The Roast it Yourself Podcast

The Roast it Yourself Podcast
  • 5.0 (24)
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  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Current Crop Roasting Shop’s own Certified Q-Grader, Catherine Mansel, sits down with Stephen Burnett of Coffee Bean Corral to field questions from home coffee roasters and professionals alike about roasting, tasting, and (most importantly) enjoying coffee. Send questions to questions@riypod.com Check us out at: coffeebeancorral.com currentcroproasting.com rancherwholesale.com

  1. 1D AGO

    Organic vs Conventional Coffee: Does It Actually Matter?

    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 episode of the Roast It Yourself Podcast, Stephen and Catherine tackle a thoughtful listener question about the difference between organic and conventionally grown coffee, specifically when it comes to pesticides and whether they actually affect the coffee bean itself. The conversation digs into how pesticides interact with the coffee cherry, why processing methods like washed, natural, and honey can change the equation, and why the organic certification label doesn’t always tell the full story about how a coffee is grown. Along the way, they also discuss the economics of organic certification, why many farms follow organic practices without paying for the certification, and how roasters actually evaluate coffees when deciding what to buy. If you’ve ever wondered whether organic coffee really makes a difference—or how much it should matter when choosing green coffee—this episode offers a balanced, practical perspective from two industry professionals. Topics covered: Do pesticides affect the coffee bean or just the fruit? How processing methods influence exposure The realities of organic certification for coffee farms Why many roasters prioritize cup quality over certifications Send your roasting questions to questions@riypod.com NOTES: Follow Our Instagram Account @RIY_POD CHECK US OUT HERE: Coffee Bean Corral YouTube Coffee Bean Corral Website Current Crop Roasting Shop Website Rancher Wholesale Website

    10 min

  2. FEB 27 · VIDEO

    Cracking the Code on Peaberries

    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 a Tanzania Peaberry on the Fresh Roast SR800. If you’ve ever wondered why peaberries behave differently in the roaster, this one’s for you. They break down: What makes peaberries physically different (and a little “weird”) Why they can roast more aggressively in fluid-bed machines like the SR800 How bean density and size impact airflow and heat transfer Whether peaberry is the right choice for your first roast Practical profiling advice to help you avoid scorching or racing through first crack You’ll also hear Catherine’s take on why starting with a consistent Central American bean (like Costa Rica) can make learning a new machine much smoother—and when it makes sense to graduate to more nuanced coffees like Tanzania Peaberry. Whether you’re brand new to roasting or dialing in your SR800, this episode will help you approach peaberries with confidence—and maybe a little more patience. Have a question for a future episode? Send it to questions@riypod.com NOTES: Follow Our Instagram Account @RIY_POD CHECK US OUT HERE: Coffee Bean Corral YouTube Coffee Bean Corral Website Current Crop Roasting Shop Website Rancher Wholesale Website

    10 min

  3. FEB 20

    Gene Cafe Roasting: Does Preheating Make a Difference?

    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 home roasters have wondered about: Should you preheat your roaster — specifically the Gene Cafe? Listener Ilona writes in after purchasing several origins and noticing that some roasters swear by preheating, while others skip it entirely. Stephen and Catherine break down: What preheating actually does inside a drum roaster How thermal mass affects roast progression When preheating can help (and when it may not matter much) The difference between intentional preheating and simply roasting back-to-back How your goals for the cup should influence your decision If you roast on a Gene Cafe — or any home drum roaster — this conversation will help you think more intentionally about your workflow, consistency, and roast development. Whether you're chasing brighter acidity, better momentum into first crack, or just more repeatable results, this episode gives you practical insight without overcomplicating things. SEND YOUR QUESTIONS TO: questions@riypod.com NOTES: Follow Our Instagram Account @RIY_POD CHECK US OUT HERE: Coffee Bean Corral YouTube Coffee Bean Corral Website Current Crop Roasting Shop Website Rancher Wholesale Website

    10 min

  4. FEB 13

    Roasting Back-to-Back on the SR800: How Much Rest Is Enough?

    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 SR800 and other small-batch air roasters. They talk honestly about what these machines are great at—and where expectations can get out of whack. From realistic batch sizes and roast times to cooldown periods and the limits of back-to-back roasting, this episode is all about setting yourself up for success with an SR800-style setup. You’ll hear practical guidance on: How much coffee you can reasonably roast per batch on the SR800 Why pushing max capacity often leads to inconsistent results How to plan a roasting session without spending your entire afternoon doing it What “efficient” roasting actually looks like on a home air roaster If you’re roasting on a Fresh Roast SR800 (or considering one), this episode offers grounded, experience-based advice to help you work within the machine’s strengths, avoid common frustrations, and enjoy better, more consistent coffee without overcomplicating the process. A must-listen for SR800 owners and anyone roasting on compact home air roasters. SEND YOUR QUESTIONS TO: questions@riypod.com NOTES: Follow Our Instagram Account @RIY_POD CHECK US OUT HERE: Coffee Bean Corral YouTube Coffee Bean Corral Website Current Crop Roasting Shop Website Rancher Wholesale Website

