jnanian

its 19ºF outside ( -7ºC ) and 930pm.
today i picked up a test batch of green robusta beans.
i got 5lbs from a local roaster, they were old and cheap, and from sumatra.
this afternoon i scouted around for a few odds and ends before
i picked the kids up from school, i called 3 or 4 thrift shops for
pop corn poppers and hot plates, and i ended up finding one at "big lots!"
for 12$. the one i just bought was one burner coil so i figured it worked.
with the kids in the car, i looked for a metal skillet too and came up empty at "sal's " so i went to a local " jobber "
and bought 2 40¢ aluminum deep 6" rounds. i am not sure what they are supposed to be used for but they looked perfect and the right price.

i thought of the beans all day and finally 9pm rolled by so i went outside and plugged in the burner in the cold.
i poured out a cup or 2 of green beans and dropped them in the tin, and then on the burner. it was on "high"
i heard sizzling and took a wooden spoon and began to stir the greenish tanish mixture.
more popping and lots of smoke followed. i could barely see what i was stirring but i continued and
turned the heat down between medium and low.
the smoke shifted, first to the north, then south then straight up.
eventually, i watched the beans turning and turning in the tin. red sparks on the bottom as i made sure they didn't carbonize
too badly and soon there were no green or tan beans left, they were all darkish brown.
having worked in a coffeeshop for 4 long years i was familiar with different roasts. having experience re-roasting
american ( cinnamon ) roast beans to much darker i was familiar with the smoke and smell, but it had been 15 years and the memories were pretty faded.
i came inside as the beans and burner sit in the freezing cold,
my hands are almost too cold to type, and i reek of smoke.
i'll wait a while before i go down to the porch again.

i'll grab a few beans from the bin and keep them as a roast sample for the next time.
soon these beans will be basking under the lights with a lens infront of them.
i'll shoot a 12 exp roll or 2 and grind them up and brew.
i'll try to figure out how much coffee i need and what my times will be for a nice image on the film.
instant coffee is 3 times as potent as fresh ground, but it is usually a blend, and each brand is different ...
maybe i will not even bother with the washing soda and vit c and the 130 ..

once i get the roast nailed i'll have to call it something ...

american/cinnamon, full city, viennese, french and espresso are all taken ...