The First Roast

02/21/2025

My First Coffee Roasting Experiment

I’ve always been fascinated by the process of roasting coffee, but until recently, I didn’t fully understand how it worked. As I started researching, I realized that learning to roast was an important step toward my long-term goal of opening a coffee shop. While I have experience in the coffee industry, roasting is a craft of its own, and I wanted to see if it was something I could get the hang of—maybe even incorporate a small roastery into my business plans. So, I decided to give it a shot with a simple oven method at home.

The Setup

For this experiment, I followed an oven-roasting technique I found in a YouTube tutorial. The method called for a mesh metal bag to keep the beans in a single layer for even heat distribution. I preheated my oven to 400°F, set the timer for 48 minutes, and measured out 6.05 ounces of green coffee beans to fit comfortably in the bag. To keep an eye on the process, I placed a few extra beans on top as a visual reference.

The Process

Once the timer started, I resisted the urge to hover over the oven and used the time to take photos of my historic building for another project. When I came back with 13 minutes left on the clock, a strong, distinct aroma filled the kitchen. It wasn’t the familiar smell of brewed coffee but a more toasty, almost nutty scent. Peeking through the oven window, I saw the beans had darkened quite a bit.

At around the six-minute mark, I started hearing a slow, steady crackling—what I believed to be the first crack, a key moment in the roasting process. Since I’m still learning, I wasn’t entirely sure, but it definitely seemed like a good sign.

When the timer went off, I pulled out the bag and noticed a light amount of smoke, which I figured was normal. To remove the chaff—the thin, papery outer layer that separates from the beans during roasting—I gave them a good shake over a plate and took them outside to cool in the crisp February air. The final weight of the roasted beans came to 4.75 ounces, which was a pretty considerable reduction due to moisture loss.

Comparing the Roast

To see how my roast measured up, I compared the color of my beans to two commercially roasted samples: one labeled medium and the other a medium/dark espresso roast. Surprisingly, mine were darker than both. However, they lacked the oily sheen that darker roasts usually have. The espresso roast, in contrast, had a noticeable oily surface. This made me wonder if the oven-roasting method affects how oils develop on the bean’s surface.

Testing the Brew

Of course, the real test was in the flavor. I ground some of my roast and compared the aroma to the espresso roast I’d been drinking daily. To my nose, they smelled almost identical. Then, I brewed a cup of my fresh roast and tasted it black. To my surprise, it was incredibly smooth, with no bitterness. As I sipped, I picked up on subtle chocolate notes. Checking the packaging of my green beans, I saw 'milk chocolate' listed as one of the flavor notes—pretty exciting confirmation that my roasting process had preserved the bean’s intended characteristics.

Reflections & Next Steps

Having already brewed and tasted the roast, I feel encouraged by the results. The flavor was smooth, with no bitterness, and the chocolate notes came through just as described on the packaging. While I’m happy with my first attempt, I know there’s still a lot to learn. Over the next few days, I plan to let the beans rest since fresh-roasted coffee benefits from degassing before brewing. I’m also eager to experiment with different roast levels to refine my technique.

This first experience gave me a solid starting point, and I’m excited to keep improving. Roasting coffee at home is incredibly rewarding, and every batch will bring me one step closer to truly understanding the craft.

Links

Youtube Tutorial I followed (mostly): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6iXX-9yV51A&t=594s

Raw Green Coffee Used: https://amzn.to/4i7mqec

Medium Roast: https://amzn.to/4ibfPiK

Espresso Roast: https://amzn.to/4b8T7Wr

Mesh Bags: https://amzn.to/4k7APsC