Table of Contents

1. Is roasting coffee difficult?
2. I have heard that one can roast your green coffee beans in a cast iron skillet. Do you have any instructions for how to do it?
3. How do you calculate the discount for large quantities of beans?
4. How do I know when the coffee is roasted properly?
5. Shopping cart does not work with Internet Explorer.
6. Ordering from this domain is not authorized at this time.

Answers

1. Q: Is roasting coffee difficult?
   
   A: No. With home coffee roasters like FreshRoast and CaffeRosto, roasting coffee is as easy as toasting bread. All that is required is to place the recommended amount of beans into the unit and set the timer. The longer you set the timer the darker the roast. If you were to roast coffee using a hot air popcorn popper, the only added challenge is that you would have watch the coffee because the popper does not have a built in timer. [Back to the top]
    
2. Q: I have heard that one can roast your green coffee beans in a cast iron skillet. Do you have any instructions for how to do it?
   
   A: Yes you can and it is quite simple. Your best results will come if you have a gas stove, but electric works also. First, considering you are using cast iron, we recommend wearing an oven mitt. Pre-heat the pan to a reasonable temperature over medium heat(since you really can't determine the actual temperature you have to use your best judgment). Then add approximately 4oz. (1/4 cup) (I recommend starting with a small amount of beans for the first time) of beans and swirl them around. You will need to keep the beans moving for most of the process to keep the beans from getting scalded and roasting unevenly. After several minutes the beans will begin to change color from the green to yellow to a light brown. As the beans continue to darken, smoke will appear and the beans will start to crackle. (Note: when they crackle they may also tend to pop up from within the pan. The constant movement of the beans will help to keep the beans from coming out of the pan). When the beans display a uniform color, typically medium to dark brown, they are finished. Empty the contents of the pan into a bowl or plate and allow to cool for several minutes. Once they have cooled they are ready for grinding and brewing. Enjoy!! [Back to the top]
    
3. Q: How do you calculate the discount for large quantities of beans?
   
   A: We offer discounts on large quantity orders of individual bean types. So if you order 6 lbs. of a single type of bean, you will receive the specified discount. If however, you were to order 1 lb. of 6 different types of beans, the discount would not apply. [Back to the top]
    
4. Q: How do I know when the coffee is roasted properly?
   
   A: The best rule of thumb for any roaster is to listen. Coffee beans will crackle when they reach a certain temperature. In the beginning it will be a slow intermittent crackling. This will ultimately subside and be followed by a more rapid even violent crackling. These stages are referred to, appropriately, as the first and second crack.
   
   Stopping the roaster (or advancing to cool down) when the first crack begins to subside or just slightly longer, depending on the bean, will produce a light or City roast. For darker roasts, listen for the second crack which will begin shortly after the first tapers off. At the onset of the second crack the beans should exhibit a deep brown color. As the second crack intensifies this deep brown color will continue to darken and the surface may become oily. For a Full City roast stop the roaster or begin cool down within the first 10 to 15 seconds of the onset of the second crack. Beans roasted longer will continue to darken and smoke as they get closer to becoming burnt. Also remember that the beans will continue to roast and crackle even after the heat is removed, as their internal temperature drops. So going too far into the second crack can lead to less than desirable results.
   
   Ultimately, roasting coffee is a lot like cooking a steak. You can set the temperature and timer and leave, and only return when it is finished. Or you can set the temperature and timer then monitor it, making adjustments as your environment requires. Either way you end up with a cooked steak. [Back to the top]
    
5. Q: Shopping cart does not work with Internet Explorer.
   
   A: If your version of Internet Explorer is not up to date you could experience problems with our shopping cart. Microsoft periodically releases updates and patches and in many cases this will resolve the issue. Click HERE to visit their website and download the most recent patch or update. [Back to the top]
    
6. Q: Ordering from this domain is not authorized at this time.
   
   A: If you receive this error message when adding items to the shopping cart you will need to reduce your internet security settings. If you are using a personal firewall like ZoneAlarm or similar security system you most uncheck the "Remove private header information" checkbox located under the privacy settings tab/ custom cookie control section. We assure you that by doing so you are not accepting, nor exposing your system to harmful viruses, spyware, or other undesirables. Our shopping cart requires the use of the private headers to store information relative to your order. You can simplify this process by adding FreshCoffeeBeans.com to the site list and customizing the settings there. This will ensure smooth shopping from here on out.
   
   If you are using a program other than ZoneAlarm and are experiencing this issue the process will be similar though the tabs and location of the settings will vary. If none of these item work, please give us a call and we can take your order over the phone. [Back to the top]