Each and every day millions of people throughout the world look forward to enjoying a fresh cup of coffee brewed in their favorite small coffee maker. People that understand coffee know that the best cup of coffee can only be achieved when using the freshest possible beans. Of course, buying freshly roasted coffee isn’t always an easy proposition, particularly when purchasing from large coffee house chains or through the supermarket. Another option for people that seek the ultimate in freshness is to roast coffee at home; that’s right, you can roast your own beans at home. So, is it worth it to roast coffee at home for use in your best small coffee machine?
Although the process of roasting coffee is quite elementary, it does take a bit of commitment on the part of the operator. Apart from the financial commitment, which can run about $200 for an entry level roaster, the process itself requires time. In order to have a continuous supply of fresh roasted coffee, the user must roast coffee on a regular basis. The roasting process itself can take between 10 and 30 minutes, depending upon the roaster being used. The results when done right, however, are simply outstanding.
The main advantages to roasting your own beans are that you will always have a fresh supply of coffee and you can roast to the level you prefer. Not everyone likes a dark French Roast, which is what the majority of store bought whole beans are roasted to. With your own roaster you can roast your beans light, dark or anywhere in between. Through the roasting process you will be able to discover flavors in your coffee that you never knew existed including flavors of fruit, chocolate and spice.
In the end, whether or not it’s worth it to roast your own beans depends on your level of commitment toward achieving coffee greatness. For people that have experienced the difference that fresh roasted coffee can provide, the answer is an obvious and resounding yes.