History

The antique coffee roaster is a fascinating relic from a time when coffee preparation was a more involved process. Coffee roasting, a key step in developing the rich flavors we enjoy today, has evolved significantly over the centuries. Early coffee roasters, dating back to the 19th century, were often manually operated devices, designed to roast coffee beans before they were ground and brewed.

These roasters came in various designs, but many featured a simple yet effective mechanism: a rotating drum or chamber that allowed heat to evenly roast the beans. The advent of commercial coffee production and the subsequent mass availability of pre-roasted coffee in the 20th century marked a shift away from these manual roasters, making them a cherished artifact of coffee’s artisanal past.

Usage

Antique coffee roasters were used to roast green coffee beans, turning them into the aromatic, flavorful brown beans that we brew into coffee today. Users would place the green beans into the roaster and manually turn a crank or operate a lever to ensure even roasting. Heat was applied via various methods, including gas, electric, or even over an open flame.

The process required close attention. Roasters needed to be vigilant about the roasting time and temperature to achieve the desired roast level, whether light, medium, or dark. Once roasted, the beans were cooled quickly to halt the roasting process, preserving the flavor and aroma.