Air Roasted Coffee Brands: Where to Buy Air Roasted Coffee Online
Five U.S. air roasted coffee brands you can order online, compared by roasting method, price per ounce and what each one does best.
Our Roasting Method
Air Roasted Coffee. Smoother. Cleaner. Never Bitter.
Gigawatt Coffee Roasters is a small-batch coffee roaster in Bensenville, Illinois that roasts every bag on a fluid-bed air roaster. Instead of tumbling in a hot drum, the beans ride on a column of hot air, so nothing scorches against a hot drum wall. Only about 1% of roasters use this method. Bags are $13.99 and ship in 1–3 days.
Shop Our CoffeeHot air, not a hot drum. Our beans roasting in small batches in our Bensenville roastery.
By the Numbers
Why Air Roasting?
The numbers speak for themselves.
3,000+
Five-Star Reviews
From coffee drinkers who keep coming back
~1%
Of Roasters Worldwide
A small fraction of coffee roasters use fluid-bed air roasting
250+
Markets & Events a Year
Find us at farmers markets and events across Chicagoland
$13.99
Per Bag
Fresh, specialty-quality coffee at a fair price
The Difference
Air Roasting vs. Drum Roasting
Two methods. Very different results.
Air Roasting
Hot air lifts and suspends the beans — they roast on air rather than against a hot drum wall
Chaff removed automatically — blown out during the roast
Even roast from all sides — no hot spots, no scorching
Small batch precision — every bean gets individual attention
Smooth, clean flavor — more of the bean's own taste, never bitter
Drum Roasting
Beans tumble in a heated drum — heat comes from the drum wall
Chaff is collected separately — some can scorch onto the beans
Uneven heat distribution — outer beans roast faster than inner
Built for larger batches — great drum roasting takes careful control at the drum wall
Bitter, burnt aftertaste — especially in darker roasts
Same beans. Better method. Better coffee.
19-second answer
Why does air roasted coffee taste different?
We roast with hot air, not a hot drum. It's convection instead of conduction, so the outside of the bean doesn't burn.
That makes for a smoother cup with more balanced tones, and you taste more of the bean itself.
"
"We're not here for fast or fancy. We're here for coffee that tastes good and feels right."
FAQ
Common Questions
What is air roasted coffee?
Air roasted coffee is roasted on a column of hot air instead of in a rotating drum. The air lifts and turns the beans so they roast evenly, and the chaff blows away during the roast instead of scorching onto the beans. It's sometimes called fluid-bed roasting.
Is air roasted coffee less bitter than drum roasted?
Usually it tastes smoother and cleaner, because nothing scorches against a hot drum wall. Roast level and brewing still matter: a very dark roast can taste bitter whatever the method, and over-extracted coffee can too. Most people find our medium roasts like Kite & Key the smoothest place to start.
What's the difference between fluid-bed and convection air roasting?
A fluid-bed roaster suspends the beans in hot air alone, the method Michael Sivetz pioneered in the 1970s. Some "air roasters" are drum roasters that also recirculate hot air. Gigawatt uses a true fluid-bed roaster.
Why don't more roasters use air roasting?
Fluid-bed roasters roast smaller batches and need more hands-on attention, so they're less efficient for very large production. About 1% of roasters use them.
Is air roasted coffee more expensive?
Not at Gigawatt. Bags are $13.99, roasted in small batches in Bensenville, Illinois and sold direct online, at Chicago-area farmers markets, and through local coffee shops.
Where can I buy air roasted coffee?
Order online at gigawattcoffeeroasters.com (ships in 1–3 days), find us at farmers markets around the Chicago suburbs, or subscribe and save 10% with skip or cancel anytime.
Learn More About Air Roasted COffee
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