How to Roast Coffee Like a Pro in 2023: The Latest Trends and Tips

Hey, coffee lovers! It’s Brian, your favorite coffee blogger, and today I’m going to talk about the hottest coffee roasting trends of 2023. If you’re like me, you love to explore new flavors and aromas of coffee, and you’re always looking for the best beans and roasts to satisfy your caffeine cravings. Well, you’re in luck, because 2023 is shaping up to be a great year for coffee roasters and drinkers alike. Here are some of the trends that I’ve noticed and that you should definitely check out.

1. Light Roasts Are Back in Style

For a long time, dark roasts dominated the coffee scene, especially in North America. People loved the bold, smoky, and bitter taste of dark-roasted coffee, and many brands catered to this preference. However, in recent years, more and more coffee enthusiasts have discovered the joys of light-roasted coffee, which preserves more of the natural flavors and nuances of the beans. Light roasts also tend to have more acidity, sweetness, and complexity than dark roasts, making them ideal for specialty coffees and single-origin beans.

Some of the benefits of light-roasted coffee are:

• They highlight the terroir and characteristics of the coffee origin
• They have more antioxidants and less oil than dark roasts
• They have more caffeine than dark roasts (contrary to popular belief)
• They are easier on the stomach and less likely to cause heartburn

Some of the drawbacks of light-roasted coffee are:

• They can be sour or grassy if not roasted properly
• They can be harder to extract and brew than dark roasts
• They can be less consistent and more sensitive to storage conditions

If you want to try some amazing light-roasted coffee, I recommend these brands:

• Aerial Resupply Coffee, a veteran-owned company that offers a variety of light roasts, such as Lifeline Light Roast, Spring Kitty Medium Roast, and Freedom Kitty Medium Roast
• Peet’s Coffee, a classic brand that has been roasting coffee since 1966 and has some excellent light roasts, such as Colombia Luminosa, Ethiopia Super Natural, and Big Bang

2. Anaerobic Fermentation Is Taking Over

One of the most innovative and exciting trends in coffee roasting is anaerobic fermentation. This is a process where the coffee cherries are placed in a sealed container with little or no oxygen and left to ferment for several days or weeks. This creates a unique environment where different microorganisms can thrive and produce different flavors and aromas in the beans.

Some of the benefits of anaerobic fermentation are:

• It can create exotic and intense flavors that are not possible with other methods
• It can enhance the sweetness, acidity, body, and complexity of the coffee
• It can reduce the bitterness and astringency of the coffee

Some of the drawbacks of anaerobic fermentation are:

• It can be risky and unpredictable if not done correctly
• It can be expensive and time-consuming compared to other methods
• It can be controversial and divisive among coffee purists

If you want to try some amazing anaerobically fermented coffee, I recommend these brands:

• Deathwish Coffee, a brand that claims to have the world’s strongest coffee and offers an anaerobically fermented blend called Odinforce
• Tim Hortons, a Canadian icon that has recently launched an anaerobically fermented single-origin coffee from Colombia called Tim’s Reserve
• Starbucks, a global giant that has been experimenting with anaerobic fermentation for its Reserve line of coffees, such as Hacienda Alsacia from Costa Rica

3. Home Roasting Is Becoming More Popular

Another trend that I’ve noticed is that more and more people are getting into home roasting. Thanks to the availability of affordable and easy-to-use home roasting machines, anyone can roast their own coffee beans at home and enjoy fresh and customized coffee. Home roasting also allows you to have more control over the quality, freshness, and flavor of your coffee.

Some of the benefits of home roasting are:

• You can save money by buying green beans in bulk
• You can experiment with different roast levels, blends, and origins
• You can have fun and learn more about coffee

Some of the drawbacks of home roasting are:

• You need to invest in a good home roaster and other equipment
• You need to find a reliable source of green beans
• You need to deal with smoke, chaff, noise, and mess

If you want to try home roasting, I recommend these home roasters:

• FreshRoast SR800, a fluid bed roaster that can roast up to 8 ounces of beans in 10 minutes and has a digital display and fan speed control
• Behmor 2000AB Plus, a drum roaster that can roast up to 16 ounces of beans in 20 minutes and has a smoke suppression system and manual or automatic modes
• Gene Cafe CBR-101, a hybrid roaster that can roast up to 8.8 ounces of beans in 15 minutes and has a glass chamber and temperature control

4. Sustainability and Transparency Are More Important Than Ever

The last trend that I want to talk about is the growing awareness and demand for sustainability and transparency in the coffee industry. Consumers are becoming more conscious and curious about where their coffee comes from, how it is grown, processed, traded, and roasted, and what impact it has on the environment, society, and economy. Coffee roasters are responding by adopting more ethical and eco-friendly practices, such as organic farming, fair trade, direct trade, shade-grown, bird-friendly, rainforest alliance, carbon-neutral, and so on.

Some of the benefits of sustainability and transparency are:

• They can improve the quality and consistency of the coffee
• They can support the livelihoods and well-being of the coffee farmers and workers
• They can protect the biodiversity and natural resources of the coffee regions

Some of the drawbacks of sustainability and transparency are:

• They can increase the cost and complexity of the coffee supply chain
• They can be difficult to verify and communicate effectively
• They can be subject to greenwashing and misinformation

Conclusion

So there you have it, folks. These are some of the coffee roasting trends that I think will dominate 2023. Of course, these are not the only trends out there, and there are always new developments and surprises in the coffee world. But I hope this article gave you some insight and inspiration to try new things and expand your coffee horizons. As always, thanks for reading, and stay caffeinated!

If you enjoyed this article, you might also like these other posts from Aerial Resupply Coffee’s blog, The Flightline Cafe:

• 10 Military-Inspired Coffee Recipes to Try at Home, where I share some of the best coffee recipes that have been inspired by the military culture and history
• I Tried Aerial Resupply’s Coffee Subscription and It’s Changed My Life, where I tell you about my experience with Aerial Resupply’s monthly coffee subscription service and how it has improved my coffee game
• The Science of Parachutes: How They Work and Their Impact on Aerial Delivery, where I explain the physics behind parachutes and how they are used to deliver coffee beans from around the world