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Crazy Popper advice

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  • #16
    Re: Crazy Popper advice

    Hi Deano

    I had the experience where the Crazy Popper I bought wasnt hot enough.

    Once, out of sheer frustration, I left it going for 25 minutes and the beans didnt even turn to charcoal - TRUE.

    Experimenting a bit, I found that the optimum for my particular popper was:

    > increase bean weight to 150g (130g for monsooned malabar due to larger bean size) to increase the thermal mass. I determined this weight as being the greatest green weight still able to be stirred by the airflow.

    > Restrict airflow by placing gaffer tape over the intake vents in the base of the popper

    > Temporarily (for about 10 seconds at a time) restrict the exit airflow by partly obstructing the chimney - I do not reccommend your hand for this activity. This enabled the temp to rise by 10C or so and when the obstruction was removed the temp remained at that level.

    You need at least 150C to get to first crack - measure using a digital multimeter with a thermocouple (a cheap one can be obtained from jaycar or Dick Smith / Tandy for about 40 bux)

    My friend Sullo has a popper which has totally different characteristics to mine so they are definitely not consistent.

    To fix your problem -
    > Identify whether your popper runs hot or cold - see if you can charcoal a batch of beans without modifications.

    > Use a thermocouple to get an idea of the heat in the roasting chamber

    > to get more heat, use a greater weight of beans and / or obstruct the airflow - tape, partly blocking the chimney, put it in a box (hotter external environment)

    > to get less heat, use a lighter load and have a fan blowing across the top of the chimney to draw the heat out of the chamber faster.

    Its all a learning process as well as trial and error but when you get your first decent roast you will know that you will never return to the Nescafe Blend 43.

    Hope this helps

    cheers mate

    jeff

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    • #17
      Re: Crazy Popper advice

      Thanks TG

      It took approx 11 minutes

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      • #18
        Re: Crazy Popper advice

        Sounds a bit slow if the CP isnt modified.
        The proof will be in the tasting.

        You could be lucky though, your popper might be just right as it is.

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        • #19
          Re: Crazy Popper advice

          Thanks TG

          The only modification I made was adding a chimney

          Regards
          Andrew

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          • #20
            Re: Crazy Popper advice

            Hi all,
            Thanks for the great posts and advice on this site.
            What started out for me a bit over a month ago as investigating getting a better than department store type home espresso machine (got a Lelit Combi - love it) has led me down the bottomless pit of Coffee Snobbery.
            Ive been having a sneaky look on Evil-Bay for roasters and saw an I-Roast. It ends tomorrow and, although probably a good unit, looked like going past what I thought I would jump in at (given the relative cheap popper option)- probably due to the relative scarcity of these items. (It has- check it out.)
            So, without really making a conscious decision to do so, I dropped in at Bing Lee this arvo to see what I could get a Crazy Popper for and ended up walking out with one at $34. (Even if I (or it) fail at roasting, I have a daughter who loves popcorn, so whats the risk?)
            I have my soup tin and fan ready and have just placed my order for a Green Bean Starter Pack. While Im waiting, I have a lot of great posts to go over (and Im sure will be inspired by some of these great innovations).
            I just wanted a nice cuppa. Is it too late to escape?

            Regards,
            Greg

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            • #21
              Re: Crazy Popper advice

              Got my starter pack today. Excellent service again - thanks Andy.
              Set up the CP outside with my soup tin chimney and fan, with 110gm Columbian Volcan Galerus.
              Ambient temp probably a bit cool- about 13 to14 degrees. Also probably had fan TOO close.
              FC abt 6.00 mins, ending abt 8.30. Then waited, waited, listening, getting impatient :-/.
              At abt 14.30 my wife thought she could hear "something"- I couldnt (but then Im a bit deaf - too much rocknroll).
              Turned off 14.45. Theyre not dark but a nice brown, dont know if they really got there- will wait and see.

              Will change 3 things-
              - try daytime for a higher temp
              - move the fan back
              - get a multi-meter (everyones right- was just guessing and hoping, not knowing what was going on temp-wise).

              So, thanks again Andy, another order. (By the way, am I dumb or how can you have 15.50 of them left? :-?)

              Greg






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              • #22
                Re: Crazy Popper advice

                OK.
                Had another go this morning. Much warmer (abt 23). Brazil Montes.
                Went very quick. FC abt 3.00-5.00. SC took me by surprise. Finished at 7.00.
                Possibly went too long. Some smoke, but they dont look oily.
                Anyway, cant wait for the multi meter (thanks again Andy) so I can measure whats really happening.
                I think Im on the way. Thanks to all whove put up good advice.

                Greg.

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