Anyone roast their own coffee beans?

[fed_up_mother]

I can't afford anything very expensive, but coffee is my luxury, and I'd like to try roasting some beans.

I'm just wondering if you think it's worth the trouble and expense.

Thanks.

[mike_c]

1. I do, and so does AZDem....

You might want to ask the same question in the Cooking and Baking group because I know there are some more DUers who roast at home-- I just can't remember their names.

I use a Fresh Roast Plus 8 home roaster: http://www.sweetmarias.com/prod.freshroast.shtml

I also buy my beans from that same site (Sweet Maria's in Oakland, CA). Their service and selection are excellent.

I bought my roaster used from AZDem-- I suspect her family put a lot of beans through it before I bought it and I can certainly attest that I have roasted a LOT of coffee since. It's a small volume roaster so I usually put one or two batches through each day. Each takes about four minutes for a full city (moderately dark) roast.

The Fresh Roast machine is a workhorse, but it's very simple to use. Not programmable or anything, so you have to learn the best time to roast each batch of beans, and the roasting time seems to change over time as the machine ages, but it only requires minor, occasional adjustment to your roasting habits. When I started using that machine I was roasting for about five minutes or five-and-a-half to achieve the same roast.

I can't ever go back to store bought coffee. The quality of the beans I buy is awesome, and their freshly roasted and ground flavor is at its peak. I roast for french pressed coffee, for Aeropress coffee, and for espresso most of the time, so I want all the flavor I can get.

Home roasting is the ONLY way to drink the best coffee!

[jpgray]

3. The Aeropress may well be the best thing ever

Convenient, portable, mess-free, and passable grounds-free espresso! You can even get decent crema if you're careful. I love my Bialetti percolater, but the Aeropress rules.

[mike_c]

4. I often use mine to make a thermos full of Americano....

Loaded strong, one good shot into the thermos, followed by enough hot water to fill and it's almost as good as french pressed without the sludge, and easier cleanup, too. I've got to agree-- the Aeropress is a thing of beauty.

[fed_up_mother]

5. Thank you so much for taking the time to answer!

I'm really intrigued by the idea of roasting my own beans. A local coffee shot roasts their own beans, but they're pretty expensive to buy.

[Rabrrrrrr]

2. Lots of people do. Some of the local coffee shops here also do their own roasting.