A small batch roasting device including a base unit and a roasting chamber unit. The base unit includes a housing, a heating element, a fan, and a support surface. The housing defines an upper end, a lower end, and an isolation chamber open to the upper end. The heating element and the fan are within the housing, with the fan being positioned between the heating element and the lower end. The roasting chamber unit defines a roasting chamber, a leading region and a trailing region terminating at a trailing end. In an assembled state, a portion of the roasting chamber unit is disposed within the isolation chamber and the trailing portion is proximate the heating element. The roasting chamber unit is supported relative to the base unit by an interface with the support surface at a location longitudinally spaced from the trailing end.

A bean roasting system includes a roasting chamber, a blower, a variable diverter and a controller. The roasting chamber, the blower and the variable diverter each is disposed at least partially within a recirculating gas flow path. The blower is configured to provide a flow stream of gas through the recirculating gas flow path. The variable diverter is configured to split the gas flow path into at least two flow paths including a treated flow path and a bypass flow path. The treated flow path includes a series arrangement of a gas heater and a catalytic converter. The variable diverter is configured to control a percentage of a flow stream of gas that is diverted into the bypass flow path. The controller is configured to activate different predetermined operating modes for the bean roasting system by controlling a state of the variable diverter and a state of the heater.

A bean roasting system includes a roasting drum, an agitator, and a door. The roasting drum has an inside surface extending from a back end to a front end. The agitator has blades mounted to an axial shaft. The axial shaft has an anterior end portion. The door is mounted rotationally relative to the roasting drum and includes a glass plate and a bearing assembly. The glass plate provides visual access to contents inside the roasting drum when the door is closed. The bearing assembly includes an outer housing and an inner bearing. The outer housing is mounted to the glass plate. The inner bearing defines a receiving hole that receives and supports the anterior end portion of the axial shaft when the door closed.

An apparatus for roasting coffee beans comprises a roasting chamber for containing coffee beans. The roasting chamber is positioned within a resonant cavity of a waveguide. A microwave emitter produces microwave energy within the waveguide with one or more stable high intensity microwave regions within the roasting chamber to heat the coffee beans in the roasting chamber to a temperature sufficient to roast the coffee beans. A device configured to move the coffee beans within the one or more high intensity microwave regions is coupled to the roasting chamber.

A cooking appliance includes a cabinet defining a cooking chamber; a first direct-heat source; a second direct-heat source; a convection heat source; and a controller operably coupled to the first heat source, the second heat source, and the convection heat source, the controller configured to perform a coffee roasting operation. The coffee roasting operation includes receiving an input command for the coffee roasting operation; obtaining a predetermined roasting profile among a plurality of roasting profiles in response to receiving the input command; determining a power level of at least one of the first direct-heat source, the second direct-heat source, or the convection heat source according to the obtained roasting profile; and initiating the coffee roasting operation after determining the power level of at least one of the first direct-heat source, the second direct-heat source, or the convection heat source.

A method of acclimatizing dates includes placing a plurality of dates into a vacuum chamber, heating the dates to a first temperature, and increasing a vacuum pressure of the vacuum chamber with the dates in the vacuum chamber. The first temperature is below a boiling point of water at an initial pressure within the vacuum chamber and the increase in vacuum pressure modifies the boiling point to below the first temperature. The method includes adjusting a relative humidity of the vacuum chamber towards a target relative humidity until the plurality of dates reach an equilibrium relative humidity, the target relative humidity corresponding to a target moisture content of the dates on an isotherm of the dates at the first temperature. The method includes cooling the dates to a second temperature to stop transpiration of water within the plurality of dates and decreasing the vacuum pressure of the vacuum chamber.

A roasting and grinding system (100) for preparing and delivering on demand roast and ground coffee, the system comprising: one or more raw containers (10, 10, 10, etc.) comprising green coffee beans of the same or of different types; a roasting unit (20) receiving green coffee beans from one or more of the raw containers (10, 10, 10, etc.) at the time, the roasting unit (20) adapting automatically the roasting parameters to the type of green coffee beans to roast; a conservation area (30) where the roasted coffee is stored at appropriate atmosphere until it is grinded; a grinding area (40) comprising one or more grinding units (41, 41, 41, etc.) one per type of coffee to be ground, adapting automatically the grinding parameters to the type of coffee or coffee mix to be ground. The invention further relates to a raw container (10, 10, 10, etc.) comprising green coffee beans detachably connectable to a roasting and grinding system (100), and to a method for roasting and grinding coffee blends on demand using such a system.

A foodstuff preparation device may include a roasting chamber having grinding funnel configured for communicating a foodstuff, having a pre-ground particle size, between two or more grinding stones, such as a first grinding stone and a second grinding stone. A grinding motor may be configured to motivate the foodstuff between the two or more grinding stone so that the foodstuff exits from between a first grinding stone and second grinding stone with a first ground particle size, the first ground particle size smaller than the pre-ground particle size. Generally, the device may be configured to prepare foodstuffs, such as sesame seeds, by roasting and grinding them to produce Tahini, or any other similar prepared food. Optionally, the foodstuff may be communicated into the grinding funnel from a dispensing funnel or from a roasting cavity having a heating element configured to govern the temperature of the roasting cavity.

A method of steam cleaning a roaster bowl, such as one used in a roasting/glazing apparatus, in which an electronic technique is employed to determine, during cleaning, whether water is boiling within the roaster bowl. The method entails adding water into a roaster bowl having sugar adhered thereto and placing a cover on top of the roaster bowl. A steam vent is formed between the cover and the roaster bowl. The method further comprises heating the roaster bowl and then electronically determining whether the water within the roaster bowl has reached a boiling point (i.e., is boiling). After electronically determining that the water is boiling, the water remains boiling for an amount of time sufficient to cause the internal surface of the roaster bowl and the cover to be properly steam cleaned. The water in the roaster bowl (with sugar dissolved therein) is then poured out.

An apparatus for roasting coffee beans comprises a roasting chamber for containing coffee beans. The roasting chamber is positioned within a resonant cavity of a waveguide. A microwave emitter produces microwave energy within the waveguide with one or more stable high intensity microwave regions within the roasting chamber to heat the coffee beans in the roasting chamber to a temperature sufficient to roast the coffee beans. A device configured to move the coffee beans within the one or more high intensity microwave regions is coupled to the roasting chamber.