How to Roast Coffee Beans for Espresso

Coffee beans on the vine

Espresso is pressure-steamed coffee served in small shots. You can use any roast of coffee to make it, but using fresh-roasted beans is the secret to a great-tasting cup of coffee, whether prepared as espresso or just run through your drip machine.
Fresh coffee beans are green, and, unlike pre-roasted coffee, they will stay fresh for up to two years. They are also cheaper than ready-to-brew so you get the best of both worlds: flavor and freshness, and low cost. Just remember to roast them at least 12 hours before use, as you should let them sit for 12 or more hours before brewing. If you roast them the day before, you will wake to freshly roasted coffee ready to be ground for your morning brew.

Things You'll Need

• Green coffee beans (see Resources, below)
• Large frying pan (lid optional)
• Spoon for stirring
• Cloth or paper towels

Instructions

1. Put a layer of beans in the frying pan. Don't make the layer too deep, as you want to be able to stir or shake the pan so that all beans reach the bottom of the pan during the process. A layer of beans no deeper than ¾ of an inch works fine.

2. Put pan over medium-high heat.

3. Stir constantly or put a lid on the pan and shake it. Roast the beans until they all turn brown and are covered with oil. You will smell a strong coffee smell and hear cracking sounds. Once all the beans are covered with oil, the roasting is done.

4. If you want a darker roast, continue cooking the beans, stirring constantly, for another 5 to 7 minutes. Stop just before the beans are the desired darkness, as they will continue to roast while they cool.

5. Remove from heat and spread the beans on a layer of towel to absorb the excess oil. Your beans are now ready for grinding. However, they will taste best if you let them sit for 12 hours before using. To store, put in a covered container in dark place. Don't cover tightly for the first 12 hours, as the beans are still producing carbon dioxide that needs to escape.

Tips & Warnings

• This is the simplest way to roast coffee, using items you already have. There are many other ways on the website listed in the Resources section. It doesn't matter what kind of bean you use. Choose your favorite or experiment. Espresso is not a roast. Any roast can be ground for espresso and run through an espresso machine. The beans may have light colored chaff on them after roasting. Just blow on them or shake the beans in a colander. Or just leave it. It won't hurt anything.

References

• Information about Espresso

Resources

• Source for Green Coffee Beans
• Other Methods of Roasting Coffee Beans