An improved process for improving the quality of roasted coffee beans comprises humidifying coffee beans to be roasted until a humidity percentage is reached in said beans that is comprised between 20% and 40% in weight, said humidifying occurring at a temperature below the boiling temperature of the water and at atmospheric pressure roasting said humidified coffee beans at atmospheric pressure.An apparatus (1 1a 1b 1c 1e 1f) for roasting coffee beans, comprising a receptacle (2 4 5 7 9 9a 11) intended for receiving said coffee beans heating means for heating said coffee beans up to a roasting temperature and maintaining said roasting temperature for a preset time, further comprising humidifying means (3) for humidifying said coffee beans inside said receptacle (2 4 5 7 9 9a 11).
