Popcorn is an all time favorite snack. It has been people's favorite since ages. It is tasty, high in fiber and can be seasoned with butter, salt and other products, to make it a 'yummy' experience.
Microwaves have been the solution to make popcorns at home, but it proved to be messy and time consuming and also less tasty when the ultimate popcorn maker came into the market.
Popcorn maker used for home purpose makes tasty popcorn using hot air method to pop corn kernels.
Hot air popper method is what rules today for all popcorn making at home. But another reason why this hot air popper has become everyone's favorite is its ability to roast coffee. Yes this product can give you an amazing coffee experience.
But not all hot air poppers can roast coffee. A popper in which the hot air enters to the popcorn chamber through the side vents can only be used. For example The West Bend Poppery II and the Popaire 2 by Hamilton Beach.
Things needed for this process.
- A hot air popper
- A thermometer ( optional)
- Two aluminum colander
- Big bowl for the chaff
Method:
- Place the hot air popper in a well ventilated room, placing it near the window will be a good idea, cause you need enough light on its over head, so that you can look inside the hot air popper's camber and judge the roasting of the coffee.
- Always put the same amount of coffee in the hot air popper as recommend for popcorns. The West Bend Poppery II will need 4 oz , or you can use 2/3 - ¾ cups.
- Place the plastic cover including the butter dish, and put a bowl under the chute. Ideally keep the hot air popper near the sink so that it can blow chaff into the basin. Now turn the hot air popper on.
- A fragrant smoke and the first crack of the bean can be heard in 3 minutes. Wait and then start checking the beans for desired color. For this you can lift the butter dish and monitor the beans.
- Coffee beans get roasted quickly, so be very alert in monitoring the process. Time taken for a lighter roast will be 4 minutes. Full roast will take 5, and darker roast will take 6 minutes. Remember to remove the beans from the hot air popper just before they reach your desired color. Coffee beans tend to roast till they become cooler.
- Stir the beans with the metal colander till they become cool.
- Coffee when cool should not be stored in direct light. They should not be put in fridge or freezer too. They should be put in air tight containers, the seal of the container should not be closed until some time for fresh coffee beans, as it takes time to vent out CO2.
- Freshly roasted coffee is at its best after 24 hours, if you store it as recommended storing.
This type of coffee roasting using a hot air popper is famous as it gives out best results and is easy.