Use
Before coffee beans are ground and brewed, they are roasted to bring out the flavor. During the 1800s, coffee makers commonly used cast-iron coffee roasters that resembled traditional frying pans and featured a crank, either on the side of the pan or on the lid. As the coffee beans roasted, the maker used the crank to stir the beans. Because this coffee roaster does not have legs, it was likely used over an oven rather than over coals in a fireplace.