What Is Conduction in Coffee Roasting?

Conduction = heat transferred by direct contact. In roasting, this happens when beans touch hot metal inside the drum.

27 Nov, 2025

What Is Conduction in Coffee Roasting?

Where conduction happens:

  • Bean-to-drum contact

  • Bean-to-bean contact

  • Hot metal “scorch” points

What conduction does to flavor:

  • Increases body

  • Promotes caramelization

  • Can produce heavier, roast-forward notes

Risks of too much conduction:

  • Scorching (burn marks on surface of bean)

  • Tipping (burned edges of the bean)

  • Uneven development

  • Bitter, ashy flavors

When conduction is strongest:

  • High charge temperatures

  • Low drum speed (more bean-to-drum contact)

  • Low airflow

  • Thick drum roasters