Roasting coffee for your first time does not have to be difficult. In fact we can make it very simple for you. Its like cooking dinner....you need ingredients, a recipe, and a way to cook. So basically you need some green coffee beans, a way to heat them so they get dark, and a recipe to follow so your don't 'burn your meal' or in this case your coffee! We will break down these 3 steps so you will be able to make some choices on how to get started.
Choose Your Bean
The first thing you must do is select some green coffee you would like to roast. This will be an easy process. If you have never roasted before, don't get caught up with finding the perfect blend, or roasting some expensive peaberry. Just select a simple single origin coffee such as a Colombian or Brazil to get your feet wet. You will have plenty of time later to start researching the perfect blend, or sampling exotic beans from the four corners of the globe!
Remember, green coffee unlike roasted coffee has a long shelf life. As long as you are getting this season's crop, which you will be from us or any other reputable supplier, your coffee will keep for up to a year! Store it in a container at room temperature and you will be ready to roast the freshest coffee anytime you want! Find a bean here
The first thing you must do is select some green coffee you would like to roast. This will be an easy process. If you have never roasted before, don't get caught up with finding the perfect blend, or roasting some expensive peaberry. Just select a simple single origin coffee such as a Colombian or Brazil to get your feet wet. You will have plenty of time later to start researching the perfect blend, or sampling exotic beans from the four corners of the globe!
Remember, green coffee unlike roasted coffee has a long shelf life. As long as you are getting this season's crop, which you will be from us or any other reputable supplier, your coffee will keep for up to a year! Store it in a container at room temperature and you will be ready to roast the freshest coffee anytime you want! Find a bean here
Your Recipe
The second thing you will need to have is a 'recipe' or 'game plan' on how to cook your beans. The key ingredient to your recipe is called line of sight. There are several methods to roasting coffee which we will get to in the 3rd step, but most of them all include watching and listening to your roast. Roasting coffee is a short process which can take anywhere between 5-18 minutes depending on your roasting equipment. While you are roasting you must keep your beans moving, and you must be able to see the beans as they begin to change color. Your recipe will be based on color charts, and listening for 'pops' or 'cracks' that the beans make as they near the end of their roast. On your first roast it is a good idea to aim for a 'City Roast' which is in between the 1st and 2nd crack. Doing this will give you some 'breathing room' in case you make a mistake, and it will be a good guidepost for future roasts. When you are ready to roast, refer to the city roast sample in the color chart for a target of what your finished bean should look like. this info and more can be found here.
The second thing you will need to have is a 'recipe' or 'game plan' on how to cook your beans. The key ingredient to your recipe is called line of sight. There are several methods to roasting coffee which we will get to in the 3rd step, but most of them all include watching and listening to your roast. Roasting coffee is a short process which can take anywhere between 5-18 minutes depending on your roasting equipment. While you are roasting you must keep your beans moving, and you must be able to see the beans as they begin to change color. Your recipe will be based on color charts, and listening for 'pops' or 'cracks' that the beans make as they near the end of their roast. On your first roast it is a good idea to aim for a 'City Roast' which is in between the 1st and 2nd crack. Doing this will give you some 'breathing room' in case you make a mistake, and it will be a good guidepost for future roasts. When you are ready to roast, refer to the city roast sample in the color chart for a target of what your finished bean should look like. this info and more can be found here.
Your Method
The final step you must take is to decide how your coffee will be roasted. We can split up the methods of roasting into 2 basic formats: Manual roasting & Automated roasting. If cost is a consideration, manual roasting might be your method of choice. If you don't mind spending some money, you might choose an automated approach. There are many automated options with a broad price range to choose from. Both methods will produce a fine fresh cup of coffee so you must make the choice by weighing the pro's and con's of both and factoring that in with what you are looking to achieve. Here are some basic pros and cons of manual vs. automated .
with great satisfaction knowing that you roasted it yourself. The following link will describe some common roasting methods, and hopefully give you the information you require to choose a method of roasting. Roasting Equipment & methods
The final step you must take is to decide how your coffee will be roasted. We can split up the methods of roasting into 2 basic formats: Manual roasting & Automated roasting. If cost is a consideration, manual roasting might be your method of choice. If you don't mind spending some money, you might choose an automated approach. There are many automated options with a broad price range to choose from. Both methods will produce a fine fresh cup of coffee so you must make the choice by weighing the pro's and con's of both and factoring that in with what you are looking to achieve. Here are some basic pros and cons of manual vs. automated .
- Manual +: less expensive, easier to see the process, greater involvement and achievement.
- Manual -: roast may be uneven, more smoke, no temperature and timer controls, greater involvement (labor)
- Automated +: greater control, less labor and involvement, less smoke, more even roasts, less of a learning curve
- Automated -: More expensive, might be visually harder to see, less achievement satisfaction
with great satisfaction knowing that you roasted it yourself. The following link will describe some common roasting methods, and hopefully give you the information you require to choose a method of roasting. Roasting Equipment & methods