Roasting Your Own Coffee Beans
Are you looking for a fun new hobby that results in a cup of delicious coffee? Why not try roasting your own coffee beans? Roasting you own coffee beans is fun, easy and inexpensive, plus it gives you wonderfully fresh cup of coffee that has been roasted, ground and brewed all in a short period of time.
There are just a few things you need to start roasting your own coffee. Here are some simple tips to get you started.
First, you will need to buy raw green coffee beans. You can buy green coffee beans from quite a few different retailers online. Make sure to use a reputable seller to ensure you are getting good quality beans before purchasing. You can look for independent reviews of coffee bean suppliers in forums or on message boards online.
Green coffee beans can be ordered in small batches, however they can be stored for years if they are kept out of direct sunlight, away from moisture and in a cool place. By buying the coffee beans in bulk you can often save a lot of money so you may want to consider that option if you plan to roast a lot of coffee since you can store any beans you don”t roast right away and roast them at a later date.
The easiest and least expensive way to actually roast the beans is to just use a fry pan. Dump enough beans in the fry pan to cover the bottom of the pan and place it on a stove burner set to medium high. Stir the beans around the pan frequently to keep them from burning.
After awhile you will see the color of the beans begin to darken to a rich shade of brown and you will also notice that the beans begin to release oil. When the oil on the surface of the beans appears you can stop roasting them, or you can continue roasting for a little while longer depending upon how strong of a flavor you like in your coffee. Lightly roasted beans will give a milder flavor than heavily roasted coffee beans, so roast them to your taste. Just make sure not to leave them on so long that you burn them.
Once the coffee beans are roasted to the level you want, remove the pan from the heat and pour the beans out into a metal colander. Stir them over a sink with a wooden or metal spoon to help them cool, and use a paper towel to blot up any excess oil. When the beans are cool to the touch you can then grind them and brew yourself a fresh cup of coffee.
If you prefer, rather than using a fry pan you can roast the coffee beans in a gas or electric coffee bean roaster. These items are available at most places that sell small appliances and you can usually purchase for anywhere from about $50-$200 depending upon the quality of the coffee roaster and any special features that it may have.
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