Do you crave that perfect freshly brewed cup of coffee? Robust, but not bitter. Smooth, but not bland. Then you should give roasting your own coffee beans a try.
Years ago my adult son, who is a coffee purist, had me over for coffee one morning. To say that was the most delicious cup of coffee I had ever had up to that moment in my life is an understatement. The aroma that filled the house was intoxicating and I knew I was in for a treat. He had roasted the beans a few days prior, ground them that morning and used a drip method for brewing. That rich, bold mug of coffee with just a splash of cream was a treat that this mom thoroughly enjoyed and I knew at that moment I had to know more about roasting.
There is a learning curve to roasting your own coffee! But as I always say "Knowledge is Power!"
Sweet Maria's website quickly became my go to for all things Roasting Coffee. Rather than my going into the details of how to roast I am going to suggest if you are interested in taking this adventure you click on this link and bookmark it. Everything you need to know is on this website along with reasonably priced green coffee beans. Make sure you check out the Resource page for helpful videos, articles and podcasts. They also offer a Sampler Set of green coffee beans that will introduce you to a variety of flavor profiles. (I am not an affiliate of Sweet Maria's, just a fan!)
Do I always roast my own beans? Nope! It is fun to do, but it takes time and you have to monitor it closely as you are roasting or you can easily ruin a batch of beans. I will occasionally roast a batch for a special occasion because when it comes to flavor there is no comparison. The wonderful thing about green beans is that they have a long shelf life. Up to 12 months!! It is after they are roasted that the shelf life decreases exponentially. It is recommended that you use roasted coffee beans within 7-21 days of roasting. And do not grind until your are ready to brew your coffee. Most coffee takes more than 21 days to hit the shelf at your grocery store.
Beans: The options of beans alone can be mind boggling and I wanted to try them all. I initially settled for a few beans from various locals with different flavor profiles. Fortunately my son was needing to restock his beans as well so we split a few bags so I could experiment.
Roasting Options: There are a variety of ways to roast the beans as well. Unless you already own a roaster or are intending to make an investment of that magnitude, a simple Air Popcorn Popper or your Air Fryer will do the trick. I happened to have an Air Popcorn Popper that I hadn't used in years so I could check that off my list of things I would need.
Roasts: Light, Dark or somewhere in between.
In general, roasts fall into one of four color categories — light, medium, medium-dark and dark.
Many consumers assume that the strong, rich flavor of darker roasts indicates a higher level of caffeine, but the truth is that light roasts actually have a slightly higher concentration.
The perfect roast is a personal choice. The same holds true for roasts, there can be a world of difference in your coffee's flavor based on the bean and the roast.
Light roasts
Light brown in color, this roast is generally preferred for milder coffee varieties. There will be no oil on the surface of these beans because they are not roasted long enough for the oils to break through to the surface.
Light City
Half City
Cinnamon
Medium roasts
This roast is medium brown in color with a stronger flavor and a non-oily surface. It’s often referred to as the American roast because it is generally preferred in the United States.
City
American
Breakfast
Medium dark roasts
Rich, dark color, this roast has some oil on the surface and with a slight bittersweet aftertaste.
Full City
Dark roasts
This roast produces shiny black beans with an oily surface and a pronounced bitterness. The darker the roast, the less acidity will be found in the coffee beverage. Dark roast coffees run from slightly dark to charred, and the names are often used interchangeably — be sure to check your beans before you buy them!
High
Continental
New Orleans
European
Espresso
Viennese
French
Italian
Brewing Options: Once again my son has led the forefront on different brewing options. He has tried them all and concludes that his favorite method is one he picked up when traveling in Europe. He requested this brewer Milano Stovetop Espresso Maker Moka Pot for Christmas and ended up getting two. We were at the cabin for the holidays so lucky me!, one got left there for when we are up there.
But there are a variety of ways you can brew depending on what you have available to you and how much time you have on your hands. My norm is Mr. Coffee but for a special treat I do enjoy using the Moka Pot that was left at the cabin or a French Press. Just make sure you follow the instructions on the correct grind for each.
Cost: There is a cost advantage of roasting your own beans. An average 16 ounce bag of beans from Sweet Maria's is $7.50 whereas a 12 ounce bag of Caribou Coffee Beans in the store is approx. $8.00. And if you buy larger bags or bulk the cost savings are even better. But when you weigh in the time and effort put in, cost is NOT the reason you would want to roast your own coffee. It's the freshness, flavor and most of all the experience!!
Here is the link to Sweet Maria's again - if you have never roasted your own coffee you will want to educate yourself first, then enjoy the experience!! Sweet Maria's Coffee Website
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