Looking to start roasting my own coffee

[R3alJim Shady]

Anyone hear have any experience roasting your own coffee beans? I haven't been able to find a site comprehensive enough to get started. I've seen that a popcorn air popper can be repurposed to roast beans, but I haven't been able to find how exactly. I also have yet to find a good place with some sampler packs from different regions. I'd particularly like to find a pack with some from Ethiopia, Sumatra, and anything else exotic.

Any feedback would be much appreciated!


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[pulsevape]

this looks pretty handy

 

[martinelias]

Are you working with raw beans? Do you have a mill to crack em? Already cracked?
You can smoke them in a smoker, only the beans need to keep in motion... kinda hard ti explain... i like to use wood fire...
You can make it yourself... picture something like a smoker, used to smoke roasts or hams... only smaller... and on a pulley that will spin it, rotisserie (sp) style... you will see them start to caramilize, the more you roast em the smoke them the smoother they become, the downfall being that they lose caffeine in the roast.... you have to find the right balance, thata half the battle.
The other half, the first half, is harvesting best strains of coffee you can find.... some places have different exporting laws, making it difficult to get some of the good good stuff (and illegal).

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[Bucky205]

Are you working with raw beans? Do you have a mill to crack em? Already cracked?
You can smoke them in a smoker, only the beans need to keep in motion... kinda hard ti explain... i like to use wood fire...
You can make it yourself... picture something like a smoker, used to smoke roasts or hams... only smaller... and on a pulley that will spin it, rotisserie (sp) style... you will see them start to caramilize, the more you roast em the smoke them the smoother they become, the downfall being that they lose caffeine in the roast.... you have to find the right balance, thata half the battle.
The other half, the first half, is harvesting best strains of coffee you can find.... some places have different exporting laws, making it difficult to get some of the good good stuff (and illegal).

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Some of the best coffee I ever tasted was down in your area of the world. I'm still a huge coffee fan, and the Keurig can make a pretty decent cup. But the aromas, and oils in a cup of fresh Columbian is much better.

 

[R3alJim Shady]

Where exactly are you gonna buy raw coffee beans?

That was one of my questions, actually! I'd like to get a good sampler pack and I've found a couple via Amazon and the like but I'm not sure if they're any good.


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[R3alJim Shady]

Are you working with raw beans? Do you have a mill to crack em? Already cracked?
You can smoke them in a smoker, only the beans need to keep in motion... kinda hard ti explain... i like to use wood fire...
You can make it yourself... picture something like a smoker, used to smoke roasts or hams... only smaller... and on a pulley that will spin it, rotisserie (sp) style... you will see them start to caramilize, the more you roast em the smoke them the smoother they become, the downfall being that they lose caffeine in the roast.... you have to find the right balance, thata half the battle.
The other half, the first half, is harvesting best strains of coffee you can find.... some places have different exporting laws, making it difficult to get some of the good good stuff (and illegal).

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Haven't even gotten started yet!

I'm planning on using a popcorn air popper as it will be for just me and my wife. I've seen a lot of tutorials on YouTube with regards to using these machines. Looks like some require some modding, but I have no issue with that.


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[martinelias]

Some of the best coffee I ever tasted was down in your area of the world. I'm still a huge coffee fan, and the Keurig can make a pretty decent cup. But the aromas, and oils in a cup of fresh Columbian is much better.

The part of colombia im from produces 90% of all colombia's coffee... there are some producers that can charge up to 100USD a pound if they feel its good enough and there are people out there that will pay these prices.

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[R3alJim Shady]

So I completed my first roast with my air popper on Monday night and after a proper resting I was able to enjoy first first cup of home roasted Colombian coffee. I'm amazed at the results considering my $40 investment ($35ish for my beans as I bought 3 pounds and paid for expedited shipping and my air popper for $4.99 at Goodwill) and about 15 minutes of my time. Better than any coffee I've ever bought... Brewed, ground, whole bean or whatever. Loving it so far! Like I need another hobby...


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[pulsevape]

So I completed my first roast with my air popper on Monday night and after a proper resting I was able to enjoy first first cup of home roasted Colombian coffee. I'm amazed at the results considering my $40 investment ($35ish for my beans as I bought 3 pounds and paid for expedited shipping and my air popper for $4.99 at Goodwill) and about 15 minutes of my time. Better than any coffee I've ever bought... Brewed, ground, whole bean or whatever. Loving it so far! Like I need another hobby...


