Big TICK for the Kambrook Popcorn Factory popper

[Lovey]

Re: Big TICK for the Kambrook Popcorn Factory popp

Gday Marc,
try the 80g batch with the chimney attached and see how that goes. If the roast times are still too short, your popper might be suffering from Aldi-itis

[marcstolk]

Re: Big TICK for the Kambrook Popcorn Factory popp

Dark

[marcstolk]

Re: Big TICK for the Kambrook Popcorn Factory popp

Medium Dark

[marcstolk]

Re: Big TICK for the Kambrook Popcorn Factory popp

OK, done my first few batches...

Having an issue with the roast length...

following this will be posts of all 3 different roast types with the Samatran.

Ive done the Brazil, Indian Nuggets and PNG. Same roast times...

All 3 were approx 80-90 grams.

In general, first crack is at 2:30mins and 2nd at 3:30 - 4 mins.

I proceeded to do a 150g roast with the chimney inserted and the roast time were still the above times. Is there anything Im doing wrong???

I stir the beans for most of the roast time as the beans are just not agitating enough for an even roast - or so I think anyway... hints?

[marcstolk]

Re: Big TICK for the Kambrook Popcorn Factory popp

That is indeed a clever setup.. and has given me some ideas :-)

Thanks for the pics nunu... awesome!!...

I see you have a nice supply of green beans :-) All stocked up

[grendel]

Re: Big TICK for the Kambrook Popcorn Factory popp

Ahhhhh

Great setup - and you have given me the best damn idea.

I do most of my roasting outside - we have a garage and I just sit out front with the popper on the ground and a power board with the popper and fan plugged in.

BUT

I have a bench about the size of yours - on castors! I can set myself up with a mobile roasting stand - even fitting my cooling setup permanently to the bench! Just roll the whole setup outside (chaff blows to the garden).

I can even rig some baskets underneath to hold my bean bags.

Come on weekend, where are you now? Its off to bunnings heaven for me big ears!


Thank you Nanu for the inspiration!

[nunu]

Re: Big TICK for the Kambrook Popcorn Factory popp

The bean cooler in action. Controlling the airflow through the beans aids in more efficient cooling. The more the airflow, the faster the beans cool. Ive even toyed with the idea of a leaf blower, but I havent got around to building a prototype. Ive got plently of old Mokador 3kg coffee tins from work to use as a cooling chamber.

[nunu]

Re: Big TICK for the Kambrook Popcorn Factory popp

Heres the finished product.

[nunu]

Re: Big TICK for the Kambrook Popcorn Factory popp

Heres a pic of the popperdom in action. When you bend the screen carefully, you end up with a well for the chaff to sit in. After each batch, you simply dump the chaff out into the rubbish bin. The only problem is micro-chaff, which obviously escapes through the holes in the screen. You also must soak the popperdom regularly in coffee cleaner to liberate the oil and other gunk from the screen. This helps maintain viewability and airflow.

[nunu]

Re: Big TICK for the Kambrook Popcorn Factory popp

Roasted a batch of Guatemalan Huehuetenango Blue this morning. 150g, 1C 4:15, 2C 7:20, stopped roast at 7:30. Used the Chief popper.

On to the pictures...

This is the updated setup, complete with mess. The Kambrook is on the left, and chief on the right. Notice the Kambrook has some plastic missing. This was during its early days, it decided to take a dive off of the bench. Happened when I was dumping a roast from the other popper. Cords were slightly tangled. Still works like a champ.

Ive drilled small intake holes near the top of the poppers. It seems to help slow the roast times down fractionally. Small holes are the go, not one big huge hole like the Kambrook has :

I have two small desk fans directing smoke towards the window. The fan on top of the shelf used to be my primary bean cooler, until I upgraded via council cleanup day. The oscillating fan works fine, just the stand was a bit dinged up. We live in a disposable society it seems.

The bean cooler consists of the big fan, over the top of a SS colander. Note the tape around the sides of the colander. This directs the airflow through the beans and out the bottom holes. Only takes a minute or two for the beans to cool down.

[marcstolk]

Re: Big TICK for the Kambrook Popcorn Factory popp

I dont do any more than 150g at a time. It really is dependent on how powerful the fan is. I dont bother stirring at the beginning of the roast to get the beans going. I just shake it for 30 seconds, then the fan takes over.

One of my poppers is the Chief brand (Mistral), the other is the Kambrook. I havent bypassed the thermal fuse, because I dont want to tamper with about the only safety device the popper has, so Ive worked out the max bean load each popper can handle. I actually rarely roast the max anyways, because in summer you need to stretch out roast times as much as possible. In winter, I can get away with 12 minute roasts with 125g. In summer, forget about it. Youd be lucky to stretch it out to 6-7 minutes.

I should add the picture above is nearly a year old. The work area is now cluttered with two poppers, a large 48cm fan, numerous colanders and desk fans.

Hey nunu, I would like to see this setup of yours. Have you got any pics you can post up?

Marc

[nunu]

Re: Big TICK for the Kambrook Popcorn Factory popp

I dont do any more than 150g at a time. It really is dependent on how powerful the fan is. I dont bother stirring at the beginning of the roast to get the beans going. I just shake it for 30 seconds, then the fan takes over.

One of my poppers is the Chief brand (Mistral), the other is the Kambrook. I havent bypassed the thermal fuse, because I dont want to tamper with about the only safety device the popper has, so Ive worked out the max bean load each popper can handle. I actually rarely roast the max anyways, because in summer you need to stretch out roast times as much as possible. In winter, I can get away with 12 minute roasts with 125g. In summer, forget about it. Youd be lucky to stretch it out to 6-7 minutes.

I should add the picture above is nearly a year old. The work area is now cluttered with two poppers, a large 48cm fan, numerous colanders and desk fans.

[grendel]

Re: Big TICK for the Kambrook Popcorn Factory popp

Yes Marc, the B & D One. I like my chimney but I also like to experiment so I will try a few variations.

Nunu, I like the Popperdom - do you have a slit through the mesh at the top for inserting an agitator for larger roasts?

[marcstolk]

Re: Big TICK for the Kambrook Popcorn Factory popp

Nice... I can handle 160g at a time...

Anyway.. should have my starter pack in the next few days and Ill start roasting for the first time... Prolly best to start with a sacrificial lamb batch of 80g and nuke them.. so I can learn what the 1st and 2nd cracks sound like etc.. although I have a good idea going on what others have explained. Ill post some pics when I have a successful batch. for cooling Ill use a SS collander and a normal pedistal fan for now...

My Wife while enjoys my coffees I make for her..she thinks Im going overboard but then I explain thatll pay for itself with green beans cheaper than roasted beans..she changes her mind a little... quite funny :-)

Marc

[lochness]

Re: Big TICK for the Kambrook Popcorn Factory popp

That B&D popper looks to be the exact same unit as the Kambrook Im using, except mine is a mustard yellow instead of black.

The Heinz "Very" range of soup tins work perfectly. Just snip it up one side about 1/3 - 1/2 way up, enough to fold the end in and it sits nice and snuggly in the opening. As mentioned I can comfortably do 160g batches with this setup.

I roast outside so the chaff just flies where ever it wants and gets blown away on the wind. But the Popperdom idea looks the go for indoors / in the shed roasting.