Discussion:
Coffee Bean Roasting Questions
(too old to reply)
Rod Out back
2007-08-23 01:59:38 UTC
Permalink
Coffee Expert questions...

I was sent some green coffee beans, as I had mentioned to friends that I wanted
to try roasting my own. They have kindly ordered 2 varieties of bean for me. The
supplier advises a 70-30 mix of beans to get the best flavour, but neglected to
mark either plastic bag with what variety they were.
Ahhh well; I will experiment with both possible mixes and see what the result
is.

My first roasting attempt yesterday was in a saucepan on the stove. All went
well, although I suspect I have not roasted them long enough. The coffee isnt
quite dark enough for my liking, but I will try roasting them a bit longer next
time.

Only downside was the paper-thin skin that seems to flake off the beans when
they are roasted. It is a bugger to separate out, although I had some better
success tossing them around in a colander when they had cooled down. Makes a
mess of the surrounding bench, though (they tend to float away). Good thing Mum
isnt home!
There was a slight acidy aftertaste that I wonder wasnt the skins I hadnt got
out of the beans before grinding. I also wonder if I shouldnt wash the beans;
either before or after roasting.

Overall, the first attempt was quite promising. I'm now rolling ideas around in
my head if I cant make some sort of all-in-one roasting/de-skinning arrangement.
Something that rolls the beans constantly, while allowing the skins to either
burn off or fall out of the container is my first thought. If I grafted a
wire-frame cylinder onto a BBQ rotisserie, I might be on the right track! We
have some stainless pump strainers that might be the perfect wireframe
cylinder...

I also HAVE to get to town to buy some decent (Super) milk for the right milk
texture. Trim just doesnt cut it...


Anyone else tried roasting their own??

-------

Cheers,

Rod...Out Back
Amarantha
2007-08-23 02:07:23 UTC
Permalink
Post by Rod Out back
Coffee Expert questions...
Anyone else tried roasting their own??
Haven't tried it myself, but John Lethlean recently did an article in The
Age about home-roasting:

http://www.theage.com.au/news/epicure/having-a-
crack/2007/07/19/1184559950800.html?page=fullpage

or http://tinyurl.com/2tgf7h

or http://preview.tinyurl.com/2tgf7h

K
Rod Out back
2007-08-23 03:14:50 UTC
Permalink
Post by Amarantha
Post by Rod Out back
Coffee Expert questions...
Anyone else tried roasting their own??
Haven't tried it myself, but John Lethlean recently did an article in The
http://www.theage.com.au/news/epicure/having-a-
crack/2007/07/19/1184559950800.html?page=fullpage
or http://tinyurl.com/2tgf7h
or http://preview.tinyurl.com/2tgf7h
K
Many thanks for this link; It gives me enough ammunition to attempt another
batch. I obviously didnt get to the second crack in my roasting...

Thanks again,


-------

Cheers,

Rod...Out Back
Phred
2007-08-23 14:42:20 UTC
Permalink
G'day Rod,

Good old DPI has a note on this, but it may be a bit theoretical
rather than a step by step recipe:

"Coffee processing in the home"

<http://www2.dpi.qld.gov.au/horticulture/5471.html>

If I can still remember this question next time I catch up with James,
I'll ask him if he knows of a more practical guide. (Or you could
always ring the DPI Call Centre and they'll probably put you through
to him. :)
Post by Rod Out back
Coffee Expert questions...
I was sent some green coffee beans, as I had mentioned to friends that I wanted
to try roasting my own. They have kindly ordered 2 varieties of bean for me. The
supplier advises a 70-30 mix of beans to get the best flavour, but neglected to
mark either plastic bag with what variety they were.
Ahhh well; I will experiment with both possible mixes and see what the result
is.
My first roasting attempt yesterday was in a saucepan on the stove. All went
well, although I suspect I have not roasted them long enough. The coffee isnt
quite dark enough for my liking, but I will try roasting them a bit longer next
time.
Only downside was the paper-thin skin that seems to flake off the beans when
they are roasted. It is a bugger to separate out, although I had some better
success tossing them around in a colander when they had cooled down. Makes a
mess of the surrounding bench, though (they tend to float away). Good thing Mum
isnt home!
There was a slight acidy aftertaste that I wonder wasnt the skins I hadnt got
out of the beans before grinding. I also wonder if I shouldnt wash the beans;
either before or after roasting.
Overall, the first attempt was quite promising. I'm now rolling ideas around in
my head if I cant make some sort of all-in-one roasting/de-skinning arrangement.
Something that rolls the beans constantly, while allowing the skins to either
burn off or fall out of the container is my first thought. If I grafted a
wire-frame cylinder onto a BBQ rotisserie, I might be on the right track! We
have some stainless pump strainers that might be the perfect wireframe
cylinder...
I also HAVE to get to town to buy some decent (Super) milk for the right milk
texture. Trim just doesnt cut it...
Anyone else tried roasting their own??
-------
Cheers,
Rod...Out Back
Cheers, Phred.
--
***@THISyahoo.com.INVALID
Rod Out back
2007-08-23 21:42:05 UTC
Permalink
Post by Phred
G'day Rod,
Good old DPI has a note on this, but it may be a bit theoretical
"Coffee processing in the home"
<http://www2.dpi.qld.gov.au/horticulture/5471.html>
If I can still remember this question next time I catch up with James,
I'll ask him if he knows of a more practical guide. (Or you could
always ring the DPI Call Centre and they'll probably put you through
to him. :)
Post by Rod Out back
Coffee Expert questions...
I was sent some green coffee beans, as I had mentioned to friends that I wanted
to try roasting my own. They have kindly ordered 2 varieties of bean for me. The
supplier advises a 70-30 mix of beans to get the best flavour, but neglected to
mark either plastic bag with what variety they were.
Ahhh well; I will experiment with both possible mixes and see what the result
is.
My first roasting attempt yesterday was in a saucepan on the stove. All went
well, although I suspect I have not roasted them long enough. The coffee isnt
quite dark enough for my liking, but I will try roasting them a bit longer next
time.
Only downside was the paper-thin skin that seems to flake off the beans when
they are roasted. It is a bugger to separate out, although I had some better
success tossing them around in a colander when they had cooled down. Makes a
mess of the surrounding bench, though (they tend to float away). Good thing Mum
isnt home!
There was a slight acidy aftertaste that I wonder wasnt the skins I hadnt got
out of the beans before grinding. I also wonder if I shouldnt wash the beans;
either before or after roasting.
Overall, the first attempt was quite promising. I'm now rolling ideas around in
my head if I cant make some sort of all-in-one roasting/de-skinning arrangement.
Something that rolls the beans constantly, while allowing the skins to either
burn off or fall out of the container is my first thought. If I grafted a
wire-frame cylinder onto a BBQ rotisserie, I might be on the right track! We
have some stainless pump strainers that might be the perfect wireframe
cylinder...
I also HAVE to get to town to buy some decent (Super) milk for the right milk
texture. Trim just doesnt cut it...
Anyone else tried roasting their own??
-------
Cheers,
Rod...Out Back
Cheers, Phred.
Phred,