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you have me intrigued...I'm a bit of a foodie....so do you think it's worth the trouble...is the final cup of coffee that much better than you can get at a good coffeehouse.

 

[R3alJim Shady]

you have me intrigued...I'm a bit of a foodie....so do you think it's worth the trouble...is the final cup of coffee that much better than you can get at a good coffeehouse.

I really like the results especially when considering the amount of effort I put in. Of course, there are minor nuisances that come with it i.e. Roasting outside because of the smoke, only being able to roast a half cup at a time, and the chaff (skins from the bean) blowing everywhere. I still think it's well worth the effort. Keep in mind, this is only my first time with a somewhat standard bean. I have yet to experiment with darker roasts and with the other types of beans that I purchased.


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[pulsevape]

I really like the results especially when considering the amount of effort I put in. Of course, there are minor nuisances that come with it i.e. Roasting outside because of the smoke, only being able to roast a half cup at a time, and the chaff (skins from the bean) blowing everywhere. I still think it's well worth the effort. Keep in mind, this is only my first time with a somewhat standard bean. I have yet to experiment with darker roasts and with the other types of beans that I purchased.


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keep us posted on how you get along with it...I'd be real interseted in the results.

 

[R3alJim Shady]

Definitely will!


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[PuffPuffPass]

I'm curious as to how you're making out with this.

I visited a small private outfit in Hope, BC. And isn't as simple as simply roasting the beans. They use a 2 stage process.

The guy had a roaster that was built in the early 1900's set up in a shop beside his home. It was pretty cool to watch how it was done.

I can't tell you where he got his beans. But it's my understanding, there are local growers in BC.

 

[R3alJim Shady]

I basically watched some vids and YouTube and did some reading. It worked well enough to produce some excellent coffee as far as my palate can tell.
I'm not quite there with all the nuances of the different beans and the precision roasting, but I know it is a far better product than what I have purchased previously.


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[pulsevape]

I can't in my wildest dreams imagine they can grow coffee in British Coloumbia......unless it is in a greenhouse.

 

[R3alJim Shady]

I'm surprised I missed this thread. You're doing it right BTW.
I haven't, and may never (chaff control is a bitch) but I'm fairly well read on the topic.

I would have just pointed you here...
http://www.coffeegeek.com/forums

... but it's still a great resource as you move forward.

Awesome! I've been looking for a good coffee forum. Surprised I haven't seen this one before. Thank you very much!


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[PuffPuffPass]

I can't in my wildest dreams imagine they can grow coffee in British Coloumbia......unless it is in a greenhouse.

Probably, there are some monster greenhouses there. I haven't had a chance to fully explore the local farms. I'm working on that though.

They have some great places to shop. Better than the corner store.

 

[R3alJim Shady]

If asked, I couldn't honestly say which is a broader and deeper rabbit hole... vaping or coffee.

Typed as I sip another cup from my Aeropress, having just ground the beans in my Hario not 5 minutes ago.

Yeah I definitely need to gets burr grind. I think I might like the manuals better than the electrics. Just like with cars you have more control with a manual!

The fun thing about hobbies like vaping and coffee is that the rabbit hole is as deep as you're willing to go!


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[R3alJim Shady]

So I have what appears to be a nice French roast! We'll have to see how it tastes tomorrow...


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[R3alJim Shady]

Wow! Likewise if I win. Would womanservants be too much to ask?


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[R3alJim Shady]

Not of me... I've no idea what you'd ask of them.

Maybe I should stick to the manservants. The wife may suspect I keep them for more than working the fields!

All that aside, I'm very happy with my newfound hobby. Muuuuuuch easier than vaping. Still has its nuances which I'll be happy to discover along the way!


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[R3alJim Shady]

Want some coffee porn?

http://gearpatrol.com/2013/03/01/10-best-espresso-machines-and-buying-guide/

How many months until you sport some of what an online coffee guru acquaintance of mine calls... countertop jewelry?

