Coffee Roasting At Home: Advice Please!

[jpmcwjr]

Agree on three days to off gas from a fresh roast. Had a Behmor when I lived in the country and there were no local roasters.
Now with plenty of roasters near by, I generally order online for non-specialty dark roasts, or grab some at Safeway. I drink mostly cappuccino and the dairy seems to drown out subtle flavors of the high-falutin special blends or single origins.

I hate the widespread move to 12 ounce bags, but the cheaper stuff I buy comes in two pound bags.

 

[Peter Peachfuzz]

You won't save money but if you want a hobby go for.

 

[jpmcwjr]

You won't save money but if you want a hobby go for.

True for a lot of home roasters, but needn't be true.

 

[smokiespipesmoker123]

Old thread.. but Ill kick it off again... I like to roast on the front porch using a hot plate and a stainless steel stovetop popcorn popper... it turns out a pretty decent roast...for very little money.. no major roaster investment.

 

[Briar Lee]

So my wife has been getting her coffee beans from the same place for 15 years. It's great coffee, yes, but as well all know, the purchasing power of the US dollar these days is laughable, and makes me think I'm really just living in Weimar Germany with iPhones. We both knew this day would come, when we would have to start looking into getting a small roaster, buying the green coffee beans, and doing the whole deal ourselves. I figure it can't be too difficult, and it'll certainly save a considerable amount of fiat in the long run. Sure, I'll probably just end up blowing most of that on tobacco, but that's a thread unto itself...

I see roasters going anywhere from $100 to $500 typically, though I have no doubt more elaborate ones go into four figures. I'm not looking for anything that complex, just something basic, small, and easy to understand.

Can anyone point us in the right direction? If folks can grow their own tobacco, it stands to reason roasting one's own beans can be achieved as well.

Thanks everyone!

The dad blasted gubbermint has put a 10% tariff on Columbian beans and for now, a 50% tariff on Brazilian beans.

Coffee beans are generic. They sell by grades like a bushel of corn or wheat. You will pay the tariff. Always.

I drink about two pounds a week. And if coffee costs $7.50 a pound or $15 or $5 a pound I’ll drink two pounds a week. The base price is mainly set by weather and growing conditions in Brazil and Columbia. The tariff is extra.

What I’ve done is buy six three pound steel cans of Costco Dark Roast Columbian coffee, and settled in to ride out the trade war.

It might be fun to roast your own beans.

Years ago I had a college roommate that brewed his own beer. He didn’t save any money, but we had fun.

We also learned how much better the big brewers were at brewing, than he was.

 

[kanaia]

I work next to a Ethiopian restaurant and as most of you know Ethiopia is where coffee comes from. The owner does her beans in a pan on top of her stove.

 

[anotherbob]

So my wife has been getting her coffee beans from the same place for 15 years. It's great coffee, yes, but as well all know, the purchasing power of the US dollar these days is laughable, and makes me think I'm really just living in Weimar Germany with iPhones.

And that makes me think we're all too soft. We'd never let kids play with money or find it cheaper to use bills as wall paper since it just more economical then trying to buy the real stuff with the money instead of covering the walls with the money. Nah when it gets that bad we won't get wages like that you optimistic silly billy.

We both knew this day would come, when we would have to start looking into getting a small roaster, buying the green coffee beans, and doing the whole deal ourselves.

You could just find another coffee. Or replace one vice with another, Meth is pretty cheap. (don't do that, that's a bad idea).

I figure it can't be too difficult,

Yeah with how over saturated that market is, it means quite a few fools have figured out how to do it.

and it'll certainly save a considerable amount of fiat in the long run. Sure, I'll probably just end up blowing most of that on tobacco, but that's a thread unto itself...

I knew what the motivation was. And I knew you would overly complicated things, just get her into smoking pipes too.

I see roasters going anywhere from $100 to $500 typically, though I have no doubt more elaborate ones go into four figures. I'm not looking for anything that complex, just something basic, small, and easy to understand.

Find a roasters forum. It's got to exist. Should complicated the whole matter in it's own way.

Can anyone point us in the right direction? If folks can grow their own tobacco, it stands to reason roasting one's own beans can be achieved as well.

I've heard of people claiming they can do it with a cast iron pan and a stove. Having never tried their roasts, I can't speak to the validity of their endeavors. Honestly find out where people who do that hang out and then be that creepy kid that hangs out in the corner and just likes to watch people dance. That kid went places no one thought he could by the way, though his attempts at dancing should be considered war crimes as well as "unnatural acts" Seriously I've seen drunken badgers with more grace and rhythm.
But you've got the internet and the info you seek is out there somewhere. From my impression it's not hard to do as in to end up with a batch of roasted coffee, what's harder is getting precisely what you like. And that whole choosing a roaster, that can change the whole thing more then people claim a dunhill or castello smokes so much better. (imagine if those people weren't arguing a point, but stating a clear fact).
And how picky is she with coffee? She has a preference but how tolerant of other coffees is she? Can she survive off of meh coffee till she gets it right?

Thanks everyone!

