The Roast it Yourself Podcast
Episodes
Do You Really Need Better Roasting Equipment?
20 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 91: In this episode of Roast It Yourself, Stephen and Catherine answer a listener question from John in the UK about improving roast consisten...
Who Creates Coffee Tasting Notes?
13 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 90: Where do coffee tasting notes actually come from—and how accurate are they? In this episode of the Roast It Yourself Podcast, Stephen Bu...
Organic vs Conventional Coffee: Does It Actually Matter?
06 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Organic coffee is often seen as the “better” choice—but what does that really mean when it comes to the coffee you roast and drink? In this epis...
Cracking the Code on Peaberries
27 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Roast It Yourself Podcast, Stephen and Catherine are back together in person—and tackling a question from Lee about roasting ...
Gene Cafe Roasting: Does Preheating Make a Difference?
20 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Roast It Yourself Podcast, Stephen from Coffee Bean Corral and Catherine of Current Crop Roasting Shop tackle a question many h...
Roasting Back-to-Back on the SR800: How Much Rest Is Enough?
13 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Roast It Yourself Podcast, Stephen and Catherine focus in on the real-world experience of roasting coffee with the Fresh Roast ...
Low & Slow or Hot & Fast with the Behmor
06 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Roast It Yourself Podcast, Stephen and Catherine tackle a classic home-roasting debate: low and slow vs. hot and fast — speci...
Roaster Tips: How to Scale Up Batch Size Without Wasting Coffee
02 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Roast It Yourself Podcast, we dive into a practical roasting challenge many home roasters face: scaling up batch size without w...
Crack the Roast: SR800 Profiling with Sight, Sound, and Smell
23 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 83: In this episode, we dive into a listener question about dialing in a FreshRoast SR800 with the extension tube. We talk through whether tem...
How to Tell Green Coffee Beans Apart: A Roaster's Cheat Sheet
09 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 81: Can you tell the difference between a Colombian washed and an Ethiopian natural just by looking at the unroasted beans? In this episode, w...
Nailing a French Roast with the Fresh Roast SR540
29 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 81: Ever wondered how to nail that bold, dark French roast at home? In this episode, we tackle listener Theron's question about achieving a pe...
"What's wrong with my roast?!"
19 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 80: In this episode, we review a new roaster's roast log to help figure out why he's not getting the results he's looking for using his Fresh ...
Are oily coffee beans a problem?
12 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 79: In this episode, we answer a question from a new roaster whose very first roast on his Fresh Roast SR800 was darker than he wanted, and he...
Tips on Reusing Coffee Storage Bags (PLUS a HUGE Announcement!)
04 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 78: Can you reuse coffee storage bags? Is there a right way or wrong way of doing it? In this episode, Catherine and Stephen answer these ques...
The #1 Reason to Roast Coffee Yourself!
29 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 77: In this quick on-the-road episode, Stephen (while carefully and safely observing the rules of the road...) shares his absolute favorite re...
Good Roast/Bad Roast: Can You Smell The Difference?
21 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 76: This is sure to be our smelliest episode yet! Catherine and Stephen respond to an unusual question about post-roast aroma of all things, w...
Figuring Out My Roaster's True Capacity
14 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 75: In this episode, we discuss an often under-treated subject: roaster capacity. How much coffee is too little for your machine? How much is ...
"Do You Favor Air Roasters or Drum Roasters?"
07 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 74: In this episode, Catherine and Stephen answer a question not about technical mumbo jumbo, but about their personal preference, about roast...
New Roaster: Should I Just Stick to One Bean?
31 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 73: This week's question is from a newbie roaster who asks whether they should try a whole bunch of different coffees, or just pick one or two...
Tips on Espresso Extraction?
24 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 72: This week, we (mostly Stephen, because it's his thing!) answer a customer's question about dialing in espresso extraction, and discuss how...
How to Set Up A Coffee Cupping
17 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 71: This week, we (mostly Catherine, because it's her thing!) answer a customer's question about how to set up a coffee cupping, focusing on t...
Can You Really Track Roast Level By Weight Loss?
10 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 70: This week, we answer a question from a listener who has been tracking his coffee's weight loss percentage from green to roasted, and using...
YOU can roast coffee today!
