Page 1 of 1

Pan Roasting?

PostPosted: Sat Jun 13, 2015 9:55 pm
by Tongle
I found a few videos on Youtube of people roasting greens in a frying pan.
Also read in Steve's interview that he set off alarms during his time as a prison officer when roasting beans, so clearly it is possible but perhaps a bit tricky?

So has anyone tried this and what advice do you have (the videos seemed to produce rather uneven results).

Re: Pan Roasting?

PostPosted: Sat Jun 13, 2015 10:28 pm
by grib
My advice is don't. The first coffee I ever roasted was in the pan, it's almost impossible to get an even roast but worse, that lovely roasted coffee smell, it permeates everything in the house. My first batch went way too dark and when the oils start to smoke the smell is really strong, it took weeks to air the house properly. If you really want to give it a go, perhaps try it on a bbq with a cast iron pan?

Re: Pan Roasting?

PostPosted: Sat Jun 13, 2015 10:47 pm
by CakeBoy
Totally agree. Same goes for baking trays in the oven. Major smoke and if it's a fan controlled oven, chaff city too!

Re: Pan Roasting?

PostPosted: Sun Jun 14, 2015 6:31 am
by Steve
Ignore them both, they just hate good fun (and lots of smoke)

You may not want to drink it :)

Re: Pan Roasting?

PostPosted: Sun Jun 14, 2015 9:23 am
by Tongle
Well I do believe kind sirs that drinking it is kind of the point is it not?
It certainly sounds like fun, but it seems that the end result may be unpredictable at best. In light of the fact that much of the discussion here is around precision, measures and achieving consistency I think I should probably stick with trying to get a good brew using beans roasted by someone who knows what they are doing.

(However, I'm always up for a bit of fun............. :wink: )

Re: Pan Roasting?

PostPosted: Sun Jun 14, 2015 11:01 am
by CakeBoy
Oh it's fun alright! You are spot on though when you say it's about consistency. In the case of a pan or roasting tray in the oven, the beans within the roast are inconsistent and unevenly roasted. Having said that, I once watched Espressomattic of these boards pull off a pretty decent roast stovetop using a Whirlypop, though he was winding the handle like a mad thing for what seemed like ages, and we were all covered with chaff when he emptied it! Happy days :P

Re: Pan Roasting?

PostPosted: Sun Jun 14, 2015 12:34 pm
by bruceb
It's much more rewarding to go to ebay and find a good, used hot-air roaster such as an i-roast or one of its predecessors. I paid the equivalent of about 20 GBP for mine many years ago and immediately understood why one would want to roast at home. The coffee (in tiny batches) was great and I had fun changing the parameters, not worrying much if I ruined 80g of beans or not. You probably won't be satisfied with it for long as the batches really are small, but it's a much more satisfying way of testing the waters and you won't upset those around you (although it's still best to do it under a good vent hood or outdoors). Good luck and let us know how you get along, whatever you decide to do. :D

Re: Pan Roasting?

PostPosted: Sun Jun 14, 2015 12:53 pm
by Tongle
Thanks for the advice.
If I bought any more coffee equipment I'd need a kitchen extension, but I am very, very tempted if you can get them for under £50.

Roasting small amounts sounds like a good plan. Due to health issues I really can't have more than one cup a day but that is why it is important for me to make it a damn good one!

So the search for a roaster is now on........... :D

Re: Pan Roasting?

PostPosted: Sun Oct 25, 2015 9:50 pm
by zix
Heeeey all chicken roasters, don't you have exhaust fans above your stoves? It's the single most useful thing to have when roasting in the kitchen, whatever the roast method ;) Never done Whirley-Pop, but I have done this, which is basically the same thing, only it is an actual coffee roaster:
Image
We used it outside, on a bbq grill, since the lovely old iron stove in the summer house hadn't got the proper hole in it for the roaster - yet. I don't consider smoke a problem at the weights you are able to roast in a whirley-pop or an old roaster like this, but chaff, I must admit, could become a nuisance. Better to put the coffee in the oven in that case (and roast below 300g, and if possible, don't use fan heat. Gas oven is fine though). Just open the window and let the chaff blow its way wherever. If you are blessed with a garden, you know what to do. It's natural stuff, let it return to nature :)

P.S. If you use a half-size oven tray and stop before rolling second smoke-wize you should be on the safe side. Please use the exhaust fan ;)