Have you ever wondered why the coffee you make at home doesn’t taste as good as the coffee at your favorite local coffee roastery no matter how much time you put into preparing it?
The answer is probably related to roasting. All of the flavors and aromas in coffee come from the roasting process.
Though coffee can stay fresh for up to three months after roasting, fresh roasted coffee will be packed with flavor that sets it apart from anything that’s been sitting on a shelf for weeks.
The fresher the roast, the more flavor you will find in your coffee. Read on to find out how you can maximize flavor by coffee roasting at home.
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The Five Coffee Roasting Tips You Need to Know
If you decide to start roasting your own coffee, get ready for a delicious and fresh cup every time. Following these five tips, you can become a coffee roasting expert.
Get the Right Equipment
There are a variety of different ways that you can roast coffee at home, varying in price, consistency, and ease of use.
Some common methods of roasting include:
- Grill or pan
- Popcorn machine
- Oven
- Coffee roasting machine
The method you use will depend on your budget and the quality you are looking for, but investing in a coffee roaster might be worthwhile if you are a coffee lover. It will provide the most long-lasting and consistent results.
Start With the Best Beans
Before roasting, coffee beans are green and a very different flavor and texture.
Discover where to buy green coffee beans that are high quality and sustainably and ethically sourced. The quality of the green coffee beans you buy is important in making sure you get the best cup of coffee.
Listen Carefully
While you are roasting coffee, you will want to listen carefully to make sure that you remove the beans at the right time. How long you leave the beans in will depend on what kind of roast you are aiming for–light, medium, or dark.
Start your timer and listen until you hear the first crack. At the first crack, check the time and continue roasting for 15% of the time it took to get to the first crack.
Cool and De-Gas
Once your coffee has reached the perfect roast, you will want to cool it down quickly so that it doesn’t continue to roast. Transfer it to a sieve or separate tray to let it cool.
For the first 24-48 hours after roasting coffee beans, you will need to allow your coffee to degas, or release the carbon dioxide that forms during the roasting process. After that, your coffee is ready for grinding!
Pick the Right Storage Method
Although you are able to roast smaller quantities, you won’t be able to roast your beans fresh every single day and will likely need to store roasted beans for some time. An airtight container is best for keeping coffee fresh as long as possible.
Get the Perfect Cup Every Time
For any coffee enthusiast, coffee roasting is the best way to make the perfect cup of coffee every morning. Using the coffee roasting tips in this guide, you are well on your way to the best cup of coffee you’ve ever made.
For more tips for everyday life, be sure to read recent posts here on our website.
