Coffee roasting

[SwanJack]

I fancy trying roasting my own coffee and have found that you can use a certain type of popcorn machine to roast green beans, rather than buying a fancy roaster. It seems that our charity shop bound (but never got there) popcorn machine is suitable. Anybody done something similar or have any roasting tips?

[mechsympathy]

In Ethiopia they just roast them in a pan over a charcoal fire for 5 minutes or so.

[navier_stokes]

http://coffeegeek.com/guides/popperroasting

Warning: it's very smokey

[SwanJack]

Tried it last night, not as smokey as I was expecting, but then again I did roast by an open window !! Seems to have worked well. I think my wife is beginning to regret buying the Gaggia for me !!!

[navier_stokes]

By the way, what make was your popcorn maker that you used??

[SwanJack]

A 'Prima', similar to this one http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Prima-Hot-Air-Popcorn-Maker-...

It's really good TBH. I'm roasting enough every Sunday to use in the week. Green beans are much cheaper than ready roasted and the selection at http://www.hasbean.co.uk is excellent.

Edited by SwanJack on Friday 26th June 09:44

[chard]

If you are roasting in a dry frying pan use a round type of bean for ease (kenya peabody from memory)
Years ago I used to roast coffee for a living (Importers tea and coffee Beckenham high street) I wonder if it's still there?