If there’s one thing that the majority of humanity can agree on, it’s that there’s nothing quite like a cup of perfectly roasted coffee to energize you to achieve great things and fuel you all throughout a long day. 

Whether you run a cafe, restaurant, office, school, or hotel, everyone needs their caffeine fix. 

But how do you find the perfect roast that tastes like a heavenly brew? This mission starts with understanding different coffee roasting techniques that are key to unlocking a robust and memorable coffee experience for everyone who takes a sip of it.

Let’s explore some popular coffee roasting methods and help you determine which is best suited for your business’s needs. 

Table of Contents | Exploring Different Coffee Roasting Techniques: Which Method is Right for You?  

1. Drum Roasting 

• Benefits of Drum Roasting 
• When to Choose Drum Roasting 

2. Hot Air Roasting 

• Benefits of Hot Air Roasting 
• When to Choose Hot Air Roasting 

3. Convection Roasting 

• Benefits of Convection Roasting 
• When to Choose Convection Roasting 

4. Infrared Roasting 

• Benefits of Infrared Roasting 
• When to Choose Infrared Roasting 

5. Stovetop Roasting  

• Benefits of Stovetop Roasting 
• When to Choose Stovetop Roasting 

6. Solar Roasting  

• Benefits of Solar Roasting 
• When to Choose Solar Roasting 

Meet Calgary’s Favourite Coffee Roaster: 86 Coffee  

1. Drum Roasting

Meet one of the frontrunners in the coffee roasting department: Drum roasting.

It’s one of the most traditional and widely-used methods wherein coffee beans are placed in a rotating drum, which is heated externally. The drum’s rotation ensures even roasting, allowing the beans to develop a complex flavour profile. The process involves careful monitoring of time and temperature to achieve desired roast levels—ranging from light to dark.

Benefits of Drum Roasting

• Flavour Complexity: Drum roasting excels in developing complex flavours, highlighting the rich and nuanced notes of coffee.
• Versatility: It accommodates various roast levels, providing flexibility to match specific taste preferences.
• Consistency: With coffee roasters having precise control over variables, drum roasting allows for consistent quality, batch after batch.

When to Choose Drum Roasting
 

• If your business aims to:
  
  • Highlight nuanced flavors.
  • Achieve a rich, full-bodied roast.

• Preferred by artisan coffee roasters because it:
  
  • Delivers consistent results.
  • Offers precise control over the roasting process.

• Ideal for businesses that want to:
  
  • Impress customers with a rich coffee menu in cafés and restaurants.
  • Provide a premium coffee experience in hotels and offices.

2. Hot Air Roasting 

Hot air roasting, also known as fluid bed roasting, literally embodies its name as it involves suspending coffee beans on a bed of hot air. Through this technique, even heat distribution is achieved, resulting in a uniform roast. Compared to drum roasting, the beans are roasted more quickly, which preserves some of the more delicate aromatic compounds. The shorter roasting time often results in a brighter and more acidic flavour profile.

Benefits of Hot Air Roasting

• Speed: Faster roasting times translate to quicker throughput, ideal for high-volume operations.
• Aromatic Preservation: The method helps maintain delicate aromatic compounds, enhancing the coffee’s overall bouquet.
• Uniformity: The even circulation of hot air ensures a consistent roast across all beans.

When to Choose Hot Air Roasting

• If you prefer:
  
  • Efficiency and consistency.
  • Bright and fruity notes in coffee.
  • Large-scale operations needing uniform roasts.
    

• A great choice for bustling environments such as:
  
  • Schools and offices where quick and consistent brewing is essential to meet demand.

3. Convection Roasting 

Convection roasting is a process that uses hot air to transfer heat to the coffee beans. Unlike drum roasting, where contact with the drum is a heat source, convection roasting relies solely on air circulation. This method can be performed in a coffee roasting machine designed specifically for convection, providing a cleaner roasting process that minimizes charring and smoke.

Benefits of Convection Roasting

• Clean Flavour Profile: The absence of direct contact with metal results in a purer, cleaner taste.
• Energy Efficiency: By optimizing air circulation, convection roasting is often more energy-efficient than traditional methods.
• Highlighting Origin: This method allows the unique attributes of the coffee’s origin to shine through.

When to Choose Convection Roasting

• Ideal for businesses aiming to:
  
  • Produce lighter roasts with a clean, crisp flavor.
  • Showcase the origin characteristics of coffee beans.
  • Highlight the distinct terroir of their beans.
  • Offer single-origin coffee.

