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In a hurry to roast? In my opinion, the best popcorn popper for roasting coffee is the Great Northern Popcorn Original Stainless Steel Stove Top.
Every coffee lover knows the importance of roasting coffee beans to create that delicious, aromatic, and fresh coffee cup every morning. However, finding the right machine that makes roasting coffee quick and straightforward can be a challenge.
What if I told you I have a creative solution to this problem? You've probably already guessed it if you're on this page – you can use a popcorn popper to roast your coffee!
A popcorn popper allows you to control the entire roasting process from the beans' color to the roast time. And that's no joke – so let's look at the best popcorn roasters and find the one that works for you.
Traditional roasting can be a challenging and complicated process, especially when you're in a hurry. A popcorn popper makes coffee roasting easier – and can do it all in a matter of minutes. (It's also more affordable compared to a dedicated coffee roasting machine.)
Popcorn poppers are ideal for roasting green coffee beans at home. With some models, you get complete control of the roast, making your beans as light or dark as you prefer.
Check out this video with an overview of the process:
Unlike dedicated automatic coffee roasters, popcorn poppers aren't as expensive; this makes them a popular choice. However, like any other machine, it's essential to still get value for money (and – depending on your household – get a machine which also makes good popcorn, haha).
The only way to do so is by knowing the differentiators up front when choosing a popcorn popper. Here are the factors you should consider.
The first and most crucial factor to consider when purchasing a popcorn popper for roasting coffee is the type of popping machine. The common ones you can use for coffee roasting are microwave poppers, hot air poppers, electric poppers, and finally, stovetop poppers.
These are relatively inexpensive compared to other popcorn poppers and are perfect for roasting coffee. What gives them that extra edge is that you don't have to stir the beans while roasting them.
These poppers are easy to use and convenient for coffee roasting, maintaining a regular temperature throughout the roast. They can, however, be an inconvenience because of their one-temperature setting. For some, the temperature can be too low to roast the coffee beans perfectly – so carefully research upfront.
Microwave poppers can still roast coffee, but might not give you the best coffee roast. These poppers don't heat the coffee beans uniformly, as the uneven temperature inherent in microwave cooking ends up burning – or not roasting – some sides of the coffee beans.
Also, microwave popcorn poppers are generally made from plastic, which means you can't use high temperatures to roast the coffee beans.
Consider a stovetop popper if you're looking for a popcorn popper that comes closest to the roasting functionalities of an industrial coffee roaster. With this style machine, you can easily control the roasting temperature, but it's best for dark roasts. Its transparent lid also makes it easy to monitor the beans during the entire roast.
Your popcorn popper should be made from a durable material to distribute the heat effectively. For non-microwave poppers, make sure you choose one made with stainless steel or aluminum. Other materials like plastic and polycarbonate aren't ideal when roasting coffee beans at high temperatures.
The popper's capacity is also another factor you should look at when choosing one to roast coffee beans. Make sure you check the pan's surface area, as it will give you an idea of the number of beans you can roast at one time.
Roasting coffee doesn't have to be complicated. Therefore, make sure you choose a popcorn popper that's easy to operate. Also, ensure that temperature control, monitoring, and stirring is an easy process.
The last and most important factor to remember is to find a roaster with a handle that stays cool. Make sure you choose a popper with a handle made with wood or plastic to avoid burns when roasting.
The Great Northern Popcorn Stove Top is an efficient and sturdy popcorn popper that's ideal for roasting coffee. It's a 6.5-quart pan that allows you to roast vast amounts of beans each time.
The pot is made from stainless steel, making it durable – it's a classic cooking surface. The material also helps spread the heat evenly, ensuring you don't burn your coffee beans.
It has a uniquely designed lid that gives you the option to release moisture, enabling efficient roasting. For safety, this popcorn popper comes with wooden knobs and handles that protect your hands. Its unique spinner makes stirring the beans easier, and this prevents the beans from burning.
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If you're a coffee lover who appreciates the perfect dark roast bean, then you should consider the Wabash Valley Farms popper. This stainless steel device maintains consistent heat, giving you evenly roasted coffee beans at all times. The hard-coated, anodized lid is scratch and peel resistant, making it durable enough to keep heat inside.
The popper has a highly effective stirring mechanism; you can use it to turn the coffee beans while roasting them. This pot has a 6-quart capacity that enables you to roast a massive amount of beans (great to caffeinate the whole family!).
It also doesn't require lots of effort to clean after use. Another cool feature is the lid that comes with several holes, which allow the moisture to escape.
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The Franklin's Original Whirley Stovetop is an effective and high-performance popcorn popper that can undoubtedly get the job done. Its aluminum material is lighter than stainless steel and enables the distribution of heat evenly, which is essential for roasting beans.
Another unique feature is the stirring mechanism that ensures the coffee beans don't stick to the pot or burn during the roast.
You also don't have to worry about having any challenges cleaning this popcorn popper. It's super easy to clean after use. All you have to do is wipe it using a paper towel and store it. However, some users mentioned the beans left a residue behind, which is difficult to remove.
This popcorn popper comes with a wooden knob and handles that help protect your hands from burns.
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Despite being a high-tech machine, the Presto 04821 Hot Air Popper is simple to operate. Unlike other popcorn poppers for roasting coffee, it requires assembly. The package comes with a plastic dome, a base, and a measuring scoop. Putting it together is quite easy and only takes a few minutes.
Another exceptional feature is the ease to clean and store this machine. Since the device uses hot air to pop the popcorn, you can expect it to use the same mechanism to roast coffee beans.
If you're planning to use it for popcorn and coffee, be aware that you'll have to clean it after roasting. Some oils from the beans may stick to the inside chamber after use. You'll need to take a damp cloth and clean the inside chute and cylinder.
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In my opinion, the overall winner of the best popcorn popper for roasting coffee is the Great Northern Popcorn Original Stainless Steel Stove Top. Safety in the kitchen is something we all take seriously. This device takes care of this aspect by providing a wooden knob and handles that protect your hands from burns. It also has a large capacity, making it possible to roast a considerable amount of beans.
This popcorn popper is also easy to use and clean. All you have to do is wipe it with a paper towel and store it. The Great Northern Popcorn machine is made using stainless steel. This durable material makes it easy to disperse heat, thus giving you the perfect roast.
You no longer have to forgo drinking coffee at home. With a popcorn popper, you can roast, grind, press, and enjoy your coffee the way you like it. (And it will even make great popcorn!)
