you can produce coffee with a flavor profile to your liking!
1. Raw Coffee
The first stage of coffee roasting that you will go through is to prepare some raw green coffee beans. Their characteristics include being green in color and having a reasonably high moisture content of around 10-12%. You can feel free to use any beans from any region with varied flavor profiles.
2. Drying
Once you have finished preparing the green coffee beans, dry them to remove their moisture content. Place the coffee in a coffee roasting device and set the temperature to 160°c for a few minutes.
This process lasts for a few minutes, and the beans turn yellow. Coffee beans that are still moist will prevent them from being roasted evenly. This may also affect the final result of the coffee.
3. Maillard
Next, the coffee beans will enter the Maillard stage. This chemical process combines the sugar and amino acid content of the coffee beans thanks to high temperatures, around 150-200°C.
This stage is where the complex aroma and flavor of the coffee is formed. The color will turn brownish, and the aroma will start to become fragrant.
Also read: Be The Master! 4 Coffee Roasting Levels Chart: W/ Image & Guide
4. Browning
Continuing the Maillard reaction, the browning stage makes your coffee beans appear darker and the aroma stronger. At this point, several new compounds are formed that give a cup of coffee its particular flavor profile, including its acidity and bitterness!
5. First Crack & Development
This stage is equally important because it determines how mature you want your coffee to be. Here, each coffee bean will experience increased internal pressure and release carbon dioxide gas, resulting in cracking. If you think about it, the process is similar to raw corn popping into popcorn.
After the first crack, these coffee beans enter the development process. You can stop here to produce a light roast coffee with a mild and slightly acidic flavor.
6. Second Crack
After the first crack, there is also a similar stage- the second crack. This stage generally occurs when the roasting temperature of the coffee reaches 210°C.
If you hear this second crack, it’s a sign that the coffee beans are fully roasted. This results in a more bitter, smoky, and thick coffee. Avoid roasting it too long, as it will cause your coffee to taste bitter, even to the point of being undrinkable!
7. Cooling
Temporarily cool your beans so that the roasting process can completely halt. You can spread them out and air them directly or use a fan as an auxiliary tool. Cooling your beans in the right way will preserve the unique characteristics of each coffee bean!
The Benefits of Roasting Coffee Beans at Home
Why should we roast our coffee beans at home? Before knUnbeknownst to us, this process provides several benefits to consider. Here are some of them:
- Taste Quality: Roasting your coffee will give you the flexibility to customize the maturity level of the beans. Do you prefer light roast or dark roast coffee beans? Tailor it to your personal preference and taste.
- Freshness: Freshly roasted coffee beans will provide a much better aroma and flavor than long-aged packaged coffee.
- Cost Savings: While you will need to spend significant money to invest in raw coffee beans and processing equipment, you can still save money. This is because raw coffee beans are sold cheaper than pre-roasted coffee.
What You Will Need and How to Roast Coffee Beans at Home
What do you need to roast coffee beans at home? Before knowing how to roast coffee beans at home, you need to prepare the following equipment.
- Raw Coffee Beans: Choose high-quality coffee beans from a trusted coffee exporter. Check to make sure they come in good condition and fresh!
- Roasting Tools: Utilize various roasting tools, including works, home coffee roasters, and even popcorn machines.
- Thermometer: During the roasting process, you must monitor the temperature continuously. To make it easier, use a thermometer so that the coffee beans can produce optimal flavor.
Do you have to wash and peel the coffee beans before roasting? The answer is no; it is not necessary. Exporters usually clean the beans before selling them in the market.
Also read: Arabica Coffee Medium Roast: A Comprehensive Guide
Ways to Roast Coffee Beans at Home
Is there a best way to roast coffee beans at home? This is highly variable as each roasting technique has its advantages and disadvantages. It also depends on the equipment used and your flavor preferences.
1. Roasting on the Stovetop
There’s no way you can’t roast coffee beans with a pot and a stove. This is the easiest method to roast coffee! How do you roast coffee beans at home in a pan? First, heat a pan on the stove over medium heat.
Add the raw coffee beans and keep stirring so that they cook evenly. To avoid burning the beans, you need to monitor their physical appearance.
2. Roasting in the Oven
On the other hand, many people favor roasting coffee beans in the oven. How do you roast coffee in the oven at home? First, preheat the oven to 220-230°C.
Once it has reached that temperature, place the raw coffee beans on a baking sheet and roast for 12-15 minutes. Stir periodically so that your coffee cooks evenly.
3. Roasting in a Popcorn Machine
Without realizing it, roasting coffee beans at home can be done by a popcorn machine! Apart from making popcorn, this machine can also roast coffee beans perfectly. It’s easy; just put the raw coffee beans in the machine and turn it on.
Let the beans roast to your desired level of doneness. Surprisingly, this method is quite efficient and provides consistent coffee results.
4. Roasting in a Home Coffee Roaster
The last method, which is the most professional, is to use a coffee roaster. Follow the instructions, but generally, the roasting process takes 10-15 minutes.
The Proper Way to Store Roasted Coffee Beans
Now that you know how to roast them properly, it’s time to learn the guidelines for storing roasted coffee beans! With the proper storage method, your coffee beans can stay fresh.
How long is coffee fresh after roasting? Ideally, these beans should be consumed within 2-4 weeks. Let’s take a look at 3 tips for storing coffee beans properly!
- Use a Sealed Container: Use an opaque container to store your coffee beans properly. This will prevent oxidation or contamination with air or unpleasant odors.
- Avoid Sunlight: Place this container in a dark place not exposed to direct sunlight. You should know that direct sunlight can damage the flavor of coffee beans.
- Keep away from Extreme Temperatures: Thirdly, store it in a slightly cool and dry place. Do not store it in a place that is too hot or humid because it can reduce the quality of the coffee produced.
Enjoy Fresh Homemade Coffee!
Understanding how to roast coffee beans at home and properly storing it allows you to enjoy a fresh cup of coffee anytime!
Feel free to use multiple varieties of coffee beans at different times for a unique and distinct flavor profile! To produce the best-tasting coffee, let’s explore the different varieties of Indonesian-origin beans available at FnB Coffee.
Whether it’s the Arabica or Robusta variety, all the coffees we export are certainly top-quality coffees with mouthwatering flavors and aromas. Visit our website now! Choose from some of our best-selling beans and have the best experience of enjoying a cup of homemade coffee at home!
