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Roast Coffee with a Popcorn Popper

by Jasmin Malik Chua, Jersey City, USA on 09.11.07
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popcorncoffee.jpg
Photo credit: coffeegeek

If you're gung ho enough about your morning cuppa, you can roast your own coffee beans for an even fresher, more flavorful brew. And if you already own your own air popcorn popper, you don't even need to pony up for a brand new home roaster. About.com has a great tutorial, even if it's sans photos.

Caveat: Not all air poppers are suitable. Make sure that the hot air enters the chamber of your popper via side vents, not a grate in the bottom, otherwise chaff can accumulate on the bottom and catch on fire. Call it a hunch, but we're guessing that's not the kind of wakeup jolt you're looking for. ::About.com

Difficulty level: Easy

Comments (7)

My dad does this and it smells so good when I am home! It is a science though--he had to find a very specific model of popcorn popper; then manually adjust the thermostat inside; then learn to listen for the first and second "crack" as the beans roast. But I think he's ecstatic about the results.

jump to top Anonymous says:

I would suggest standing outside a coffee roastery in action some day and determine if you really want that smell anywhere near your home.

jump to top brennan says:

FYI, the guy who wrote the About.com article on roasting green coffee beans with your popcorn popper hadn't even tried the method out before he wrote the tutorial.

For a simpler explanation, try a chef who has actually done it himself: http://corduroyorange.com/?p=194

The entire method is tremendously simple and smells fine, though I would recommend doing it outside if possible, as the beans have an outer casing that sometimes floats around once you pour them out on a sheet tray to cool.

jump to top Aurora says:

It can be a Science, but it's also more of an art, like any other food-related thing (cooking, brewing, winemaking...)
It's really not that hard, and while there's a couple of suggested popcorn poppers, it's not because they are "special" it's because they are made better and more durable.

You can also buy coffee roasters (or Make your own!) for under $200. The beans are cheap compared to store (coffee shop) bought, and of incredible quality compared to what you'd buy at a grocery store. Many of the beans I buy for $6/lb would sell for over $20/lb *if* you could get them at a coffee shop, and are typically fair-trade and/or organic.

I would suggest doing it outside, though, as it does smell a bit.

jump to top Jamie says:

And of course, I forgot to post relevant links:

http://www.makezine.com/blog/archive/2006/12/homemade_and_se.html
http://sweetmarias.com/
http://www.bakamecha.com/Turbo-Convection.htm

jump to top Jamie says:

Roasting coffee generates a huge amount of acrid smoke. A large range hood or an outdoor location are essential. I've roasted my own coffee beans for several years. I used to use a hot air coffee roaster until the roasting chamber broke for the third time. Since then, I've used a large cast iron pan over a propane stove outdoor. I roast 1/2 lb coffee in 20-30 minutes.

jump to top Ed says:

You can also use a stove top popcorn maker. Which is my backup for when the power goes out (I also have a hand crank burr grinder). I would suggest roasting in the back yard or closed/detached room. The smoke becomes a little much.

If you're über lazy though, just get a Zach and Dani (http://www.coffeeroasting.com/).

jump to top brenton says:

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