The present invention relates to a coffee roaster having a housing, a supporting plate located within the housing, a drum chamber located at one side of the supporting plate within the housing, a first support for supporting the drum chamber, and a second support for supporting the drum chamber. The supporting plate may include a heater. The first support may be adjacent to the outer circumferential surface of the drum chamber. The second support may be adjacent to the outer circumferential surface of the drum chamber and be spaced apart from the first support by a predetermined distance. As the drum chamber rotates by receiving a driving force for rotation from the first supporting unit, the drum chamber can be rotated without being obstructed by the heater.

The present invention relates to a coffee roaster having a housing, a supporting plate located within the housing, a drum chamber located at one side of the supporting plate within the housing, a first support for supporting the drum chamber, and a second support for supporting the drum chamber. The supporting plate may include a heater. The first support may be adjacent to the outer circumferential surface of the drum chamber. The second support may be adjacent to the outer circumferential surface of the drum chamber and be spaced apart from the first support by a predetermined distance. As the drum chamber rotates by receiving a driving force for rotation from the first supporting unit, the drum chamber can be rotated without being obstructed by the heater.

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.

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 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 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 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.

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 method of cleaning a roaster bowl having a pouring lip and a cover (e.g., sugar or other coating is adhered to the bowl, its pouring lip and the cover). Water is added to the roaster bowl and the cover is placed over the roaster bowl. An appropriately sized and located steam vent is disposed between the cover and roaster bowl, adjacent to the bowl's pouring lip. The roaster bowl is heated to boil the water to produce steam that dissolves the sugar adhered to the roaster bowl and to the underside of the cover. Steam exiting the bowl via the vent condenses on the pouring lip to dissolve the sugar that is adhered to the pouring lip, and the sugar-laden steam drips back into the bowl thus cleaning the pouring lip.

A method of cleaning a roaster bowl having a pouring lip and a cover (e.g., sugar or other coating is adhered to the bowl, its pouring lip and the cover). Water is added to the roaster bowl and the cover is placed over the roaster bowl. An appropriately sized and located steam vent is disposed between the cover and roaster bowl, adjacent to the bowl's pouring lip. The roaster bowl is heated to boil the water to produce steam that dissolves the sugar adhered to the roaster bowl and to the underside of the cover. Steam exiting the bowl via the vent condenses on the pouring lip to dissolve the sugar that is adhered to the pouring lip, and the sugar-laden steam drips back into the bowl thus cleaning the pouring lip.