☕ Coffee ☕: Ingredients, Roasting, Grinding, Brewing, and Tasting

[TallDan]

As far as popcorn popper, steel skillet or the oven, which gives the best result? I'm leaning away from the popcorn popper at the moment.

Also, I'm going buy unroasted beans and was wondering which supplier you think is best overall? I will not buy from anywhere but a supplier (no Amazon).

We just got a pound of freshly roasted coffee and there's a nice difference. I'm just looking for a bit of improvement.

Thank you!

I don’t have experience with a skillet or oven, because everything I read said that the popper was the way to go and I already had one.

Instead of a skillet, consider a whirly pop. I know someone here at least used to use one.

Another cheap method is the bread machine/heat gun combo, applescrap uses that one.

My understanding is that the oven is the least desirable method.

For suppliers, check out sweet Maria’s, roastmasters, and Bodhi leaf. If you want to go straight to the source, the only one I know is legacy farms. Several of us have ordered from them and like their coffee.

 

[davidabcd]

Regarding suppliers to buy beans.

I appreciate it since I have no previous experience.

 

[ba-brewer]

As far as popcorn popper, steel skillet or the oven, which gives the best result? I'm leaning away from the popcorn popper at the moment.

Also, I'm going buy unroasted beans and was wondering which supplier you think is best overall? I will not buy from anywhere but a supplier (no Amazon).

We just got a pound of freshly roasted coffee and there's a nice difference. I'm just looking for a bit of improvement.

Thank you!

A used a cast iron pot and heat gun along with my camp stove for a couple years, works well but very hands on. Look at the HGDB Heat Gun Dog Bowl it is similar and you probably have everything you need but the beans.

The stir crazy turbo oven DIY roasters works pretty well as do the Heat gun bread makers.

Sweet marias has good coffee and they have a forum for information.

 

[Kealia]

Just curious, why are you staying away from the popcorn popper? I started on that and had great results before I moved to my Behmor.

 

[davidabcd]

why are you staying away from the popcorn popper?

Just from the basic info was that I'd only be able to do a small amount. Again, new, so I could be wrong. Intuitively, the popper seems a good substitute for an actual roaster.

 

[davidabcd]

HGDB Heat Gun Dog Bowl

I checked out the HGDB method. It would be nice if I did, but I don't have those. Thanks for the info.

 

[bleme]

Just from the basic info was that I'd only be able to do a small amount. Again, new, so I could be wrong. Intuitively, the popper seems a good substitute for an actual roaster.

I've been researching roasting on the cheap also and am leaning toward the popcorn method. I cold-brew a gallon at a time, using 160 grams of grounds. The air poppers can do 85 to 110 grams in a batch, so by that method I would have to do 2 batches. But they also require the least labor so 2 batches isn't a huge chore...

 

[davidabcd]

I've been researching roasting on the cheap also and am leaning toward the popcorn method. I cold-brew a gallon at a time, using 160 grams of grounds. The air poppers can do 85 to 110 grams in a batch, so by that method I would have to do 2 batches. But they also require the least labor so 2 batches isn't a huge chore.

You're right, not a huge chore, especially since I get into cooking/preparing things. My knee-jerk reaction was that I'd get a tiny amount but as long as I can swing a 2-3 days I'd be good. I imagine, once I get the timing down, I could even walk away for a minute.
As I said earlier, the air popper just seems like a good substitute.
With the cold-brew, do you heat it up? I'm more of a coffee rookie and one dimensional: Costco coffee, grinder, moka pot and hand-whipped milk.
thanks for the info.

 

[bleme]

You're right, not a huge chore, especially since I get into cooking/preparing things. My knee-jerk reaction was that I'd get a tiny amount but as long as I can swing a 2-3 days I'd be good. I imagine, once I get the timing down, I could even walk away for a minute.
As I said earlier, the air popper just seems like a good substitute.
With the cold-brew, do you heat it up? I'm more of a coffee rookie and one dimensional: Costco coffee, grinder, moka pot and hand-whipped milk.
thanks for the info.

I brew either at room temp for 12 hours or fridge temp for 24. It definitely pulls different flavors from the grounds but mostly I do it for medical reasons. My doctor told me I had to cut way back on my coffee acids. Cold brewing extracts 65% less acid so I still get to enjoy my cup in the morning. Since I only get one cup now, I've been looking at ways to make the most of that cup.

