Home Podcasts The Roast it Yourself Podcast
The Roast it Yourself Podcast

The Roast it Yourself Podcast

The Roast it Yourself Podcast 99 Episodes Jun 16, 2026

A podcast for coffee enthusiasts hosted by Catherine Mansel, a Certified Q-Grader at Current Crop Roasting Shop, alongside Stephen Burnett of Coffee Bean Corral. Together they answer questions from home roasters and professionals about roasting, tasting, and enjoying coffee. The show covers practical advice and insights for improving coffee skills. Listeners can submit questions to questions@riypod.com.

Episodes

Espresso Roast? Pour-over Roast? What's the Difference?
Espresso Roast? Pour-over Roast? What's the Difference? Jun 16, 2026 615 This week on the Roast It Yourself Podcast, Stephen and Catherine tackle a question that gets right to the heart of roasting with intention: should you roast coffee differently depending on how you plan to brew it? Listener Steve from North Dakota asks whether coffees labeled for espresso, cold brew, or pour-over are truly roasted differently—or if it's mostly marketing. The discussion dives into
Books Every Coffee Roaster Should Own
Books Every Coffee Roaster Should Own May 29, 2026 537 Episode 96: This week, Bill (a newer roaster working with an SR800 and extension tube) asks a fantastic question: which coffee books deserve a permanent place on every roaster’s shelf? Stephen and Catherine dive into their favorite resources, from foundational roasting texts to broader guides on green coffee, blending, and the coffee industry as a whole. Along the way, they discuss why some books
Best Coffee Beans for Beginner Roasters
Best Coffee Beans for Beginner Roasters Apr 17, 2026 662 Episode 95: In this episode of Roast It Yourself, Stephen and Catherine tackle a listener question from a coffee newcomer diving headfirst into both home brewing and roasting. They break down what makes certain green coffees more beginner-friendly—highlighting why washed Central American beans (especially Costa Rican) are a great place to start thanks to their consistency and ease of roasting. The
Do THIS to improve your coffee today!
Do THIS to improve your coffee today! Apr 10, 2026 505 Episode 94: In this episode of the Roast It Yourself Podcast, the hosts tackle a thoughtful question from a home roaster looking to fine-tune their brewing process. They dive into whether weighing coffee beans before grinding really makes a difference, how brew ratios impact flavor, and what role roast level plays in measurement—especially as darker roasts lose more mass. Along the way, they break
How Long Should 1st Crack Last?
How Long Should 1st Crack Last? Apr 7, 2026 713 Episode 93: What’s really happening during first crack—and how much control do you actually have over it? In this episode, Stephen and Catherine tackle a listener question from a new home roaster dialing in their early batches on an SR540. The conversation dives deep into one of the most critical (and confusing) phases of roasting: first crack. Why does it sometimes drag on? Can you “compress” it?
Dialing In Your Roast – Timing, Technique & Taking Notes
Dialing In Your Roast – Timing, Technique & Taking Notes Mar 27, 2026 609 In this episode of the Roast It Yourself Podcast, Stephen and Catherine tackle a listener question that turns into a deep dive on roast technique, timing, and consistency. Jennifer from New Hampshire asks how to get the most out of her Fresh Roast SR800—and whether there’s a “right” way to approach heat, timing, and roast profiles. Stephen and Catherine break down different roasting styles, explai
Do You Really Need Better Roasting Equipment?
Do You Really Need Better Roasting Equipment? Mar 20, 2026 614 Episode 91: In this episode of Roast It Yourself, Stephen and Catherine answer a listener question from John in the UK about improving roast consistency and taking the first steps toward starting a small coffee business. They share practical, real-world advice on getting the most out of your current setup, how to squeeze maximum experience of each roast, and how simplifying your coffee lineup can
Who Creates Coffee Tasting Notes?
Who Creates Coffee Tasting Notes? Mar 13, 2026 756 Episode 90: Where do coffee tasting notes actually come from—and how accurate are they? In this episode of the Roast It Yourself Podcast, Stephen Burnett and Catherine Mansell dive into a listener question from Larry in Michigan about the mysterious world of flavor notes on coffee. Catherine explains how tasting notes are developed during the green coffee evaluation process, why coffee is roasted
Organic vs Conventional Coffee: Does It Actually Matter?
Organic vs Conventional Coffee: Does It Actually Matter? Mar 6, 2026 582 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 bea
Cracking the Code on Peaberries
Cracking the Code on Peaberries Feb 27, 2026 597 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 a
Gene Cafe Roasting: Does Preheating Make a Difference?
Gene Cafe Roasting: Does Preheating Make a Difference? Feb 20, 2026 577 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
Roasting Back-to-Back on the SR800: How Much Rest Is Enough?
Roasting Back-to-Back on the SR800: How Much Rest Is Enough? Feb 13, 2026 618 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, t

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