How are coffee beans roasted?

Roasting coffee beans is to heat the raw coffee beans to achieve the ideal color, aroma and taste. The following will introduce the general coffee bean roasting process.

First, prepare the necessary equipment and materials. You will need a roaster, measuring cups, a timer, and fresh coffee beans. Make sure you choose high-quality green coffee beans and choose a variety that suits your taste according to your personal preferences.

Next, preheat the roaster to the appropriate temperature. Generally, medium temperature (about 200°C) is the most common temperature range. Preheating time is usually 10-15 minutes, which ensures that the entire machine heats up evenly.

Then, weigh the appropriate amount of green coffee beans and pour them into the preheated roaster. It is recommended to process only small batches (about 100 grams) at a time for better control and uniformity.

Start timing and watch the coffee beans develop and change at different stages. Generally speaking, there are three main stages: the first stage is when the water evaporates and the coffee beans become dry; the second stage is the development stage, when the coffee beans begin to change color and release aroma; the third stage is the cracking stage, when the coffee beans will have a "pop" and continue to change color.

During the roasting process, you can control the time and temperature according to personal preference and experience. Lighter roasts (such as light spelt) usually have sour and floral aromas; medium roasts (such as American) have a more balanced taste and rich flavor; dark roasts (such as French or Italian) have a strong bitter taste and rich chocolate or nutty flavors.

Finally, once the desired degree of roasting has been achieved, pour the roasted coffee beans into a container and cool them quickly to stop further heating. You can use a cooling tray or pour them onto a marble countertop to cool.

In summary, successfully roasting coffee beans at home requires patience, practice, and an understanding of the characteristics and taste of different stages. Hopefully, these simple steps will help you get started on your own coffee roasting journey.