• A great option for:
  
  • Hotels and offices offering a diverse and sophisticated coffee selection to guests and staff.

4. Infrared Roasting  

You guessed it right—this roasting method uses infrared radiation to heat the coffee beans. This method allows for precise control over the roasting process, resulting in a consistent roast with minimal energy consumption. What you’ll love about infrared technology is how it ensures that the beans are roasted evenly without the need for constant rotation. 

Benefits of Infrared Roasting

• Energy Savings: Infrared roasting is highly energy-efficient, reducing operational costs.
• Precision: Offers unparalleled control over roasting parameters, ensuring a consistent product.
• Reduced Environmental Impact: Lower energy consumption translates to a smaller carbon footprint.

When to Choose Infrared Roasting

• Ideal for businesses that:
  
  • Seek energy-efficient solutions.
  • Want consistency in coffee products.
  • Look for precise control over roasting parameters.
  • Prefer medium to dark roasts needing even heat distribution.

• Advantageous for:
  
  • Eco-conscious businesses and institutions aiming to minimize environmental impact while maintaining high-quality coffee offerings.

5. Stovetop Roasting  

Stovetop roasting is a true classic that involves roasting coffee beans in a pan over direct heat. This method is more manual and requires constant attention and stirring to prevent uneven roasting—it’s how to roast coffee the hard way. It isn’t commonly used in commercial settings, but it does offer a unique and hands-on roasting experience. 

Benefits of Stovetop Roasting

• Artisanal Appeal: The hands-on nature of stovetop roasting adds a personal, artisanal touch to the product.
• Customizability: Allows for experimentation with small batches and custom roasting profiles.
• Cost-Effective: Requires minimal equipment investment, making it accessible for small businesses.

When to Choose Stovetop Roasting

• Best suited for:
  
  • Small businesses or artisanal roasters offering custom, handcrafted products.
  • Small batches with room for experimentation with different roasting profiles.

• Particularly attractive for:
  
  • Boutique hotels or small offices aiming to offer an exclusive, personalized coffee experience.

6. Solar Roasting  

Wondering how to roast coffee beans while harnessing the power of the sun? Then it’s time to put solar roasting on your radar.

Using solar energy to roast coffee beans, this innovative method is not only eco-friendly but also imparts a distinct flavour to the coffee. The process involves using mirrors or lenses to concentrate sunlight, which is then used to roast the beans. This groundbreaking approach aligns perfectly with sustainable practices and innovation.

Benefits of Solar Roasting

• Sustainability: Utilizes renewable energy, reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
• Unique Flavour: The slow and steady roasting process can create unique and desirable flavour profiles.
• Market Differentiation: Offers a compelling story and unique selling proposition for eco-conscious consumers.

When to Choose Solar Roasting

• Perfect for businesses that:
  
  • Prioritize sustainability.
  • Want to differentiate with an environmentally-friendly roasting process.

• Excellent for:
  
  • Serving as a compelling marketing talking point.
  • Attracting eco-conscious customers supporting green initiatives.

• Ideal choice for:
  Businesses and institutions promoting sustainability as part of their brand ethos.

Meet Calgary’s Favourite Coffee Roaster: 86 Coffee 

If you aim to craft the perfect coffee experience, then the first step is to select the right coffee roasting method. Whether you’re looking for consistency, energy efficiency, or a unique flavour profile, there’s a roasting technique out there that’ll pass your vibe check and fit your business’s needs perfectly. 

Looking for a trusted coffee roaster in Calgary? 86 Coffee is here to fill your cup.

Specializing in high-quality, locally roasted coffee, we offer both standard and custom roasts to ensure you’re serving premium products that’ll keep everyone coming back for more. 

The search for “coffee roasters near me” ends right here. Visit 86 Coffee to learn more about our programs for cafés, restaurants, hotels, and offices. 

Take a look at our other blogs:

• 86 Coffee Spotlight: Diving Into Our Unique Offerings of Coffee Supplies & Equipment  
• Brewed Awakenings: The Essential Guide to Coffee Supplies & Equipment  

86coffee - Coffee Experts

Chad has been working in the hospitality industry—cafes, restaurants, breweries, etc.—for 25 years before discovering his calling for coffee. For Chad, it’s all about being involved in the coffee-making process every step of the way to truly understand the craft. He aims to bridge the gap, especially in terms of bringing the best service to customers.

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Coffee Experts