How Soon Can You Brew Coffee Beans After Roasting?

How To Rest Your Coffee After Roasting

Freshly roasted coffee is a delight, but it’s not always ideal to brew immediately after roasting. To achieve the best flavor, coffee beans need to go through a process called “degassing.” This process varies depending on the roast profile, with lighter roasts often requiring more time than darker roasts to fully develop their flavors. Let’s explore why this waiting period is essential and how long you should wait for different roast levels.

What Is Degassing?

Degassing is the release of carbon dioxide (CO2) from coffee beans after roasting. During the roasting process, gases build up inside the beans as they undergo chemical changes. Once the roasting is complete, these gases begin to escape. While some degassing is beneficial, brewing coffee too soon after roasting can lead to uneven extraction and undesirable flavors due to excessive CO2 interfering with water’s ability to properly extract the coffee’s compounds.

Why Waiting Matters

Allowing roasted coffee beans to rest ensures the CO2 escapes sufficiently, enabling a balanced and flavorful extraction. Additionally, resting time allows the beans’ flavors to stabilize and mature. This period is sometimes called the "resting" or "curing" phase, and its duration depends on the roast level, bean type, and personal flavor preferences.

Light Roasts: 7-14 days

Light roasts retain more of the coffee bean’s original characteristics, such as fruity, floral, or acidic notes. These flavors take time to fully emerge. Lightly roasted beans often require 7 to 14 days of rest to reach their peak flavor. During this time, the beans develop a more balanced and nuanced profile, making the wait worthwhile for enthusiasts seeking complexity in their cup.

Medium Roasts: 5-10 days

Medium roasts offer a middle ground, combining some of the origin’s characteristics with richer caramelized flavors due to the roasting process. These beans typically require less resting time than light roasts but more than dark roasts. A resting period of 5 to 10 days is usually sufficient for medium roasts, though some beans may peak slightly earlier or later depending on their origin and processing method. We recommend waiting 5 days for our Columbia Full City Roast, which is just about the amount of time from order to delivery. That means no extra waiting time for you!

Dark Roasts: 2-5 days

Dark roasts are characterized by bold, smoky, and chocolaty flavors that emerge during the roasting process itself. Since these flavors are already prominent, dark-roasted beans generally need less time to rest. A waiting period of 2 to 5 days is often enough to allow excess CO2 to escape while still preserving their robust character.

Factors That Influence Resting Time

1. Bean Origin and Processing: Washed or wet-processed beans tend to degas faster than natural or dry-processed beans.
2. Roast Profile: Heavily roasted beans degas more quickly due to their porous structure. They've had longer in the roaster and have dried out more before the bean has gotten to you.
3. Storage Conditions: Properly storing beans in an airtight container ensures optimal flavor preservation during the resting period. 
4. Personal Preference: Some coffee enthusiasts prefer the brighter, sharper flavors of slightly under-rested beans, while others enjoy the mellowness of fully rested ones.

How to Tell If Your Beans Are Ready

If you’re unsure whether your beans have rested long enough or if they have gone flat, pay attention to these signs:

• Brewing Behavior: Excessive bubbling or "bloom" during brewing indicates high CO2 levels. This often happens with under-rested beans.
• Flavor Profile: Under-rested beans may taste sharp or sour, while over-rested beans can lose their vibrancy. Aim for a balanced, well-rounded cup.
• Lack of Flavor: If your coffee lacks in flavor or smell, this may be a sign that your beans are old and have been sitting too long and you'll end up with a less than satisfactory cup.

Patience is a virtue when it comes to coffee. While the allure of freshly roasted beans is tempting, waiting the appropriate amount of time based on the roast level ensures you get the most out of your coffee. Experiment with resting periods to find what works best for your taste. After all, the journey to the perfect cup is as rewarding as the destination!