[Home Roaster Series] Roasting Coffee Beans In An Air Fryer?
We have all seen those internet videos showing coffee beans being roasted in an air fryer. Some call it genius, but for professional roasters, ahem, like our senior roaster… it is frowned upon. And as coffee lovers or curious experimenters, we just had to find out for ourselves.
The Experiment: Roasting Coffee in an Air Fryer
Armed with a few 100g batches of green beans, we set up our mini home roasting trial:
- Temperature: 190°C
- Batches: 3 x 100g
- Time intervals: 15 minutes, 18 minutes, 20 minutes
We preheated the air fryer for 5 minutes, then dropped in our first batch for the 15-minute roast. Within minutes, the aroma of roasting coffee started filling the room. That warm, toasty smell that makes you wish the coffee was ready right now.
After roasting, each batch was sieved twice to remove chaff, then left to rest for a couple of days before brewing.
(Our senior roaster asked if we had heard the first crack. That popping sound in roasting. Honestly? With the air fryer whirring, not really.)
Round One: 15 Minutes
Looked okay on the outside, but inside… still raw. One look at the grind and we knew! Nope! Lesson learned: patience is the key.
Round Two: 18 Minutes
This time, things got interesting. Beans look evenly roasted. We ground, brewed, and the crema was decent! Flavour-wise, much better than the first attempt. Drinkable, balanced, and actually enjoyable.
Round Three: 20 Minutes
If 18 minutes worked, 20 minutes should be even better? Right? We repeated the process: grind, brew, taste.
Verdict? The flavours were deeper, more developed, and smoother. For this air fryer experiment, 20 minutes took the crown.
The Final Word
Is air fryer coffee roasting going to replace your dedicated drum roaster? No.
But if you are a home coffee enthusiast looking to try roasting for fun, yes, it works. And it is a great way to dip your toes into the world of coffee roasting without investing in big equipment.
Want to try it yourself? We have got a range of green coffee beans ready for your next home experiment.
