The Purple Guide to Learning Coffee Roasting in 10 Days
A no-nonsense 10-day starter plan to roast your first drinkable coffee, decide if the craft fits your life, and know exactly what to do next.
by Alumigogo Books
non-fiction
A 10-day, no-fluff plan to try coffee roasting at home, taste your own results, and decide if it's worth pursuing.
About this book
You've thought about roasting your own coffee. Maybe you love the smell of fresh beans, or you're tired of stale supermarket bags, or you just like the idea of controlling every step of your morning cup. But between expensive machines, confusing jargon, and videos that assume you already know what "first crack" means, it's hard to know where to start. This guide is for you.
It's a 10-day experiment, not a masterclass. Each day gives you one concrete task, from gathering simple gear like a popcorn popper or cast-iron pan, to roasting your first batch and actually tasting it. You'll learn the two core techniques that matter most—listening for first crack and reading the color of the beans—through hands-on practice, not theory. There's no pressure to buy fancy equipment or commit to a lifetime hobby. By day ten, you'll have real experience, a few batches of drinkable coffee, and a clear sense of whether roasting is worth your time, money, and kitchen counter space.
Reader Reviews
Ronald Rodriguez
★★★★★This guide is fine if you truly know nothing, which I did. The day one chapter got me to actually roast something with a pan in my kitchen, which was fun. But the ten-day structure feels padded; days three and four could have been one day. The review questions at the end were the most useful part. It's honest about being a starter plan, just maybe not worth ten whole days.
Emily Green
★★★★★I've wanted to try roasting for years but was overwhelmed by videos. This guide is the opposite—calm, concrete, and zero hype. Day one had me using a whisk and a cast-iron pan in my tiny apartment, and I actually drank a cup of my own roast that evening. It didn't taste perfect, but it was mine. The self-assessment on day two saved me from buying gear I didn't need. Highly recommend if you're a hesitant beginner.
Nancy Sanchez
★★★★★I bought a popcorn popper and followed day four's first crack instructions exactly. The moment I heard that crackling sound and smelled the coffee, I was hooked. This guide doesn't tell you to quit your job and become a roaster—it just walks you through the fundamentals with a real, kind voice. The troubleshooting chapter alone kept me from giving up after a smoky mess on day eight. Best $10 I've spent on a hobby trial.
Jessica Gonzalez
★★★★★It's a decent guide for the total beginner, and I appreciated how it didn't overpromise. The day-by-day structure felt a bit slow for me; I could have done a couple of sessions in one day. But the comparison table of gear helped me avoid buying an expensive machine I wasn't ready for. I now know I want to continue, so I guess it worked. Just don't expect to be an expert at the end.
Brian Nelson
★★★★★The book is grounded and practical, which I liked. The first day got me roasting with stuff I already had, and the milestone table on day seven helped me see I was on track. The review questions at the end were genuinely useful for deciding my next step. It lost a star because day eight's narrative was a bit long for me—I just wanted the pointers, not a story. But overall, a solid no-filler plan.
Mary Moore
★★★★★I appreciated that the guide is honest about what ten days can't do. The day two checklist felt like a real gut-check, because I realized I didn't have space for another hobby—so I stopped before buying gear. That alone saved me the money of a failed experiment. If you're on the fence, read days one and two before buying anything. It's a quick, fair read that treats you like an adult.
Melissa Sanchez
★★★★★For a complete novice, this is a clear and friendly map. Day one's session felt doable, and the phrase 'the beans will tell you' actually made sense when I heard first crack on day four. I hit a frustrating burned batch on day nine, but the troubleshooting section got me back on track. Four stars minus one because I wanted a bit more on choosing green beans, but the basics are rock solid.