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  • Do you want the good news, or the bad news?

    Oh boy!

    Using Peru, because Andy told me it is a good, even bean to start with.  First, I tried the popper, with chimney.  Going by Alan Frew’s site (on Imax) he suggested 80gr for a popper, so that’s what I tried.  I think it worked out OK (tell, you when I tasted it.)  Got all worried, out on the balcony, started spitting with rain.  It took 4.20 minutes to get to first crack (I think that was first crack  ;D) then another 7.10 to get to second ( [smiley=undecided.gif]??)  I turned it off another 40 seconds later.  Pretty happy, although I have no idea if it’s OK or not.

    OK, I will now attempt to send picture - no idea if this will work  
    [img]C:/\/Documents and Settings/\/Judy Bednar/\/My Documents/\/Coffee/\/First Roast.jpg[/img]

    I have more photos to send, but try this first, nearly sure it wont work.

    Then, the sun came out again, so decided to give Imax a try.  Again, following Alan’s advice, I put in 140 gr.

    Now here’s where the problem starts.    (I remember reading someone having similar problems, but can’t find the post)  Again, following Alan’s advice, set it for 10 minutes.  NOTHING!  Machine hardly gets warm.  Coffee’s hardly moving.  When it had nearly finished the 10 minutes, I switched it off, had another look, incase I somehow missed some packing material, (a tiny curved wire fell out, no idea where from) put the coffee back and switched it to maximum.  Nothing!  Decided to forget about possible smoke, took it into the kitchen, figuring the extension cord may be the cause, put the kitchen exhaust on and put it back to full time again.  Realising that there was no chance of me hearing any cracks, what with the noise of Imax AND the exhaust, I stood and waited.  Noted that machine was still not too hot to touch, neither was the coffee.  Hardly any chaff.  (I have photos of this ;D)  At one stage, I put a white tissue under the chaff, to make the photo better, then forgot to take it out.  I came in the office to upload the photos, while the machine was going (long since stopped worrying about the coffee burning)  When I went back, I realised that the tissue was in there all that time – no fire!    Also, having emptied the first lot of chaff, there was hardly any more to mention.  After more then an hour all told, I have now given up.  A couple of the beans have changed colour slightly, but most haven’t What am I doing wrong?  

    BTW, should I toss these beans, or would they still be OK to roast?

    P.S. Could someone please tell me how to send images?  I have decided to try another way, hope this will work  http://s17.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=2...73CVYGFVOGQLDD
    Maybe not, just tried it, it said page is experiencing difficulties  


  • #2
    Re: Do you want the good news, or the bad news?

    Judy,

    The Imex results dont sound so good. The machine is defintely not getting hot enough. The stainless bit should get way too hot to touch, in fact I earnt my first few blisters last night!.

    Just saw the photos and I would hesitate to guess that for no result after 40mins the machine is likely faulty . Are you getting any hot air at all? The exhaust should be hot enought to prevent you from holding your hand in it for more than a few seconds. Theres not much to it really - all you do is wind the dial around and switch it on at the wall and the machine. Hope it turns out ok. Its be a real bummer to have issues with the machine after all your grief getting it.

    As an aside I found last night that the light on my switch doesnt come on any more when I turn it on. It heats up ok, but no red light. For those tronics experts out there - does the little red light matter?

    Cheers,

    Matt

    Comment


    • #3
      Re: Do you want the good news, or the bad news?

      Originally posted by Matt G link=1134890831/0#1 date=1134954056
      As an aside I found last night that the light on my switch doesnt come on any more when I turn it on. It heats up ok, but no red light. For those tronics experts out there - does the little red light matter?
      Usually its only there as an indication that the machine is on and doesnt affect the functionality of it at all.

      Java "Where did you say the Red Light District was again?" phile
      Toys! I must have new toys!!!

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: Do you want the good news, or the bad news?

        Sent an email to Vitali, actually got an answer!

        1 I test all machines before they leave here.  Meaning I set them up
        and run them for a short period.  This one appeared to be OK.  Maybe it got
        a knock somewhere on the way to you.
        2 No there is no one in Melbourne
        3 Will send you a replacement unit by Australia Post

        Could someone translate for me please?  Does this mean he doesnt want me to return the other one?

        Comment


        • #5
          Re: Do you want the good news, or the bad news?

          I think you should ask but Id wait until the replacement arrives and is found to work first.

          It may not be worth his while to have it returned as I dont think he services them. He may be doing you a fairly big favour in sending you another as I dont think he is required to send you a replacement if it is damaged during transit. Im not sure who is responsible for cost of return postage if it is damaged in transit. Probably the recipient.

          Hope it works out ok. A lot of buggering about!

          Comment


          • #6
            Re: Do you want the good news, or the bad news?

            Originally posted by Matt G link=1134890831/0#4 date=1134984397
            I think you should ask but Id wait until the replacement arrives and is found to work first.

            It may not be worth his while to have it returned as I dont think he services them. He may be doing you a fairly big favour in sending you another as I dont think he is required to send you a replacement if it is damaged during transit. Im not sure who is responsible for cost of return postage if it is damaged in transit. Probably the recipient.

