Selecting A Coffee Roaster

If you have decided to roast your own coffee at home, then you’re probably wondering how to select the right coffee roaster. There are many types of coffee roaster on the market and there’s nothing worse than buying the wrong kind of roaster for your needs.

When it comes to roasting coffee beans, you don’t really need a coffee roaster to do the job. It is possible to roast beans on the stove, on a barbecue fire, or even in a popcorn popper. However, taking this route will take a lot of time and effort. If you are serious about roasting beans for that perfect cup of coffee, then a proper roasting machine may be your best option.

So, why do people choose to roast their own beans at home? Well, for some people, they want the freshness and the quality of those beans. Buying green coffee beans (unroasted coffee beans) will usually last longer than ready roasted beans. In addition to that, you can simply use them in batches so they will be ultra fresh.

There are two main types of machine to consider when selecting a coffee roaster which are Fluid Bed/Air Roasters and Drum Roasters.

Fluid Bed/Air Roasters

Roasting coffee beans at home can’t be easier than using a standard fluid bed based roaster. These machines are small, compact and designed for small-medium home use. These machines will roast your beans fairly quickly and with minimal fuss.

These kind of machines use hot air during the roasting process, much like popcorn maker. You will be able to see the progress as it roast so you can control how it’s being roasted with a pre-set roasts feature. These machines are great for first-time roaster since it’s easy to operate. As you gain more experience, you can always upgrade to a bigger and more complex roaster.

Drum Roasters

Drum roasters were once found only in coffee shops and stores that roasted their own coffee beans. Nowadays, they are offered for home uses also.

These machines can roast more beans at once and perform the job much quicker than those of a fluid bed roaster. Most will work on a conduction or convection method. With this kind of machine, you place the beans in a drum, close the lid, turn the machine on and wait until the roast is done.

Whichever type of machine you choose to buy, it is recommended to read reviews and do your research first before purchasing one as these will tell you things that manufacture won’t. You can read reviews on the Internet and the reviews are written by people who have used these machines already.