Breville Quick Popper Popcorn Maker

[CoffeeChaser]

Re: Breville Quick Popper Popcorn Maker

Im in the seat next to ya Brett...

Go... do  it... do it.... pull the bottom off...  :-)

Marc

Maybe I could use my popper for popcorn so we can enjoy the show more. Particularly if it turns out to be a long roast

[marcstolk]

Re: Breville Quick Popper Popcorn Maker

Absolutely.... :-)

[Thundergod]

Re: Breville Quick Popper Popcorn Maker

Thanks Javaphile for reminding me about increasing batch size.
Ill keep it in mind.
However I think 150g might be the limit of the fan on this one to move the beans.

MM - I could sit it over the exhaust of my old Sadie vacuum cleaner.

Speaking of which, I tried making a cooling unit last night.
It involves a cup with a sink strainer in the bottom that then sits over the intake hose of my Sadie.
Cooled a 100g batch in next to no time.  [smiley=thumbsup.gif]
I dont like it as is in two parts, so am looking for a milkshake container into which Ill drill holes in the bottom. The aluminium container plus the mega airflow should be perfect.

[nunu]

Re: Breville Quick Popper Popcorn Maker

Ive used a flour sifter with a cutoff 2L soda bottle duct taped to the bottom, to allow it to fit into the vaccuum hose. Cooled a batch of beans in 30 seconds. The vaccuum couldnt handle the heat, however, and died a smoky death. Youd be better off using the outlet of a shop-vac.

I got an old portable aircon that is fan-only, and the air outlet is quite strong. Ive been thinking about fitting some mesh over it, and attaching an old 3kg Mokador tin. That will surely cool a heap of beans in no time. Just gotta convince the Minister for Urban Planning that it is feasible.

[Thundergod]

Re: Breville Quick Popper Popcorn Maker

nunu I cant find a picture of one on the web and its too late to go out to the garage now to take my own, but a Sadie is a rugged old thing.

It looks like a giant tin can on casters.

The motor is attached to the lid which is held down with 3 clips.

I think it was sort of like an industrial type cleaner for home.
A prosumer vac you might say.
Maybe what you mean by a shop vac.

A few years after the original they came out with a wetndry model as well.
Mine has an extra set of large diameter fittings and heads that you could use to vacuum a workshop or even suck up leaves from the lawn.
Quite versatile.

Anyway my Sadie is probably 25 years old and still going strong.
She doesnt get used much any more so this current use is a new lease on life.
She would need a good clean inside before Id consider using the blower function to cool the beans but the suction will suffice in the short term.

I will have a look at giving her the clean though because the blower always seem to be stronger and it would also mean not passing any heat past the motor.

EDIT: Its morning now and Ive taken a picture of dear old Sadie.
As I said " a giant tin can on casters".

[Thundergod]

Re: Breville Quick Popper Popcorn Maker

Results are in for the bottomless popper roasts.

Unfortunately tonight was supposed to be the coldest November in 101 years, so ambient temperature may have had some effect.

First batch 1st crack was later than usual and about 30 later than the previous batch with the initial additional holes in the base.
However, 1st crack didnt seem to roll on as usual and by the time 2nd crack hit at 5:55 I wasnt immediately sure it was 2nd.
Anyway, 2nd rolled at about 5:35 and I ended the roast at 6:00.
A minute longer than pre-holes. So definitely an improvement.

Second batch though was similarly hard to notice a rolling 1st crack.
The whole batch ran about 30 seconds quicker.
Maybe because the machine was warm from the first run.

Summary:
Overall disappointing.
Considering the ambient temperature and completely unstifled airflow, the result cant possibly get any better than this.
It will do, but is not what I was hoping for.
The extra holes are definitely worth adding though so as to get as much improvement as possible out of this beast.

[CoffeeChaser]

Re: Breville Quick Popper Popcorn Maker

That is disappointing indeed. Thanks for being so prompt in posting the results. It will be worth a whirl though I reckon as mine is pretty quick. Might take up Grendels suggestion and use some form of mesh in the bottom of mine.
Now college is on holidays I can spend some serious time playing with all things coffee.

[marcstolk]

Re: Breville Quick Popper Popcorn Maker

Yeh, I did a roast last night....

150 gs of Bali Gunung Butur... 11mins all up... just before rolling 2nd (first cracks of 2nd as it was for a friend for Plunger only and if they use boiling water, which they probably will sadly, theyll have a little grace)...

Consequent roasts where..

Eth Harar = 10mins
El Salvadore = 9 mins....

Sounds like you guys have a weeker fan... or, the element is hotter... than my Crazy Popper... I was going to buy another Crazy popper to up production but I doubt that now that you guys have bought the newer release which is odviously different internally :-(

Now its either Corretto or BBQ Drum time..... need to decide...

[Thundergod]

Re: Breville Quick Popper Popcorn Maker

Until last weekend Ive been roasting 130g batches in my popper too. On the weekend I tried a 100g batch and result was really noticable in the cup. It took the total roast time from about 6 mins I ususally get to nearly 8 mins til the first evidence of 2nd crack. It produced a short black that was a lot smoother with the individual flavours being more distinguishable.

Ive also drilled almost a billion holes in the bottom of my popper with the smallest bit in my kit to try and get more airflow but I dont think it made a difference to the temperature or roast time. It was fun though - I love powertools.

Luke

Looks like (as with a lot of ideas) it was thought of previously.

[nunu]

Re: Breville Quick Popper Popcorn Maker

I went the opposite direction, drilling some holes near the top of the poppers case. I was looking for fresh air to be sucked down and help cool the outside of the roasting chamber. On cooler days it works very well, giving me roast times near 12-13 minutes. It doesnt have much impact in the hotter months, however.

Should install some heat sinks to the outside of the chamber to extend roast times...

[Thundergod]

Re: Breville Quick Popper Popcorn Maker

Sounds like a good idea.
I dont think the fan is the biggest part of the problem although I reckon 150g is its limit.

I think the heater is too strong.

So your idea might be what I need.

EDIT:
Did some shopping today and found the milk shake conatiner I wanted as my cooler container.
Then I went grocery shopping and found a SS sifter.
That looks like it will do the job nicely as it overcomes the problem of the beans blocking off the suction if it draws them too tightly together by just pulling on the handle to activate the sifting motion.

nunu thanks for that idea.

[p38arover]

Re: Breville Quick Popper Popcorn Maker

Hmm, Ive tried several poppers and I get first crack in about 2mins 30 and rolling cracks by 3:30. 4 mins and they are black and oily.

Ron

[CoffeeChaser]

Re: Breville Quick Popper Popcorn Maker

Well that is even faster than what we have all been getting with the crazy popper. It is a convienient option so that is why we are trying to find a way to stretch it out. Some of us are looking at other options as well such as corretto or BBQ drum but the popper is handy. First person I have heard of that gets overdone beans within 4 minutes. Do you use a fan?

[Thundergod]

Re: Breville Quick Popper Popcorn Maker

4 mins.

OUCH!