Popcorn Popper Coffee Roasting

Originally Posted by OLS

I agree with Rob on this one, if roasting your own coffee succesfully is all down to
hearing certain audible clues, you don't need an air popper fan covering up the clues.
I have never roasted my own coffee, but I DO KNOW that air poppers are not even good
at popping corn. A whole lot of popcorn that salt won't stick to. It might be fun for a few
raosts, but I would think if you have a goal, and a goal by the way that is not necessary
to enjoy the final product, coffee, I would save my money for that goal and wait it out to
get something purpose-built.

popcorn poppers do an outstanding job at roasting coffee, so good that some never move on to something else.

[germantown rob]

Originally Posted by Resipsa

popcorn poppers do an outstanding job at roasting coffee, so good that some never move on to something else.

Vic, are you saying an unmodded popcorn popper can roast with an experienced user as well as a Hottop or any machine that gives full control over profile.

Originally Posted by germantown rob

Vic, are you saying an unmodded popcorn popper can roast with an experienced user as well as a Hottop or any machine that gives full control over profile.

What I'm saying Rob is there is no "better" , simply what the roaster is looking for.

Does my Iroast, or a popcorn popper for that matter, do a better job if I'm looking to bring out certain attributes of a bean, say the brightness of a kenyan, than my Hottop does?

Maybe it does.

My point is you cannot compare air roasting to drum roasting and conclude one is the better than the other, because they are designed to produce different results. It's like saying grilled chicken is "better" than roasted chicken. All depends on the taste you're looking for, and personal preference.

[germantown rob]

Originally Posted by Resipsa

What I'm saying Rob is there is no "better" , simply what the roaster is looking for.

Does my Iroast, or a popcorn popper for that matter, do a better job if I'm looking to bring out certain attributes of a bean, say the brightness of a kenyan, than my Hottop does?

Maybe it does.

My point is you cannot compare air roasting to drum roasting and conclude one is the better than the other, because they are designed to produce different results. It's like saying grilled chicken is "better" than roasted chicken. All depends on the taste you're looking for, and personal preference.

Roasted chicken is far better then grilled chicken and smoked chicken kicks both their butts .

I will not argue the air vs drum but I will argue profile vs no profile. Drum or air when the ability to break a roast up into 3 segments of profile, drying, pre first crack, and first crack on, control over the outcome of flavor can be changed. I think a modded hot air roaster is in the same game as any roaster you can buy.

I feel like popcorn roasters are a bit like the Silvia, a huge fan base with lots of internet info but far from the ultimate answer. I do think for anyone that wants to get into roasting or to try it on a low budget there are better ways to learn without all the noise and lack of control and even the high fan speed with fast roast times keep a newb from getting the basics down and many give up before they give it a real chance and sell on ebay. I want newbs to have a fighting chance at this hobby not get discouraged by limitations of equipment, I am sure we can agree that this is a wonderful skill to possess and I don't think I will slow down the sale of popcorn poppers by having this opinion.

Originally Posted by germantown rob

Roasted chicken is far better then grilled chicken and smoked chicken kicks both their butts .

I will not argue the air vs drum but I will argue profile vs no profile. Drum or air when the ability to break a roast up into 3 segments of profile, drying, pre first crack, and first crack on, control over the outcome of flavor can be changed. I think a modded hot air roaster is in the same game as any roaster you can buy.

I feel like popcorn roasters are a bit like the Silvia, a huge fan base with lots of internet info but far from the ultimate answer. I do think for anyone that wants to get into roasting or to try it on a low budget there are better ways to learn without all the noise and lack of control and even the high fan speed with fast roast times keep a newb from getting the basics down and many give up before they give it a real chance and sell on ebay. I want newbs to have a fighting chance at this hobby not get discouraged by limitations of equipment, I am sure we can agree that this is a wonderful skill to possess and I don't think I will slow down the sale of popcorn poppers by having this opinion.

I think we basically agree Rob. I just think those who are new need to learn basics prior to worrying about profiles. Hell, I've been doing this for several years, and I get intimidated and confused at times, especially when things don't bring the results I planned for.

[floydpink]

Well, whatever happens, it's comforting to know that blowing the best part of a grand on a Hottop roaster isn't necessarily inevitable, however likely it seems.

Looking forward to comparing my progress with Kenstogie's.

I'm tryin to take baby steps over here....

[Swampper]

I use this:



Cost: $ 0.00, friend didn't want it...
Added a smoker thermometer - $ 20.00

Use on stove top. Add about 8 oz of beans at around 400 degrees,
Usually get first crack around 5 minutes, turn off heat, get second crack, and
dump in to screen colander at about 6 or 7 minutes.