Popcorn Popper to roast coffee beans

[OuBallieParticipant @ouballie]

Prima Popcorn Popper modified

[OuBallieParticipant @ouballie]

Yes yes yes, I know it's not something typically undertaken by forum members, but some of us do like a cup/mug of decent coffee, so there

This was one of the projects that I was side-tracked into doing, after the qualify of the roasted beans from my normal supplier went South, and then they wouldn't tell me when the beans where roasted. Beans have a finite shelf life once roasted, hence the ones off the shelf leave a lot to be desired. Even worse for ground.

The search was then on for a roaster, but the price of commercial home roasters soon had me soon looking for DIY ways of doing so.

Google and YouTube came to the rescue as usual, with numerous ways, from using a frying pan on a gas burner to modifying various popcorn makers.

A search on modifying a popper brought up a site that used one that was available locally via eBay, and that was the Prima Popcorn maker.

A Prima was bid on and won, and the modification done.

At first I used a 1amp xformer (transformer) to feed the fan, but this went belly up after only a few test sessions, so a more robust one was needed, and took time to source a reasonably priced one, again from eBay.

That fan cannot be all that powerful, but on testing at high output a couple of times, it hiccupped a few times, then the xformer died.

New computer PSU fitted and all appears well as I've done six roasts to date, and the result has been well worth the effort.

No idea how long the plastic deflector will last before melting, as others have replaced it using a tin can et al, to act as a chimney.

The only slight downside of DIY is the chaff and slight smoke.

I did try the frying pan method when I got desperate for a mug, having run out of beans and the popper not yet finished.

Well I needed my WWII gas mask, there was so much smoke.

Still the coffee beat all of the off the shelf variety anyway, so I was happy.

The ones from the Prima are even better as I have full control of heat.

I use the Roastmaster App on my iPad, as this gives me the means to log temperatures at any point during the roast, together with First and Second Crack.

Very easy to control length of roast now.

Photo Album added, but will happily help anyone wanting to do the same.

Geoff – Back on track project wise with any luck

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Brilliant stuff, Geoff

Now can you please have a go at modifying one of those Hospital Medication Dispensers to deliver a metered dose of Espresso [or preferably Serré (spelling?)] on demand.

MichaelG.

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Geoff … I've just looked at the photos, an I'm rather concerned.

Your seventh photo, showing the Heater Outlet connector, appears to have pins.

For obvious safety reasons, I.E.C. "kettle connectors" are available in both genders.

>>> Please correct me if I have misinterpreted the picture. <<<

MichaelG.

[Les Jones 1Participant @lesjones1]

Hi Geoff,
I agree with Michael. That type of connector is only to be used for feeding power into a unit. You should use one like this to output power. Using it as you have is VERY DANGEROUS.

Les.

[John McNamaraParticipant @johnmcnamara74883]

Hi OBallie

I know what you mean by fresh roasted….. Delicious

I am afraid this is for the OZ coffee lovers
(I have no connection with this company apart from buying their beans)

**LINK**

I really like Yirgachaffe. They roast the green beans each week, so fresh that you have to wait a few days until it out gasses, so it is at its best, there is a date on the pack.

Regards
John

[OuBallieParticipant @ouballie]

MichaelG,

Thanks for the compliment.

I am normally willing to undertake anything, but I must regretfully decline your request, unless you can supply a sample of course

Both you and Les are correct to be concerned about those bare pins. My career was dealing in/with electricity, 380v to 11Kv industrial usage and a short time with 132Kv overhead transmission, so I know to be careful.

I do, however, take your point that others may not be as careful, so will change that plug Les pointed me in the direction of.

Les,

Thanks for the link. I somehow missed those when I searched eBay for the kettle plugs and sockets.

I won't describe the stupid thing I did when building the ControlBox, is just too embarrassing.

John,

I roasted two 100g batches of the Giraffe (Yirgachaffe) variety on Thursday.

The very first batch I roasted, I brewed up with hours as I was gasping, and the coffee was fruity, not having gassed out then.

It's amazing how it/they improve over a couple of days.

I'm now on a steep learning curve to find the optimum time/temp setting for each bean, to try and achieve that 'just right' flavour. Interesting times ahead.

Geoff – eBay here I come.

