Modified Popcorn popper - coffee roaster

Took this Walgreens Kitchen Gourmet and put in a dimmer switch for the fan and heater.
Otherwise the roaster doesn't get hot enough to do much to the coffee beans...

I have since replaced the heating dimmer with a switch. The fan gives you enough control of the heat on the beans.

If you are interested in doing something similar... let me know and I'll put together a howto video.

Or goto www.engadget.com... that's what I followed.
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The main problem with the design is that if you leave the heater on without the fan you will burn out the thermal fuse.
It would be good if someone can tell me what I could do so that the heater will only come on if the fan is on, but the heating coil isn't controlled by the dimmer switch on the fan.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• coffee
• roasting
• popcorn
• popper
• electrical

[luongdung]

Pls post an instructional vid on how to modify it!

[wetdough]

@luongdung The new Walgreens models are too weak to roast well. Need a new source.

[wetdough]

If anyone is trying this mod and has questions after trying to follow the instructions on engadet.com feel free to send me a mail.

[brewmiester11]

@ wetdough, I think that all you need to ensure that the heater won't turn on without the fan is to use the power to the fan to turn on a relay that would power your switch for the heater. You would only use the fan power as a trigger for the relay and it would switch line voltage to your heater switch. Then the heater could not be turned on without the fan, but the fan can be controlled without effecting the heater and the fan can run without the heater.

[wetdough]

There's probably two heating elements. An inner and an outer - Probably could put a switch between the two of them if the added fan power won't cool it down enough. Or, like you said, just buy a roaster - and have much more control over the roast. :)

[markpianoman]

This Toastmaster 6203 is CONSIDERABLY hotter than the one I that came out under Target's brand, "Chefmate." Sure wish I could turn down the heating element...I think that is the only way to get a slower roast other than stirring constantly...it blows really hard already. If I roast outside after dark I can really see the orange glow from the heating element in the bottom of the cylinder. I'm just about to buy an "I-Roast-2."

[wetdough]

Yeah... that's why it's nice to have the adjustable fan - you can get that fan blowing really hard so that you can slow down the roast if you want to. Also the added adjustable fan speed makes it so that you don't have to constantly stir. I give it a quick stir every minute in the beginning to get the chaff off.

[markpianoman]

@wetdough I have the Toastmaster 6203 and it's basically the same machine as the one Target used to sell; however, it is much hotter than the machine I had from Target. So basically, if your machine is as hot as mine, you will have to stir constantly to keep the beans from burning. You'll need a long handle wooden spoon for the stiring...and you may have to switch hands to keep your fingers from burning too.

[wetdough]

Any electrical geniuses out there: I'd like to figure out a way to make it so that if the heat is switched on (I've since replaced the dimmer switch on the heat with an On/off switch) then the fan is also automatically turned on. Basically I want to make it so that if the heat is turned on, then the fan has to be on because otherwise it will burn out the thermal-fuse. I did that to the one before the one in the video.

[wetdough]

I'll have to make it over to target one of these days and try that one out. I too indeed love the process of home roasting beans as well.

[wetdough]

Unfortunately walgreens stopped carrying this model. I'll try and get a different one and make a video.

I used a transformer. It's hidden behind the outlet plate.

[markpianoman]

In my opinion the best popcorn popper for home coffee bean roasting is the "Toastmaster 6203" which is the same machine as Target used to sell under the Chefmate brand.

I love my home-roasted coffee beans and the cappuccino I make with my Rancillio Silvia espresso machine and Rancillio Rocky grinder.

[GenericFamilyVideos]

Step-by-step vid would be great!!! I've got the same model popper. Would love to see detail of the successful mod to avoid sacrificing a popper.

The Engadget info shows a Transformer it looks like you did not use.

[chuckhough]

!! LOLOLOL .

you're always three steps ahead of me!