If you want to show your love for coffee, get a home coffee roaster. If you are passionate about fresh, roasted coffee, you will love having a home roaster. What does it take to roast coffee at home?
Roasting coffee at home
I roasted beans in an old popcorn popper. I started roasting coffee at home by using an old popcorn popper. I decided to go out and buy a used popcorn maker from a thrift store for only $2. Then, I ordered some green coffee beans to go along with it.
I soon discovered that making great coffee was more complicated than simply roasting green coffee beans. There are so many other variables involved.
This video outlines the basics of roasting. Its quite important to understand these key points before starting to roast:
Why would anyone want to go through all the trouble of roasting their own coffee at home? When you roast your own coffee, you not only learn more about the coffee itself, but you can also tailor the roast to your own personal preferences.
You are able to create your own blends and will always have access to fresh coffee. I would not recommend using a popcorn maker to start your coffee roasting journey.
If you want to take your home barista career to the next level, you’ll need the proper equipment to roast your own beans.
Choosing the right coffee roaster
Before you buy a roaster, we have a few tips for you. This is a very important item for your coffee gear, so pay close attention.
Consider trying a popcorn maker
A popcorn popper is a machine that blows hot air through a pile of smaller pieces of popcorn. Cooking the coffee beans in a hot oven is the basics of roasting coffee, but it doesn’t do everything we need it to.
A popcorn maker can easily over roast some coffee beans while under roasting others, creating an inconsistent batch. If the coffee beans are not roasted evenly, the coffee will not taste good.
Since the air pushing through the beans isn’t very strong, there isn’t much movement in the chamber. You can only roast a small amount of food at one time. This ensures that all the beans are roasted evenly.
The machine is not great at roasting, but it is not terrible either. Roasting can be a great way to get into the world of roasting without investing too much money.
Different types of coffee roasters
There are 2 main types of roasters we will be looking at today:
Air roasters work by heating the beans using direct heat (convection). This is similar to how a popcorn maker works. The beans are roasted by hot air that circulates around the chamber.
Air roasting can be less appealing unless you really enjoy using hair dryers. However, the roasting process is still fairly simple to manage, and it doesn’t produce any harmful emissions from gas burners. Additionally, some variables that can affect the drum roasting process are less of a factor.
Drum roasters use indirect heat to roast the beans, meaning that the beans are not roasted by coming into direct contact with a heat source. Inside the machine is a round chamber that rotates.
The beans are roasted by the heat that is applied to the outside of the metal chamber. Selecting the appropriate coffee roaster will allow you to create the perfect coffee roast. Further information on different roast profiles can be found here.
Size matters
Different roasters have different capacities. Typically, air roasters can roast small amounts, while drum roasters have larger roasting chambers for roasting larger batches.
If you want to roast a few small batches of different coffees each week, you might opt for a smaller air roaster. This would enable you to roast different coffees quickly and easily without having to roast a large batch all at once. If you want to roast a large amount at once and have it last for the week, you might need to use a drum roaster.
Think about how much coffee you drink each week and how many times you want to roast before making a decision. It is better to roast large batches in a large roaster.
How much control do you want
What’s your roaster personality? Which would you prefer: flipping a switch and walking away, or tweaking every variable for a completely unique roast? In general, more expensive roasters offer greater controllability.
Even though you will have fewer features, you will still be able to control the time and temperature.
Programmable roasters allow you to set and save profiles for desired results.
Once your profiles are set, you can turn the roaster on, select a profile, and it will automatically follow the settings and complete the roast.
A tip for anyone planning to roast coffee beans at home: choose a roaster with high controllability. It may be difficult to learn the basics, but you’ll be happier in the long run.
Cooling is almost as important as heating
Once the coffee has been roasted to the desired level, it is very important to let the beans cool down quickly. If you don’t remove the beans from the roasting chamber and allow them to cool down, the heat built up in the chamber will cause them to continue roasting.
A cooling feature is thus important in any roaster. Most roasters have a chamber that cool air blows through once roasting is complete.
Remove the roast from the oven a little before your desired roast level. Be sure to cool the beans off as quickly as possible, so they don’t continue to roast.
The most expensive roaster has an external tray for the beans, which cools them down faster. If you don’t want your coffee to over roast, this is a major advantage.
Keeping it clean
Coffee roasters come with a chaff collection system that makes cleaning up on Sunday’s a breeze. Some roasters even have a built-in smoke suppression system.
Although you cannot get rid of all the smoke when roasting indoors, these systems will ensure that it is safe. Even though a smoke reduction system will cut down on the amount of smoke produced, roasting darker coffee beans will still create a significant amount of smoke.
