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roast coffee beans, coffee beans, specialty coffee

Can You Roast Coffee Beans Twice?

Specialty coffee has several variations of roasting, however, can you roast coffee beans twice in order to change the flavours to suit your preferences?

Being one of the most vital ingredients that drive many nations worldwide, people are always trying to find ways to improve their daily coffee addiction. 

Some people like coffee milder, offering a complex, sweet and even a subtle floral aroma.

Whereas others like their coffee stronger, offering deep rich and earthiness aroma. 

Can you roast coffee beans twice? It is advisable not to roast coffee beans twice as the beans do not get roasted but instead cooks the beans, and when we roast coffee for the second time, it lets out the flavour and ultimately starts to get burnt. 

These burnt beans now offer a bitter taste, therefore, instead of roasting coffee beans twice, rather buy a better and darker bean or roast the coffee beans for a longer period of time. 

In this article, we will walk you through why you should not roast coffee beans twice, and what you can do instead, in order to improve your daily coffee routine, and ultimately save you time and money.

Why You Should Not Roast Coffee Beans Twice?

Roasting coffee beans for longer periods can enhance the flavour of the coffee. There is a systematic process to roast coffee to get the best out of it. 

When we roast coffee beans the heat that is created plays a vital role. The heat enhances the chemical reaction to take place in the beans which changes the colours and flavours. 

Coffee beans generally go through three cracks during the roasting process. In the initial stage, coffee beans are green in colour but gradually the colour changes and also the temperature. 

You can crack the coffee beans by roasting up to the level you desire, and by roasting the bean for a longer period of time until the third crack, which will offer a strong flavour.

fresh coffee, coffee beans, whole bean coffee

Once the roasting process is done and the beans are left to cool down the chemical process comes to a halt and the roasting process is over. 

The coffee beans go through the Milliard reaction which is essential to get the desired flavour and colour of the beans. 

When we roast the coffee beans again the coffee beans are not able to start the Milliard reaction once again due to the loss of flavours in the coffee beans. 

The coffee beans when roasted twice can erase the flavours and turn your coffee bitter and is not advisable.

The beans when roasted release Co2 which helps to preserve the coffee flavour by displacing oxygen. 

This procedure to roast coffee beans is quite complex and is advised to undergo just once to attain the Milliard reaction. 

When we roast coffee beans twice, it can have adverse effects on the taste and colour of the beans. 

What Can We Learn By Roasting Coffee Beans Twice?

What we can learn from roasting the coffee beans twice is that it will not offer the right flavours but by roasting the coffee beans for longer the first time will enhance the flavour. 

This is because when we stop roasting the chemical reactions that are taking place are stopped and it cannot be repeated twice by roasting again.

The oil that offers flavour to the beans situated on the outside layer gets burnt when roasted for the second time.

drinking coffee, fix weak coffee

Have you ever experienced a coffee that is a few months old and becoming stale? The taste of coffee that is roasted twice would taste the same, if not worse. 

Coffee beans let out all their flavours and colour when roasted for the first time. Doing it twice will spoil the flavours composed in the beans and burn its precious oil that produces flavours.

What is The Process Of Roasting Coffee Beans?

Now that it is ascertained that coffee should not be roasted twice we must understand the process of roasting it once the right way so you can enjoy its best flavour and aromas. 

Few simple steps will enable coffee lovers to roast their coffee the right way to enjoy the maximum flavour. 

This stage of roasting the coffee involves both art and science so ensure you are going through the process precisely without missing anything. 

The process mentioned below is a simple method that can be tried at home to get good flavours that is produced through the industrial roasting process.

Pick Fresh Coffee Beans

The first step is to pick up or shop for the freshest beans available. It is essential to choose coffee beans that are fresh which means green in colour. 

The greener the colour the more freshly it is. If you happen to find any browning in the coffee beans then it is advised to skip those beans. 

This process of roasting can be achieved at its best only when we use fresh coffee that is green in colour. 

While picking up the coffee it is necessary to ascertain that the coffee beans are of similar size and shape. 

When the size and shape are similar we can ensure that the quality of the beans is superb.

How To Roast Coffee Beans In A Pan?

There are several ways of how one can roast fresh coffee beans. 

One of the most popular coffee bean roasting methods at home is by using a pan, which is explained below.

Equipment Needed;

  • Large frying pan
  • Long spoon reserved for just roasting coffee
  • Gas stove
  • Spray bottle with fine mist setting
  • Tray for cooling beans

While roasting coffee beans in a pan ensures that the pan is not non-stick. Non-stick pans can have a beneficial reaction. 

You can use a skillet if you have one as it fits perfect for coffee roasting. 

To start with the roasting process first heat up the pan for a while. After the skillet reaches a mild temperature drop the beans in it and keep stirring.

roast coffee beans twice

So all the parts are heated equally, ensure that the coffee beans are stirred well.

If you are looking for a darker roast then after 6 to 7 minutes there will be the second crack, which is when the coffee beans have reached its darker roast phase.

Once the second crack is heard, it is time to take the beans out of the heat.

Keep it in a cool place to settle down.

The beans require staying in the open for at least a day to release CO2 from them.

“The frying pan method is probably one of the most approachable ways to roast coffee, but it’s also one of the more challenging methods to master”.


How To Store Your Roasted Coffee Beans?

Once the coffee beans are settled by releasing CO2 it is now time to store them. 

It is essential to store the roasted coffee beans in an airtight container. The airtight container helps to maintain the right amount of gas in the container which is good for the beans. 

Keep the beans in a cool place, and enjoy the finest flavour whenever you crave coffee.

Also avoid exposure to too much light.

For more on keeping your coffee beans fresh after opening, be sure to read our full breakdown article here.

Roasting Coffee Beans Twice F.A.Q’s

frequently asked questions
Q: Can I roast coffee beans to make them darker?

A: The roasting and darkening of colour comes from the internal temperature of the bean and there is a point where the temperature builds to the first crack.

If you’re not starting from scratch the beans won’t be heated through evenly and this chemical process won’t continue.

Q: How long should coffee beans sit after roasting?

A: Some reach an optimal taste within hours, but most coffees are best if rested at least 1 day, and many are best resting 3 days. Standard coffee shop procedure is to rest coffees between 1 and 3 days depending on the beans.

Q: Is it cheaper to roast your own coffee beans?

A: Much like any DIY project, one of the main plusses to home coffee roasting is that green (raw) coffee beans are going to cost less per unit weight than roasted coffee—about 50-75% cheaper.

Q: How long should it take to roast coffee?

A: Air roasters and popcorn machines typically take 8–12 minutes, whereas drum roasters might take 14–20 minutes. Just like when cooking, the lower the temperature, the longer it will take.


When we roast coffee beans twice, we ruin the unique characteristics from the beans and therefore, it’s not advisable. 

Roasted for the second time, instead of offering a rich taste can spoil the flavour of the coffee all together.

However, what is advisable is to roast the coffee for longer periods of time the first time round.

Especially if you are looking for a strong flavour, rather than roasting them twice. 

We hope this article has helped roasted coffee beans to get the best flavours and aromas possible.

Following the roasting method and taking the right steps, you can find great tasting coffee to suit all taste preferences.

If you enjoyed this article, read more like this by checking out our Specialty Coffee Beginners Guides.