Pros: • Duplicates that wonderful movie theater taste & aroma; • Retro look; • Fast popping.
Cons: • You can easily cut yourself cleaning it; • Short warranty.
The Bottom Line: You will never go back to air popped or microwave popcorn again. This is a very good value for the money! Downside: Customer service department next to impossible to reach.
NewsView's Full Review: Helman Group CCP-510 Circus Cart Popcorn Maker
Who doesn't love the movie theater experience, complete with the aroma of freshly popped popcorn? Thanks to the Circus Cart Popcorn Maker, anyone can enjoy the movie theater experience in the comfort of their own home.
THE WARRANTY
Recently, I purchased this Circus Cart Popcorn Maker at Sam's Club as a gift for my significant other only to find that the reviews on Helman Group products are rife with gripes, most notably poor customer support (suggesting that the manufacturer's 90-day warranty may not deliver). Fortunately, Sam's Club offers a one-year and three-year optional service contract. So my first bit of advice is to purchase an extended warranty if available. Although this commercial-approved popcorn maker is one of Helman Group's better products, it is costly enough and is just shy enough of decent warranty coverage to justify the expense.
THE NEGATIVES
The primary complaints you will see on this Nostalgia Electrics branded popcorn popper relate to its predecessor, model CCP-509, also a full-size popper standing roughly 5' and capable of popping 1.5 gallons per batch (roughly 8-10 cups of popcorn). I have no idea what the differences are, other than the fact that model CCP-510 is slightly smaller at 4'11". In any event, let's just hope the manufacturer has corrected the current CCP-510 to eliminate prior complaints.
The primary issue appears to relate to a poor ratio of popped corn to unpopped kernels. It should be noted, however, that this phenomena may be a consequence of using stale popcorn kernels — you have no idea, after all, how long they sat in the grocery store even if they were a recent purchase. The one thing this problem seems least likely to stem from, by contrast, is an improperly weighted lid on the kettle allowing the popcorn to exit before it pops. (Electric whirley-pop kettles have been around for generations so it seems unlikely that the Helman Group reinvented the wheel.) Some find that the electrical plug that inserts into the bottom of the kettle, depending on the direction the cord is positioned within the hopper, can reduce or eliminate problems associated with an improperly balanced kettle.
Meanwhile, there is least one report that the plastic bracket that affixes to the underside of the interior roof to hold the popcorn kettle assembly in place may develop cracks, resulting in stray pieces of plastic in the popcorn (a chocking hazard, one reviewer complained). There are many more reports, however, to the effect that the stirring arm inside the kettle may cut out or jam resulting in burned or unpopped popcorn. Whether this latter complaint is a defect or user error is not clear. Some say this is caused by failing to insert the kettle into the brackets properly. Others point out that this problem can be induced by overfilling the kettle with popcorn kernels and/or oil. To add some speculation of my own, it might also have something to do with too much residue buildup in the kettle. It seems most users who reported this problem didn't encounter it until they had popped quite a bit of popcorn. And since the directions don't really provide much cleaning advice — and to the contrary suggest that the kettle ought to be permitted to season — an overabundance of residue just might be to blame for a faltering stirring arm. (Quick Tip: Search the Internet for professional cleaning supplies available through popcorn supply vendors. These are designed to clean the interior and to safely remove the carbon buildup from the kettle.)
There are a few who complain that the 40-watt light bulb on the interior simply doesn't generate enough heat to keep the popcorn warm for long (true, in my experience). And lastly, I will add my own complaint: The metal parts on the interior, to include the metal fold-out serving tray, are razor sharp. I've unknowingly cut myself twice while cleaning the interior. True to what the user manual says, this is not a toy. If you have young children, do not let the kids serve themselves! (Quick Tip: Gloves may help eliminate the risk of cuts during cleaning, and the included metal scoop should limit exposure to sharp internal parts while serving.)