Best home coffee roasters
1. Kaldi wide coffee home roaster
The Kaldi Home Coffee Roaster is a top-quality roasting machine that you can trust with your beloved coffee beans.
This is one of the more advanced roasting devices on the market, though it is somewhat pricier than a typical countertop device. This is a high-quality machine that is built to last and will always get the job done.
Constructing with a robust body, the Kaldi coffee roasting machine is equipped with a thermometer, bean hopper, probe rod for precise temperature readings, and a chaff collection compartment. If you are in the market for a high-quality coffee roasting machine, the Kaldi should be at the top of your list.
You will need a gas burner to use this coffee roaster, but it comes with a free volt adapter. It can roast up to 300 grams of beans at a time.
2. Jiawanshun electric coffee roaster
you can choose between two models of the JIAWANSHUN Electric Coffee Roaster, 110 or 220 volts The non-stick chassis makes it easy to clean.
It can roast around one pound of coffee per batch and can reach temperatures between 212 to 464 degrees Fahrenheit (100 to 240 degrees Celsius).
The roaster’s temperature controls are in Celsius, but you’ll get used to it quickly.
The JIAWANSHUN coffee roaster also has a function that keeps the temperature constant, so that your coffee beans will be roasted evenly and completely. This machine is not only good for roasting coffee, but also for popping popcorn, roasting peanuts, and more.
3. Fresh roast SR540 coffee roaster
The FreshRoast SR540 is more advanced than its SR500 sibling and is compact enough for any size kitchen. It is durable enough to last for years to come and you will be able to roast your favorite coffee beans with it.
This machine is small, but advanced. Some of the features we love about this machine include the real-time temperature display, as well as the nine different levels of fan and temperature settings.
This coffee roaster is very easy to use and can roast 4 ounces, or 120 grams, of coffee at a time.
This machine also comes with a one-year warranty, so you can be sure of its quality.
4. Nuvo eco handy ceramic coffee bean roaster
coffee can If you drink a cup of coffee, you will feel more energetic and awake. You could combine coffee roasting with a modest workout for the best of both worlds.
The Nuvo Eco Ceramic Handy Coffee Bean Roaster only requires two things to produce delicious roasted beans: fire and your willingness to bust a move.
This coffee roaster can roast up to 70 grams of coffee per batch over an open flame. The waffle interior and cha-cha roasting moves mean you’ll have a lot of fun while you’re making your morning coffee.
If you like your coffee traditional, functional, and with a manual roaster, you might just fall in love with this one.
5. Hario retro coffee roaster
Good coffee is art. There’s nothing quite like slowly roasting your coffee beans over an open alcohol flame to make you feel like you’re part of an artisanal coffee revolution.
While you’re doing it, quietly humming Mumford & Sons songs is optional, but recommended.
This Japanese coffee roaster produces small batches of coffee beans, emphasizing patience, artistry, and craftsmanship.
This item is not only practical, but its unique design also makes it a great conversation starter and decoration. This coffee maker is for people who want more than just a beverage, but an experience.
6. Nesco 4818-12 classic roaster oven
This behemoth from Nesco allows you to harness the power of advanced coffee roasters without having to pay the professional price tag. This appliance has 1425 watts of power and can hold up to 18 quarts (17 liters). It can cook your Thanksgiving turkey as easily as it roasts your coffee beans.
It can handle heat up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit (232 degrees Celsius), so you can change your roasting recipes to find the perfect cup of coffee.
This electric model is bulky and requires a lot of counter space.
At a moderate price, this coffee roaster is powerful and flexible, a good choice if you need to roast large amounts of coffee often and want some control over the quantity and quality of your roasted beans.
7. Great northern popcorn stainless steel stove top popper
Roast coffee like the cowboys did. Or, at the very least, cook over a camp stove like your great-grandparents did in the 1950s.
If you prefer a more hands-on approach and want a versatile dual-use item with a high capacity, roasting your coffee beans in a stainless steel appliance like the Great Northern Popcorn Stainless Stove Top Popper is a smart choice.
This gadget has a built-in stirring system that makes it easy to give your beans an even roast. It’s easy to clean and store, so it doesn’t take up any valuable counter space when it’s not in use.
8. Dyvee coffee roasting machine
This coffee roaster from DYVEE is perfect for anyone just beginning their coffee roasting journey who has a gas stove. In addition, you can see everything that is happening due to the roaster’s clear quartz drum.
The roaster can hold 400 grams of beans, but you will get better results by adding 200 to 300 grams of beans at a time. This machine is not only for making fresh roasted coffee.
This machine can handle any kind of roasting you need, from coffee beans to nuts to seeds, with its strong stainless steel frame and base.
The basics of coffee roast levels
Green
dark roast coffee
territory. You may be able to see some spots of oil on the bean surface.