Homemade Coffee Bean in a Popcorn Roaster
People roast coffee beans at home for two main reasons: freshness and expense. Quality green coffee beans are half the price of mediocre pre-roasted coffee. The least expensive coffee roasters for home use cost $200 and many models cost much more. You can make one out of a hot air popcorn popper as an inexpensive way to get started in the hobby of coffee roasting. Hot air popcorn poppers are available at discount stores for $20 to $30. Does this Spark an idea?
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- Green coffee beans
- 1200 watt hot air popcorn popper
- Bowl
- Colander
- Timer
- Canning jar or large plastic food storage bag
Instructions
-
-
1
Select a 1200-watt popcorn popper in which the hot air comes in from the sides and there is a solid metal, not mesh, bottom. Air coming in from the side keeps the beans moving during roasting and makes for a more even roast. A mesh bottom will likely burn the beans.
-
2
Pour in the same amount of coffee that the manufacturer recommends for popcorn.
-
-
3
Place a box under the opening where the popcorn would ordinarily come out to catch the chafe from the roasting beans.
-
4
Start machine according to manufacturer's directions. Stay with the coffee. You need to be there to see, hear and smell the coffee in order to know when it is done.
-
5
Listen for the initial stage of roasting. It's called "first crack" and it sounds a lot like popcorn popping. First crack occurs about three to four minutes into the roasting process.
-
6
Listen for the next stage of roasting, called "second crack." This will be another one or two minutes later. It sounds something like cereal in milk -- a snapping rather than a popping sound. This is when the coffee is starting to get dark and it's time to stop.
Fragrance of the smoke is an important indicator of when the beans are done. The outside of the beans can look roasted while the inside is still green. This gives you sour brewed coffee. There is a sour note to the smell while the beans are green. When the sour smell goes away, the beans are thoroughly roasted.
-
7
Pour the roasted beans into a metal colander. Blow a small fan over them. You want the beans to come to room temperature within two to four minutes.
-
8
Let the beans rest for at least 24 hours before grinding and brewing coffee. Store the beans in an airtight container like a canning jar. The beans will release carbon dioxide for a couple of days, so leave the lid cracked for the first 24 hours and then seal.
You can also store the beans in a regular plastic food storage bag provided you leave a small opening for the first 24 hours to let the carbon dioxide out. After that time press out as much air as you can and seal. The more the beans are exposed to oxygen, the sooner they will go stale.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Roasting should be done in a well-ventilated area. There will be some smoke. You may want to keep the fan on while you are roasting.
Have a timing device with you the first time so you get an idea of how long it takes to reach first and second crack.
Practice fire safety. This is not a "set it and forget it" process. If you start roasting and walk away, you might start a fire and will definitely burn the beans.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit coffee and coffee-beans image by Dmitri MIkitenko from Fotolia.com
