The DIY Guide to Roasting Your Own Coffee!

2008 - The Year of the Home-Roasted Coffee Bean!

Dear Caffeine Seekers,

Weary of overpriced, stale coffee beans? Wanna learn something cool? Love coffee? Curious about roasting your own coffee beans at home?

Then WELCOME! You have serendipitously arrived at exactly the right place.

This lens will show you the tricks, tips, and sheer, delicious SIMPLICITY of roasting your own coffee beans -- on the cheap, at home. TA DA!

Enjoy your visit, and lots of javalove,

Your Coffee Roasting Tour Guide
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FRESH COFFEE SHOULDN'T BE A LUXURY!

Drip, French press, cold press, Turkish, Mokapot, espresso... Coffee, coffee, coffee, coffee! If java is the way you start your day and if you consider yourself a true coffee connoisseur, you might want to consider roasting your own coffee beans!

It's easy, it's quick, it's fun and it's cheap -- and you won't get a fresher, tastier cup of coffee ANYWHERE. Why buy expensive, OLD coffee from the grocery store when you can roast your coffee beans fresh at home whenever the mood strikes? There's just no excuse for a less than outstanding cup anymore!

Home coffee roasting is EASY and you really don't need any special equipment to get started, although you can and will probably work your way quickly up to a piece or two of specialized equipment. But like I mentioned above, this is a hobby you can get going in for an initial investment of under twenty bucks! Get back to basics, learn a new-old skill, start your own morning ritual and savor the flavor of really fresh home-roasted coffee!

This lens is dedicated to getting you excited, informed, and roasting coffee beans at home -- pronto.

LEARN HOW HERE!

TREND ALERT

This Just In -- Home Roasting is Certifiably Cool!

Home roasting your green beans is NOT just for coffee geeks any more!

Our fave DIY hipster rag, ReadyMade (see www.readymademag.com), is an official proponent of home roasting! Check out Issue 28: The Outdoors Issue, for their take on how to 'self-caffeinate with home-roasted coffee beans.'

THE PERKS OF ROASTING YOUR OWN COFFEE

DIY -- It's the only way to go for really fresh coffee!

Roasting your own coffee is quick, easy, fun and cheap. How many activities can claim that?!

**QUICK**
Roast your own beans in under ten minutes! Average roasting time is 4-7 minutes.

**EASY**
Anyone can do it. Use your senses...you're listening for the crack, smelling for doneness and eyeballing for color. By your third batch, you'll be an absolute pro. Really!

**FUN**
Entertain yourself, amaze your friends with your cool talents, tantalize your spouse/lover/roommate with the smell of roasting coffee, etc. And just wait until you sit down to a REALLY fresh cup...

**CHEAP**
Tired of paying twelve bucks (you read that right, 12 bucks; this is the Bay Area, folks!) a pound for organic, fair trade, shade grown joe? Me too. So pay $5 a pound (yes, even for organic, fair trade, shade grown!) and roast it yourself. You'll bask in DIY satisfaction AND you'll save a bloomin' bunch. And as for the 'specialized' coffee roasting equipment, try these two economical options to start:

A) CHEAP: an air pop popcorn popper, (you can pick one up for about $10 new, less at a thrift store), OR

B) CHEAPER: a cast iron skillet (something you might already have at home).

Check out the links below to LEARN HOW to do it yourself!

A Short Note from the Editor

Roasting from the Heart

A Short Note from the Editor -- Roasting from the Heart

If you're visiting this page, it's because you're passionate. Unusually, vibrantly, and wholeheartedly passionate... about that mouthwatering, murky, morning (or all the time) elixir we call coffee.

Sure, if you live in a city of reasonable size, you've probably got a favorite close-by commercial and/or artisanal roaster. Mine's Graffeo. (See the Roasted Bean Link List if you're curious.) I love their coffee and have ever since I happened upon a cup of their iced brew down in Santa Cruz way back in 1992.

But *homeroasting* is something completely different.

It's YOU, actively involved in the process of creating something for your own pleasure and enjoyment.

It's YOU, engaging in a labor of love and a delightful and delicious learning process.

And it's for those of us that thoroughly enjoy hands-on experimentation, exploration, and tangible benefits... and perhaps an amusing story or two about how the house suddenly filled with acrid smoke and the beans were rendered into charcoal spreadshot. Yup.

You get my drift. You can get roasted coffee anywhere, from CostCo to Ralph's, and passable, even highly palatable, roasted coffee from many reputable vendors near and far.

But *this* lens isn't about that. 'Nuff said.

The Green Coffee Bean Roasting Tutorial List

Here you'll find how-to info on roasting your own coffee.

