Puff Cigar Discussion Forums

hardcz · 09-11-2008, 04:31 PM

So I ordered the 8 pack from sweet maria's...the sampler... 1 lb of each so hopefully I'll have a good bit to try stuff out with.

So a few questions I guess. *and no I didn't do searches*

Should I use a metal or glass bowl if I'm using a pop corn popper for now? And I was reading about the first and second "crack" wtf is that? And with the roasting I was planning on doing it outside in the garage, thinking maybe 3/4 cup of beans per go, and from what I read it should be ready between 4-6 minutes. Do I have to do anything more than put them in, turn the machine on and that's it?

And what's up with the hull or whatever it's called that's supposed to come off? Do the beans end up in the bowl or do they stay in the popper and I dump them into something?

As for cooling, should I place them on a cookie sheet or find something to shake them in to cool?

Thanks!

Dan

CueTheMusic · 09-11-2008, 04:46 PM

If you are using a hot air popcorn popper, use the scoop to measure out the beans. I think you can about 1/4 of a cup per go (going off of memory)

Most of the beans will stay in the popper and will need to be dumped out in a bowl when done. A few beans may fly out but not many. I'm not sure if glass or metal would be better, but I think the goal is to help cool down the beans, so metal may work better for that. Just pour out the beans into the bowl and start stirring to cool them down.

The cracks are just what they sound like. The beans will crack once, then after a while they will crack again. On the sweet marias bags they have some roasting notes that generally work pretty well. They will say something like city, city+, full city, or full city+. These correspond to the first and second cracks as well as bean color. So for citi, you generally take it to the first crack, where full city is around the second crack.

The stuff that comes off is called chaff, which is the outer skin of the bean, it will fly off when you are roasting and make a terrible mess. Decaf beans don't seem to have nearly as much of this. I'm guessing the process to decaffeinate the beans gets rid of a lot of the skin.

Sweet marias has some excellent notes and pictures of the different roast levels.

trogdor · 09-11-2008, 06:05 PM

Sweet Maria's has a ton of info on roasting. Tristan also has a FANTASTIC video that he put up here (search this forum for threads that he's started).

novasurf · 09-11-2008, 06:16 PM

Welcome aboard.

First crack sounds like popcorn popping.
Second crack sounds like Rice Krispies in milk.

Enjoy the ride.

raisin · 09-11-2008, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by novasurf

First crack sounds like popcorn popping.
Second crack sounds like Rice Krispies in milk.

hardcz · 09-11-2008, 06:35 PM

Very cool, can't wait for them to get here.... anything else you guys can offer in your infiinte wisdom? Maybe a way not to burn myself or come back and make you guys laugh how I have no eyebrows for some reason?

novasurf · 09-11-2008, 06:37 PM

Advice?

Never drink 2007 George T Stagg uncut bourbon at 147 proof and roast at the same time.

slimm · 09-11-2008, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by novasurf

Advice?

Never drink 2007 George T Stagg uncut bourbon at 147 proof and roast at the same time.

Damn. I hope thats not what happened with the 6 bags or so I just bought from you.......

[OT] Loki · 09-11-2008, 08:54 PM

send me your email addy, I've got a video for you

germantown rob · 09-12-2008, 07:35 AM

SM has much to read on roasting in different machines so read up. I suggest roasting a 1/4lb just to see what is going on and the reading will make more sense at that point. Do yourself a favor and get a kitchen scale to weight your greens and time your roasts. Keeping notes helps, though most of my notes from the first dozen or so roasts got replaced when I got better at it.

hardcz · 09-12-2008, 07:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by germantown rob

SM has much to read on roasting in different machines so read up. I suggest roasting a 1/4lb just to see what is going on and the reading will make more sense at that point. Do yourself a favor and get a kitchen scale to weight your greens and time your roasts. Keeping notes helps, though most of my notes from the first dozen or so roasts got replaced when I got better at it.

Rob...this is all your fault you know.... btw I just finished the last of that coffee you sent me this morning... it's heavenly.

What sort of time did you put on those roasts?

germantown rob · 09-12-2008, 07:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hardcz

Rob...this is all your fault you know.... btw I just finished the last of that coffee you sent me this morning... it's heavenly.

What sort of time did you put on those roasts?

Hot air roasters are different then drum roasters and I roast 10oz at a time so my times are going to be longer. My roasts are 18-20 min, yours will be much quicker, I believe 6-9min. Can you see in the popper well? If so than the beans will go to a yellow stage and start to get golden brown just before 1st crack. Listen carefully for first crack since hot air roasters are loud with the beans all bouncing around. I believe the 8lb sample beans from SM are mostly beans that like a city+ roast but I suggest roasting a few roasts to 2nd crack and write the times down so you have a guide to know where you want to stop. Also use a fan to cool the beans down as quick as possible after you pull them.

I don't have to many repeat customers since everyone gets a roaster after drinking my coffee.

hardcz · 09-12-2008, 07:56 AM

Where do you guys get those coffee bags btw? You know...the ones that let air out but not back in?

hardcz · 09-12-2008, 07:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by germantown rob

Hot air roasters are different then drum roasters and I roast 10oz at a time so my times are going to be longer. My roasts are 18-20 min, yours will be much quicker, I believe 6-9min. Can you see in the popper well? If so than the beans will go to a yellow stage and start to get golden brown just before 1st crack. Listen carefully for first crack since hot air roasters are loud with the beans all bouncing around. I believe the 8lb sample beans from SM are mostly beans that like a city+ roast but I suggest roasting a few roasts to 2nd crack and write the times down so you have a guide to know where you want to stop. Also use a fan to cool the beans down as quick as possible after you pull them.

I'm going to need some phone support for my first go at this...beans are scheduled to arrive thursday of next week....