Provided is a process for producing roasted coffee beans, which are useful as a starting material for a coffee beverage having a suppressed unpleasant taste and have a roast degree within a predetermined level or less The process for producing roasted coffee beans of the present invention comprises placing starting material roasted coffee beans having an L value of from 21 to 50 in an airtight container and subjecting the roasted coffee beans to a heat treatment at from 100 to 160�C.