Roasting BASICS: Learn the basics of HOW to roast your own coffee HERE. Simple instructions, lots of enjoyment. :-)
Airpop Roasting Method - EASY!: Here you'll find simple instructions for using a cheap $10.00 airpopper to roast your coffee beans. I recommend this method as a great way to start. Great results from such an inexpensive popper-turned-coffee-roaster!
Neat VIDEO! Stovetop Roasting: Here is a great, short video from The Coffee Project (www.coffeeproject.com) showing a stovetop coffee roasting session. Note the smoke -- you'll need to ventilate and keep an eye on your coffee beans at ALL times!
The Coffee Project's Green Beans: In business for over 10 years, the good folks at The Coffee Project can show you how to roast your beans -- check out the stovetop roasting video above.
CHOOSING Your Green Beans: lucidcafe.com's treatise on the subtleties and nuances of green coffee beans. Good, in-depth reading for those with a penchant for knowledge and coffee lore.
Visual ROASTING GUIDE Pictorial: Look here for a great VISUAL presentation of the various degrees of coffee roasting, from green bean to City roast through Full French roast. Colorific!
HOMEROASTER ASSOCIATION - Roast Fresh Coffee at Home: Coffee Geeks Unite! :-)
Learn How to Roast Coffee at Home - It's Easy!
Note: This website is *very* new; it's the work of a handful of homeroasting coffee enthusiasts. The goal was to create a non-commercial resource and meeting place to encourage and support homeroasting. Many of the web pages are not yet complete.

The Green Coffee Bean Link List

Look here to find a few excellent sources for green coffee beans and other coffee roasting equipment and supplies. (In alphabetical order to be fair!)

The Coffee Project's Green Beans: Check out The Coffee Project's green coffee bean offerings via the link above. Some organic selections and a very nice variety of pre-blended combinations, single origin beans, decaf offerings, sampler packs, and bulk beans.

If that's not enough -- check this out: You'll get a 10% discount (online orders only) if you're ordering during your birthday month! See their web site for details. Thanks, Coffee Project!
More Coffee! 's Green Beans and Home Roasting Supplies: A truly impressive selection of green coffee beans from folks who are dedicated to flavor. Check out their Newest Arrivals to keep up on the tasty beans they're making available from *all over* the globe.

Also of note -- their Starter Kits (find them under Products on the left side of the screen). Everything you need to get roasting at home in one package, coffee included!
Seven Bridges Coop Fair Trade Organic Green Coffee Beans: Seven Bridges Cooperative of Santa Cruz, California offers a fabulous selection of organic, fair trade green coffee beans. Try their 5 lb. Organic Fair Trade Green Coffee Sampler for just $24.50!
Sweet Maria's Green Coffee Beans: Purchase green coffee beans from a great little shop in Oakland, California -- I got my very first green beans here! Dedicated coffee enthusiasts with a fun and informative newsletter, Tiny Joy. Organic selections, too.

The Roasted Coffee Bean Link List

If you *must* purchase pre-roasted coffee beans, (don't worry -- it happens to us all at some point or another!) here are a few favorites. But for goodness sake, make sure you buy *whole* beans and grind them yourself!

Graffeo Coffee: Outstanding coffee. Ruth Reichl of the New York Times gives it the thumbs up, and so do I. Two thumbs.
Pura Vida: Organic coffee! Fair Trade coffee ! Divine coffee!
Peerless Coffee & Tea: The Bay Area's own. Peerless. Enough said.

Need A Foodie Gift For Less Than A Twenty-Spot?

(That's Right, Under $20.00 USD!)

Are you looking to share your knowledge of home roasting with a favorite foodie friend? Want a great gift idea for a birthday present, wedding gift, or just-to-say-you-care for under $20.00? (Shocking but true!!)

Then look no further. Here's what to do in four simple steps!

**1. Pick up a $10.00 airpop popcorn maker (Walgreens has them for $9.99)

**2. Get a pound of organic, fair trade, green coffee beans (see above for where to buy) for $4.00 - $6.00 per pound

**3. Jot down the link to this Lens for the how to of roasting: www.squidoo.com/greencoffeebeans

**4. Wrap it up and there you go! The perfect gift from one foodie/coffee-junkie/homeroaster to another!

MMM... SMELL THE COFFEE!

Your A.M. Aromatherapy Hit

For those of you engaged by subtleties and nuances, this should pique your interest a bit...

Different types of coffee and different levels of roasting will yield fantastically different results. Espress-o yourself. Enjoy the process of finding and fine-tuning your own unique blend.

Just the other morning I was introducing two friends to the fine (if easy) art of home coffee roasting. We sniffed from several jars of just-roasted coffee beans and my pals commented on the different aromas... cinnamon, leather, chocolate, wine, fruit, French roast-y, etc.

I encourage you to experiment. Let your nose lead - your taste buds will appreciate your effort.

The Hearthware iRoast Home Coffee Roaster

The Hearthware I-Roast Home Coffee Roaster: Gotta have a tool to do the job? I understand. Check out the Hearthware I-Roast Home Coffee Roaster... it's a sweet little machine for gadgetheads to roast their beans with; I recommend it as the big upgrade from the ten dollar air popper.

Fair Trade Coffee: BUY IT!

Give Thanks for Your Fabulous Coffee Beans -- Buy Fair Trade

You enjoy your morning cup of coffee...perhaps you couldn't even imagine starting your day without it. That's a lot of love for the beans, I'd say. I'd also say that the best way to show a little love in return is to actively seek out and buy Fair Trade Certified Coffee, both roasted and green coffee beans.

