Roasting Coffee in your Popcorn Machine!

If you don’t have a coffee roasting machine, the next best thing
that you could use is a popcorn machine. While not specifically designed for roasting coffee, it is still ideal for the beginner to use to start roasting  coffee beans.

Get the following ready:

• A hot air popcorn maker with a solid base at the bottom of the popping chamber where the hot air enters.
• Do not use a popcorn maker with a mesh base. It could be a fire hazard if used for roasting coffee beans
• A metal colander - to be used for cooling the beans once roasted.
• A  mixing spoon (for stirring roasted beans in the colander).
• A ceramic or metal bowl (to collect waste).
• Some green coffee beans.

The Process

1. The roasting process generates a fair bit of smoke so it is advisable to set up the popcorn maker in a ventilated place near a window, or outside.
2. Add the same amount of green coffee beans to the popping chamber as the popcorn machine instruction manual recommends for popcorn.  In any case, no more than 2/3  of a cup of coffee beans should be roasted at any one time. More than that amount will result in uneven roasting and could pose a fire hazard.
3. Close the plastic cover of the popcorn machine and place the ceramic or metal bowl under the outlet chute. This will catch the chaff that is blown from the outside of the coffee beans during the roasting process. Turn on your popcorn machine.
4. After around 3 or 4 minutes you will see and smell an amount of fragrant smoke being generated and what is known as the first crack can be heard. After this you will need to monitor the beans a little more closely so that they don’t roast too much.
5. The total time required really depends on how dark you wish your beans to be. For a lighter roast, a minute after the first crack should be enough. For a darker roast, listen for the second crack and turn off your machine soon after. Roasts develop quickly, so watch carefully. It is best to pour the beans out of the popper when they are a bit lighter than you desire, as roasting will continue until the beans have cooled. Time how long your perfect roast takes so you can do it again it easily.
6. Tip the roasted beans into the metal colander and stir with the  spoon to cool them.
7. Coffee should be stored out of any direct light in an airtight container. However, with a fresh roast you should wait 12 hours before sealing the container tightly as the beans need to vent off carbon dioxide. Do not store in the fridge or freezer.
8. Freshly roasted beans are wonderful, but the coffee is best around 12 hours after roasting. If you store it as recommended, the coffee will maintain its fresh status for up to a week.