Welcome to RoastCoffee.ai

Your AI-Powered Hub for Home Coffee Roasting Success

Welcome to the ultimate destination for aspiring coffee roasting entrepreneurs! Whether you're dreaming of turning your passion for coffee into a thriving business or simply want to master home roasting, you've found your perfect starting point.

Home coffee roasting offers incredible opportunities, but finding reliable guidance online can be overwhelming amidst scattered and confusing information. That's why RoastCoffee.ai was created. We've spent months meticulously collecting and organizing essential resources from countless sources. This invaluable knowledge powers our RoastBot, an AI assistant built with Google's secure and powerful NotebookLM. It delivers answers in an easy Chat Concierge format. Plus, stay updated with the latest global coffee news and market trends right here on our site.

Our platform combines expert guidance and cutting-edge AI to support your entire coffee roasting journey, from your very first roast to scaling your operation. We're here for your growth and success.

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Getting Started with Home Coffee Roasting

Ready to begin your coffee roasting journey? This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know to perform your first successful roast safely and confidently.

1Essential Equipment Setup

Basic Starter Kit:

  • Popcorn Popper: A hot air popcorn popper (like the West Bend Poppery) is perfect for beginners—affordable and effective
  • Cooling Tray: A large colander or mesh strainer for cooling beans quickly after roasting
  • Timer: Essential for tracking roast progression and achieving consistency
  • Kitchen Scale: For measuring green beans accurately (start with 1/2 cup or about 75-100g)
  • Thermometer: Infrared thermometer for monitoring bean temperature (optional but helpful)

2Green Bean Basics

Where to Buy: Start with reputable online suppliers like Sweet Maria's Coffee Supply, The Captain's Coffee, or local roasting supply companies. Look for detailed descriptions of origin, processing method, and expected flavor profiles.

What to Look For:

  • Even color and size consistency
  • Fresh crop dates (within 1 year of harvest)
  • Minimal defects (broken, chipped, or discolored beans)
  • Proper moisture content (10-12%)
  • Clear origin information and tasting notes

3Your First Roast Walkthrough

Step-by-Step Process:

  1. Prepare Your Space: Ensure good ventilation and have your cooling setup ready
  2. Measure Beans: Start with 1/2 cup (75-100g) of green beans
  3. Preheat Popper: Run empty for 30 seconds to warm up
  4. Add Beans: Pour beans into the popper chamber
  5. Start Timer: Begin timing as soon as beans are added
  6. Listen for First Crack: Around 3-5 minutes, you'll hear audible cracking sounds
  7. Monitor Color: Beans will progress from green to yellow to light brown
  8. Stop at Desired Roast: For beginners, stop 30-60 seconds after first crack begins
  9. Cool Immediately: Transfer to cooling tray and stir/shake to cool quickly
  10. Rest Before Grinding: Wait 12-24 hours before grinding for optimal flavor

⚠️ Safety First - Critical Safety Tips

  • Ventilation: Always roast in a well-ventilated area or outdoors to avoid smoke buildup
  • Fire Safety: Keep a fire extinguisher nearby and never leave roasting unattended
  • Chaff Management: Coffee chaff is flammable—clean up immediately after roasting
  • Hot Equipment: Roasting equipment gets extremely hot—use appropriate protection
  • Smoke Alarms: Be aware that roasting produces smoke which may trigger smoke detectors
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Coffee Roasting Resources

Expand your knowledge with these carefully curated resources from coffee roasting experts and enthusiasts worldwide.

📚 Essential Books

Home Coffee Roasting: Romance and Revival
by Kenneth Davids

The definitive guide to home coffee roasting, covering everything from bean selection to roasting techniques. Perfect for beginners and experienced roasters alike.

Buy on Amazon →
The Coffee Roaster's Companion
by Scott Rao

Advanced techniques and scientific approaches to coffee roasting. Essential reading for those looking to understand the technical aspects of roasting.

Buy on Amazon →
Craft Coffee: A Manual
by Jessica Easto

Comprehensive guide covering the entire coffee journey from bean to cup, including detailed roasting sections and business insights.

Buy on Amazon →

📺 YouTube Channels

Sweet Maria's Coffee Supply

Educational videos on green coffee, roasting techniques, and equipment reviews. Excellent tutorials for beginners and advanced roasters.

Visit Channel →
James Hoffmann

In-depth coffee education covering roasting science, equipment reviews, and brewing techniques. High-quality, research-based content.

Visit Channel →
Coffee with April

Practical home roasting tutorials, equipment modifications, and roasting experiments perfect for home enthusiasts.

Visit Channel →

🌐 Websites & Blogs

Sweet Maria's Coffee Supply

The ultimate resource for home roasters with extensive guides, green coffee sourcing, equipment, and educational materials.

Visit Website →
Home Coffee Roasting Forum

Active community of home roasters sharing techniques, troubleshooting tips, and equipment modifications.

Visit Forum →
Coffee Review

Professional coffee reviews, roasting analysis, and industry insights to help develop your palate and understanding.

