Everyone loves a good coffee roast, but did you know that you can easily roast coffee at home? In fact, coffee beans can be roasted in any kind of air fryer, including a popcorn popper.
Coffee can be roasted in any popcorn popper that has a metal chamber and air vents on the side. Popcorn poppers are cheap and easy to find, so they are a good option for an at-home coffee roaster. Roasting coffee beans in a popcorn popper takes 5 to 10 minutes.
What are the benefits of roasting your own coffee? How do you roast coffee in a popcorn popper? Here is everything that you need to know about coffee and how you can use popcorn poppers to roast your own beans:
Why Should You Roast Your Own Coffee?
There are many benefits to roasting your own coffee. Here are just a few reasons:
Knowing where your coffee came from: When you roast your own beans, you do not have to wonder about where the beans came from. Where the beans come from plays a huge part in the flavor and taste.
When you know where the beans came from, you do not have to worry about what the bean went through before reaching your cup. You are in complete control of where your beans go and what you do with them. This saves a lot of worry and stress.
You control the flavor: When you pick the roast level, you control the flavor that the coffee bean produces. Lightly roasted coffee beans produce a sweeter, tangy flavor that produces a strong scent. Medium roasted coffee beans have a richer consistency with a nutty, chocolate flavor. Dark roasted coffee beans produce a more earthy and bitter flavor.
You control the caffeine amount: Controlling the roast also means controlling how much caffeine is produced in your coffee. Light roasts contain more caffeine, so if you prefer higher caffeine levels, you should opt for a lighter blend. If the caffeine levels do not matter as much, or if you want less caffeine, you should go for a darker blend.
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How to Roast Coffee in a Popcorn Popper?
Roasting coffee in a popcorn maker can be done quite simply at home. Here is a step-by-step guide:
- Set up your popcorn popper in an area that is well ventilated—next to an open window or underneath your stove vent.
- Measure out your coffee beans in the same amount you would measure popcorn kernels (usually about 1/3 to 1/2 cup)
- Place the lid back on the popcorn popper and turn it on, making sure that the chaff is over another bowl or container. While the popcorn popper is on, do not leave it alone.
- The beans will take around 3 to 5 minutes to start roasting. This is indicated by a cracking sound. Usually, there are two cracks, and coffee is drinkable anytime in between the two, or sometimes even afterward. When roasting your own coffee, you should play around with the different levels to see which ones you prefer.
- Just before your preferred roast level, you should shut off the popcorn popper and pour the coffee beans into colanders. Cool the beans down in whatever way you can (Stirring or tossing usually). The coffee beans will continue to cook until they are completely cooled, so you may want to take them off the heat a bit earlier to account for this.
For more information and tips on how to roast coffee in a popcorn popper, watch the video above.
What are the Best Popcorn Poppers for Roasting Coffee?
Here are some product recommendations for the best kinds of popcorn poppers to roast coffee in. We do not get any affiliate $ if you purchase any of these products.
Whirley Pop Popper Kit: This popcorn maker is rated as one of the best poppers for roasting coffee. Reviews state that the stirring system allows for the coffee beans to roast evenly. It is also said to be easy to clean and super convenient to store.
This popcorn maker is more expensive than many others, but it is high quality and has very good customer satisfaction. This Whirley pop costs around $60 on Amazon.
West Bend 82505: This popcorn is rated highly as one of the best to roast coffee beans in. The transparent lid allows you to see the condition of the coffee beans throughout the whole roasting process. The chamber is also perfect for roasting beans in because it will cook them evenly.
This popcorn maker is around $40 on Amazon and has a high customer rating, with 4.5/5 stars and an Amazon’s Choice label on it.
Zippy Pop Red Stovetop Popcorn Popper: This popcorn popper is a great option for roasting coffee beans. It has a glass lid to watch the roasting process, and it has a non-stick coating, which makes it easy to clean.
This popcorn popper has 4.5/5 stars on Amazon and is an Amazon’s Choice product.
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Presto 5204 Orville: This popper has a heat-resistant handle and a transparent lid to watch the roasting process. This popper is also small and will take up very little space in the kitchen. It is also very durable. Customers love this popcorn popper because it is convenient to use and easy to clean.
This popcorn popper comes in one size and the color black. It costs about $40 on Amazon and has a customer rating of 4.5/5 stars.
Nostalgia APH200 Air-Pop Popcorn Maker: This is a popcorn popper that is very lightweight, compact, and easy to use. It roasts coffee beans very efficiently. This popcorn popper also comes with a convenient measuring cup that many customers enjoy.
The Nostalgia APH200 Air-Pop averages around $30. This can be purchased on Amazon or bought in-store at select appliance and home stores.
West Bend 82416: This popcorn maker is made out of high-quality material and is very durable. It fits well into the kitchen and is known to properly roast coffee beans in only three minutes. The only downside to this popper is that it is not dishwasher safe, so it will have to be hand washed.
This popcorn popper averages around $30-$60. You can purchase this popcorn popper on Amazon.
