Removing the Parchment

[pjgcoffee]

Hi, I have one great Arabica tree producing a good crop each year. I've no problem removing the beans from the cherries, etc. But the removing of the parchment/hulling is a manual pain in the neck (as I'm sure many know). Roasting is not a problem, nor is grinding...

I've tried hand blenders - with metal blades, but the blades are way to strong to remove just the outside and smash the beans (again, I'm sure others have tried). It's suggested a blender with plastic blades may do the job of removing the parchment. So, my questions are:

Is using a plastic bladed blender going to do a good job or removing, but keeping the beans intact?
Does anyone know where I can buy a small, cheap, blender with plastic blades? They are very scarce.... I'm in SE Qld.
What other alternatives are known to work...?

Cheers, TIA

[herbie]

Hi pjgcoffee, welcome to the Forum,
I have been faced with the same problem and have tried a plastic paint stirrer in a mains power electric drill (battery powered ones don't spin fast enough), which worked but not to my satisfaction.
I have now made a 4 blade propeller (see photos) from 2 pieces of wood screwed together and glued to a steel tent peg to put in the drill.
This worked really well but is still fairly time consuming.
You will find lots of information on the "growing coffee" thread under "general coffee related" topic.
Herbie

[Luke_G]

Hi pjgcoffee, welcome to the Forum,
I have been faced with the same problem and have tried a plastic paint stirrer in a mains power electric drill (battery powered ones don't spin fast enough), which worked but not to my satisfaction.
I have now made a 4 blade propeller (see photos) from 2 pieces of wood screwed together and glued to a steel tent peg to put in the drill.
This worked really well but is still fairly time consuming.
You will find lots of information on the "growing coffee" thread under "general coffee related" topic.
Herbie

Herbies suggestion for a custom built hulling machine is a good one. A mate of mine has a self made one from wood with rubber paddles and around a 6mm space below a hopper wher the parchment passes through and gets "beaten" off the green bean.
The other trick people employ is to cut some rubber hose and slide it over the blades in your blender. Works heaps better than plastic blades by them self.

[daledugahole]

I feel your pain! I battled for 2 big crops doing it by hand, paying my kids illegal rates per hour to help. Someone here put me onto the plastic blade in food processor option, and it worked a treat. Whole crop done in half a minute.
Only problem then became separating the parchment bits from the beans. I've found a fly screen fabric stretched over a frame works best and hope for a windy day.... Bounce the beans up and down til it's gone.
Good luck, it's worth it because there's no doubt something special about roasting your own beans : )
Link

[pjgcoffee]

Thanks guys for the feedback! Love that device herbie, but I'm going to try the 'hose on the blade' trick first
let you know how I go.... Cheers