It became even more magical for me during a period of time in my life when I roasted green coffee beans pretty regularly.

For anyone who’s never tried it, it’s pretty cool. It’s unexpectedly noxious too, which is where the magic comes in. Green coffee beans while roasting have a stinging, chemical smell that can be acrid and very unpleasant. And don’t let that smoke get in your eyes!

Then, you can’t just grind the beans and drink the coffee. You need to let the roasted beans rest with lots of exposure to air for about 24 hours before grinding, so all that noxious stuff can waft away.

Ah, but then the magic. Absolutely freshly roasted coffee is one of the most amazing experiences ever.

Some really high-end coffee shops can give you that experience, but not very many, and not at a price most people would find affordable.

But just about anyone can afford the magic of a stovetop coffee roaster and a pound of green coffee beans.