10 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
BONUS EPISODE: Stephen gave a talk at last weekend's NOLA Coffee Festival in New Orleans, which we recorded to release as a bonus episode! In "The Ess...
Removing chaff from roasted coffee?
26 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 69: Have you ever wondered if the chaff makes a difference? Typically, larger specialty roasteries will tumble to "polish" their roasted coffe...
An Easy Way To Use the Coffee Taster's Flavor Wheel
19 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 68: This week, we dive into the colorful world of the Coffee Taster's Flavor Wheel! While this tool can seem intimidating or overwhelming, it'...
"Does Great Crema Mean Great Espresso?"
11 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 67: This week, we dive into a question from a listener about what makes a good shot of espresso, specifically, whether or not crema affects th...
3 Keys to Crafting a Perfect Blend
05 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 66: If you want a consistent, well-rounded, complex, full-bodied brew without sacrificing flavor, you might have a hard time finding a single ...
Roaster Head to Head: Kaleido vs. Bullet
29 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 65: Ever wondered how two of the most popular "level up" roasters perform head-to-head? Catherine and Stephen discuss the pros and cons of the...
Is Co-Fermenting Just Artificial Flavoring?
22 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 64: This week, we explore the world of "alternative" processing methods, from co-fermenting to carbonic maceration. Our discussion is wide-ran...
How to Buy, Roast and Brew Lower Acid Coffee
16 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 63: A listener is roasting coffee for a friend who finds the acid in many coffees hard on their stomach. We offer a suggestions at every stage...
"Should I Upgrade to an Air Roaster or a Drum Roaster?"
08 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 62: We're sure we'll step on some toes with this one... This week, we got a question from a small batch roaster looking to upgrade to a larger...
How To Find Exactly The Coffee You're Looking For
01 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 61: This week, we're responding to a listener's question about how to consistently find coffees that he enjoys and how to find good "taste-a-l...
"Newbie Roaster Here, Does This Look Normal?"
25 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 60: This week, we got an excellent question from a self-proclaimed newbie roaster, including a picture (linked here). He gave us some details ...
Great results from a cheap machine?
18 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 59: In this episode, Stephen tackles a question from a local questioner about how to steam milk for his lattes and cappuccinos using the cheap...
10 Reasons to Start Roasting TODAY!
11 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 58: Why would anyone want to roast coffee themselves? We dive into this question, going through our Top 10 motivations for learning the art an...
Best Coffee for Espresso?
30 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 57: We respond to a question from an espresso drinker who's just getting started roasting about which country/origin produces the best beans f...
Is AI Useful for Home Coffee Roasters?
20 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 56: A listener sent us an AI analysis of the raw coffee they were about to roast, based on just a couple of uploaded photos, which raised the ...
When to Roast Hot & Fast vs. Low & Slow
13 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 55: We received a detailed roast log from a listener, along with a question -- why do the coffees I roast taste the same? The answer lies in p...
RECORD YOUR ROASTS! (Here's how)
06 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 54: This week, we're going into detail on the most important piece of roasting equipment there is -- your roast log. Whether you're roasting i...
Going from Home Roaster to Business Owner Tips
30 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 53: This discussion started out answering a question about upgrading from a personal home roasting machine to something that would work for st...
Best way to keep coffee fresh?
23 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 52: Should we be storing coffee in a valve bag or an air-tight container? This week, we dive into coffee storage strategies and discuss the be...
Weird (and EASY) Iced Coffee Recipes
16 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 51: In this episode, we discuss some of our favorite iced coffee recipes that are a bit off the beaten path (no coffee-milk combos here)! A li...
Our Top Tips For Newbie Roasters!
12 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 50: For our 50th Episode, we decided to record our top tips for newbie roasters or those looking to get into coffee roasting. Whether you're a...
Blending Premium Coffees Without Sacrificing Quality
02 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 49: This week we answer a listener's somewhat controversial question about blending Premium Coffees, such as Geishas, Konas, or the legendary ...
The Extension Tube Has Changed My Roast!
25 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 48: This week we address a question by a listener about how the Extension Tube affects the results he's getting with his Fresh Roast SR540. We...
Small Town, Big Coffee: Interview with Copper Cup Coffee Co. Owner
21 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 47: If you've ever thought about starting a roasting business, this is the episode for you! We dive into a story of coffee roasting success, f...
