If I can find a popper for cheap, I'm going to start roasting.

After reading the word on Brazilian coffee on SM's, I don't think I"ll be trying to bring any back.
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I have the Nesco roaster, it is cheap compared to some of the nicer units. It doesn't work well for larger batches. I would recommend it for a small batch unit. Eventually I want to upgrade and I will sell my roaster here but not close to ready to upgrade yet.
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Fresh Roast has worked well for me for many years, swear by it. I know popper users though and they are happy with their results.
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Mine works pretty good, but I'm still working on perfecting it, which may be impossible considering that it seems different coffess have different roasting properties.

Even still, you can't beat $22 for a popper on amazon.
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True dat!
I like the extra control the SR500 offers, with 3 temps and variable fan speeds. Although, I confess, it is rare that I ever turn the fan down from max. Wish it blew a little harder.
On the other hand, I use low temp to "dry" the beans, med temp to roast and high if I need to give them and extra shot in the last couple mins, to get as dark as I like.
I also really enjoy seeing the beans, while they roast.
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Someone (can't remember who now) makes a universal rotisserie that just stands on the grilling surface. I was thinking about seeing if I could modify one to hold a drum, maybe from Behmor. I wonder how it would taste over charcoal? It may not make any difference seeing as it doesn't take too long to roast, but it would be an interesting experiment.
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I really like doing very small roasts. If I need to do large, I have a Coffee Kinetics, which does about a pound. Sounds like it might be fun to try, I'm not sure a Behmor would stand the heat though.
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I have a friend with a 10lb capacity rotiserrie for his bbq, I think it was like $500 though.

Here is a similar one:
http://www.rkdrums.com/index.php/pro...ms/rk-8lb-drum
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I can easily control my temps to < 500*. Do you think that would still be too hot? Also, is there any reason why you couldn't limit the amount you put in there? I've never used a drum roaster, but my thought is that you don't have to fill it.

Although truthfully, the popper seems to work fine. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Probably the biggest benefit of having something better would be to see the coffee without disrupting the agitation. With the popper, I have to stop, open it, look inside, then resume. I feel very rushed when doing this as I don't want to scorch any beans.

I also end up roasting in the dark on weeknights, which makes it hard to see, even with a good flashlight. This would be problematic for any type of outdoor roasting method during the winter months though.
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Yesterday was about a 1/2 lb of each:
Guatamala Bourbon Finca San Diego Bella Vista to FC+
Kenya Nyeri Ngunguru to FC+
and Papua New Guinea Baroida Estate to FC+
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500 is plenty hot! don't know if you'd have issues.
Looking for me is to see how the beans are moving, not color. They start to move a certain way, when they are just to FC. I weigh my roasts and do almost exactly the same everytime, so you get to know.
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El Salvador Finca Montanita Bourbon
Image
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Looks good, Shane! I had a different varietal from El Salvador and it's been my favorite so far.
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Nice, can't wait to try this one. I will likely try it on Friday.
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Sumatra Bodhi Leaf Grade A Mandheling roasted to FC+
From Klatch
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Shane, that El Salvador is a good one. I liked it alot too.
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Here comes another slippery slope. Just ordered this from The Peoples Roast website.

Popaire 2 Popper and 2 lbs. of green coffee: Colombia Asociacion Los Naranjos San Agustin, Huila

Not bad for $30 shipped. Cheap investment to get me started.
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Awesome Bob, can't wait to see your results! Welcome to the home roast society!!!
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:-) :-) :-) I don't know anything about "The People's Roast." The name worries me a little, just sounds to communist :-) :-)
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Good luck Bob!
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