How To Roast Coffee Beans At Home

So, you're a coffee geek. You know your barista, roaster and maybe even the farmer who grows the beans by name. Your brewing implements hail from places like Japan and Portland. You regularly have to explain your usual coffee order to mere cappuccino-slurping mortals ("A Gibraltar is something between a latte and a macchiato, duh.") But there is one breed of coffee cultist who has you beat: the home roaster.

Or hadn't you considered cutting out the craft-roasting middleman? In this era of DIY glorification, why not give it a try? Those already hooked on at-home roasting will tell you it's as easy as pie. There are several different methods, including the use of an old-school popcorn air popper and the stovetop covered pan approach. You can also spend anywhere from $150 to $1,000 on a countertop roaster. Every home roaster has his preferred strategy, achieved through trial and error. While nearly everyone we consulted denounced at least one of these techniques, they did all agree that the one method just about anyone can try is oven roasting.

Here's what you'll need:

• Green coffee beans, available at online shops like Sweet Maria's, The Coffee Project and Mr. Green Beans.
• A gas oven, preferably near a window
• A stainless steel wire mesh strainer, colander or perforated disposable roasting tin
• A large spoon
• Oven mitts