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bean cooler - work in progress

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  • Gracey
    replied
    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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  • TOTHETUNE
    replied
    Re: bean cooler - work in progress

    Exactly.

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  • Thundergod
    replied
    Re: bean cooler - work in progress

    Originally posted by 5843584449585942490C0 link=1240304589/17#17 date=1244695657
    The key is having the flat bottom to increase the surface cooling area.
    Like the one pictured in Reply#6 above.

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  • TOTHETUNE
    replied
    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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  • Ronin
    replied
    Re: bean cooler - work in progress

    Does it blow off the beans too?

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  • tedk
    replied
    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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  • moreCoffee
    replied
    Re: bean cooler - work in progress

    awesome - sounds like Im all set - thanks for your input guys!

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  • Thundergod
    replied
    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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  • Koffee_Kosmo
    replied
    Re: bean cooler - work in progress

    Originally posted by 5E4D481F1719162E0 link=1240304589/11#11 date=1241247483
    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...
    Thats good enough for me
    I have read somewhere that one should aim to cool the hot beans within 4 minutes

    KK

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  • moreCoffee
    replied
    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...

    Leave a comment:


  • moreCoffee
    replied
    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.

    Leave a comment:


  • Koffee_Kosmo
    replied
    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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  • Dimal
    replied
    Re: bean cooler - work in progress

    Lookin good Pete..... [smiley=thumbsup.gif]

    Mal.

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  • Thundergod
    replied
    Re: bean cooler - work in progress

    Looks like mine but I paid $5!

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  • moreCoffee
    replied
    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...


    Leave a comment:

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