 

[anotherbob]

So any updates yet? You know you are doing it right when you start thinking about going pro.

 

[Servant King]

Meth is pretty cheap. (don't do that, that's a bad idea).

That is helpful, thank you.

just get her into smoking pipes too.

That is not nearly as helpful. But thanks for trying.

And how picky is she with coffee?

Very!

So any updates yet?

We did find another coffee. Stumptown, based out of Portland, OR. Also, they run sales often enough to make a 5 lb. bag of whole beans worthwhile.

 

[anotherbob]

That is helpful, thank you.

I mean if you really don't have the time to get things done and don't care about things like sanity or not aging like a wet piece of paper in a blender... Then meth is the answer to everything.

That is not nearly as helpful. But thanks for trying.

Yeah something is wrong with that lady. Lives near that many pipes and hasn't taken up the hobby. I am not making fun of her, just feeling sorry for you both. We all have our cross to bear though....

Very!

Then a roaster would be opening several cans of worms all at the same time. I.e. I think she'll get all mad science on it. So how much you want to spend time with her/ versus how much you want her in the lab leaving you alone... Is really what it comes down too.

We did find another coffee. Stumptown, based out of Portland, OR. Also, they run sales often enough to make a 5 lb. bag of whole beans worthwhile.

She's got good taste. Stumptown makes coffees I actually like. I am so not a coinsure of coffee. I aim for caffeine that is palatable. Bustello all day everyday for me.

 

[Servant King]

Then meth is the answer to everything.

Not if I have to cube cut it before smoking. I don't have that kind of time.

We all have our cross to bear though....

Not during Chanukah I don't. The Judeo-Christian juggernaut does not appear to allow for that kind of nuance. At least not until some lawyers enter the picture, then watch out, it's ass-whooping time.

Then a roaster would be opening several cans of worms all at the same time.

I initially read this as a rooster would be opening several cans of worms. Which is actually much better that way, although I can see myself getting sick of that 4:30am wake up call every damn morning. At least then I wouldn't need the coffee at all.

She's got good taste. Stumptown makes coffees I actually like.

Not in men, though.

For the record, their "Hairbender" blend is the one I've settled on. Pretty damn good, and about the lightest roast I can even get anymore.

 

[OzPiper]

I work next to a Ethiopian restaurant and as most of you know Ethiopia is where coffee comes from. The owner does her beans in a pan on top of her stove.

Growing up in Malaysia, my Grandpa would take me on a tour of his favourite cafes.
His advise was never to frequent cafes that don't roast their own .
Back then (1960's) there were no new fangled coffee roasters - just a wok over a wood fire in the back lane behind the cafe.

 

[anotherbob]

Not if I have to cube cut it before smoking. I don't have that kind of time.

It's a matter of personal choice. In fact you can even booty bump it. Either way you won't need coffee so much, especially when you're teeth all fall out and age thirty years in a few weeks.

Not during Chanukah I don't.

Got to have standards. Glad to know you have a line somewhere.

The Judeo-Christian juggernaut does not appear to allow for that kind of nuance. At least not until some lawyers enter the picture, then watch out, it's ass-whooping time.

It's very easy to do the whole religion thing if you just learn some proper mental gymnastics. Remember it's abstract and metaphorical when sometimes and other times plain as day straight forward. But always on whatever side means you have to adjust your behaviors and agendas as little as possible. And I am pretty sure that Saint Peter is fine with you using a lawyer. And when talking payments just hope the Ancient Egyptians were not correct. Imagine going to heaven but still owing your legal representatives millions of dollars. Nothing like having your heros invite you out and saying you'll be able to join them in a few thousand years after you pay off your earthly debts.

I initially read this as a rooster would be opening several cans of worms.

How does one read as a rooster? I hear that their eyes see things ours can't. You really need to teach me how to do that trick.

Which is actually much better that way, although I can see myself getting sick of that 4:30am wake up call every damn morning.

That's bedtime not wake up time. Seriously how could you live off of half an hour of sleep?

At least then I wouldn't need the coffee at all.

True. But coffee is the second best argument for humanities continued existence, tobacco is the number one. Music and other art is number three.

Not in men, though.

None of them do. The fact I have a girlfriend and admirers is proof that woman have deficits in the taste department. And also I've never understood the mystery of what it is about pipe smoking that makes woman see a man as much sexier and interesting then they actually are. Also that whole thing about being a musician does something too. Ric Ocasek is proof of this fact. What I am saying is you can't blame her for that, it's not her fault.

For the record, their "Hairbender" blend is the one I've settled on.

Like that name. I always prefer the blends that imply a high level of caffeine. Fog lifter, red eye, and things like that. Also like the Avatar reference. Also reminds me of the most insane Anime I've seen in a long time. Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo. I think that's one you'd appreciate if you haven't seen it yet. You'll get the why hairbender makes me think of that one.

Pretty damn good, and about the lightest roast I can even get anymore.

I seem to like the really light and really dark roasts myself. And the more in the middle ones I don't seem to like as much. I might have to try that one.