SUCCESSFUL OPERATION
The trickiest part about operating the unit is inserting the kettle into the brackets without forcing it (they are at an odd height/angle). The user manual warns "NEVER to force the kettle in or out of the brackets as this may miss-align gears and will not operate properly." This alone could account for a lot of the malfunctions disgruntled owners report elsewhere on the Internet.
Popping corn, once the initial three- to five-minute warming period has lapsed, consists of shutting off the popping switch, loading the kettle first with pre-measured oil, next with corn kernels, and lastly by flipping the popping switch back on*. It is important to use the included popcorn measuring bucket judiciously (1/2 cup of corn kernels leveled off), and the small scoop for oil (1 tablespoon of the oil of your choice — no more, no less). Once the popping begins to slow — which takes as little as three minutes — it is up to the user to shut off the popper. There is no timer or recommended time limit suggested in the user manual; consequently, this is not idiot proof and cannot be left unattended while in use. In fact, the surest way to burn out one of these machines, according to the Internet popping guides I have read, is to push the heating elements to pop those last three or four kernels. Don't allow it to run dry; it just might void the warranty. On the plus side, there is no downtime necessary between batches. You may fill the entire glass holding area up with popcorn, providing there is still enough room for the kettle to turn on its hinge. (Quick Tip: Make certain not to touch the hot kettle with your bare hands while reloading or removing it.)
SAVOR THE FLAVOR
Oddly, the manual doesn't provide any recipes whatsoever aside from a plug for their Gourmet Popcorn Seasoning Kit containing White Cheddar, Parmesan & Garlic and Natural Ranch (sold separately). Because there are no flavoring tips in the user manual, attaining the flavor you are looking for requires a bit of trial and error. Some people report that they prefer the "Country Harvest" pre-measured ingredient packs designed for four-ounce poppers and sold through home theater and concession stand supply sites. Pre-packed convenience is an option, albeit a pricey one.
I scoured the Internet in search of flavoring tips and came up with a combination that is both economical and close enough to movie theater in taste to satisfy our expectations. We prefer Flavacol's butter flavored salt, available at Smart & Final stores. (Quick Tip: Ask your local grocer to order it if they don't stock it in your area.) It takes just a half teaspoon of Flavacol to flavor an entire batch of popcorn, which makes this product by Gold Medal extremely economical. The oil we started out with was what we had on hand: Smart Balance Cooking Oil, which really does a decent job in conjunction with the Flavacol. For that extra buttery boost, we have recently switched to trans-fat free, non-hydrogenated Orville Redenbacher's® Gourmet® Popping and Topping Buttery Flavor® Popcorn Oil, which uses beta carotene to add that butter-like color you see in movie theater popcorn. Together, the taste is nearly as indulgent as movie theater popcorn. Yet unlike air popped or microwave popcorn the aroma produced by this Circus Cart Popcorn Maker lends itself to an unmistakable movie theater ambiance.
THE POSITIVES
Unexpectedly, I suspect this popper makes healthier popcorn than what I formerly popped. Prior to this, I had tried everything from spray-on butter flavoring to poured-on butter and my air-popped popcorn was nevertheless an annoying combination of drenched and flavorless (to the point where I almost never ate popcorn and had in mind only to make my significant other happy, someone who is known to eat any type of popcorn anywhere). Using just one tablespoon of oil and a minute amount of seasoning, this machine evenly distributes the flavoring in controlled quantities so that the popcorn does not feel or taste greasy. And if you avoid the coconut oil — that's the type they traditionally use to pop corn at the theater — you can actually make popcorn that isn't all that unhealthy (compared, that is, to the caloric equivalent of three Big Macs as served in movie theaters). Better yet, the kernels pop larger, lighter and crispier — and fewer are scorched compared to the air popper we used in the microwave. And did I mention that wonderful popcorn aroma?
One unadvertised bonus is that hopper separates from the stand so that you can place it on a countertop on its attached rubber feet, if desired. It's nice to have the flexibility of using the popper with or without the included stand.