 

[davidabcd]

Cold brewing extracts 65% less acid s

That's good to know. I cold brew a gallon of tea at a time, just the apple cinnamon one. Not for any reason other than it doesn't have sugar but does have flavor. I drink it instead of so many other options that aren't healthy in large volume. Funny though, I think it's fabulous, but not a single person who's tasted it likes it. I buy out the shelf at Kroger all the time. I keep wondering if think it's super odd how they're selling so much of one type of tea.

 

[bleme]

My family went to the annual Christmas Parade last Monday and camped just a block down from my favorite coffee shop, so obviously I had to cheat and grab a cup. I am usually happy with my fresh ground cold brew endeavors, but that was ridiculously good!

 

[Ruint]

+++ to all the coffee bean suppliers listed so far... another for consideration is the Captain's coffee. They have some decent coffees.
I never did the popcorn maker method when starting to roast. I did the heat gun, big metal pot method for the first try ever, decided that it was quite labor intensive and moved right to having something else keep the bean bed moving! LoL! Modded a bread machine to not only keep the beans moving, but also hold the heat gun, which does allow someone to do other things, briefly, while roasting. You don't want to take your attention away for long....
At the beginning of this year I upgraded to an ailio bullet for my roasting needs. If interested, I have the bread machine still...in working condition. I use the heat gun so you would have to get one of those.

 

[Inkleg]

I've been researching roasting on the cheap

Wait? What?? You can roast on the cheap??? I must have been out sick that day.

Had a little time on Sunday to get Phidget connected play with Artisan and watch some temperature readings on the new roaster. Still have to exit with the exhaust. This Saturdays booked I'm hoping for Sunday.

On a small world note. The new tech they hired and I'm helping train is from El Salvador. We were talking about pets and as he's scrolling through is phone and I see something. "Whoa.....back up. Was that a Probat sample roaster?" Is eyes get wide and asks me how I know that as he scrolls back. Long story short. He has a Behmor at home and has friends that have coffee farms in El Salvador. I'm making him coffee in the morning and we're talking coffee.

 

[pshankstar]

@davidabcd If you’re a DIY guy I just saw this posted by Sweet Maria’s. Could be pretty inexpensive even cheaper if you already own a heat gun.
Just thought I would put it out there for you and others who may be interested in starting to roast coffee.

https://makezine.com/projects/simple-sifter-coffee-roaster/?mc_cid=f1d5d40d57&mc_eid=dc7d78a4f7

 

[davidabcd]

ust thought I would put it out there

The thoughtfulness is always appreciated. Lots of helpful people here. Right now, I'm looking for the highest powered popcorn popper on the market. I do not own a heat gun but I do have two light sabers, one still in the package and one off of e-bay. Was that funny? Sometimes it's hit or miss.

 

[TallDan]

Wait? What?? You can roast on the cheap??? I must have been out sick that day.

Had a little time on Sunday to get Phidget connected play with Artisan and watch some temperature readings on the new roaster. Still have to exit with the exhaust. This Saturdays booked I'm hoping for Sunday.

On a small world note. The new tech they hired and I'm helping train is from El Salvador. We were talking about pets and as he's scrolling through is phone and I see something. "Whoa.....back up. Was that a Probat sample roaster?" Is eyes get wide and asks me how I know that as he scrolls back. Long story short. He has a Behmor at home and has friends that have coffee farms in El Salvador. I'm making him coffee in the morning and we're talking coffee.

...so when are you running a split on some El Salvador coffee?

 

[pshankstar]

...so when are you running a split on some El Salvador coffee?

I was wondering the same thing!

 

[applescrap]

There has been a gorgeous probat for sale in denver. @davidabcd a great thing to do would be to pop through this thread from the beginning. You will glean an amazing amount of coffee knowledge, progressions of equipment, and builds. My build and others are on here. Everyone starts somewhere whirlypop, heat guns, pop corn machines, etc...there are 99 ways up the mountain and 92 of them work. Where you start might not be where you end, haha, thats putting it mildly. Its a wonderful hobby and best of luck getting started.

 

[applescrap]

Wow oh wow, that grade 1 dp Ethiopian from burmans i got on black is really really good. Super fruity and good. Its not the punch bowl but its damn close. I wish i would have got like 10 pounds of it or more. I might pick up 5 pounds of it at full price just to have more before it runs out. Iirc its called arichha.

