Handy Roaster

Intense Coffee

Saw the results of a sample roast at Neli Coffee Roastery in Clontarf this morning from a "Handy Roaster" (Dr Mahn). The owner of Neli Coffee, who sells these, said the results were excellent, and he says he can't personally explain why they are as good as they are. Suggests it's possibly because you can see the whole roast as it's roasting, and can control the heat easily by just lifting and lowering the pan. The results I saw looked like a really nice and even roast. The pan has a lip along the top so you just swirl the beans around as they are roasting. Stainless pan with a wooden handle, looked nicely constructed. I did not do a taste test myself, but on his say-so, provided you use good quality green, you will be delighted by the outcomes. His words are that the good quality Sidamo he roasted tasted almost Geisha like. You should know however that he does obviously have a vested interest.

However for $69.00 it sounds like a good bit of fun and I reckon this could be a nice cheap and effective introduction to roasting, and looks easier to control than a popper. Works probably best with a gas burner, and those small camping units work well apparently.

The following is the link to them on the Neli Coffee website. Note: I have no personal or financial interest, just popped in there this morning while taking the Bonneville out for a spin. I rate his coffee highly, so stop in there on occasions when I'm out Redcliffe way for great coffee.  http://www.nelicoffee.com.au/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=288


Graham

FreshCoffee2

on 1441852719:

Saw the results of a sample roast at Neli Coffee Roastery in Clontarf this morning from a "Handy Roaster" (Dr Mahn). ...The results I saw looked like a really nice and even roast.... provided you use good quality green, you will be delighted by the outcomes. ...while taking the Bonneville out for a spin....

Haven't seen this however for a "nice price" and from what you have described, it would seem to offer a better degree of controlabilitiy to an old tried and proven method of home roasting. In regard to the quoted passage.  All forms of *uncontrolled* roasting require the operator to use the most evenly sized coffee beans he/she can buy, so yes, using good quality (read beans of good uniform size/grade) will always get you better results and to put it another way, when using any form of basically uncontrolled roasting technique, low grade or non uniformly sized beans are your enemy    Additionally for this type of roasting I would recommend a "slower" rate of roast where possible. Bonnevilles should be ridden weekly on a Sunday morning if not more often, purely for personal pleasure. I recommend a well made coffee before you leave home, and another with like minded enthusiasts in an outdoor setting sometime during the morning and before returning home  ;D

Lacehim

Ohhh, that might even work in my woodfired oven.

cofficionado

Very interesting.....when you enlarge the image the metal looks texturized/vented.  Can anyone explain what this is, and what benefit it provides?  

LeroyC

These are all over eBay. You can also get ceramic ones that you use in the same way. As the ceramic ones are moulded however they sort of close over the top a bit and just have a hole to put the beans in then watch your roast. The handle is hollow and you tip the beans out that way at the end. They only handle 50g batches, but I've seriously considered getting one to see what they're like. Prices are similarly low. Anyone seen one in the flesh?