That's right. You can have the freshest coffee in the world. It is not difficult and it is actually cheaper than store-bought coffee. All you need is a home coffee roaster. After all, how can any coffee be fresher than the coffee you just roasted in your own home? The flavor of the coffee you purchase in the store is pretty sorry compared to the flavor of fresh-roasted coffee. Think about it. Would you want to buy bread that was at least a week old?
Traditionally, coffee was always roasted in the home. Unfortunately, modernity prizes convenience and roasting coffee was a smoky, smelly affair. It was so much easier to just buy roasted coffee in a can or a bag. But now there is a way to have both convenience and quality. And save money too! All you need is a smokeless coffee roaster. A smoke-free coffee roaster will deliver an outstanding coffee, all in the convenience of your home. What's more, green coffee beans are less expensive than store-bought coffee - a home coffee roaster will pay for itself in one to two years.
Two models of smokeless roasters are available: The Nesco Professional and the Behmor 1600. The Nesco is smaller. The Behmor looks like a toaster oven. The Nesco will roast about a third of a pound of green coffee beans in 20-30 minutes. The Behmor will roast a full pound. Once roasted, it is generally recommended that the beans be allowed to rest for several hours. During this period, the coffee will reach its peak flavor - a state of perfection that will last for several days. For a 1-2 person household, the Nesco is probably a good choice unless your family drinks a lot of coffee. Keep in mind that after about two weeks, flavor will be less than one-half the original peak. It is better to roast just enough for a week. You don't want it to become like store-bought coffee.
Using a home roaster is an activity that engages the senses. The aroma is delightful. You will need to listen for "cracks," a sound similar to popcorn as it is popping. "First crack" occurs just before you have a light roast. With a little more roasting, medium roasts (City, American, regular, breakfast) are obtained. And just as the "second crack" occurs you would have a Full City roast to be followed by dark roasts (Vienna, French, and Italian). Roasting coffee is like grilling steak. Do you prefer rare, medium rare, medium, or well done?
Green coffee beans have a shelf life of many months so once you find a coffee that you really like you can stock up. One particularly good approach is to have a green bean supplier that is "cupping" new coffees on a regular basis. When an especially good green coffee becomes available, you can order it right away. One of the best is Kona coffee from the Big Island of Hawaii. This coffee is mostly produced by small landowners. And the best Kona coffee is the Peaberry. Unusual in that it has only one bean in each coffee cherry, the Peaberry comprises less than 5% of the total Kona crop. It is not always available so watch for it. And don't forget organic and Free Trade coffee. You can even buy decaffeinated green coffee beans. Enjoy the wide world of coffee. With a smokeless home coffee roaster, you can indulge in a rare gourmet treat and save money at the same time!
