Can you make your own coffee beans?
Can you make your own coffee beans?
Yes, under the right conditions, you can make your own coffee beans. However, Making coffee beans goes beyond just planting and harvesting. A truckload of tasks lies after those easy two steps.
The DIY(Do it yourself) steps of any product or gadget are one of the reasons why google searches are record high. Making your own coffee beans from the scratch cannot be easy, but here we are trying to put you through the easiest steps you need to make wonderful coffee beans.
Not leaving any steps, below are every highlight you need in order to make your own coffee beans.
Plant the Coffee
Planting the coffee seed is difficult for starters. And I believe anyone can plant any type of coffee beans as long as the required conditions are met.
After clearing, tilling and making sure the soil is moist and in the right conditions, the most important thing to note before or while planting is that coffee bean does not do well under direct sunlight and heat. At least, provide shades for the seedlings.
Also, plant the coffee seedlings during the rainy season especially when the soil just enjoyed a fresh rainfall. You can buy coffee seedlings from any horticultural garden or shops around you. Make sure the seedlings are about 6-7 months old and ensure that the soil has compost to improve yield.
Take care of the Coffee Plant
The coffee plants, regardless of the types of coffee are like new babies. They require care and lots of it. The conditions they are subjected to before and after harvesting have a way of impacting the flavour and richness of the beans.
Add fertilizers once a month. Then, prune the plant. Pruning can largely impact the yield and texture of the grain. Also, consider consistent weeding.
Harvest the Coffee beans
Harvesting coffee varies from region to region. And this stage can determine a lot about the flavour and taste of the coffee after roasting.
Coffee takes about 4-7years to reach maturity after which harvest is made yearly during varying seasons. The harvest period is usually about 2-3months.
Normally, Coffee beans are harvested in small batches by hand or by machines. Machines simply harvest every coffee in its path (strip picking) while handpicking can afford out the privilege of selective picking where ripe coffee beans are harvested and the green ones are left. You can now come back later to harvest when it's ripe.
Coffee Roasting
Roasting green coffee beans are considered the most important part of making a suitable cup of coffee. Roasters have always tried experimenting with various blends of coffee beans. If you have no prior knowledge of roasting coffee beans especially coffee blends, I would suggest you stick to the simple methods of beans roast.
This is because different beans of different origins require varying conditions for roast, humidity and density.
You can enjoy your coffee without having to roast it. In fact, there is a similar amount of protein, sugar and caffeine in both types of beans. However, there are tonnes of chemical reactions that occur during roasting that gives specific flavours and tastes that are not compared to unroasted coffee.
In the absence of a coffee roaster, you can quickly use a popcorn popper. Coffee roaster, because it is made for that specific purpose, has better temperature control, chaff collection, airflow regulator e.t.c. than other equipment.
The presence of coffee shops has made very few homes roast or even make coffee beans themselves. You may need to pay attention to the following types of coffee roast and roasting processes.
Dark Roast vs Light Roast Coffee
The difference between these types of coffee is in the number of minutes they spend while roasting Or the temperature intensity.
Dark roast Coffee usually has lesser moisture, are less dense, less caffeinated and has a single note flavour. Depending on the number of batches, the dark roast can last 10-20minutes in the roaster/oven.
Light Coffee on the other hand has more moisture, more density and more caffeine. And in less than 10minutes, you'd be done with the roast.
Choosing between the two types of roast is difficult. Even though most people choose coffees as a result of many preferences. It remains that, the choice of quality, taste, and flavour is subjective
What is the equipment I need to Roast my Coffee?
- Coffee roaster
- Heat source
- Cooler
- Timer
- Weighing balance
- Spoon/stirrer
- Thermometer
How much coffee should I blend for a roast?
A total of 17g of coffee is advised for a DIY roast. After considering the origin, varieties, and acidity of the coffee; it is advisable to roast the coffee in smaller batches so as to understand the roast profile of the coffee you're blending and roasting.
Store the Coffee Beans
After a successful roast, the issue most people face is the right conditions for storage. Here are some useful hints on how to properly store your roasted coffee.
1. Store in an airtight container:
If you want to preserve your roasted coffee for as long as possible keep it in an opaque, airtight and room temperature bag. Do not use retailers' bags for storage they are not so reliable
2. Do not put in a Harsh environment:
Coffee is capable of absorbing nearly everything from the environment. Dust, water, and smell you just name it. Any roasted coffee beans can take those properties and reflect them in the taste of your coffee after brewing.
3. Roast Or Buy the right Amount:
There is no point in buying or roasting coffee that you don't need. The enjoyment of coffee lies in its freshness. Therefore, buy or roast just the right amount of coffee you can use in under two weeks.