Roasting Coffee at Home

Achieving consistent roast quality at home without professional equipment is unlikely. Nevertheless, it is a very exciting activity. In this article, we will show you the most budget-friendly ways to roast coffee at home.

Roasting methods

Roasting coffee in a simple pan

Although there are many online recommendations and video tutorials on how to roast coffee beans in a regular frying pan, this method is not recommended. And yes, we’re pretty sure a lot of people would disagree with that. However, roasting coffee properly in a frying pan is nearly impossible due to the uneven heating. The bottom of the pan, where the beans touch the hot surface, gets too hot, while the top is cooled by the air. Even with constant stirring, an even roast is unlikely.

Ceramic coffee roaster

A ceramic coffee roaster, or houjiki, is one of the best alternatives to a regular skillet. This traditional tool, once used in Japan to roast tea leaves and sesame seeds, also works for roasting coffee on a gas stove or burner. The ceramic coffee roaster consists of a small pan and a long handle covered with leather to prevent burns. Beans are poured in from the top and removed through the hollow handle.

Cascabel by Hive Roaster

The Cascabel by Hive Roaster is a handheld hybrid drum roaster designed for ease of use while providing complete control over the roasting process. Crafted from high quality stainless steel and sustainable hardwood. Capable of roasting up to 170 grams (6 oz) of any green coffee bean, allowing you to achieve your desired roast profile from light to dark. Unlike a ceramic roaster, the Cascabel features a smoke burning function that minimizes unpleasant smoke odors, allowing you to roast indoors without worrying about excessive smoke.

Tips for roasting coffee at home

All the coffee roasting methods mentioned in this article have a lot in common. Therefore, we have prepared universal tips to help you achieve the best results:

• To ensure even roasting, do not roast more than 50 grams (1.8 oz) of green coffee beans at a time. Before adding beans, make sure the roaster is well heated on all sides. This will result in a quicker and more even roast.
• Stir the beans constantly during the roasting process. As the beans roast, the hull, or silverskin, separates and produces smoke.
• Listen carefully for the first pop, a distinctive popping sound similar to popcorn. For a light roast, continue roasting for 50-55 seconds after the first crack. For a dark roast, do not exceed 2 minutes after the first pop. Keep in mind that these times are approximate and may vary depending on bean weight, outside conditions, and burner power.
• Typically, the first crack occurs about 8 minutes into the roast. Once the roasting is complete, immediately pour the roasted coffee into a fine sieve and stir it vigorously to cool it down quickly.
• After roasting, record the weight of the beans, the total time, and the development time – how many seconds elapsed from the first crack to the discharge. These records will help you understand how the flavor of the coffee changes according to the parameters you set.

Remember that freshly roasted coffee has a lot of carbon dioxide, which prevents the coffee flavor from fully developing, so the bean needs to settle and degas. Peak flavor occurs five to seven days after roasting.