Using Popcorn Poppers For Roasting Coffee Beans, Yes Or No

With more and more people becoming espresso coffee maker aficionados at home the practice of bean roasting is definitely on the rise. By taking on the process of roasting green coffee beans at home one not only cuts the cost of coffee by up to one half but also enjoys some of the best coffee imaginable. That being said, one should be willing to make a small investment in a coffee roaster which is designed for that purpose. Although there is much information available on using popcorn poppers to roast green coffee beans, for the following reasons it is not recommended here:

1. There are safety issues such as a fire starting due to combustion of either the beans or an overheated popcorn popper. This may be unlikely but is a definite possibility and no machine even a roaster designed for coffee beans should ever be left unattended.

2. Health issues could arise from the prolonged inhalation of smoke and the chaff from the green coffee beans. There is also a possibility of being burned from handling an overheated popcorn popper and/or extremely hot coffee beans. Note: many coffee roasters emit a certain amount of smoke and may need to be used in the garage or outdoors.

3. Using the popcorn popper for roasting coffee beans is not the intended use and will void the manufacturer's warranty.

4. Chances are that if one tries the popcorn popper for roasting it will only be a short amount of time and they will want to step it up a level to a roaster designed for that purpose. Now the investment for the popcorn popper and other utensils used with it is now wasted.

5. Lastly, consistency is a problem when using a popcorn popper for roasting coffee beans. From one roast to another it is really like rolling the dice and quality green coffee beans can be wasted.

Bean roasting is not only the starting place in the home espresso maker process it really completes the experience. It is really fun to watch the process and experiment with different degrees of roast and various blends of beans from various origins. There are various roasters available for use at home today that are very inexpensive (starting around one hundred dollars) and they perform excellently so why not use them instead of something that is not specifically designed for coffee.

Coffee roasting from a professional's point of view is really a highly technical process and art that should be respected as such. It must be stated that home roasting will always be hard pressed to duplicate the consistency and quality of your favorite roaster but with practice and some good note taking it can be a very close second. The process of home roasting is absolutely encouraged if for no other reason than to understand the complete process of the espresso coffee maker.

This writing is not intended to criticize those who have written about the use of popcorn poppers in the past. It is just felt that with the very nominal cost of coffee roasters today that one should take advantage of the engineering and design factors and enjoy a higher success rate for high quality coffee beans. Also using a roaster designed for coffee does eliminate some safety concerns (manufacturer's safety instructions must still be followed). It is for these reasons that using popcorn poppers for use other popping corn is not recommended.

If you decide to give roasting a try you will now have three opportunities to enjoy the amazing aroma of coffee, once when using the roaster once when using the grinder and once when using your espresso coffee maker to pull that shot. Enjoy every step along the way.

Note: Although espresso is the term mostly used here this all applies to the drip coffee process as well.

Ron Frey is the owner of Empire Marketing and the founder of http://www.espressomakerempire.com an online marketing website which was established to promote the making of espresso and all related coffee drinks in the home. This is done by providing the highest quality espresso making machines and related products at the lowest possible prices. Espresso Maker Empire also provides exceptional service and educational resources so that the customers may have the best possible espresso making experience at home.

Go online today and view the product line and take advantage of the ongoing promotions and sales.

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