Many thanks for this. It adds to my understanding of the process involved in
'rolling my own'.

I will try experimenting over the weekend with some of the ideas I've run across
for home-roasting. I think we have an old popcorn popper (one method) AND an
old bread-maker (another method) in the back store. I might dust them off for a
bit of a test...

Thanks again,


-------

For a round-up of the pics I have taken the past 24 months,
take a look at:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rod_outback/

-------

Cheers,

Rod...Out Back
Nina Pretty Ballerina
2007-08-24 04:15:31 UTC
Permalink
Post by Rod Out back
Coffee Expert questions...
I was sent some green coffee beans, as I had mentioned to friends that I wanted
to try roasting my own. They have kindly ordered 2 varieties of bean for me. The
supplier advises a 70-30 mix of beans to get the best flavour, but neglected to
mark either plastic bag with what variety they were.
Ahhh well; I will experiment with both possible mixes and see what the result
is.
My first roasting attempt yesterday was in a saucepan on the stove. All went
well, although I suspect I have not roasted them long enough. The coffee isnt
quite dark enough for my liking, but I will try roasting them a bit longer next
time.
Only downside was the paper-thin skin that seems to flake off the beans when
they are roasted. It is a bugger to separate out, although I had some better
success tossing them around in a colander when they had cooled down. Makes a
mess of the surrounding bench, though (they tend to float away). Good thing Mum
isnt home!
There was a slight acidy aftertaste that I wonder wasnt the skins I hadnt got
out of the beans before grinding. I also wonder if I shouldnt wash the beans;
either before or after roasting.
Overall, the first attempt was quite promising. I'm now rolling ideas around in
my head if I cant make some sort of all-in-one roasting/de-skinning arrangement.
Something that rolls the beans constantly, while allowing the skins to either
burn off or fall out of the container is my first thought. If I grafted a
wire-frame cylinder onto a BBQ rotisserie, I might be on the right track! We
have some stainless pump strainers that might be the perfect wireframe
cylinder...
I also HAVE to get to town to buy some decent (Super) milk for the right milk
texture. Trim just doesnt cut it...
Anyone else tried roasting their own??
-------
Cheers,
Rod...Out Back
i used to sub to a NG about coffee, man they knew EVERYTHIGN! there is a
lot to know, you have to listen for the crack or somethign when roasing.....
i just buy it roasted. cheater.

gl

chris
Chookie
2007-08-24 04:19:28 UTC
Permalink
Post by Rod Out back
Only downside was the paper-thin skin that seems to flake off the beans when
they are roasted. It is a bugger to separate out, although I had some better
success tossing them around in a colander when they had cooled down. Makes a
mess of the surrounding bench, though (they tend to float away). Good thing
Mum isnt home!
LOL -- aren't you supposed to winnow *outside*?
--
Chookie -- Sydney, Australia
(Replace "foulspambegone" with "optushome" to reply)

"Parenthood is like the modern stone washing process for denim jeans. You may
start out crisp, neat and tough, but you end up pale, limp and wrinkled."
Kerry Cue
Amarantha
2007-08-24 05:24:16 UTC
Permalink
Post by Rod Out back
Coffee Expert questions...
Anyone else tried roasting their own??
You could also try the Coffee & Tea forum at eGullet:

http://forums.egullet.org/index.php?showforum=127


K
ant
2007-10-15 12:42:31 UTC
Permalink
Post by Rod Out back
Anyone else tried roasting their own??
Yes. you basically have to roast to "first crack", a cracking noise the make
as they are cooked. So bake in a shallow pan (one layer), or fry in a big
wide pan (one layer). However, the best cheat is to use.... a corn popper!
--
ant
Don't try to reply to my email addy:
I'm borrowing that of the latest
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