coffee bean roasters??

Epicurean Exploits - Food and Recipes
#1

I’m playing with the idea of getting one. What do others use? Advantages? Disadvantages? Waste of time?

#2

Absolutely worth the effort. I tried a few different counter-top models before building a drum that fits on the rotisserie on my grill. If you’re making a few drinks a day you’ll want to be able to roast a pound at a time. I end up roasting a pound every six or seven days, it’s not much work and I get to play with blending all sorts of different beans each batch.

#3

Dave;

Explain the building of the drum please.

Mark

#4

I have been using the Gene Cafe drum roaster for several months. I had been using the iRoast2 but after having 2 of them break on me in the span of 4 years, I decided to go for something more durable. Too soon to tell if the Gene will stand up to 3 roasts per week, but the quality of the roast is far superior to the iRoast2 - consistent and even roasting, easy to use and clean, quiet. Better in every way.

#5

Mesh pencil cups + aluminum angle + pop rivets + hinge + hasp = roasting drum:

#6

I use one of these:
http://www.sweetmarias.com/sweetmarias/coffee-roasters/air-roasters/nesco.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Yes, roasting your own coffee is totally worth it! I end up paying about $5/lb shipped (20lbs at a time) for my green coffee so it ends up paying for itself over time, too.

#7

I thought my freezer was full with 5lbs of roasted coffee, what do you do with 20lbs?

I know those who home roast are really into it, but I’m sorry, I don’t see how turning my apartment into a coffee storage house and roasting plant ‘pays off.’

I would much rather pay the premium to be able to purchase a wide variety of single-origin coffees in smaller quantities that I can have delivered to my door within 24hrs of roasting and let someone else deal with production and storage.

#8

My wife roasts weekly. It’s pretty cool. Doesn’t get any fresher than that. She used a stove-top popcorn popper for a couple of years (which works very well actually) and just moved up to the HotTop roaster. It’s a great roaster. One thing to keep in mind is that you need a way to get rid of the smoke so either roast outside or make sure you have a good fan over your stove (and remember to turn it on).

I was just in the supermarket the other day and say that most coffee is >$6 for 12 ounces. I pay <$5/lb for beans that are far better than the supermarket will ever see.

#9

Why would anyone freeze coffee beans? [wow.gif]

Green beans can be stored for 6 months in a cool dry place. Many options for single-origin green beans – you also get to precisely control the roast level. It’s very interesting to taste the change in a batch over a few days from brewing immediately after roasting to the last scoop full.

How much are you paying per pound for these beans roasted and delivered within 24 hours? (just curious)

#10

Do you guys feel the same way about home made wine?? Just curious…

#11

Hmmmm…interesting perspective. I guess that is one reason why I asked and I’m curious to see what responses you will get from those who roast.

#12

Do you feel the same way about home made food?

#13

No, Dave. I think some things are better homemade…and worth the hassle and investment. Unless they’re a hobby, I’ve “learned” to leave certain things to the pros, and concentrate on what I think are “better” / “worth the effort” making at home. Winemaking, beermaking, coffee roasting and a few others have, from my experiences, landed well into the “not worth the effort”, leave it to the pros…for me anyway, based on the results I’ve experienced from others’ efforts…and mine.

That’s why I pose the question.

Now, if there’s another reason: science, hobby, curiosity, etc., that’s a totally different reason. But, “better” is, almost every time I’ve experienced the above three…not my experience with them.

#14

From my experience some things are simply better when “homemade”. This includes beer and coffee as when done at home and properly are quite a bit better than the majority (not all) of what is available at a store. Of course time is the limiting factor. This is based on experience.

I would NOT put wine in that category and food is of course too highly variable to compare.

#15

It depends on the roasting method. The smaller counter top roasters tend to get a batch done in 5-10 minutes, the resulting coffee is really bright and acidic, I’m not a big fan. The larger drum roasters let you roast a batch over 15-20 minutes and give a much more mellow, rounded cup.

I started roasting years ago because I was curious, I still roast because it gives me complete control over how my espresso drinks taste. You can buy freshly roasted single origin beans, but the variety available unroasted is much broader and blending gives you an awful lot of choices. The downside is that it’s all your fault when your drink tastes terrible.

#16

about 3x $6

I’m not trying to diss the home roasters, I’m just trying to convince myself this is one less food hobby I need to spend time & money on! flirtysmile

#17

+1. Beer is a PITA to brew, but it’s a very rare occasion when I taste beer as good as my homebrew – and it’s usually only fresh off the tap at the microbrewery down the street from me. I don’t drink enough beer to justify the effort very often.

I drink coffee everyday and I can definitely justify having my wife spend 15 minutes roasting beans every week. [dance-clap.gif] The initial cost of the roaster was about $700 I think – less half a case of some of the wines I drink. My options for green beans are vast. Many suppliers from many countries. You can’t just walk into a store and ask for East Timor beans roasted within the last 24 hours to full-city+. And I’ve never seen roasted aged beans anyplace.

#18

That’s really cheap – cheaper than Dunkin Donuts. Where?

#19

3x$6=$18/lb

#20

Ah. Bad math day for me…