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225

I'm seeing you can get started doing this without any special equipment just using your stone/oven.

I'm seeing you can get started doing this without any special equipment just using your stone/oven.

(post is archived)

[–] • 6 pts

I've done it for years and it's absolutely wonderful. It's the best coffee you will ever have. Get some green sumatra beans and a popcorn popper, and you will have some of the best coffee you've ever had.

[–] • 1 pt

I never would have thought of that

[–] • 1 pt

That's what I used. After some dialing in, works great.

[–] • 0 pt

What kind of popcorn popper? I make my popcorn in a pot on the stove.

[–] • 2 pts (edited )

I use the old kind where it's like you. Just dump the popcorn into the middle and it has hot air and it kind of makes it go in circles. When you hear the beans, start to crack or pop that's when you know it's done.

[–] • 0 pt
[–] • 1 pt

I suppose I have a different take than others here. Whether or not it's "worth it" isn't black and white. I would day "it depends" and for me the answer is as an occassional for fun thing yes, fur regular all the time use no.

If you roast yourself you can save money (the raw beans are like half the price, maybe more of you buy fancy), you can of course roast to your exact preference, and you get a really high quality cup.

The thing is it's a lot more work to do right than simply put in a popcorn machine and set a timer. It's really easy for them to start smoking and set off your smoke alarm, you've got to be on it. You need to be able to do it outside or be prepared to air out your kitchen. It's not just the smoke alarm either; the smell is intense and not nearly as pleasant as the smell of brewing coffee (is not atrocious, but it's not what you would want in your house either, and lingers a long time). And then when you're ready to grind you have to go back and take the skin off of each bean, which can be tedious.

But you do end up with a great cup.

I have heard at least some of this fuss goes away with specialty roastng equipment, but entry level to that is a few hundred dollars at least going way up from there.

If you had a space to roast like a barn kitchen or florida room that would make it a lot more worthwhile. But as is it is an occassional thing that is somewhere between novelty and treat, but too much effort for daily drink coffee. I suppose if you had a big house of big coffee drinkers savings in scale would be a factor.

I put it on par with making your cheese or brewing your own beer etc. It's good, very customizable. But the money saved in doing it goes back into a lot more work than is worth it for most people for their daily use, and is really more of an occassional fun project.

[–] • 0 pt

I didn't realize you had to take the skin off the beans. That wasn't something I thought about. I can see where that would be a pain.

You bring up a lot of good points. I think I will give it a go, but only buying a small amount to see if it is something I'd like to explore further. A small amount of green beans and a popcorn maker isn't a huge investment. Per you're advice, I'll do it on the patio lol.

[–] • 1 pt

That's a good strat. Like I said you get a good result, but for the average person who swigs a thermos on the way to work or whatever rather than sipping and savoring it's probably more effort than it's worth. But I do thinks a nice touch like if you're hosting a holiday dinner or something where you're willing a little extra work and folks would take the time to enjoy it.

[–] • 1 pt

Yes. The results are worth it if you have the proper equipment. I did it on a pan in the oven, and it made a huge - if aromatic - mess. The beans pop and crack as they roast. There is shrapnel...

[–] • 1 pt (edited )

How did you separate the parchment or did you just leave that on? I separated the fruit from the pit/bean by hand and then there's the part where the dried bean has the parchment which is a pain to remove by hand. Or do you just grind it up parchment and all?

[–] • 1 pt (edited )

Parchment? Lol - I just followed guidance from my father after he saw it done at the household level in Brazil in the 80s. I completed my attempts 25 years ago, so apparently I ground, brewed and drank it! House smelled lovely afterwards. Oven smelled for a while longer...

[–] • 0 pt

lmao... How did you end up solving this?

[–] • 1 pt

I surrendered after two tries. I have an espresso machine and require a darker roast/longer roast/more shrapnel. It was an interesting experiment, but I just buy roasted whole beans from the pros - or maybe a couple dolts working out of their basement.

[–] • 0 pt

Where do you source the raw beans from?

[–] • 0 pt

I think this question is for you.

[–] • 0 pt

You can buy them on line. I used sumatra beans cuz they are best.