Popcorn Popper Coffee Roasting

[kenstogie]

Walmart Presto PopLite Hot Air Popcorn Popper

I am told that you can roast a mean cup of joe with a popcorn popper.

If anyone knows about such things what are the requirments for a popcorn popper to roast coffee in?

How about the one above?

Any other thought and suggestions are welcomed and appreciated.


Have a great day!!!!

[TheRealBonger]

That one has the hot air coming out of a mesh bottom. Look in the chamber and find one that vents on the sides of the chamber. The mesh could let chaff in and be a fire hazard. I have a popcorn pumper (i think). Sweet Marias list some models that they have found that work. Lots of good info
http://sweetmarias.com/airpop/airpopmethod.php

Originally Posted by TheRealBonger

That one has the hot air coming out of a mesh bottom. Look in the chamber and find one that vents on the sides of the chamber. The mesh could let chaff in and be a fire hazard. I have a popcorn pumper (i think). Sweet Marias list some models that they have found that work. Lots of good info
http://sweetmarias.com/airpop/airpopmethod.php

Correct. The mesh ones will burn your house down.

You want this:

here is the one you want works great...http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-West-Ben...d=p3286.c0.m14

[kenstogie]

Thanks for the info inmates!!! Glad I asked because I thought that they were all the same.

one of the ones sweet maria's recommend my gram had and I remember making popcorn together with it. She loved it and I can get one on ebay. I miss my gram but will be roasting beans in her honor.

[floydpink]

Passing through Target yeaterday, I noticed the Westbend machines that are basically a frying pan with a turning rod to stir up the beans and a very simple dome over it.

Are those ok?

Burning down the house was a major reason I went with a machine specifically designed for the job, but know plenty of roasters do fine without.

[kenstogie]

Originally Posted by floydpink

Passing through Target yeaterday, I noticed the Westbend machines that are basically a frying pan with a turning rod to stir up the beans and a very simple dome over it.

Are those ok?

Burning down the house was a major reason I went with a machine specifically designed for the job, but know plenty of roasters do fine without.

http://sweetmarias.com/airpop/airpopdesign.php

This will give the correct info on Popcorn poppers, I am not sure about the one from target do you have a link, maybe some else here knows?

[floydpink]

No link, but it's weird how they say to NOT use anything where the hot air enters through the bottom and that is precisely how it enters with the Freshroast.....

Originally Posted by floydpink

Passing through Target yeaterday, I noticed the Westbend machines that are basically a frying pan with a turning rod to stir up the beans and a very simple dome over it.

Are those ok?

Burning down the house was a major reason I went with a machine specifically designed for the job, but know plenty of roasters do fine without.

Nope the stircrazys don't get hot enough on their own, but....

They are half of the roasting sensation known as the SCTO, bottom is a stir crazy and the top u get a turbo oven. Very popular and easy to build, many here can tell you how.

[floydpink]

Found a link Vic, and it looks like a cool project if you're somewhat handy.

http://biobug.org/coffee/turbo-crazy/

Not for me, as it seems like once you add it all up, you could just buy a Behmor and I tend to break stuff, but probably an easy job for someone with a little patience.

[Tazziedevil]

I have a black and decker popcorn popper that I use to roast small batches every week or two. Have no idea what the model is but it does indeed have vents that vent to the side of the chamber and no mesh.
Posted via Mobile Device

[boom]

i'd like to try this, keep this going guys...

[kenstogie]

My popcorn popper is on the way. Ill post my results and maybe a howtoo and ppros/cons
I still need too buy some green beans though. Sweet marias here I come

[kenstogie]

I emailed sweetmaria's asking about sampler packs and recommendations for the first attempt. It seemed very pertinant and relevant to this thread so here is their response....


________________________
Hi Ken,

Thanks for the note. We do sell sampler backs at the bottom of the Green Coffee Page here- http://www.sweetmarias.com/prod.greencoffee.mvc.php

Most of the blends we sell listed on the green coffee page under blends are suitable for espresso though you can create your own blends there is more information about that here-
http://www.sweetmarias.com/blending.php

Information about choosing coffee-
http://www.sweetmarias.com/choosingcoffeeFAQ.php

Edward's Popper Roasting Tips
http://www.edwardspiegel.org/easnuke...ithpoppers.htm

Hope that can get you started.
Best- Erica
_______________________________

[floydpink]

If you haven't already, you should visit Sweet Marias website.

Someone really took the time to put together a very easy to understand instructional on roasting.

I refer to it all the time now.

[kenstogie]

I received my Popper in the mail and here's the picks. I'll be purchasing the beans soon and I'll be off to coffee nirvana, eventually that
is.

NOTICE THE VENTS ON THE SIDE (NOT THE BOTTOM) and the BOTTOM IS SOLID. I am told this is mucho importanto!!!
This is pic is looking down the throat.

[floydpink]

Originally Posted by kenstogie

I received my Popper in the mail and here's the picks. I'll be purchasing the beans soon and I'll be off to coffee nirvana, eventually that
is.

NOTICE THE VENTS ON THE SIDE (NOT THE BOTTOM) and the BOTTOM IS SOLID. I am told this is mucho importanto!!!
This is pic is looking down the throat.

I think it has a sore throat, All I can see is a red x.
How's it working out?
I keep seeing those Westbend Popperies on Ebay for cheap and am tossing around the idea of picking one up for a second roaster and am wondering if you need to do all the roasting outdoors due to the chaff flying?

[germantown rob]

I really don't understand the pop corn popper as a roaster in its stock form.
Roasting beans at a high heat with no temp control is a bit like throwing anything you are cooking in a 500f oven and calling it done when it browns. I really have never taster a thing out of a stock popper that didn't taste thin and with very little flavor development and to say that city to city + coffee tastes that way is just BS. Different beans need different approaches to roast them proper and that takes some control over the roasting process to get heat to the center of the bean not just the outside.

I say roasting over an adjustable gas burner in a pan and stirring with a spoon or whisk can give a novice much more control over a roast and a better understanding of how simple changes can bring out the most from a particular bean. Not to say that this method doesn't have it's drawbacks since it is very easy to burn the outside of the bean especially on the flat spots. Peaberry beans are the best way to learn this method since they have less flat spots because they are more round.

Just my .

[kenstogie]

THis might work better.......





As to Rob's comments. I have never roasted coffee in my life but am told that fresh roasted java is like an epiphany of epiphanies while in the most comfortable easy chair in Nirvana. It's a start for me and there may be better/easier methods. It seemed like I have heard a lot of good things about the popcorn popper method so I went with it.

I am interested in trying both methods. There both inexpensive.

[germantown rob]

There is no better feeling then drinking a fresh roast that you made but roasting beans does not guarantee good coffee. A popper may be the easiest to use, plug it in, throw some beans in, roast them. The process to get good to excellent roasts is a wee bit more complicated, with mods a popper will give excellent results.

A pan on the stove is also low budget and easy but there is no noise to cover up the 1st and 2nd crack, smell and color are also much easier to judge then a popper so I think it is easier to learn more about the roast process to develop the skill required to create a great cup of joe.