Quest for Coffee Roaster

[gnelson651]

Enjoyed your video. I just roasted my first batch of green coffee today. I will grind the beans tomorrow to test the flavor. I use a French Press for making coffee and wanted to have fresh roasted coffee instead of stale grocery store flavored stuff.

I was lucky in that I found my Westbend Poppery II at Savers for $6.99. I too bought the sampler pack from Sweet Maria's.

You are now officially a Coffee Greek....good luck.

[gnelson651]

Enjoyed your video. I just roasted my first batch of green coffee today. I will grind the beans tomorrow to test the flavor. I use a French Press for making coffee and wanted to have fresh roasted coffee instead of stale grocery store flavored stuff.

I was lucky in that I found my Westbend Poppery II at Savers for $6.99. I too bought the sampler pack from Sweet Maria's.

You are now officially a Coffee Greek....good luck.

[kendigjl]

Your grinder is not junk, a little static is no big deal. Also, if you have an Ethiopian store near you, they may sell unroasted coffee. I bought the "wrong kind" of popper, and am using it by sticking the metal tube upside down into a bread machine, and I can roast a pound at a time. If you get bored and decide to try it you'll need to open up the bread machine, and take the temperature probe off of the wall of the machine and run it outside of the machine by drilling a hole through the body.

[huli01puli]

The amount of driving done to find the machine you could have got a brand new one ;-)

[markpianoman]

I use the Chefmate popcorn popper from Target for $16. During the roasting I stir the beans with the handle of a wooden spoon every 1.5 minutes vigorously. The friction helps to release the chaff. All I need is about 5.5 minutes for a dark-brown (city+) roast. We get great tasting beans grown right here on Oahu, Hawaii.

[GroovyMojo]

I'll have to check that out. Thanks!

[markpianoman]

Forget the Goodwill Store when you can get a new Chefmate popcorn popper from Target for $16 that roasts perfect coffee in 5.5 minutes. Turns out perfect every time. I get my beans right here on Oahu, Hawaii.

[vipleather]

You should let those roasted beans degas for 12 hours for a better flavor

[Qole]

That's what I've read in several places, but I can't taste the difference between coffee that was roasted 30 minutes ago and coffee that was roasted 18 hours ago. One thing I have noticed, however, is that freshly roasted coffee creates a great deal of foam in a french press. I would say that the carafe is half foam and half water!

[GroovyMojo]

I have started doing that, but I noticed on some beans it didn't make any difference in the flavor, and in others, a big difference.

[doogiepwr]

Dude i hope you have since upgraded your grinder. That one who got is pure junk. Go out and spend the extra money and get a breville or a compresso. That static is out of control on that thing.

[GroovyMojo]

I've noticed that. Thanks for the suggestion.

[jjdavis]

Nope, not on that first batch I didn't. I did after that.

That unit is already dead. :-) I plan ok replacing it with a real one.

[jaredflaherty]

i looked at target, pennys, walmart all were strikouts. so, ordered an actual roaster off of sweet marias. one thing you might consider is modding your unit to have a heat cut off and a fan dial. that way you can cut the heat off at the end and keep the fan running for it to cool down quick. also, you can keep turning down the fan during roasting to make it get hotter in there as time progresses (recommded). also, you did let those beans "rest" for a day or two before brewing, right?

[fishinglizard1972]

thats not coffee man, esspresso is coffee

[tink0952]

If you drink alot of coffee you should try the Whirley Popcorn Popper. I love this method and you can roast a full pound. The only down side is that you have to turn the handel to do the roasting but it is well worth it if you drink alot of coffee. You can buy one on Ebay. Just type in stove top popcorn popper. I have been roasting with mine for about 6 months now and I wouldn't use anything else.

Welcome to home roasting! Fresh coffee beats store bought anytime.

[Qole]

Congratulations! You're a micro-roaster! I'm only sorry that you don't have a local source for green beans.

I don't know why you had such a hard time getting a popper. The right kind of popcorn popper can be purchased new from most department stores for about $20 - $30. You just have to open the box and look in to see if it has the right kind of roasting chamber.

[GroovyMojo]

I looked at Target, Walmart, Bed Bath and Beyond, Tuesday Morning, and Big Lots ... none of their popcorn poppers were the right type. I guess I'm just in the wrong area.

[Qole]

Weird!

[vipleather]

Most air poppers blow from the bottom which in turn burns the beans. The one that works blows hot air on the sides and moves the beans in a circular motion which results in a consistent and better roast.I believe the Co. discontinued that design.

cheers

[markpianoman]

Well, I'm here on Oahu, Hawaii, and the new Target at Pearl Harbor has the right kind of popcorn popper -- the Chefmate for $16. I love it -- works great.