Millions of people around the world have discovered the enjoyment experienced by drinking a cup of fresh-brewed coffee first thing in the morning, whether they make it at home or stop at the local coffee shop on the way to work. In fact, millions of people repeat that experience two or three more time throughout the day.



So many people enjoy their coffee that there is at least one Starbucks in most cities worldwide. Whether you enjoy a latte, cappuccino, espresso, or a favorite flavor of coffee such as Vanilla or Hazelnut, and whether you are enjoying your cup surrounded by friends at a coffee shop or alone at your desk, coffee is truly one of the pleasures of life.

Now that we can buy our own roaster, grinder, coffee maker or espresso machine, we can enjoy our favorite coffee right at home for a fraction of the price. With so many options available you can even enjoy gourmet coffee more and pay less for the privilege by starting with whole beans and grinding them yourself with a $20 coffee grinder and then using a $20 coffee maker.

You can go one step further and purchase your own roaster. Roasting your own beans provides coffee beans that are even fresher than buying them roasted. Roasting is not hard, and you are free to roast a short time for a light coffee, a longer time for a dark coffee, and everywhere in between.

When stored in an airtight and completely dark container, roasted coffee beans will last an average of one to two weeks.

How long you roast the beans depends on if you like light, medium, or dark coffee. The Europeans are known to prefer a dark variety of beans, while Americans prefer lighter shades.

Somehow the influential marketing gurus at roasting companies have managed to convince the masses that dark roasted coffee equals gourmet coffee. It is not true. There are certain coffee beans that are better when roasted lightly, others when roasted medium, and others when roasted dark.

Those that make a good light coffee include the Haitian blends. Others, such as the sweet Dominican coffee, make a good dark roast.

Typically, coffee beans from South America and grown at higher altitudes tend to be better suited to dark roasting. Indonesian coffees are also grown at high altitudes, but not as high as South American coffee, and so tend to do better with shorter roasting times.

Roasted beans can then be placed in your grinder. For a course grind spin your blade grinder for 7-10 seconds. A medium grind will take 10-14 seconds and a finer grind will take 15-20 seconds.

By roasting, grinding, and brewing at home you save time and money. Commuters can consider making gourmet coffee drinks at home before departing for work and enjoy it at home while spending quality time with the family or take it along in a commuter coffee travel mug.

Whether you enjoy a cup at home before going to work or grab a cup of freshly brewed coffee as you head out the door, having the tools to make a cup of coffee that is the freshest possible produces a taste that cannot be beat.