    10 min

  5. FEB 6

    Low & Slow or Hot & Fast with the Behmor

    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 — specifically on the Behmor 1600AB. The episode is sparked by a listener question from Mike, a dedicated home roaster who’s dialed in a consistent workflow on his Behmor but wants to know if he can push his roasts further. Using African naturals and honey-processed coffees as examples, Stephen and Catherine walk through how power level, timing, and heat application affect flavor development, acidity, sweetness, and clarity in the cup. They break down what’s actually happening during each stage of the roast, why certain flavor trade-offs are inevitable, and how expectations should shift depending on the roaster’s physical limitations. Along the way, they discuss why “customization” in roasting has boundaries, how to interpret roast controls that feel counterintuitive, and what experimentation is worth trying — and what isn’t. Whether you’re roasting on a Behmor or just trying to understand roast dynamics more clearly, this episode offers grounded, practical insights that help home roasters make better decisions with the equipment they already own. Have a roasting question you want answered on the show? Send it to questions@riypod.com NOTES: Follow Our Instagram Account @RIY_POD CHECK US OUT HERE: Coffee Bean Corral YouTube Coffee Bean Corral Website Current Crop Roasting Shop Website Rancher Wholesale Website

    12 min

  6. FEB 2

    Roaster Tips: How to Scale Up Batch Size Without Wasting Coffee

    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 wasting coffee. Stephen Burnett and Catherine Mansell respond to a listener question from Greg, a longtime DIY roaster who recently upgraded to an Aillio Bullet R2 and is looking to move from 250-gram batches to the Bullet’s sweet spot of 1.5 pounds—without burning through pounds of coffee in trial and error. Catherine breaks down what really changes when scaling a roast, focusing on the critical role of preheat temperature, thermal mass, and how to maintain similar roast curves as batch size increases. Along the way, they talk Kenya AA as a use-case, share realistic expectations for profile translation, and offer guidance that applies not just to the Bullet, but to thoughtful, data-driven roasting in general. As always, the episode blends hands-on technical advice with real-world experience, making it valuable for home roasters leveling up and professionals refining their process. Got a roasting question of your own? Send it to questions@riypod.com NOTES: Follow Our Instagram Account @RIY_POD CHECK US OUT HERE: Coffee Bean Corral YouTube Coffee Bean Corral Website Current Crop Roasting Shop Website Rancher Wholesale Website

    11 min

  7. JAN 23

    Crack the Roast: SR800 Profiling with Sight, Sound, and Smell

    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 temperature targets are actually useful, how reliable (or unreliable) roaster thermometers can be, and why we often focus more on time, sensory cues, and roast phases than chasing exact temps. If you’re roasting on an SR800 (or any hot-air roaster), this episode is our practical, real-world take on profiles, temperature targets, and how to make your roaster work with you instead of against you—while keeping things approachable, useful, and fun. SEND YOUR QUESTIONS TO: questions@riypod.com NOTES: Follow Our Instagram Account @RIY_POD CHECK US OUT HERE: Coffee Bean Corral YouTube Coffee Bean Corral Website Current Crop Roasting Shop Website Rancher Wholesale Website

    13 min

  8. JAN 9

    How to Tell Green Coffee Beans Apart: A Roaster's Cheat Sheet

    Episode 82: Can you tell the difference between a Colombian washed and an Ethiopian natural just by looking at the unroasted beans? In this episode, we answer a listener's question about identifying coffee origins and processing methods by what we can glean from the green coffee beans themselves! Catherine and Stephen share useful tips on what to look for when examining green coffee beans, including: Visual Identification Tips: ✅ Size & Shape: Small beans (Yemeni, Ethiopian) vs. large beans (Kenyan AA, Indian Mysore Nuggets) ✅ Color Indicators: Processing methods leave distinct visual signatures (natural process = darker/reddish tones) ✅ Density Differences: Feel the weight - Monsoon Malabar vs. dense high-altitude beans ✅ Peaberries: Recognize the unique oval/tubular shape vs. traditional flat-sided beans ✅ Moisture & Sheen: What the surface tells you about freshness and processing Pro Tip: Create your own reference collection! Save 10 beans from each coffee in labeled Ziploc bags to build a visual comparison library. Plus in this episode: - Updates from Current Crop's new espresso bar and pastry launch - Why taking detailed roasting notes is crucial - Special shout-out to listeners who visited from Texas!   SEND YOUR QUESTIONS TO: questions@riypod.com   NOTES: Follow Our Instagram Account @RIY_POD   CHECK US OUT HERE: Coffee Bean Corral YouTube Coffee Bean Corral Website Current Crop Roasting Shop Website Rancher Wholesale Website

    19 min
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5
out of 5
24 Ratings

About

Current Crop Roasting Shop’s own Certified Q-Grader, Catherine Mansel, sits down with Stephen Burnett of Coffee Bean Corral to field questions from home coffee roasters and professionals alike about roasting, tasting, and (most importantly) enjoying coffee. Send questions to questions@riypod.com Check us out at: coffeebeancorral.com currentcroproasting.com rancherwholesale.com

Information

  • Creator
    The Roast it Yourself Podcast
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    91
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2024 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    The Roast it Yourself Podcast

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