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  • Crazy Popper advice

    Hi folks,

    Ive just ordered a Crazy Popper and a CS Starter Pack and looking forward to making some magic.

    Ive searched the forum here for Crazy Popper advice and not found much mention of this option.  Will this popper do the trick or would I be better with something else?

    Ive found some generic popper articles but I still have a couple of questions;
    • Will the air current cause the beans to move and roast evenly or do I have to agitate them?
    • How do I figure out what my batch size should be?
    • Is any point in doing the temperature probe mod when you have no control over the temperature anyhow?



    Thanks from a roasting newbee.

    Cheers
    Dean

  • #2
    Re: Crazy Popper advice

    Dean
    CP is one of the best poppers to use,
    I tried 80gms without a "chimney" I regularly roast 115grms in it
    Heatwise I just go by sound and cracks, smell and colours, some crack really loud and blow chaff everywhere some dont.
    Try your first batches outside too!
    Checkout Lucindas guide its a great start.
    http://coffeesnobs.com.au/YaBB.pl?num=1174699442

    Hope that helps

    Sullos

    Comment


    • #3
      Re: Crazy Popper advice

      Thanks Sullo.

      I have now found the Roasters section under Equipment. Not sure how I missed that.

      As you say the CP is popular and I now have a bit of reading to do.

      Cheers
      Dean

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: Crazy Popper advice

        Hi all

        Im waiting on my starter pack with my crazy popper at the ready.

        Im sure I have read somewhere else that a "chimney" was not needed for the crazy popper & that the plastic lid it comes with is sufficient. Is this anyone elses experience or does having a "chimney: make a huge difference?

        If a chimney is needed can you guys offer a simple method for collecting the chaff that I assume blows out of the top?

        Thans for your help

        Regards
        Andrew

        Comment


        • #5
          Re: Crazy Popper advice

          The chimney will increase batch size from around 50grms to 115gms, Ive used an old nestle quik or alpen blend choccy powder they fit reasonably well, remove base small slit up the side and squeeze in!
          Presto instant chimney

          edit I should read prv post before replying, try it outside first!

          Comment


          • #6
            Re: Crazy Popper advice

            The Crazy popper is the easist to use to roast beans. Just put the beans in and switch on the button. Knowing when to stop it is a different thing altogether.
            80g is a good start without a chimney, but youll find that without a chimney, youre likely to get escapees. I use a Campbells Soup can cut out for a chimney and it dead easy.
            Depending on the ambient temp (air temp), it can all be over too quickly. I roasted a small batch once at midday (in winter) and it was over by the 5 minute mark. Youll find that people here recommend a longer roast time than a shorter one and Ive been roasting at night just to extend the roast time.
            Ive also been trying to do other things to the popper and have been meaning to take some pics and put it up but havent gotten to it yet. But for starters, 80g without a chimney and its a good start to try and pick out the crack sounds.. Just be prepared for a few escaping beans as they lose wieght when roasted. Typically 80g of green beans ends up being 64-70g roasted (less if youve got escapees).

            Comment


            • #7
              Re: Crazy Popper advice

              Thanks Guys

              Thats some great advice.  All I can do is give it a go!

              I read (coffeegeeks I think) that the clear plastic top of the machine can be used which helps direct the chaff.  Has anyone else tried this?

              Regards
              Andrew

              Comment


              • #8
                Re: Crazy Popper advice

                I was told from early on not to use the top plastic bit. I dont quite know why, maybe the plastic bit will not be able to withstand the heat of the coffee beans or maybe the top bit traps heat too much when you actually want to dissipate heat to lengthen the roast times.

                In fact, one of the mods Ive done to the popper includes removing the whole upper half of the popper to expose only the chamber (as suggested in another post by TG I believe). Ill see if I have time to take the pics of what Ive done.

                Comment


                • #9
                  Re: Crazy Popper advice

                  It was I NTE.

                  I use an exhaust extension as a chimney.
                  Made by the nice workshop down the road.

                  A bit of overkill but it is nice and shiny.

                  I believe Grendel did the same before me.

                  The plastic top would trap the heat so I never never used it.
                  My CP runs pretty hot.
                  All my mods were designed to slow the roast down.

                  I drilled holes in the base. Remove it first, drill, then put it back.

                  It sits very low so try to raise it or as I read here recently, sit it on a milk crate to get more air in.

                  With my chimney I was roasting 100g batches.

                  To answer one of your questions Deano, you shouldnt need to stir.

                  Ive never worried about collecting the chaff.
                  I simply roast outside and blow it away with a pedestal fan.
                  The fan seems to help cool the roasting chamber a little too and slows the roast marginally.
                  I have noticed a small difference in times if the fan is on low instead of high.

                  I hope that helps.

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Re: Crazy Popper advice

                    Thanks all

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Re: Crazy Popper advice

                      Yeh, thanks guys.

                      Got my CP today in the post and am dying to try it out on the weekend.

                      Is the chimney only to stop the escapees or does it serve some other purpose? Seems it would trap heat and therefore shorten roast time when the idea is to extend roast time. I found a metal mesh cylinder which is a tea candle surround which I reckon will be good. Catch the stray beans and yet allow heat to disperse.

                      Cheers
                      Dean

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Re: Crazy Popper advice

                        The idea of a chimney is to extend the roasting chamber vertically. This makes it possible for bigger batches. Somewhere on the order of 125-150g.

                        It does extend roast times, but only slightly.

                        Give the mesh cylinder a go, and let us know how things go. Youll definitely want a different solution for winter roasting however.

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Re: Crazy Popper advice

                          Today I tried a large fan placed close to the popper, blowing at high speed. Was hoping that as well as the heat dissipation the airstream passing over the chimney top would draw out the hot air quicker.

                          It didnt extend the roast time much (extra 30 secs at most), but it solved the chaff problem - it just blew it away. Away to where, I dont know - it dispersed enough not to be noticeable.

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Re: Crazy Popper advice

                            Hey Guys

                            I got my starter pack today & tried my first roasts with the CP.  I did this outside, but the problem I had was that I found it hard to recognise when the various cracks were happening,  I ended up just roasting them to the same colour as a batch of commercially roasted beans I had.

                            Was this the right thing to do?  Any advice would be much appreciated

                            Regards
                            Andrew

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Re: Crazy Popper advice

                              Probably OK Andrew.
                              How long did it take overall?

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