Nice to see that fancy stuff, but that sort of money is out of the question for me. I've got two young kids and my budget is VERY limited. I'm sure I'll get there one day, but my desire for such things just isn't there... yet. Not much of an espresso guy either. However, I don't drool over 150 plus dollar mods either, so I'm not sure I'll ever dive THAT deep.

Buuuuut I also said I'd never get into rebuildables, DIY juice, big battery mods, etc. yet here I am vaping an RX200 with a TFV4 RBA (vertical coil rocks!) vaping my DIY sour strawmelon. Never say never I guess!


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[R3alJim Shady]

I bought the Capresso conical burr grinder. I love it.

The coffee forum weirdoes all agree on one thing: The grinder is more important than the machine.

I've been looking at those today. Soon. Very soon.


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[R3alJim Shady]

Any recommendations on a decent grinder without breaking the bank? A coarse grind for French press is a must, but a fine grind for espresso is something I could see myself getting into down the road but not a huge necessity right now.


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[R3alJim Shady]

My $30 Hario Skerton seems to still lead the pack for manuals.

But electrics? Man, it gets deep, and pricy, real fast. But it really is a critical piece of the puzzle.

These are a couple of good write-ups to get a feel for the market and some explanations of why you shouldn't go cheap... though I'm surprised to see some listings around $100. I can't say if that's good enough or if prices have come down that far for consumer models. They were beyond what I wanted to invest a couple of years ago, so I never looked into them much.

http://lifehacker.com/five-best-burr-coffee-grinders-1653494382

Especially, read this...

http://coffeegeek.com/guides/howtobuyanespressomachine/getagrinder

"I've often said that I can make a better shot of espresso with a $200 espresso machine and a $400 grinder than I can with a $2,000 espresso machine and no grinder (or a blade grinder)... and it's absolutely true."

I considered a Hario and may still wind up with one, but The Mrs. will have issues with hand grinding so I'm looking at electrics right now. Thanks for the links! I research everything to death before I make a purchase more than $50, so I'm sure I'll wind up with a good one. You just made the job a bit easier.


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[R3alJim Shady]

Just a quick update: my five dollar thrift store air popper shit the bed a few weeks ago (got my money's worth as far as I'm concerned!) and that very same day I picked up a Whirley Pop at Ollie's for ten bucks. So I roast 8 oz. at a time now on the stove stop, run outside and cool the beans in a mesh colander. I've successfully gotten some really nice roasts... Sumatra, Colombia, Ethiopia, Brasilia, and Mexico. I liked them all, but the Brasilia is my favorite thus far. Bold and spicy!
Just roasted the Mexican, but from the aroma it seems to be very similar to Colombian. I'll see in the morning. Cheers!


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[Jim_MDP]

And this is why losing all my posts pisses me off so bad... no Alerts because I'm not in the thread anymore (searching for "Coffee" is a poor way to find this thread).

Just a quick update: my five dollar thrift store air popper shit the bed a few weeks ago (got my money's worth as far as I'm concerned!) and that very same day I picked up a Whirley Pop at Ollie's for ten bucks.

Is that the style with the slowly turning two blade rotor?
Also a fine way to roast.
The third general category is the tumbler drum.
Amazingly, there are modestly priced home models out now.
And not so modestly priced as well... programmability etc.
(Sorry about the air popper, many owners just rewire them early on. Possibly the roasting duty cycle is harder on the motor than popcorn. And there's a difference there between the Original and the "II" models. I believe the original is preferred.)

Wish I could discuss flavor profiles with you, but I just don't have the palette, or the experience. I buy a pound or two at a time so I don't keep multiples open to compare.
I did finally get around to online ordering some. Nothing special, not crap either.
Some pseudo Latin sounding company out of Florida with "Don" in the name.
All the buzzwords... organic, free trade, free range etc. Well... maybe not that last one.


It's a more than 30 mile round trip if I want anything better than "Seattle's Best" from town, so it was about time I started to see what I can get delivered.

I also finally got a pair of SS screens for the Aeropress.
More fines, more mouthfeel etc. Somewhat bolder flavor.
They work fine, but clean-up is a water hog.
It's a toss-up which I choose even here in the house, I suspect they'll be a no go in the RV.

