Roast Your Own Coffee

Did you know you can roast your own coffee? The reason for doing this is that the coffee is fresher and has flavor complexities you don't get any other way. Even whole beans that you grind yourself lose a considerable amount of flavor in less than three days. However, green beans are stable for over a year (if stored in a cool, dry place) and you can roast a few days' worth at a time. The difference is obvious, especially once you've tasted it!

Steps

 * 1) Roaster method:
 * 2)  Find a safe place. Roasting generates smoke, which can, at best, irritate, and at worst, cause a fire. Under the range hood, in the garage, or near an exhaust fan are good places. Your safe place should be dry and well-ventilated.
 * 3)  If you're buying a roaster, put it in a safe place.
 * 4)  Follow your roaster's instructions. The FreshRoast 8, a type of roaster, turns off the heater if you use too much coffee, and you end up with an under-roast.
 * 5) HGBD method:
 * 6)  If you're using the HGDB method, buy it. Then, assemble the stainless steel bowl, colander, heatgun, and wooden spoon, and set up in your safe place.  Put the colander on top of the steel bowl, which raises it, and catches some of the heat and reflects it back.  A damp cloth under the bowl helps stop it spinning.
 * 7)  Weigh out a maximum of around 400g of green beans into the colander, and starting on a low heat, and using circular motion, begin warming the beans, while stirring with a wooden spoon.  Continue this until the external skin dries and blows off as chaff (this is at around 120 degrees C).  As the temperature increases, and the beans start to brown, you may need to turn the heatgun up to a higher setting, but do this gradually. Continue to stir - this is essential.
 * 8)  Popcorn popper method:
 * 9)  Buy a popcorn popper! Thrift stores often have them for a dollar or two. Use about 1 cup of beans at most, and roast them by smell, color, or between the first and second crack (pop).  Cool quickly in a refrigerated bowl or pyrex baking pan.  A long thermometer can be used for more consistent roasts.  Do it outside, to get rid of the smoke and chaff.
 * 10) Roast to desired degree. To begin, roast to a dark brown. You may like darker roasts (like most of Starbucks' roasts) but it's easy to lose flavor and make charcoal water so don't go quite so dark to start. The sound is also an indication: there are two "cracks" when you roast evenly. You may stop roasting any time after the first crack (a sound like popcorn popping); and if you continue much after the second crack you will have more charcoal than coffee.
 * 11) Pan method:
 * 12)  Put beans in a pan, then turn on the stove. Stir the beans to avoid scorching. After the skins blow off and the beans are a brown, chocolaty color, stop. Don't do it for too long, or else it'll burn and become charcoal.
 * 13) After roasting:
 * 14)  Grind beans yourself or have someone else grind them for you.
 * 15)  Make coffee by using a drip, French press, or other method (there are several wikiHow articles on making coffee).

Tips

 * Roast the night before. The coffee should have a chance to expel some of their carbon dioxide so that it doesn't taste too "light" and undesirable the next day. However, if you don't use up your beans soon after you roast and grind your coffee, it will become stale.

Warnings

 * Do this where you have good ventilation to avoid smoke problems. Don't do it close to a smoke alarm, either. The smoke made from roasting coffee will trigger the smoke alarm, saying that there is an emergency when in fact there is not.
 * Some people roast outdoors, e.g. on a covered patio. Some place the roaster on their stove top to take advantage of the range hood to clear the smoke. If you have a small room with a fan, such as a laundry room or a bathroom, that can help. In any case, the smoke from coffee roasting is not the type that lingers and stinks up the place; instead, it spreads and unnessesarily frightens people.

Things You'll Need

 * A coffee roaster, popcorn popper, or stove and frying pan. For home use, the FreshRoast 8 is a good, inexpensive choice. A popcorn popper should have a swirl blower for maximum safety, or be very careful with the regular kind. Some people use modified hot air popcorn poppers. Some use the oven or a grill. If you're using a stove, be careful with fire.
 * Green coffee

Related Tips and Steps

 * How to Brew Coffee in a French Press Coffeemaker
 * How to Make Iced Coffee
 * How to Make a Good Pot of Coffee
 * How to Make a Good Pot of Coffee
 * How to Grind Coffee Beans Without a Grinder

Sources and Citations

 * http://feedme.typepad.com/my_weblog/2005/04/roasting_your_o.html
 * http://www.sweetmarias.com