Re: bean cooler - work in progress
I think youre right on the money pcf, Im using a 20ltr bucket(paint pail) & a 20cm exhaust fan (both from big green shop). The fan just sits (friction fit) down in the bucket. I cut 3 holes - calculated the area of the fan blades, chose my biggest hole saw and cut a total exhaust area just larger than the inlet area. Found a metal "fruit basket" onsale $5 at the reject shop and support this in a cut out bucket lid. This has curved sides down to a flat base, so I have used 2 strips of gaffer tape around the top circumference to restrict the airflow to the base ( and accordingly, the bean mass. So far it seems to cool the beans (250gms) to ambient in under 1min. I will in future be trying it with 500gm
It does seem to do the job
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Re: bean cooler - work in progress
Like the one pictured in Reply#6 above.Originally posted by 5843584449585942490C0 link=1240304589/17#17 date=1244695657The key is having the flat bottom to increase the surface cooling area.
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Re: bean cooler - work in progress
I use a rather large fan that I happened to have lying around. I started with using a mesh colander ( I do a pound at time), stirring the beans around with glove on. During the hot summer it was taking too long to cool. I got a kitty litter tray with the bottom cut out and glued some aluminum screen material on the bottom. Now it cools a pound in less than 30 seconds no joking. The key is having the flat bottom to increase the surface cooling area.
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Re: bean cooler - work in progress
Does it blow off the beans too?
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Re: bean cooler - work in progress
FWIW
I have almost exactly the same setup (though nowhere nearly as neat) but have rversed the fan orientation so it blows rather than sucks. I like the idea of blowing away the excess chaff.
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Re: bean cooler - work in progress
awesome - sounds like Im all set - thanks for your input guys!
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Re: bean cooler - work in progress
IIRC my source said 2 minutes.
But thinking about what you are attempting to do, stop further roasting, providing youve taken a good chunk of heat out of them initially, an extra minute or so only further decreases the temperature to handling range.
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Re: bean cooler - work in progress
Thats good enough for meOriginally posted by 5E4D481F1719162E0 link=1240304589/11#11 date=1241247483Just tried out the new cooler – it did a good job (I think) it cooled 550g piping hot beans down to room temp in about a 1:20, at 2min they were cold to touch. That was with basically no manual agitation – they’d probably cool even quicker if I stirred them every 10sec or so...
I have read somewhere that one should aim to cool the hot beans within 4 minutes
KK
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Re: bean cooler - work in progress
Just tried out the new cooler – it did a good job (I think) it cooled 550g piping hot beans down to room temp in about a 1:20, at 2min they were cold to touch. That was with basically no manual agitation – they’d probably cool even quicker if I stirred them every 10sec or so...
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Re: bean cooler - work in progress
Thanks guys - itching to try it out, I was hoping to roast up a batch or two today, but its seriously windy here!! Hopefully tomorrow...
Yep, I decided to seal up the circumference around the fan - the black hose fitted nicely.
I now understand what Thundergod meant about not needing to seat the sieve - could have just sat it on top with a smaller opening... oh well it might save me from losing a batch of beans if I accidently bump it.
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Re: bean cooler - work in progress
Very nice unit Pete
Also looks like you sealed the gap of the fan circumference
I am sure you will get good results with such a unit
KK
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Re: bean cooler - work in progress
Lookin good Pete..... [smiley=thumbsup.gif]
Mal.
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Re: bean cooler - work in progress
Looks like mine but I paid $5!
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Re: bean cooler - work in progress
Ok - I found a great sized ss strainer with a flat base (junk shop - $3), installed today, going to try it out later today after I clean up the garage...
Because the strainer had straight walls, I stretched some black hose around to stop it falling through the opening - not so pretty but functional...
Here are some picks...


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