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Coffee roasters--the mechanical device, not the
human profession--come in all shapes and sizes. Prices range from a few dozen
dollars to nearly a thousand. Of course, as with any manufactured product, price
doesn't necessarily correlate exactly with quality. Beyond looking to a reliable
brand, here are a few tips about what to look for, based on your goals.
how much involvement do you want?
Some people just have a bit of the chemist in them. They like to mix and
stir, whir and measure. Roasters vary along this dimension. Some simple stove
top models are basically just a sauce pan with a tight lid and a special handle.
The handle contains a crank that allows the roaster to stir up the beans during
the process. Stirring is essential to keep the beans from burning on the bottom
as well as to keep the hot air inside circulating evenly.
Even in this simple set up, be sure to look for ones that have a thermometer in
the lid. Temperature control is important for proper roasting.
At the other extreme are roasters that do it all for you. Pop in a
pre-determined volume of green beans from a bag, close the lid, and walk away
for a few minutes.
These deluxe models have inbuilt thermometers, thermostatically controlled
heating mechanisms, clever air-flow control geometry and rotating canisters and
a timer to automatically shut off the device at the proper time.
At the upper end of the price range, these "rocket ship" roasters do everything
but eliminate the smoke that invariably accompanies the process.
how effectively do they heat and circulate air?
The most common type are air roasters that work more or less like a popcorn
popper. Hot air is circulated throughout the mixture, while the beans are
agitated. This gives a uniform roast and some models can even filter out the
chaff produced as the skins burst from the expansion of the bean.
Most allow you to watch the process through a glass exterior, to judge the
degree of desired roast. Frequently they have pre-set amounts on the dial
ranging from light to dark.
The ability to circulate air evenly and heat uniformly is critical and designs
vary in the degree to which they meet these goals. For example, a roaster with a
heating source only at the bottom and constricted air flow is going to provide
an uneven roast.
Drum roasters help overcome this problem, by providing a rotating drum that uses
gravity to move the beans around, rather than relying solely on a stirrer at the
bottom.
Beware, though. Many don't have windows for observing the roasting process -- a
must for those who like to experiment and fine-tune the roast. And, not
surprisingly, with the greater quantity of bean comes a larger volume of smoke.
Be prepared to ventilate well.
Once confined to more professional use, home devices are now readily available
and have the added benefit of being able to roast larger quantities. Useful for
those large dinner parties where you want the freshest possible coffee. And who
doesn't want that?
come shop in our coffee store
The best coffee roasted are found in our Coffee Store on eBay
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