How to Pan Roast Coffee

Pan roasting your coffee allows you to adjust the flavor to your liking.

The rich taste of fresh-roasted coffee is a treat in the morning. If you wish to forgo store-bought roasted coffee, there are alternatives. You can invest in a coffee-roasting machine or use an air popcorn popper to roast your beans. However, if you do not have access to either of these items, pan roasting your beans works just as well. It may take several attempts, but eventually you will determine how to roast your coffee to your exact taste preference.

Things You'll Need

• Cast-iron skillet
• 1/2 cup green peaberry coffee beans
• Oven mitts
• Metal colander
• Glass container

Instructions

Light Roast

1. Preheat the oven to 500 degrees Fahrenheit. Add enough coffee beans to the skillet to cover the bottom. Spread the beans in an even layer across the bottom of the skillet. If necessary, remove some of the beans to prevent overlapping.

2. Place the skillet in the oven. Allow the coffee beans to roast in the oven for 20 minutes. Open the oven after 10 minutes and lightly shake the pan to shift the beans.

3. Use the oven mitts to remove the pan from the oven. Sit the metal colander in a sink and pour the beans into the colander. Using the oven mitts, shake the colander over the sink for three to five minutes to rotate and cool the beans.

4. Pour the beans into the glass container. Allow the beans to sit uncovered for four hours. Grind the beans for immediate use or seal the jar to store it for future use.

Dark Roast

1. Preheat the oven to 500 degrees Fahrenheit. Add enough coffee beans to the skillet to cover the bottom. Spread the beans in an even layer across the bottom of the skillet. If necessary, remove some of the beans to prevent overlapping.

2. Place the skillet in the oven. Allow the coffee beans to roast in the oven for 20 minutes. Open the oven after 10 minutes and lightly shake the pan to shift the beans.

3. Lower the heat to 390 degrees Fahrenheit. Allow the beans to roast for another 15 minutes. Open the oven door, and shake the pan at the halfway point -- about seven or eight minutes.

4. Use the oven mitts to remove the pan from the oven. Sit the colander in a sink and pour the beans into the colander. Using the oven mitts, shake the colander over the sink for three to five minutes to rotate and cool the beans.

5. Pour the beans into the glass container. Allow the beans to sit uncovered for four hours. Grind the beans for immediate use or seal the jar to store it for future use.

Stove Top

1. Heat the skillet on high heat for two to three minutes. Add enough coffee beans to the skillet to cover the bottom. Spread the beans in an even layer across the bottom of the skillet. If necessary, remove some of the beans to prevent overlapping.

2. Use the oven mitt to gently shake the pan and rotate the beans. Shake the pan continuously to keep the beans from burning.

3. Listen for a cracking sound, similar to the sound of popcorn popping. Remove the pan from the heat at this point if you prefer a light roast. Allow the beans to roast longer and become darker in color if you prefer a darker roast.

4. Use the oven mitts to remove the pan from the oven. Sift and cool the beans as described in Step 4 of the previous section.

5. Pour the beans into the glass container. Allow the beans to sit uncovered for four hours. Grind the beans for immediate use or seal the jar to store it for future use.

Tips & Warnings

• The beans may emit a lot of smoke while roasting. Open windows and use ventilation to remove the smoke.

• The chaff, or skin, of the coffee beans will shed during roasting and may pop out of the pan and create a little mess.

References

• On Coffee Makers: Make a Home Coffee Roaster by Simply Using a Pan and an Oven
• AARP: Roasting Your Own Coffee Begins With Green Beans and a Skillet