Coffee roasting is the process of heating green coffee beans to high temperatures to bring out their unique flavors and aromas. The process of roasting coffee is an essential step in the coffee-making process, as it transforms raw, green coffee beans into the fragrant and flavorful beans that we use to brew coffee.
During the roasting process, the green coffee beans are placed in a drum or a roaster and exposed to high heat. As the beans are heated, they go through a series of physical and chemical changes, including the loss of moisture, the expansion of the beans, and the development of color and flavor. The beans will change in color from green to yellow, then to light brown, and finally to dark brown.
The roasting process can take anywhere from a few minutes to half an hour, depending on the desired roast level. The longer the beans are roasted, the darker they become. Different roasters have their own techniques and preferences, and the roasting process can be adjusted to produce different flavor profiles. For example, a light roast is characterized by a mild flavor with a higher acidity, while a dark roast is characterized by a strong, bold flavor with a lower acidity.
Roasting coffee is both an art and a science. It takes skill, experience, and knowledge to achieve the desired flavor profile and roast level. A coffee roaster will taste the beans at different stages of the roasting process to ensure that the final product meets the desired taste profile.