 

[R3alJim Shady]

And this is why losing all my posts pisses me off so bad... no Alerts because I'm not in the thread anymore (searching for "Coffee" is a poor way to find this thread).



Is that the style with the slowly turning two blade rotor?
Also a fine way to roast.
The third general category is the tumbler drum.
Amazingly, there are modestly priced home models out now.
And not so modestly priced as well... programmability etc.
(Sorry about the air popper, many owners just rewire them early on. Possibly the roasting duty cycle is harder on the motor than popcorn. And there's a difference there between the Original and the "II" models. I believe the original is preferred.)

Wish I could discuss flavor profiles with you, but I just don't have the palette, or the experience. I buy a pound or two at a time so I don't keep multiples open to compare.
I did finally get around to online ordering some. Nothing special, not crap either.
Some pseudo Latin sounding company out of Florida with "Don" in the name.
All the buzzwords... organic, free trade, free range etc. Well... maybe not that last one.


It's a more than 30 mile round trip if I want anything better than "Seattle's Best" from town, so it was about time I started to see what I can get delivered.

I also finally got a pair of SS screens for the Aeropress.
More fines, more mouthfeel etc. Somewhat bolder flavor.
They work fine, but clean-up is a water hog.
It's a toss-up which I choose even here in the house, I suspect they'll be a no go in the RV.

Yep, that's the one. I really enjoy roasting this way.

The Aeropress is intriguing to me and I may get one eventually. My first order of business is to get a better grinder. I'm looking at the Baratza Maestro.
As far as brewing apparatus goes, I have a Keurig in which I use a reusable cup so I can use my own coffee and I have a French press as well. I was thinking of getting a pour over like the Chemex in order to be flexible in the amount of coffee I make, but I may be overthinking it and fine with what I have already.



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[Jim_MDP]

"Overthinking it". Hmmm... seems I had a warning about that. Rabbit holes and whatnot.

Grinder looks good, decent pricing as well. Sorry I can't help steer you as I haven't researched them, looks like you have though.

I can never go back to a French over the Aero, especially now with the SS screens.

Never had a Keurig myself, though there was one in the house for a while a year ago.
I actually never used it so I can't say anything about it's brew cycle.
I do know that some of the pods/cups on the market (K's or third party) are actually filled with instant powder.
If you're ever curious... open up a used one. No grounds = instant.

Once you go looking into stove-tops, you're into a world of strong opinion.
Chemex, Moka, Vacuum, etc. ...

I just wouldn't drink it fast enough so some would sit too long on the heat.
They make fantastic coffee though.

 

[Jim_MDP]

I did finally get around to online ordering some. Nothing special, not crap either.
Some pseudo Latin sounding company out of Florida with "Don" in the name.
All the buzzwords... organic, free trade, free range etc. Well... maybe not that last one.

Just made another cup so I had a look at the bag.
No "Don" in the name... must have been another brand I scanned.

This is... "subtle earth organic". No caps.
Either their shift key broke, or it's some of that edgy new-age branding.

 

[R3alJim Shady]

Just made my first cup with my DIY pour over coffee maker with my Full City Plus Roast Mexican beans. I feel like I really earned this one!


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[BigNasty]

Just made my first cup with my DIY pour over coffee maker with my Full City Plus Roast Mexican beans. I feel like I really earned this one!


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Ya know it don't look half bad.
I have seen some worse shit out that people vape off of let alone make coffee out of it.

 

[R3alJim Shady]

Ya know it don't look half bad.
I have seen some worse shit out that people vape off of let alone make coffee out of it.

Thanks! I wish I could take credit for it. Saw someone in a home coffee roasters group on Facebook made one and I just had to try it for myself. No tools required, but it was a bit pricey at $25 for the pieces from Home Depot and another $5ish for the glass funnel.

 

[BigNasty]

Thanks! I wish I could take credit for it. Saw someone in a home coffee roasters group on Facebook made one and I just had to try it for myself. No tools required, but it was a bit pricey at $25 for the pieces from Home Depot and another $5ish for the glass funnel.

I hope you use a reusable cone filter instead of paper.
A good quality one will wreck your use of paper in your coffee forever.

 

[R3alJim Shady]

Really? I'll have to give that a try. I'm using paper cone filters right now. Any recommendations for a reusable one?


