Roast Coffee with a Popcorn Popper
by Jasmin Malik Chua, Jersey City, USA on 09.11.07
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
Thirsty for more? Check out these related articles:
- From the Forums: Coffee Cups?
- Sun, Nike, Starbucks and More Meet for Climate Action
- Take Filtered Water With You
- Doing More with Less: DIY iPod Speakers
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.
I would suggest standing outside a coffee roastery in action some day and determine if you really want that smell anywhere near your home.
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.
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.
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
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.
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/).