Visit Website →
Sprudge

Coffee industry news, roaster profiles, and emerging trends in specialty coffee and roasting.

Visit Website →
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Coffee News & Industry Updates

Stay up-to-date with the latest developments in the coffee world. From industry trends to new roasting techniques, we curate the most relevant news for aspiring coffee entrepreneurs.

🔥 Featured Stories

June 25, 2025
Building A $500 Million Coffee Chain By Selling TikTok Drinks To Teens

Discover how Blank Street, a Brooklyn-based coffee chain, achieved a $500 million valuation by strategically targeting teens with trendy, TikTok-friendly matcha drinks. This article explores their rapid growth, marketing tactics, and unique approach to customer engagement that resonates with a younger demographic.

Read Full Article →
March 23, 2020
The Rise of Home Coffee Roasting

There's no denying that roasting coffee at home has become much more popular in recent years. It's now easier than ever to source small bags of specialty-grade green coffee at a reasonable price, making it easier than ever to roast your own beans from the comfort of your kitchen.

Read Full Article →
June 28, 2025
How Coffee Packaging Impacts Flavor and Freshness

Discover the crucial role of packaging in preserving coffee's flavor and freshness. This article delves into how light, air, and moisture degrade coffee, and highlights effective packaging solutions like foil-lined bags, one-way valves, and nitrogen-flushing, essential for maintaining quality from roaster to cup.

Read Full Article →

📈 Business & Market Trends

June 27, 2025
USDA Forecasts Record Global Coffee Output for 2025/26

The latest USDA outlook predicts a historic high in global coffee production for the 2025/26 season, primarily driven by robusta expansion. This forecast suggests potential impacts on global supply and prices, crucial information for those in or entering the coffee roasting business.

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June 20, 2025
Global Coffee Prices Continue to Fall Amid Supply Expectations

Reports indicate that global coffee prices have reached near five-month lows on the Intercontinental Exchange (ICE). This downward trend is largely attributed to boosted harvest expectations, making it an important development for roasters managing their green bean procurement costs.

Read Full Article →

🔬 Technology & Innovation

Feb 28, 2025
Future Trends in Coffee Production: Innovations Driving the Industry Forward

Explore how the coffee industry is rapidly evolving with new technologies. This article highlights key trends such as AI-driven processing, the transformation to smart coffee factories with IoT sensors and automated quality control, and innovative roasting techniques like infrared roasting. It also touches on blockchain for traceability and sustainable production models shaping the future of coffee manufacturing.

Read Full Article →
June 10, 2025
Typhoon Roasters Goes Fully Electric: A Smarter, Greener Future For Coffee Roasting

A prominent European manufacturer, Typhoon Roasters, has shifted its entire product line to fully electric roasting machines. This move highlights a significant industry trend towards more precise, energy-efficient, and environmentally friendly roasting solutions, which could impact future equipment choices for roasters.

Read Full Article →

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Have a story or development you think our community should know about? We'd love to hear from you!

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About RoastCoffee.ai

Our Mission

RoastCoffee.ai was created with a simple yet powerful mission: to democratize coffee roasting knowledge and empower aspiring entrepreneurs to turn their passion for coffee into successful businesses. We believe that everyone deserves access to expert guidance, comprehensive resources, and cutting-edge AI assistance on their coffee roasting journey.

Whether you're taking your first steps into home roasting or looking to scale your operation into a commercial venture, we're here to provide the support, knowledge, and tools you need to succeed. Our platform combines traditional coffee roasting wisdom with modern AI technology to create a unique learning and support environment.

The Value We Provide

Coffee roasting is both an art and a science, requiring a deep understanding of bean characteristics, roasting profiles, equipment management, and business fundamentals. Our comprehensive resource hub offers:

  • Expert-curated educational content for all skill levels
  • AI-powered assistance through our RoastBot assistant
  • Practical guides for equipment selection and setup
  • Business development resources for aspiring entrepreneurs
  • Community-driven learning and support

Meet the Founder

Hi there! I'm Ankur Agarwal, the founder of RoastCoffee.ai. My journey into coffee roasting began like many others—with a simple desire to understand what makes a truly exceptional cup of coffee. What started as weekend experiments with a basic popcorn popper evolved into a deep passion for the entire coffee roasting process.

After years of learning, experimenting, and connecting with fellow coffee enthusiasts, I realized there was a significant gap in accessible, comprehensive resources for aspiring coffee roasting entrepreneurs. Too many passionate individuals were struggling to find reliable guidance, practical advice, and ongoing support for their coffee roasting ventures.

That's when the idea for RoastCoffee.ai was born. By combining my experience in technology with my passion for coffee, I wanted to create a platform that could provide personalized, AI-powered assistance alongside traditional educational resources. The goal is simple: to help you succeed in your coffee roasting journey, whether that's perfecting your home roasting technique or building a thriving coffee business.

I'm excited to be part of your coffee roasting adventure and look forward to seeing what amazing coffees you'll create!

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