Roasters Info
- The Fresh Roast SR540 and SR800
- The Behmor 1600
- The Gene Cafe
- The Barwell Home Coffee Roaster
While there are even more roasters out there on the market, not all roasters are right for everyone.... We've carefully considered factors such as: ease of use, quality, customer support, price, and the elusive "happiness factor."
New to home roasting? Read Roasting 101 for an idea of what to expect.
Did you know that your great grandparents probably roasted their own coffee? It wasn't until the 1920s that marketing mass-produced coffee in cans caught on. That convenience has allowed us to forget that home roasted coffee is so good... That fresh coffee is so good for that matter. And even with the resurgence of specialty coffee shops in the last ten years, very few people know that home roasted coffee was ever a possibility at all. It's like never in your life having tasted or smelled truly fresh bread! But unlike bread, roasting fresh coffee is easy, and only takes about ten minutes.
An interesting point about green coffee is that it almost doubles in size when roasted, of that even with a 2.5-ounce roaster you end up with about a half cup by volume of freshly roasted coffee. That translates to about ten cups of brewed coffee in a drip coffee maker.
Coffee roasting produces smoke similar in density to slightly burnt toast, but smelling wonderful. You should always use the roaster at a stove vent, however, or where there is other good ventilation. A very darkly roasted coffee will produce more smoke than a lightly roasted coffee. Smoke management is not a big deal, but it is something to consider. You'll be able to judge easily what works best in your own environment.
If you have any questions, just ask. :)