 

[shelly_belly]

Popcorn poppers roast very fast. Mine is only 1100 watts and it will roast a batch on average in 5-6 minutes. I dump mine into a colander in a box hooked up to a small shop vac to cool the beans and start the next batch right away. I can do 8 3oz batches in an hour which nets me around 19oz roasted. I could do 4oz batches but they require almost constant stirring with my machine. I roast outside and let the messy chaff fall to the deck and blow it away when I'm done. Plus there's a lot of smoke generated. 19oz will give me 2 weeks worth of 1 morning cappuccino and 1 afternoon double shot of espresso. Plus It could be up to 8 different varieties to play with. I don't use the poppers cover. I bought the popper at the thrift store for $3.

I started here...
https://legacy.sweetmarias.com/library/air-popcorn-popper-method/

 

[Minky]

For years I used a Wearever Popcorn Pumper that was 1400 watts. I would roast a pound in 5 batches @ 3.2 oz. in approximately 6.5 minutes per batch which is still pretty fast. The popcorn chute works nicely for directing chaff into a bowl or other container. I attached a screen inside the lower part of the chute to keep the occasional roasting bean from jumping out with the chaff. I thought about trying the 1250 watt model but never did.

 

[jammin]

Anyone buying this "Intense Blueberry & Blackberry" line? I feel nearly powerless from ordering 5lbs...

 

[TallDan]

Anyone buying this "Intense Blueberry & Blackberry" line? I feel nearly powerless from ordering 5lbs...

View attachment 656541

Wow. I’m thinking about going ahead with 10, which I’ve never done before. Berries and pistachio? Sounds incredible.

 

[ba-brewer]

Anyone buying this "Intense Blueberry & Blackberry" line? I feel nearly powerless from ordering 5lbs...

View attachment 656541

Was not really ready to order more coffee but going to give it a try.

 

[applescrap]

Haha, I am unfamiliar with Nicaraguan coffee. Thanks to jammin my idea of intense blueberry might be different! So no here.

Anyone buying this "Intense Blueberry & Blackberry" line? I feel nearly powerless from ordering 5lbs...

View attachment 656541

 

[Ruint]

I ordered 10 lbs of the Nicaragua Dipilto Monte Libano last week, it should be getting delivered today, and just now ordered the dry process Buenos Aires. Should have probably ordered it with last week's order...but like some other members here....the expectations of coffee to deliver on a blueberry flavor are exceptionally high!!! (Thanks to @jammin) and most beans have fallen WAY short on that promise! LoL!!!

 

[applescrap]

Sweet, please update how they are. Inquiring minds want to know!

I ordered 10 lbs of the Nicaragua Dipilto Monte Libano last week, it should be getting delivered today, and just now ordered the dry process Buenos Aires. Should have probably ordered it with last week's order...but like some other members here....the expectations of coffee to deliver on a blueberry flavor are exceptionally high!!! (Thanks to @jammin) and most beans have fallen WAY short on that promise! LoL!!!

 

[Ruint]

Roasted all 10 pounds of it last night! Along with 1kg of Ethiopia Agaro Duromina. I have maybe a pound of the Dipilto left, that wasn't utilized in my Xmas blend, and is "resting", so if really desired...I could give my impression of it's flavor. Probably won't be till next week sometime that the dry process Nicaraguan shows up.

 

[HarborTownBrewing]

I could use some help from the group here. I'm trying to roast this Ethiopia Guji and only just now got a roast I think I'm content with (after 3 previous failed attempts). The bean is hella small and I'm blowing through the roasts - previous roasts got to 1C in like 6:00.

This time I did a much lower preheat and just kept off the gas. I pulled back a bit in the first few mins to drag out development, then got back on the heat.

Anyone have any thoughts on this? I'm content with the 8:25 1C...even then though it was very faint. This really reminds me of a peaberry.

 

[applescrap]

@HarborTownBrewing

Sry for quick answer making pancakes. Batch size? Easy way to increase time, but comes with potential problems. Also 1 min plus past a 6 min 1c seems long. If your customers buy it and like it then you are doing it right For yourself, try closer to 40 seconds, thats where I generally stop. They are little, but they are dense too.