If you’re serious about coffee, you’ll know that the only way to guarantee really freshly roasted beans is to roast them yourself in small quantities, just before you use them. Now online retailers, wholesalers and even some supermarkets have started to stock green coffee beans, they’ve become much easier to get hold of and available to everyone. Here are a few top tips to help you get the most out of your home roast.
- You can roast green coffee beans in a stovetop popcorn maker or a heavy bottomed frying pan, but if you’re planning to roast your own beans every day, it’s worth investing in a roasting machine for consistency and ease of use.
- It’s easy to scorch the beans and ruin them – an ideal roasting temperature is between 185 and 280 degrees celsius. If you’re not using a machine to control the temperature, use a culinary thermometer instead.
- The beans need to be kept moving to prevent uneven roasting. If you’re using a DIY method, keep stirring the beans continuously to prevent them burning. Roasting machines may need to be hand turned by the user, or more expensive versions use a hot air current to keep the beans moving.
- Whichever method you’re using, make sure you’re working in a well ventilated area, as roasting coffee produces smoke and gases.
- As the beans roast, they shed their outer skin (called chaff), which can make a mess. If you’re working on the hob, clear your work area as much as possible before you start. Roasting machines usually need to be emptied of chaff between roasts.
- Keep a few beans from a favourite roast handy for a colour comparison, so that you know when your beans have reached perfection.
To browse our range of green coffee beans, please visit our coffee ingredients page.