[OuBallieParticipant @ouballie]

In response to Clive 'our bee man's' request for details on roasting, 30th last month and anyone else interested, I can do no better than point you to **LINK**HatQFazEhc4

That man changed my coffee drinking experience.

Since finishing my popcorn popper roaster, I've invested in a proper machine, namely a Gene Café, got at a good price, that does 240g at one sitting.

Beans roasted between 240-250°C start to developed their flavour, and the level depends entirely on how long they are kept at that temp.

Although the popper worked, it required continuous fiddling with both the heater and fan controls whilst keeping an eye on the two temperature readouts.

I no longer have to worry about keeping the temperatures within certain limits, all automatic now, and only worry what level of roast I want just by observing what state the beans have reached.

Geoff – My roasts are improving every time using the new roaster.

Can do better with regards to links so need to bone up on bb & html code long forgotten or better still find out how this site works!

Edited By OuBallie on 11/01/2015 15:32:15

[V8EngParticipant @v8eng]

In one of the towns I used to frequent there was a shop with a big coffee roasting drum set up in the window, with a vent above, standing outside there was an experience not to be missed (the coffee was great as well).

[martin perman 1Participant @martinperman1]

Geoff,

you said in your first post you had loaded some pictures, I've looked at all of your albums but can see nothing related to coffee .

Martin P

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by martin perman on 11/01/2015 17:57:32:

Geoff,

… I've looked at all of your albums but can see nothing related to coffee .

.

Oh No you haven't

… Try here.

MichaelG.

[martin perman 1Participant @martinperman1]

I've looked at all his photo albums under his picture and its not there so where did you find it.

Martin P

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by martin perman on 11/01/2015 19:52:00:

I've looked at all his photo albums under his picture and its not there

.

Keep going … there are more albums than you think

MichaelG.

[Les Jones 1Participant @lesjones1]

Hi Martin,
If you look at the top right of the album page there are numbers to select further groups of abums. (Like at top AND bottom of message threads.) I only found it after Michael put the direct link up

Les.

[martin perman 1Participant @martinperman1]

Isnt technology wonderful when you know where to look, of to opticians tomorrow I obviously need new glasses

Martin P

[OuBallieParticipant @ouballie]

Posted by Michael Gilligan on 11/01/2015 19:40:48:

Posted by martin perman on 11/01/2015 17:57:32:

Geoff,

… I've looked at all of your albums but can see nothing related to coffee .

.

Oh No you haven't

… Try here.

MichaelG.

LOL

Thanks MichaelG.

It's all too easy not to notice that numerical list of those extra photo pages, as I've found on occasion.

Geoff – 3Ss done, so Workshop here I come.

[martin perman 1Participant @martinperman1]

Geoff,

I'm finding that as I get older the more I look the less I see, I have limited mobility at the moment so am not doing a lot as I'm resting my right leg but I decided to remove a thirty year old music centre and replace it with a much smaller and better new one, I sat myself on the floor and disconnected the old cabling including the mains electric, I then unpacked the new unit and reconnected it but couldn't find the screw driver and no matter how hard I looked I didn't see it exactly where I had left it, its almost as if my minds eye had over laid another picture.

 

Martin P

 

Edited By martin perman on 12/01/2015 11:58:50

Edited By martin perman on 12/01/2015 11:59:17

[OuBallieParticipant @ouballie]

Martin P,

Just wait until you approach, then sail into your 'three score and ten' era to know things will never be the same again

Last week I slagged off an eBay firm for not delivering, only to be very politely reminded that they had refunded me postage I had to pay on the packet. Did another search and the item was where I had stored it

Just been searching for a drill bit, only to eventually remember it was still in the battery drill that I used to secure the Carport roofing, leaving it just in case, as prediction is for more high winds on.

Geoff – I do my best to ignore these forgetful episodes, but some days

[martin perman 1Participant @martinperman1]

Geoff,

At three score plus one I must be an early developer my favourite is making a list then loosing the list.

Martin P

[pgk pgkParticipant @pgkpgk17461]

When I was a kid there was a coffee shop that roasted. A simple set of half a dozen brass coloured horizontal cylinders with a bearing rod at one end and a gear at the other all rotated by a chain drive above a set of gas jets. The only adjustent being the flame height. Nice , simple basic stuff and super aroma.

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