For the cheapest method, it will just take some slight very easy modifications to a popcorn popper, and a few attempts to find your favorite roast level.
Green beans vs. roasted beans... yes, they do actually grow in size during the roasting process.
Here are the supplies you'll need...
- Green coffee beans (I'm using Sweet Maria's 8-pound espresso sampler, since I don't know what kind of beans we like yet)
- 1/4th cup measuring cup
- Popcorn popper (I have a Presto Poplite)*
- One 28-oz can of tomatoes
- Can opener
- 3 feet of foil
- 2 extension cords
- Timer, to record your perfect roast time
First I had to modify the popcorn popper.
The first 2 tries were not really successful, because the beans kept popping out of the machine, and they were too hot to toss back in. The roast couldn't go too far, and it happened too fast, and it was super uneven. This means that the machine was too powerful, so using 2 extension cords reduces the power going to the popcorn popper.
The chimney modification serves 2 purposes... first, it keeps the plastic lid from melting over time (because we do like our popcorn!), and second, it keeps the beans from being tossed from the machine.
To make the chimney:
- Remove both the top and bottom from the 28-oz can of tomatoes, using the can opener.
- Clean the can, and remove the paper.
- Lay out the foil, and roll it up lengthwise around the can. There should be an inch of foil at the bottom of the can, which you'll bend up inside the can. At the top of the roll, fold a half inch of the foil down to keep it from unrolling.
- Squeeze the bottom of the can to make it into a slight oval so it fits snugly in the popcorn popper.
- Add 2 extension cords, and you are ready to go.
You should get something that looks like this. It worked perfectly!
Roasting the beans.
First, go outside. There will be a small amount of smoke, a bit of carbon monoxide and VOC's given off, and quite a bit of chaff that will fly out of the popper.
Use just slightly less than 1/2 of a cup of beans. The amount you use may be different based on your particular machine, but for the Poplite, this is the perfect amount to keep the beans turning slowly for an even roast. I use a flat 1/4 cup, then add a scant 1/4 cup.
There will be a first round of loud popping noise, called the "first crack," and a second round, the "second crack." The cracks will be pretty obvious... kind of like with orgasm, if you only think it's happened, then it hasn't. You'll know. And it's exciting.
Since we have espresso beans, and we love a dark roast with black oily beans, we ended up going through second crack. See HERE for a description of the roast levels and more info according to Sweet Maria's, and HERE (at the bottom of the page) for a nice visual comparison of the different roasts.
With my setup, I heard first crack at around 4 minutes, and second crack began at about 8.5 minutes. I left it going until the second crack began to slow, at 11 minutes flat. Next time I'll do 10 minutes, to see if I can get closer to a Vienna roast than a French roast. It'll be a bit of an experiment to see exactly what level of roast we like!
Immediately after roasting, dump the beans into a metal colander and swirl them rapidly in front of a fan or breeze to cool them. You want to stop the roasting as fast as possible.
The first perfect batch. Third time's the charm!
Next, you must store the beans correctly. Some people will brew them right away, but the general consensus is that they are at peak flavor if you let them air out for 6 hours (they will off-gas CO2), then close the jar tightly and store for another 42 hours. I agree with the off-gassing and at least waiting 24 hours. Use a jar that has the least amount of extra air space as possible... little mason jam jars work great for a single popcorn popper batch.
I don't even drink coffee.
So, yeah... I haven't had coffee in 2.5 years, or caffeine in 3.5 years. Trying to improve the fertility, and some GERD issues means it's off the menu for me. But I love it. LOVE it. The smell of the roasting, and the beans, and the brewing... it is torture for me. So why am I doing this to myself?
My husband loves coffee! And I love my husband. It's a bit of compersion, seeing him truly enjoying a steaming mug o' the brew, and I want him to have the best.
There are a few other benefits too.
It's cheap! $6.25/pound for my sampler pack plus shipping, versus $15/pound for the Peet's coffee my husband usually drinks, and he says he can't tell the difference. And no matter what, it's cheaper than buying it by the cup every morning. Part of my frugality plan for 2014 is to be making his coffee every morning so that he doesn't swing by Peet's daily.
It's fresh. Ground beans are best used within 1 week. For most places that serve coffee, the time between roasting and arrival at the store is 1 week, so you're never getting quite the highest quality you could. And if you want ultimately fresh flavor, you can't buy it in bulk.
It can fit into the food storage plan. The green beans, if kept airtight, will not lose quality for 2-3 years. This means I can purchase an entire year's worth of beans at once in bulk for the best price. First I have to figure out which beans my husband likes best though!
Is it juts me, or is there something a little spiritual and comforting about making things by hand? Brewing beer, making kimchi, knitting a scarf instead of buying one, growing and canning my own veggies... it is all stuff that makes me feel pretty domestic-goddessy.
There is an amazing wealth of bean options available.
I ordered an 8-pound espresso sample pack. Some are single-origin, some are blends. So far, we've only tried one from Brazil. The selection is overwhelming, so it will probably take us a while to decide on a few favorites. My inner scientist is excited about all the future experimentation!
Mmmmmmm. So much tasty science to do.
My uncle said that it sounded like choosing and roasting your own beans was like selecting and drinking a fine wine. He is kind of right! Except that green coffee beans are acceptable in my budget.
Coffee roasting seems like a fine skill to add to my goal of learning domestic goddessry.
Have you ever roasted your own coffee? Whether you have or not, what's your favorite coffee bean?
*Sweet Maria's recommends not using this type of popper, because it can set chaff on fire if the chaff gets built up in the grate at the bottom. I can't find any records on any forums where this has actually happened, and most people say they just make some popcorn in the machine every once in a while to clean it out using the corn's steam. Either way, it is a good idea to supervise the popper during use.
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