Why? Simple. It's the right thing to do and it makes a difference. Fair trade certification assures many things:

* Fair prices for coffee farmers
* Fair working conditions and fair wages for workers
* Community development, healthcare and education in coffee growing regions
* Agricultural assistance, such as help with transitioning to organic farming practices
* Environmental stewardship

Please, look for the Fair Trade logo when you are purchasing your next pound of coffee. Your cup will be that much sweeter!

Check out this link for a list of 100% Fair Trade Coffee Companies:

http://www.globalexchange.org/campaigns/fairtrade/coffee/retailers.html

The Cold Brewed Coffee Maker Link

So Hot It's Cold!

OK, so you know how to roast your own coffee at home. Great! But perhaps you're not quite ready to invest big bucks for a top of the line espresso maker. I can understand that... You have to be quite a javahead to go that distance. (But don't be surprised -- that day may come sooner than you think!)

Want the next best thing for a fraction of the price? I thought so. Well, then, consider the cold brew route.

What's cold brewed coffee? If you haven't heard of it yet, the concept is simple -- it's coffee that's brewed WITHOUT HEAT.

It's a slow, cold, ideally overnight process that turns out AMAZINGLY tasty *concentrated* coffee that's deeeelicious and low in acid, so it's extremely easy on your stomach. And because it's concentrated, you only have to brew once or twice a week, depending on how much you consume. How's THAT for easy *and* time effecient?!

Also, you decide how strong it will be by adding hot water to taste to your cold brewed concentrate, so it's totally customizable.

So if you're not ready for the $600 dollar Ferrari of espresso makers quite yet, then why not get the next best thing -- the $34.95 cold brewed coffee maker. Yup, that's right, less than forty bucks for a seriously fabulous coffee maker -- even the Washington Post calls it 'the ultimate coffee maker."

Treat those lovingly home roasted beans right... brew 'em cold and slow, and enjoy 'em hot and at whatever strength you decide. Woot!

THE TODDY COLD BREW COFFEE SYSTEM: Use this link to get more info and/or purchase a cold brew coffee system from Toddy!
More Info on Cold Brewed Coffee: Want to learn more about cold brewed coffee? Follow this link for more information and easy brewing instructions.

The Coffee Roasting Scale

For those of you that are visually-oriented, or just enjoy looking at color scales, here's a nifty and handy guide, showing you roast-level colors from lightest to darkest.

I would estimate we're looking at roasting times in an airpop popcorn popper of approximately 1-2 minutes for 'Cinnamon' to approximately 6-8 minutes for 'Italian'.

Read on for more information about "crack" and how this roasting noise can help you determine your perfect coffee roast!

It's All About The Crack

Just Use Your Ears

Some people are initially a wee bit intimidated by the prospect of roasting their own coffee beans at home.

Questions like these are common:
"How long will it take?"
"How will I know when it's done?"
"I bought Ethiopian Harrar...will that take more or less time to roast than Yergecheffe?"
"What if I do it WRONG??!"
"Argh!"

RELAX! Roasting coffee beans really IS easy, and YOU control the process -- from a Light City Roast for one type of coffee bean to a Dark French for another -- it's ALL ABOUT THE CRACK.

Huh? Hang in there... let me explain.

The FIRST CRACK (the sound is like 'pop', as in snap, crackle and) occurs as the coffee beans begin to warm up and expand. The water within the coffee bean begins to steam, the sugars begin to caramelize, and oils deep inside start to move outward. This usually occurs within 2-3 minutes.

The SECOND CRACK (which can sound more like 'sizzzle') occurs as the coffee roast begins to develop and is quickly approaching doneness. Sometimes during the second crack, small particles of the bean will actually be blown off. Kapow -- it's an energetic process!

At any rate, keep your ears open and begin to notice these two important coffee roasting stages. The timing will differ for each type of coffee, as well as different harvests of the same type.

As you get to know your green coffee beans and log more coffee roasting time, you'll soon be an expert crack identifier and will be home-roasting (and drinking!) the coffee of your dreams.

Cool. ;-)

Paying Out the Bum for Coffee -- $300.00 USD per pound!!

Kopi Luwak Commands Top Dollar!

My brother reminded me this morning that my green coffee roasting site wouldn't be complete without a short expose on the the most expensive coffee in the world -- Indonesia's bizarre and super spendy Kopi Luwak.

Sounds innocuous enough, doesn't it? Intriguing, even... Kopi Luwak. If we delve a bit deeper, however, we soon learn that this coffee is a bit unusual. I'll give it to you straight and strong -- the espresso version, if you will. This coffee is sh*t. Literally.

These coveted and high-priced beans are the 'end result' of the work of a small marsupial, the paradoxurus, who meticulously selects and eats the ripest of the ripe coffee cherries, then digests and excretes them in a nifty looking coffee log. Voila, there's your coffee!

Sounds a bit unbelievable, doesn't it? Well, for the insatiably curious, I invite you to have a look at http://www.animalcoffee.com/

Coffee In Action!

Here are a few coffee clips from youtube.com. The first two are roaster-related, the third is coffee art -- after you've roasted and brewed your own beans, it's only fitting that you should top it off with a frothed milk and chocolate masterpiece, non? :-)