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My first popper roast (with pics)

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  • malliemcg
    replied
    Re: My first popper roast (with pics)

    I have done a few roasts post the youtube one. One that started to smoke just as I pulled it, tasted too much like Vittoria for my liking so I wont go there again, was post 1st crack, but did not make cracks again.

    Currently waiting for some
    a) time
    b) cool weather
    c) no rain
    d) less roasted beans to use - got 500gm roasted to use up

    before roasting some more for ourselves. I have made some minor mods to the popper and am tempted to repurpose an old cpu fan and some flexible tubing to introduce cool air into the roasting chamber to push out the times further. Have managed to get at least an extra 60-90 seconds depending on ambient temp.

    I just got to get it right so I dont make oily beans (which I assume is a bad thing) more playing about to do. Currently hanging out for the next greenbay and will grab a stack more of whats available today and whatever is available then

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  • Barry_Duncan
    replied
    Re: My first popper roast (with pics)

    Mallie

    Adding a chimney reduces the number of jumping beans on the floor.

    I use a tapered 415g salmon tin which is a perfect fit.

    What counts is the taste in the cup.

    I sit my popper on a grill. Actually the seat of an outdoor chair. I think this aids air circulation and reduces the ammount of chaff sucked in.

    Experiment to get what you like the best and enjoy.

    Barry

    Leave a comment:


  • jaybee
    replied
    Re: My first popper roast (with pics)

    Originally posted by 636F6262676B636D690E0 link=1292229418/17#17 date=1292750901
    I have uploaded the video of my roast #2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IxXKWT0qD3c its a four minute video - any comments feel free. Many mistakes Im sure for myself and others to learn from.
    Great video - has a Blair Witch Project feel to it!

    You pulled the roast mid first crack. Try waiting untill it falls silent again, then wait anything up to 30 seconds before stopping it I recon. Should be just before second crack then.

    You may like to try a really dark roast for experimentation just to see  what happens when you go into second crack. It would taste rubbish and pull it when it starts to smoke like hell (thats all the oils burning off), but it is a great way of learning the different stages of roasting. Try not to burn your house down...

    I often wait for the very first bean to go into second crack which has a very distinctive sound, then halt it - got to be quick with the popper though!

    Those later roasts follow the above nicely - have you had more goes since?

    Leave a comment:


  • Thundergod
    replied
    Re: My first popper roast (with pics)

    Originally posted by 7078717F68686F731D0 link=1292229418/18#18 date=1293624544
    Does this all sound a bit quick?
    Yes.

    Originally posted by 7078717F68686F731D0 link=1292229418/18#18 date=1293624544
    Any tips on stretching these times out or slowing if down a little?
    There are plenty of threads with tips; do a search.

    However, personally I prefer to avoid trying to modify anything electrical and recommend introducing more cool air and allowing more trapped hot air out.

    Leave a comment:


  • melbuurn
    replied
    Re: My first popper roast (with pics)

    Roasted both an Ethiopian and  a brazil, part of a starter  pack from Andy.  Found that the old popper got too hot too quickly, so swapped to new popper.

    The Ethiopian had first crack at 2:45 with rolling second crack at 356, I pulled the roast at 440 however if might be a little dark.

    The Brazil had first crack at 256 with rolling second crack at 348.  I pulled it at 414 which is a light to medium roast.

    Does this all sound a bit quick?  Any tips on stretching these times out or slowing if down a little? :

    Leave a comment:


  • malliemcg
    replied
    Re: My first popper roast (with pics)

    I have uploaded the video of my roast #2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IxXKWT0qD3c its a four minute video - any comments feel free. Many mistakes Im sure for myself and others to learn from.

    Forgive the cinematography I was roasting coffee and somewhat preoccupied. ;D

    Leave a comment:


  • malliemcg
    replied
    Re: My first popper roast (with pics)

    They were pulled somewhere between 4 and 5 minutes I suspect closer to 4 - within 4:05-4:15, the first hint of smoke made me act.

    I definitely have to do something to the popper to slow it down as its far too efficient at getting heat into the roasting chamber.

    If you look above you can see some of the earlier roasts were quite light. They seem to go from that to what you see in the Mysore in a 20-40 second window.

    I stuck the tin on mainly to reduce loss through high bouncing, was previously losing 10-30 beans, now lost between 2 and 5 beans to bouncing and maybe 5 more in hurried pouring and vigourous sift cooling.

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  • Tango
    replied
    Re: My first popper roast (with pics)

    PS - should add that Im doing 80gm roasts without any modifications to the popper!

    Leave a comment:


  • Tango
    replied
    Re: My first popper roast (with pics)

    What time did you pull them? They look quite roasted - Ive never had that much oil on a Mysore batch, then again, Im not a huge fan of roasting too dark.