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[BigNasty]

http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/sto...ffee-filter/1013634165?Keyword=coffee+filters

they have some side support.

The paper tends to retain oils also.
If you want a eye lid peeling cup re run the water but block the outflow and allow it to sit for a minute or three.

 

[R3alJim Shady]

http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/sto...ffee-filter/1013634165?Keyword=coffee+filters

they have some side support.

The paper tends to retain oils also.
If you want a eye lid peeling cup re run the water but block the outflow and allow it to sit for a minute or three.

Looks good! I'll have to give it a shot soon. Thanks for the tip!

 

[anavidfan]

I buy my coffee from here and they custom roast it how you like the day of purchase and ship FAST, plus shes real nice and price is very good.

http://coffeebytheroast.com/

 

[BigNasty]

Coffee junky r i!
I have one flat bottom that is old as hell, thinking 10 years of not buying liberal hippy slayers...

 

[R3alJim Shady]

I buy my coffee from here and they custom roast it how you like the day of purchase and ship FAST, plus shes real nice and price is very good.

http://coffeebytheroast.com/

That's class right there! If I wasn't roasting my own and already found a great local contact for my green coffee I would definitely check it out. I'll recommend it to some friends though for sure.

 

[anavidfan]

I LOVE COFFEE... I dont mean to get off topic or derail, but I think coffee lovers should all watch this

 

[BigNasty]

https://www.stumptowncoffee.com/ if you want a roast that will do naughty things to you.

 

[R3alJim Shady]

I LOVE COFFEE... I dont mean to get off topic or derail, but I think coffee lovers should all watch this

No worries about derailing! I love me some coffee too!

 

[BigNasty]

I LOVE COFFEE... I dont mean to get off topic or derail, but I think coffee lovers should all watch this

I can smell flavored from a mile off.
THANK god I live where there are still a few non starfucks roasters out there...and they do not flavor their roasts.

 

[anavidfan]

I can smell flavored from a mile off.
THANK god I live where there are still a few non starfucks roasters out there...and they do not flavor their roasts.

Ever since I started buying good coffee and aeropress and giant press thing, Ive not been able to pay for coffee anymore. I have it straight, esspresso'd, turkish style, and a real latte when Im in the mood. I love making it for people and love to see their expressions when they finally taste "COFFEE"

 

[R3alJim Shady]

Ever since I started buying good coffee and aeropress and giant press thing, Ive not been able to pay for coffee anymore. I have it straight, esspresso'd, turkish style, and a real latte when Im in the mood. I love making it for people and love to see their expressions when they finally taste "COFFEE"

I totally agree! Between roasting my own beans, my French press, and the new pour over setup, I'm really ruining people on the store bought Keurig crap. The missus still likes the convenience of the Keurig with the refillable filter, but she looks forward when I make her a cup a few times a week the old fashioned way.

 

[BigNasty]

Ever since I started buying good coffee and aeropress and giant press thing, Ive not been able to pay for coffee anymore. I have it straight, esspresso'd, turkish style, and a real latte when Im in the mood. I love making it for people and love to see their expressions when they finally taste "COFFEE"

Found a place that serves stumptown, and another Kobos.
The upstream is cool as hell and on the water front I go there sat. mornings for a cup. Just wish it was not priced insane.

The place that serves Kobos with unlimited refills while you are there is a food beacon for mostly closed "foodie" spots on early sat. Cause nothing says good morning like bacon, coffee and moar bacon.

 

[R3alJim Shady]

Ever try coffee from a moka pot? I drank ten ounces and my lady had to peel me off the ceiling!

 

[BigNasty]

I totally agree! Between roasting my own beans, my French press, and the new pour over setup, I'm really ruining people on the store bought Keurig crap. The missus still likes the convenience of the Keurig with the refillable filter, but she looks forward when I make her a cup a few times a week the old fashioned way.

Most of the canned stuff is cut with stuff for filler and not much coffee is actually in there let alone the flavorings.
I like the bean flavor not beaver anal gland squeezings, flours and soy.

 

[BigNasty]

Ever try coffee from a moka pot? I drank ten ounces and my lady had to peel me off the ceiling!

Just an old school perc.
You can cause some damage with those.