It all started  with inspiration from a former employer-Sam B. He started roasting his own back in 1998 using an air popper. I did not get started until 2014, and have been practicing ‘the art of roasting” since. Air is one of the best ways to roast coffee. Hot, electrically heated air.

I have yet to use the Whirly Pop often used by aficionados, as I do not wish to. My favorite air roaster is one I haven’t used yet. I am building my own air roaster using a stainless steel commercial double boiler with slots cut in the side of the insert and it will be heated using a heat gun through a hole cut in the side of the outside pot of the double boiler. Photos will be following-hopefully.  05-04-2017- ” May the Fourth be with you!”. Since writing the above, I have experimented with the heat gun approach in the double boiler. a bit weak. I am upgrading to a burner element directly under the boiler insert, and a vacuum cleaner used as a blower- to float the beans as they are being heated.  If that fails, then I guess off to Grainger for parts for a real fluid bed roaster. More next time.:)

Brewster