THE LOOK
This popcorn cart is made in a stylish retro manner that the manufacturer says is consistent with street vendor designs from the late 1800s and early 1900s. Available in choice of red or black, the steel and glass construction seems sturdy and attractive, as are the two spoked wheels with solid-rubber tires on the bottom of the stand that allow for easy in-home transport. There are two legs on the front for balance, and a tray at the top to hold your serving scoop with what looks like a small hand towel rack that doubles as a handle when you move it. There is a single storage shelf behind a metal door in which you can stow your popcorn making supplies. Above that is a tempered-glass receptacle for the popcorn. The access door to the hopper is plexiglass but aside from that the only thing that looks fragile about the construction are the brass hinges (some are not much more substantial than those affixed to jewelry boxes).
The kettle is constructed of stainless steel, and the floor of the popcorn maker contains an "Old Maid" wherein unpopped kernels drop through a metal grate into a collection tray. (You may need to stir the popcorn about like they do in the movie theaters to get the unpopped corn to drop into the kernel catcher, however.) There is a three-prong polarized plug on the outside that is attached to a cord roughly four feet in length for safety's sake, and a detachable power plug on the underside of the kettle in the interior of the machine. The appliance is rated at 640 watts, and weighs roughly 50 lbs. The dimensions are approximately 21 (L) x 16.5 (W) x 53 (H).
CLEANUP
Cleaning the unit doesn't amount to much effort other than to wipe it down and empty the Old Maid. The kettle is supposed to be seasoned by a thin layer of oil residue — in other words you don't scrub it out with a scouring pad. The instructions have no other cleaning advice other than to use a soft cloth to wipe and dry the interior and exterior. I personally added a bit of vinegar to the water solution because I don't care for foggy glass and fingerprints on the unpainted sheet metal portions. The diluted vinegar does a good job of removing these oils, but don't use this acidic solution on the painted surfaces! Aside from that, the user manual warns never to immerse "any part of this unit" in water or other liquids, and goes on to state that none of the parts are dishwasher safe.
CONCLUSION
Unlike other owners who complained of missing items, this unit came complete. There were no missing parts and the instruction manual provides adequate assembly directions. In all it took about 45 minutes to assemble using the included assembly tools (you do have to supply your own Phillips head screwdriver, however). The only problem we have had thus far is that the nut cap for the wheel popped off while we were rolling it in our kitchen. When we reach customer service to inquire about replacing it — it appeared to have broken and wouldn't go back on once it popped off — I will update this review to indicate the quality of Helman Group's customer service. At this point, however, I have nothing to complain about and I am glad that I did not read the negative reviews prior to purchase. This has proven to be a lot more fun than we had hoped, and we are certain our next movie night will be a big hit!
*UPDATE
The Helman Group, maker of Nostalgia Electrics, is a difficult company to reach even for customers who essentially live in their own backyard. During normal business hours (PST), calls to their headquarters in Oxnard, CA are routed to an answering machine. For this reason we have had no success reaching them regarding the nut cap that fell off the wheel and won't go back on. We also have a clarifying question regarding the proper application of seasoning and have been unable to ask our question because we haven't reached a "live person". We've been adding the Flavacol directly to the kettle so that it seasons as it pops. But the skimpy Nostalgia Electrics instruction manual doesn't indicate whether it is appropriate to add ingredients to the kettle other than the corn and the oil, which means that where seasonings are concerned we're essentially winging it (albeit with tasty results). Reading rental instructions for popcorn machines online in search of clues, I get contradicting information. So when we recently bought several varieties of Kernel Seasoning, we played it safe and opted not to add the flavoring to the kettle in substitution for the Flavacol. If Helman Group customer service is a no service operation, we may never obtain the product support we seek. Just the same, we're going to give it some more time. If we continue to fail in our efforts to reach them this popcorn machine will lose one star (currently a four-star rating down to a three).
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