Just because you can do something doesn't mean you should. Interestingly, the saying “With great power comes great responsibility” applies perfectly to roasting coffee in an air fryer.
In the world of coffee, several factors and processes occur before you have the beans at home. It all begins with the variety of coffee tree that’s planted, followed by the climatic conditions of the growing region, which influence the type of coffee produced. Once the fruits are harvested, they’re sent to the roasters, where specialists carry out the roasting process and package the coffee for us to prepare at home.
You can buy coffee already ground or grind it yourself, which significantly enhances the flavor. Traditionally, grinding is the point at which we prepare coffee at home. But what if you roast the coffee yourself using an air fryer, allowing you to produce it from the very beginning? It might be something you’ve never considered, but barista James Hoffman took on this challenge.
Science Doesn’t Do Itself
Hoffman was regarded as the world’s best barista in 2007. In recent years, he’s shared his tips on YouTube. Occasionally, he also feels the urge to experiment. For instance, he came up with the idea of infusing a donut to create a donut-flavored coffee.
The coffee roasting process is complex and requires the necessary equipment. While small home ovens are available for preparing single doses of coffee, the roasting process requires precise control over temperature, cooling, and constant movement, making it difficult to replicate at home.
Additionally, the energy and financial costs involved in coffee roasting aren’t something many are willing to bear, even if they’re coffee enthusiasts. However, what if you used something that’s already commonly found in many households? Air fryers have gained tremendous popularity, and new models are emerging constantly, making them a potential roasting option.
Hoffman has indeed experimented with roasting coffee in an air fryer and described the process in this video:
How to Roast Coffee in an Air Fryer
Roasting coffee beans at home is much simpler than the precise processes used in industrial settings. Hoffman’s method involves roasting raw beans directly in an air fryer. He then repeats the process using different types of oils for added flavor.
Some of his choices for oils are unconventional. For instance, he uses (fresh) canola oil, clarified butter, beef tallow, coffee oil (which is less commonly known), avocado oil, and peanut oil. He applies the oil at a ratio of 1% of the total weight of the beans–this means using 1 gram of oil for every 100 grams of coffee. He then mixes the oil well with the beans before roasting.
Once the beans are roasted, it’s crucial to cool them down quickly.
For beans roasted without oil, Hoffman places them directly on the air fryer’s grill, leaving the bottom uncovered to allow for proper air circulation. Next, he sets the fryer for 10 minutes at 356 degrees Fahrenheit. After roasting, he transfers the beans to a colander and shakes them under a fan to stop the cooking process.
For beans coated with oil, the roasting time should be extended to between 15 and 17 minutes at 374 degrees Fahrenheit because the oil alters heat transfer during roasting.
A key tip during the roasting process is to avoid opening the lid of the air fryer, given that this allows heat to escape. Simply place the beans in the frying basket and trust the process.
“Don’t Try This at Home”
The results of roasting seven different coffees are similar, not so much in flavor, but in the most challenging aspect to replicate at home: consistency. In a professional oven, the beans are continuously moved, ensuring that each one receives an equal amount of heat, which is crucial for achieving uniformity.
Different roasting levels share one common issue: inconsistency.
A professional roaster aims for a homogeneous product. A few over- or under-roasted beans in a bag can ruin the overall experience. While this inconsistency may not matter when roasting coffee that will be mixed with sugar, it’s critical in specialty coffee.
Hoffman highlights this issue in his video, clearly demonstrating that some beans are much more roasted than others. Could this problem be fixed? Essentially, you’d need to shake the air fryer during those 17 minutes. However, even that wouldn’t guarantee a good roast, and it’d also double as cardiovascular exercise!
The most entertaining part occurs when Hoffman begins tasting each of the coffees and comparing them to beans roasted in a professional oven. His conclusions are clear: Roasting coffee at home is simply not worth it. The resulting flavor will likely be inadequate, leading to wasted time and money.
Coffee with Animal Fat
Each coffee bean has a different flavor. For instance, beans that aren’t mixed with oil have no acidity, present a strong grassy flavor, and taste similar to roasted green peas. Interestingly, this flavor isn’t unpleasant, unlike coffee roasted with frying oil or coffee oil. According to Hoffman, coffee oil imparts an earthy flavor to the drink.
However, when you try coffee roasted with animal fat, you might hesitate and wonder if something is amiss, only to be pleasantly surprised by the flavor notes you discover. Hoffman mentions that it doesn’t taste meaty at all. It’s been roasted slightly longer than the others, and although it sounds unappealing, it tastes good.
When he brews an espresso with these beans, Hoffman notes some meaty undertones, but the overall experience is juicy and unexpectedly “fun.” However, it’s clear that this isn’t high-quality coffee, and both Hoffman and I agree that roasting coffee beans at home using an air fryer isn’t the best idea.
Overall, some things need to be done properly, and roasting coffee beans is one of them. However, if you’re interested in roasting coffee at home (and there’s a community for that), better options are available than using an air fryer.
Image | Nathan Dumlao | James Hobbman | Xataka
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