Preparing for the Roast
Before you begin, you’ll need a few essential items:
- Green Coffee Beans: Raw, unroasted green coffee beans are the starting point. These can be purchased from specialty coffee roasters or online suppliers and have a long shelf life, making them perfect for your bushcraft kit.
- A Roasting Pan or Skillet: A cast iron skillet or any heat-resistant container with a handle is ideal for working over an open flame.
- A Heat Source: A controlled wood fire is crucial. Hardwood, such as oak or beech, burns hotter and longer, providing the consistent heat necessary for an even roast.
- A Stirring Tool: A wooden spoon or similar utensil is essential for keeping the beans in motion, ensuring an even roast.
- A Cooling Tray: A simple metal tray, flat stone, or any cool surface will help to quickly stop the roasting process.
- Grinding and Brewing Equipment: Once roasted, you’ll need to grind the beans and brew your coffee using your preferred method, whether it’s a French press, a cowboy coffee pot, or a simple boiling pot.
The Roasting Process
Step 1: Building the Fire
Start by building a small, controlled wood fire, aiming for a bed of coals rather than open flames. This setup will provide the steady, even heat necessary to roast the beans without scorching them. The key to a successful roast is the ability to manage the fire’s intensity, so arrange your coals to create a stable spot for your roasting pan.
Step 2: Preheating the Pan
Once your fire is ready, place your skillet or roasting pan over the coals and allow it to preheat. A good test for readiness is to sprinkle a few drops of water in the pan—if they sizzle and evaporate quickly, you’re good to go. Or you can use the back of your hand held above the pan by about 10cm, you should be able to hold it there for about 10 secs.
Step 3: Roasting the Beans
Pour a small batch of green coffee beans into the preheated pan. The roasting process is hands-on, requiring constant stirring or shaking to ensure the beans roast evenly. As the beans heat up, they will undergo several stages:
- Yellowing: The beans will turn yellowish and emit a grassy aroma.
- Steam: As the beans continue to heat, water inside them will evaporate, producing steam.
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First Crack: A series of pops, similar to popcorn, indicates the beans have reached a light roast. You can stop here for a milder flavour, or continue roasting for a darker profile.
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Second Crack: A second, more rapid series of cracks marks the transition to a darker roast. Be vigilant, as the beans can quickly go from perfect to burnt beyond this point.
Step 4: Cooling the Beans
Once the beans reach your desired roast level, immediately remove them from the heat and spread them out on your cooling tray, here I have used a cold Dutch oven lid. Rapid cooling is essential to stop the roasting process and preserve the flavour.
Step 5: Grinding and Brewing
After the beans have cooled, it is best to let them rest for 24-48 hours to de-gas. You can then grind them using a manual grinder or any available method such as a pestle and mortar or a quern-stone. The grind size should match your brewing technique, with a medium to coarse grind typically working well for most outdoor methods. The aroma released during grinding is a sensory delight, offering a preview of the rich, complex flavours to come.
The Final Experience
Brewing coffee from freshly roasted beans over an open fire in the wilderness is a rewarding experience that goes beyond the taste of the final cup. It’s about embracing simplicity, honing a traditional skill, and enjoying the process as much as the result. Each sip of the rich, aromatic coffee is a testament to the care and attention you’ve invested in every step, from roasting the beans to brewing the perfect cup.
So, next time you’re out in the wild, consider bringing along some green coffee beans. With a few simple tools and a bit of patience, you can turn your morning coffee into a bushcraft adventure, savouring the connection between nature, tradition, and the joy of creating something truly exceptional from start to finish.