    Ive been roasting the Mysore quite light with my Crazy Popper, been getting first crack at around 2:50 to 3:10 and then pulling them at around 5:45-6:00 just before first crack! Loving the result thus far!

    Good to see another newbie coffee roaster going crazy and roasting all the time like I am!!

    Leave a comment:


  • malliemcg
    replied
    Re: My first popper roast (with pics)

    Roasted some Mysore nuggets today. Started out with 2x100gm batches and got down to about 78 and 74gm. Was much cooler here in Canberra for this roast, I did have the popper up on a wire basket and attached a tin can to lose less bean, and I think its a better roast. Got to the 2:40 mark before any pops, popped until 3:50 or so, went quiet for 20 seconds, then I pulled it based on smoke starting to appear. As I was pulling more pops, was this second crack? I am a little concerned about the current shininess of the beans as I suspect too much oil has come out of them.

    Pics below - the roasts were very similar to each other, I have a good feeling. If I stick them in a ziplock back (left unlocked) and then into an old one way valved bag that used to hold coffee beans (6 weeks old or so) would that be good or bad treatment of the beans?

    Shot with no flash.


    Shot with flash:

    Leave a comment:


  • emckissock
    replied
    Re: My first popper roast (with pics)

    Ive started holding my popper while it runs, it does improve airflow. I started because quite a few beans were flying out the chute (not installed the tin can chimney yet) and tilting it back a few degrees helped. Oh, my roasts are 90gm, I see you are already only doing 80gm.

    As a heat gun can be bought for $20, thats my next step, but I have a feeling it wont be the last upgrade.

    Leave a comment:


  • malliemcg
    replied
    Re: My first popper roast (with pics)

    That was with a fan. Perhaps when the Canberra winters return the ambient temps will lose around 15-20C so hopefully will be able to extend the roasts then.

    Im going to be making some little legs for the popper to raise it up off what ever surface its over and make the air intake larger, im also going to make some holes out the top plastic so hopefully less heat less quickly. Current taste surprisingly not too bad even with the super speed.

    Currently umming and ahhhing about a small roaster - which will render the popper obsolete.

    Leave a comment:


  • emckissock
    replied
    Re: My first popper roast (with pics)

    Ive done about the same amount of roasting as you, also with a popper, but all of my roasts are between 6min and 8:30min, ambient temp around 20degree. sounds like your popper is rather aggressive with the heat. I keep a fan blowing across the popper while roasting, as much to clear the chaff as anything else.
    You should definitely slow things down, just getting the beans to the right colour must be hard with that fast a roast. Try smaller quantities, try a fan, try drilling holes, or maybe try a cheap heat gun - I put one on my xmas list

    Leave a comment:


  • malliemcg
    replied
    Re: My first popper roast (with pics)

    So today was day to try.

    Pics of all four roasts with Andys compared. Mine were roasted 13/12 and 14/12, Andys 12/12.



    Roasts #1 and #2 I ended up combining - wow - so quick through had to go finer and tamp harder to get a decent pour rate, else it was all over (120mL in 5-10 seconds incl. crema which would settle to 50-60mL). Once got the grind and tamp dialed in was quite Lemony, Grassy and somewhat acidic (no surprises there).

    Roast #3 was closest to Andys pre-roasted in colour and in flavour. Rather earthy overall, (which I like). Andys was definitely much smoother on the finish, I was not bothered by this as we all drink with milk.

    Roast #4 has gone all oily, not a good look, still used them, not sure how to describe this one - coffee generica.

    Ended up blending roasts 3,4 and half of the combined 1 and 2. (for a 33% about right, 33% under and 33% over). Comments from Mother in Law - much nicer than "c**ffee club" that I had at the mall yesterday. Wife was well impressed. Offered it up to the carers who came today and they were both very happy. (I cut back the sugar requested for an experiement - they raved about them, and were surprised that the sugar was cut back, but happy none the less).

    Overall - a good experience. Just need to tweak the popper a tad to extend those roast times, but the results are encouraging.

    I would note and like to ask - on the last pour it was coming out excellent for 10-15 seconds - "honey off a spoon" then all of a sudden huge amounts of crema started pouring out rapidly filling the 120mL glass I do my shots into in about 2 seconds (which settled 40-60mL). I assume my puck split or I got channelling - any comments?

    Leave a comment:


  • vyapada
    replied
    Re: My first popper roast (with pics)

    Some ideas...
    Long extension cord, ventilation may work (I removed the case and put a mesh filter on the air intake) as may having your fan going the whole time.

    A side by side comparison is a great idea! Im considering that for some future roast projects myself

    Leave a comment:

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