$11 Popcorn-Popper Coffee Roaster

I decided I needed to roast my own coffee. Not wanted. Needed. Disgusta (Augusta), GA is singularly bereft of affordable sources for coffee one wouldn't have moral qualms about giving to a squirrel (if indeed squirrels could be induced to drink coffee), and Sweet Maria's has every exotic coffee worth drinking, green.

Skillet roasting? Too hit-and-miss for an introductory method. Oven-roasting? Possibly, but I'd rather roast outside. Aha! Popcorn poppers! Whodathunk you could roast coffee in a popcorn popper? Apparently, quite a few people, as it's the number one intro homeroasting method.

If you've got a BigLots nearby, you can have a fantabulous little roaster for eleven bucks (well, plus tax, of course...), and it even almost looks spiffy! This one's been christened the "Tom Servo One", for reasons which, with a little imagination, ought to become apparent.

Step 1 Round up the gadgetry!

Okay, you need two gadgetries. The first is the Toastmaster TPC3 Hot Air Popcorn Popper 1200W, available at BigLots for eight bucks flat. You'll have to remove it from the box and check the label on the bottom to ascertain the wattage. This particular popper has been used semi-popularly in the homeroasting community for several years. The model you can find at BigLots is a newer, sleeker design, but appears (from photos I've seen online) to be identical within. However, if you pick up a used, old-design TPC3, some specifics may not work out; general concepts remain the same.

The second gadgetry you'll need is actually a piece of foo-foo flim-flammery which you, if you're a red-blooded male, may be somewhat embarrassed to purchase -- and if you're of the opposite persuasion, you may be reluctant to cannibalize. Go to the Home Decor section, and look at the candles. What you're seeking is the Home Heritage Candle Holder by Alco. It looks like a little porcelain filigree base which holds a votive, topped with a small glass chimney. You want the chimney. Shell out three bucks for the pointless thing and we're on our way

Comments

[Ace Sawbuck]

I have been using similar technology for roasting for a while. Have thought that placing separate switches for blower and heating elements would have a benefit. I use the glass chimney but have so far refrained from removing the plastic cover. Try the thrift store, I have bought all for less than five dollars. Thanks for sharing, ACE

[incorrigible packrat]

I applaud your use of baler twine, sir. Also, you may find it interesting to know that I have, in my possession somewheres, the very same type of gumball / jellybean dispenser what Tom Servo is constructed of. It wouldn't make too good of a roasting chamber though, being made of plastic. Also also, I was thinking that the leftover translucent "corn chute" that was atopper yer popper, could be fashioned into a snazzy space helmet, akin to those worn by them goobers in the rebel spaceship scene of "Star Wars", wherein they run around and generally get shot by stormtroopers.

[Jouda Mann]

It would be soo much better if you had called it SisalTek(TM) Bronze-age fiber.

[Ace0fspadez52]

Yeah! More mods for my modded popper! Nice instructable and very creative (and frugal) adaptation of the popcorn-popper coffee roaster.

[drinkmorecoffee]

Wow, I was about to post the same thing as this. You beat me to it. :-) Well, the way I do it is a little different. maybe I'll post it anyway. Nicely done. :-P

[drinkmorecoffee]

Actually, my version is more of how to roast with a popcorn popper and less of how to make it a roaster. :-) I'll post it sometime....

[sehrgut]

Do! I was intending to put a "how to roast with it" up, but if you save me the trouble, I can just tack a link to it in here . . .

[ewilhelm]

You should both post! There are multiple right ways to do the same thing, and we want to see them all.

[Rectifier]

Funny, who will do it first! I've been thinking for awhile about doing a "improve your coffee drinking" instructable, including everything that happens between green beans and the cup. I've been too busy with other projects though. I started with roasting, one thing led to another, and now roast with a popcorn popper (unmodified), grind with a hand-crank burr grinder and use a moka pot stovetop "espresso" machine to brew. Each step has so many details and could deserve its own instructable... I drink much less coffee now - it's too much work, heh. But the taste difference is amazing, especially when you can get away from these "dark" roasts they push and have a cup where you can really taste the smooth flavor of the beans!

[ewilhelm]

All of those sound fun!