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I know roast my own coffee beans....cool ah?

Fresh roasted decaf will be better than any coffee you find on the shelf of the grocery store. It roasts a little faster than regular, but that's easily managed.

Green coffee prices have risen some in the 5 or so years that I've been buying. I usually buy at least 15 lbs at a time to get the best price and save on shipping. When doing that, GCBC prices are on a par with the other online retailers and I know that the beans have not been sitting in a back room for a long time. Freshness is key. On smaller quantities, shipping will drive the price up quickly.
 
THanks Ol. I found a small roaster in the town where my daughter goes to college and I talked to the owner (a friend of my daughter) and he said he would sell me small quantities for his cost. He buys the big sacks so this could be good. I will try the decaf. I also talked to the guy the got me started in this and he recommends I find a Poppery hot air popcorn makes as mine barely gets to the second crack in 25 minutes.
 
The first batch was so.so. I soon discovered to stop the roasting after the first crack and it taste great. But I just don't have that much control with this popper.

I was surprised that small coffee roasters are not that expensive. Between my wife and I, we drink a lot of coffee and I think we will be saving money roasting our own bean at the price I can buy them for. So spending &100.00 on a roaster could pay for itself in a year.

One thing I noticed is that normal Folgers or what-not gives me the shakes after one cup. This week, I've had three cups of my own roasted coffee per day with NO SHAKES. Riddle me that Batman.
 
Invest in a good roaster, preferably one that will roast a fair amount at once. I roast a pound at a time, and go through it in about 5 days. Remember, coffee is seasonal and limited, much like wine. Once you find a bean you really like, stock up on it. Once its gone, its gone forever. I joined the green coffee club years ago, but never bought from them.
I recommend going to Sweet Maria's for info, even if you don't buy from them, they are one of the best places to get basic information on coffee and home roasting.

http://www.sweetmarias.com/index.php

Jack
 
Just wondering if one of those popcorn poppers that has the metal arms that stir the kernels on the hot plate would work for roasting too? it stirs, but then give it a shake every now and then too to help flip the beans?
 
Nothing like roasting your own beans eh? :)

Unfortunately not much raw beans on sale around here though.
 
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Ed in Tx said:
A good roaster eh? Like this? Ought to do it!
Click to expand...

Now that's what I'm talking about.

Jack G said:
Invest in a good roaster, preferably one that will roast a fair amount at once. I roast a pound at a time, and go through it in about 5 days. Remember, coffee is seasonal and limited, much like wine. Once you find a bean you really like, stock up on it. Once its gone, its gone forever. I joined the green coffee club years ago, but never bought from them.
I recommend going to Sweet Maria's for info, even if you don't buy from them, they are one of the best places to get basic information on coffee and home roasting.

http://www.sweetmarias.com/index.php

Jack
Click to expand...

What roaster do you recommend?

similost said:
Just wondering if one of those popcorn poppers that has the metal arms that stir the kernels on the hot plate would work for roasting too? it stirs, but then give it a shake every now and then too to help flip the beans?
Click to expand...

I have one of those slated to go to the curb. I am out of beans at the moment, but would like to try it.

voltcontrol said:
Nothing like roasting your own beans eh? :)

Unfortunately not much raw beans on sale around here though.
Click to expand...

You can order online.
 
I'm using a Behmor roaster, since it will do up to a pound. Lots of people like the Gene Cafe roaster. The freshroast is one of the earlier ones, but I personally think it make too bright coffee (Hot air Vs. drum method). To each his own. The Hottop is the gold standard for home roasting, but its rather pricey.
Frankly, I can't figure out how that one on amazon even works. It looks more like a grinder/espresso maker to me.
Jack
 
All the roasters you mention are way beyond my current budget. I guess I will stick with the popcorn maker for now. However, in talking with CableGuy he said the West Bend Poppery is the best for coffee so I will keep my eye out for that one.

CableGuy did tell me that a couple years ago he made a drum style roaster out of a small BBQ gas grill.....that might be doable. I have more scrap steel than money at the moment.
 
djnagle said:
You guys have to check this out....way to cool and funny. After just posting that I would build my own roaster, I found this site.

http://www.sweetmarias.com/homemade-homeroasters.php
Click to expand...

UGH OH..... I see an infinite loop here... you're gonna roast more coffee, so you can drink more coffee, so you can have more energy to build a better roaster, so you can roast more coffee, so you can.................

That page is right up your ally.. and mine too... looking at those BBQ drums, I'm wondering what some mesquite roasted coffee would taste like :scratch2:
 
Sounds about right sim. Round and round we go. After doing some reading it turns out that the pop corn maker I have is well reguarded in the DIY coffee roasting circles. The mistake I made was not using enough beans so there was too much air blowing through them and keeping the temp down.

One site show how to seperate the heating elliment from the fan so I can turn off the heater and let the fan continue to cool the beans.
 
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