Roasting Regular vs. Decaf Coffee
11 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 46: In this episode, we answer a listener's question about roasting decaf coffee, discuss troubleshooting a roast profile, and discuss how the...
Starting a Business: Which Roaster Should I Buy?
04 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 45: In this episode, we address a question from a roaster who's looking to level up and begin selling his coffee but wonders: Which roasters s...
How to Scale Up from a Small Roaster
28 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 44: Nobody likes wasting coffee, which is why any roaster who's planning to tackle a large batch should start with a few small "sample roasts"...
Sticks and stones may break my coffee grinder...
21 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 43: In this episode, we discuss quality control in the coffee world, especially making sure there are no foreign objects in your beans! We ans...
How Long Should Coffee Rest Before I Drink It?
14 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 42: A brand new roaster/new listener sent us an insightful question about how to think about coffee degassing (or "resting"), how long coffee ...
Interview: 9 Months After Starting Our Roastery...
07 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 41: Today we've got a special treat as Stephen was joined by the wonderful folks behind Silver Run Coffee Crafters -- Bradley and Rebecca Ladn...
Which coffees should go into my first blend?
28 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 40: Following up on Episode 34, we answer a listener's question about how to get started roasting his first blend, how to choose which coffees...
What Causes Coffee Prices to SOAR?
24 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 39: Record high coffee prices are here, so now is a PERFECT time to start roasting coffee yourself! But what goes into the price of your morni...
Coffee Tasting FOMO - What Am I Missing?
15 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 38: This week we tackle a question from a friend of the show who's afraid he's missing out on the intricacies of coffee tasting. Should he wor...
How to Highlight Sweetness in Coffee Roasting
07 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 37: Ever wondered about highlighting the sweetness in a coffee while you're roasting it? This week we respond to a question from a listener ab...
How to Choose Your Next Perfect Bean!
31 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 36: In this episode, we field a question from a couple of listeners about the industry terms you run across when trying to buy coffee, from na...
Why Can’t I Taste The Cupping Notes in Espresso?
24 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 35: This question is all about tasting (and enjoying!) coffee as espresso. We respond to a listener's question about tasting the cupping notes...
How to Craft an Excellent Blend
17 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 34: Ever wondered what makes a great coffee blend? Does it matter if you roast the beans together, or should you roast them separately? What a...
Best Green Coffee For Espresso?
10 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 33: Ever wondered how to find a good single origin coffee to roast for espresso? What about a blend? In this episode we tackle a question from...
Mastering the Dark Roast: Sumatra Beans Secrets
07 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 32: In this episode we discuss dark roasting techniques, what's beyond 2nd Crack, and we dispel a common myth about Sumatran coffees! SEND YOU...
Should I pre-heat my air roaster?
27 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 31: In this episode we discuss how to roast coffee in cold temps! We focus on the Fresh Roast coffee roaster, but discuss a few general hacks ...
"What If You Can't Hear 1st Crack?"
20 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 30: In this, our thirtieth episode, we respond to an excellent question from a listener about how to recognize 1st Crack when you can't hear t...
YouTube Comments Rapid-fire
13 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 29: In this longer-than-normal episode, we scroll through out YouTube comments and answer the questions we find there! Enjoy this rapid-fire, ...
When Has 1st Crack *Really* Started?
06 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 28: Listener Kyle asks some questions about the first Crack: how to know when it has really begun and whether you should increase or ...
Roasting Coffee at High Altitudes
29 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 27: In this episode, we answer a lister's question about roasting coffee at 6,000 feet! She's noticing that following roast guides onlin...
How to Get Different Flavors from the Same Bean
23 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 26: "If 2 roasters use the same beans, roasted to the same level, will they taste the same?" We respond to this excellent question from a n...
"Are High-Priced Beans Worth It?"
15 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 25: Are top-dollar coffees really that much better than their less expensive Specialty Grade counterparts? Is there a direct link between pric...
‘Secondary Defects’ and Behmor Tips
08 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 24: We dive DEEP into green coffee defects, discuss the difference between defects and "ugly" beans, and discuss how to know which defects ...
