Met a barista in Austin who roasted beans in a popcorn popper

So I'm at this tiny cafe on South Congress last month and the owner just casually tells me he's been roasting his own beans in an old Whirley Pop for like 8 years. I laughed thinking he was joking but he showed me the setup in his back room, legit had a thermometer taped to the lid and everything. He said the batch size is only half a cup at a time but the flavor is way better than any $60 bag I've bought. Has anyone else tried this or am I about to burn my kitchen down?

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anna_craig1mo ago

My ex tried this and set off the smoke alarm at 6 AM.