Roasting Coffee at Home

While achieving a consistent, professional-quality roast at home may be challenging without specialized equipment, the process of roasting your own coffee can be exciting and rewarding. In this guide, we’ll explore some of the most budget-friendly ways to roast coffee at home.

Roasting Methods

Pan Roasting

Though there are many online tutorials on pan roasting coffee beans, we don’t recommend this method. While it’s possible to roast beans in a regular frying pan, the uneven heating makes it difficult to achieve a consistent roast. The beans in direct contact with the hot pan bottom get too hot, while the top cools in the open air, even with constant stirring. This results in an uneven roast that can affect the flavor.

Ceramic Coffee Roaster (Houjiki)

A ceramic coffee roaster, also known as a houjiki, offers a more effective alternative for home roasting. Originally used in Japan to roast tea leaves and sesame seeds, this traditional tool also works well for roasting coffee on a gas stove or burner. The houjiki consists of a small pan with a long, leather-covered handle to prevent burns. Beans are loaded from the top and can be removed through the hollow handle, allowing for more even roasting than a regular skillet.

The Cascabel by Hive Roaster

The Cascabel by Hive Roaster is a handheld, hybrid drum roaster designed for better control and ease of use. Made from high-quality stainless steel and sustainable hardwood, the Cascabel allows you to roast up to 170 grams (6 oz) of green coffee beans, with the ability to adjust the roast from light to dark. Unlike ceramic roasters, the Cascabel features a smoke-burning function, which reduces the unpleasant odors of roasting and makes it possible to roast indoors without excessive smoke.

Tips for Roasting Coffee at Home

Regardless of which roasting method you choose, there are several universal tips to help you achieve the best results:

• For more even roasting, stick to roasting no more than 50 grams (1.8 oz) of green coffee beans at a time. Before adding the beans, ensure that your roaster is preheated evenly to speed up the roasting process.
• Keep the beans moving during roasting to ensure even heat distribution. As the beans roast, the outer layer (silverskin) will detach and produce smoke, which is normal.
• A distinctive popping sound, similar to popcorn, signals the first crack. For a light roast, continue roasting for 50-55 seconds after this crack. For a dark roast, do not exceed 2 minutes after the first crack. Keep in mind that these times can vary based on the weight of the beans, your roasting setup, and environmental conditions.
• The first crack typically occurs around 8 minutes into the roast. Once roasting is complete, pour the beans into a fine sieve and stir vigorously to cool them down quickly and evenly.
• Keep track of the bean weight, total roasting time, and development time (the time between the first crack and when you stop roasting). These records will help you refine your technique and understand how different parameters affect flavor.
• After roasting, freshly roasted beans contain carbon dioxide, which prevents the full development of the coffee’s flavor. Allow the beans to rest and degas for five to seven days for optimal flavor.