by Angie Barron

Created on: February 01, 2009   Last Updated: February 04, 2009

Many of us have gone the extra mile to buy whole beans and grind them at home in order to get the freshest flavor for our family. Well you can go ahead and give yourself a pat on the back for bypassing the pre ground stuff but you still aren't getting the freshest cup you can. The only way make the best coffee on the block is to roast your own beans. This project may seem a bit daunting for some but give it a chance, it can be a fun project. Roasting only takes minutes with the use of a home coffee roaster and if you don't have access to one of those, a hot air popcorn popper will work just as well. If your kitchen is a bit more basic and lacks both of these items, your oven can be utilized instead.

The first thing to get a handle on is the temperature. You will have to get whichever heat source you choose up to between 460 and 530 degrees Fahrenheit. Since many of us may not own sophisticated poppers and roasters, I will proceed with oven instructions. Begin with a small batch of fresh green coffee beans. You will have to pay close attention to color, sound and aroma. It may help to pick up a bag of your favorite roast whole beans and compare the color and smell to your roasting beans. Place a small, manageable amount of beans on a cookie sheet and place it in your oven once it gets up to temp. You will notice two things as the process gets going. First, your beans will turn from green to yellow and second, you will here a cracking sound indicating that the last bit of moisture is beginning to escape from the bean. After this first cracking sound the sugars will begin to caramelize. At this point the beans are considered roasted. The first crack indicates the lightest roast, perfect for a breakfast blend. Anyone who enjoys a mild tasting coffee may stop here.

The caramelizing will continue while the oils and sugars of the bean release. If you find yourself selecting strong brews when you purchase coffee from the supermarket, you will want to wait until you hear that second crack before taking your beans out of the oven. While your beans are roasting, pay attention to the aroma. You should be able to recognize the smell of your perfect roast, take out that store bought bag to compare color and fragrance. Your beans will continue roasting off their own heat for a bit after you remove them from your oven. Always transfer the beans into a cooled or room temperature flat platter or rack to help stop the roasting process. Roasting coffee is all about getting a feel for your personal preference when it comes to the strength of the roast. I personally prefer a breakfast blend all day, so I would grab my beans as soon as I heard that first victorious cracking sound. You be the judge of your perfect roast and have fun!

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