Tips on Roasting "Chaffy" Coffees
01 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 23: We love natural and honey-processed coffees, which often produce more than a little chaff during roasting. We answer a listener's question...
What If My Roast Doesn’t Look “Even”?
25 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 22: So what does an "uneven" roast look like, or can you actually tell by looking? This week we discuss the aspects that affect evenn...
Why are some coffees more acidic than others?
18 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 21: This week, we discuss perceived acidity in coffee, how to brew coffee to control acidity, the factors that contribute to acidity in ...
How to Know You've "Perfected" a Roast
11 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 20: What's the process for perfecting a roast, and how do you know when you've done it? We answer these questions in response to a future r...
"What if all the beans don't crack?"
04 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 19: In this episode, we field an excellent question that tends to go un-asked and unanswered for most roasters, but listener Chris from Minnes...
Which Decaf Process is Best?
27 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 18: If you've wondered how coffee is decaffeinated, what the pros and cons of the different decaffeination methods, and which decafs ...
How to Tweak a Roast Profile
20 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 17: Today we're fielding a question from a listener about how to go about tweaking a roast profile. Learning to roast coffee is easy; le...
"Are Single Origins Better Than Blends?"
13 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 16: Why do blends have a bad reputation? Are they really inferior to single-origin coffees? Hear our take on blends, their place in the spe...
BONUS Interview with John Puckett, Owner/Operator
11 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Bonus Episode #1: In this bonus episode, we're debuting our first-ever long-form interview! John Puckett, owner and operator of both Coffee Bean Corra...
Ahem…Could You Be More Specific?
06 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 15: Why don’t we post roasting directions or instructions for each coffee on our site? Wouldn’t that be more helpful? We give the whys and...
“The Worst Tasting Coffee I Ever Roasted”
30 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 14: Shots fired! This week, we respond to a review sent in by a RIY listener ranking a few coffees he recently roasted, including the worst co...
Storing Raw Coffee for the End of the World!
23 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 13: In this episode we tackle a question from a listener and "prepper" about how to keep his unroasted coffee fresh when the world goes to hec...
Why We LOVE 'Typica' Coffees (and You Should Too)!
16 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 12: Join Catherine and Stephen as they explore the world of a lesser-known coffee varietal: Typica. Learn what makes it different from...
You're Not Just *Drinking* Coffee, Are You?
09 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 11: You're not just drinking coffee, are you? In this episode, we answer a listener's question about alternative uses for coffee & coff...
How Does Raw Coffee Grading Work?
02 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 10: Dive into the world of coffee buying a grading green coffee beans in response to a listener's question. We break down what coffee buyers l...
"Is My 18-minute Roast Too Long?"
26 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 9: In this episode, Catherine and Stephen troubleshoot a listener's 18-minute roast, discuss "baking" coffee beans, and offer our general-use ...
Do Natural, Honey, and Washed Coffees Roast Differently?
19 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 8: You're getting two for one in this episode as we answer a pair of listener questions on coffee processing methods, how they affect the roas...
"My Fresh Roast is Spiking to 500 Degrees!"
12 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 7: In this episode, we talk about the Aillio Bullet 1 Kilo Roaster, help a listener troubleshoot a problem with his FreshRoast and new Extensi...
Does Bean Size Really Matter?
05 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 6: In this episode, we discuss BIG BEANS, how to understand coffee bean screen sizing, the importance of bean size consistency, and what ma...
How To Get Started With Cold Brew
28 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 5: This week, we answer a comprehensive question about roasting and preparing Cold Brew. We discuss the "ideal" origins for Cold Brew, how dar...
When Should I Upgrade My Roaster?
21 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 4: In this week's episode, we discuss cold brew, answer a question about when to upgrade your coffee roasting machine, and recap our recent ex...
What's the Deal with Robusta Beans?
07 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 3: In this episode, we discuss Robusta coffees, how they are different from Arabica, and how to get the most out of them! SEND YOUR QUESTIO...
Single Origin "Berry Blasters" Recommendations?
07 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 2: This week we help a questioner on the quest for the ultimate berry bomb coffee, where to find it (the origin may surprise you), and why ...
What About Mycotoxins in Green Coffee?
07 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 1: In this inaugural episode of Roast it Yourself, we address a concern that’s been quite the buzz in the coffee world for the last couple o...