How Your Air Fryer Can Help You Make A Better Cup Of Coffee

Fresh ground coffee is on another level and whole beans are not hard to find at the store, but you can actually roast your own beans at home. Doing so allows you to get the best coffee beans because they're exactly to your liking. And one of the easiest ways to do so is with an air fryer.

There are other ways to roast beans at home, including baking in the oven and cooking over the stove, but just like how an air fryer is better at re-crisping leftovers, it's better than other appliances at roasting coffee beans — and for the same reason. The circulation of hot air in the smaller space more evenly distributes heat, resulting in a more even bean roast.

To get started, try setting the air fryer to about 400 degrees Fahrenheit (though you can test a little lower at 375 or higher at 425). Fill the basket with roughly a half cup of unroasted coffee beans (this can vary depending on the size of your air fryer; just don't overcrowd your basket) and pop them in your air fryer for about five to 10 minutes. You can't step away, though, as this is an active cooking process. Give the basket a shake every minute or so to prevent burning, while also listening for a cracking noise. The first cracking noise roughly marks a light roast. From here, it's going to take a little experimentation with time to figure out how to get your beans to your ideal roast.

Unroasted, or green, coffee beans aren't as easily accessible as roasted beans are. While you may not find them on a lot of grocery store shelves, you can get them online from Walmart or Amazon. You'll have to buy the coffee beans in bulk, which means you're really going to have to commit to the art of home roasting.

While the process is a lot of trial and error, there are some keys to success. If you're looking for a specific roast (there is a real difference between light, medium, and dark roast coffee), check the beans once every few minutes and assess the color. You want a dark roast? Cook the beans until they're practically black. For a medium roast, aim for a chocolate brown. And for a light roast, take the beans out once they're golden or light brown. It'd be wise to time yourself, so you know for the future what to set the timer to.

It's also important to not put too many beans in the air fryer. Otherwise, you risk an inconsistent roast. Once you're finished roasting, leave them out to cool completely. As for storage post-roast, an air-tight container is the way to go. The beans will remain good for about two weeks, though if you're an avid coffee drinker, that may not be something you even need to consider.