An adhesive melter includes an inlet port, an outlet port, and an interior configured to heat and hold adhesive pellets. The melter includes a lid for providing access to the interior and the outlet port communicates with the interior. An intake conduit is coupled to the inlet port and is configured to deliver forced air and adhesive pellets to the interior. An exhaust conduit is coupled to the outlet port and is configured to remove the forced air from the interior and to receive a filter for trapping particles of the adhesive pellets borne by the forced air. The outlet port and the inlet port are non-concentric but closely spaced and centrally located on the lid and the outlet port is spaced from the inlet port so as to cause the forced air to travel in a generally U-shaped path within the interior of the melter.