            Hope it works out ok. A lot of buggering about!
            Which is why I avoid buying stuff on the internet, unless it is something thats unlikely to have a warranty problem, like books   or coffee (I just remembered coffee ;D)

            The box certainly didnt look damaged, so I dont know what happened to it.

            Comment


            • #7
              Re: Do you want the good news, or the bad news?

              Judy,

              That doesnt sound good at all. The Imex I received from Vitali a few weeks ago does a good job of the Peru beans (I use 125-130 grams) in about 10 mins. I find with these large beans they dont move around much for the first 5 minutes, but still your Imex should be getting well and truly hot. If its getting a bit hot you could try the aluminium foil modification as per: http://coffeesnobs.com.au/YaBB.pl?action=download;file=imex_mod.jpg

              Rob

              Comment


              • #8
                Re: Do you want the good news, or the bad news?

                Judy, sounds like your machine is well and truly dead. There is no way in hell it should take 40 minutes to roast beans.

                I had problems to start with it not getting hot enough, but overcame that by increasing the dosage up to 140 grams of beans per roast, and also by adding the aluminium foil mod that Rob pointed to above (basically fold up some aluminium foil and wrap it around half of the air vent). But even when i was still working it out, it wasnt taking that long.

                As far as im aware Vitali has a whole lot of machines that he is getting rid of, and said if one breaks he will replace it within 3 months or so... I would definitely do that in this case, and i doubt he wants the broken one back as he wont be repairing it.

                Comment


                • #9
                  Re: Do you want the good news, or the bad news?

                  Originally posted by matthewo link=1134890831/0#7 date=1135149415
                  Judy, sounds like your machine is well and truly dead. There is no way in hell it should take 40 minutes to roast beans.

                  I had problems to start with it not getting hot enough, but overcame that by increasing the dosage up to 140 grams of beans per roast, and also by adding the aluminium foil mod that Rob pointed to above (basically fold up some aluminium foil and wrap it around half of the air vent). But even when i was still working it out, it wasnt taking that long.

                  As far as im aware Vitali has a whole lot of machines that he is getting rid of, and said if one breaks he will replace it within 3 months or so... I would definitely do that in this case, and i doubt he wants the broken one back as he wont be repairing it.
                  I was using 140gr and at one stage I had my hand (instead of silverfoil ) completely covering the air vent (it wasnt too hot to touch) Another machine is meant to be in the mail. Probably wont get it before Xmas

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Re: Do you want the good news, or the bad news?

                    Ill post a little background info on this issue I discovered this week.

                    i have been a happy owner of an Imex for about a year. A couple of weeks back it died on me - it had roasted a lot of coffee, i think I got my moneys worth. I ordered a new one from Vitali, which I received in a little over a week. A big thanks to Alan for his excellent service.

                    It appears that the new one I received is the older generation 1 unit and my previous one was the gen2.

                    the gen2 had a number of improvements over the gen1 - namely it was hotter, had a bigger chaff filter and had a lip going into the chaff catcher to stop it filling up with beans during the roast.

                    Ive done 2 roasts so far on the gen1 roaster and neither made 2nd crack when I was roasting in fairly warm conditions, using 150g of beans. The gen2 would have made charcoal in about 5 minutes under the same conditions. I need to mess about with volumes, and probably look at the alfoil mod.

                    In short, it appears the Vitali Imex units are the older gen1 models, so be prepared to do some googling under alt.coffee and perhaps a mod if you pick one up. Still superb value if you are after a roaster, especially at the price Vitali are selling them.

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Re: Do you want the good news, or the bad news?

                      Originally posted by goatherder link=1134890831/0#9 date=1135294817
                      It appears that the new one I received is the older generation 1 unit and my previous one was the gen2.

                      the gen2 had a number of improvements over the gen1 - namely it was hotter, had a bigger chaff filter and had a lip going into the chaff catcher to stop it filling up with beans during the roast. . . . In short, it appears the Vitali Imex units are the older gen1 models, so be prepared to do some googling under alt.coffee and perhaps a mod if you pick one up. Still superb value if you are after a roaster, especially at the price Vitali are selling them.
                      I dont know which version I have (got it from Vitali a few weeks ago). It says 230V and 1300 watts. There doesnt seem to be a protective lip going into the chaf collector - the rim of the chaff collector is level with the bottom of the opening to the roasting chamber. I do usually get 8-11 minute roasts and can often hear the crackling of 2nd crack (+ smoke) if I turn the motor off at roasts end.

                      Id have thought the two generations of Imexs would have different wattage? Must google that . . .

                      Rob

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Re: Do you want the good news, or the bad news?

                        Ive applied the foil mod and cover about half the vents (I think some of the downward deflected hot air between the foil and the unit may have stuffed the light in my switch! ). I also pre-run the unit while Im setting up to warm it up before I throw the beans in. This combination gets me to 1st crack at about 5 mins and rolling 2nd it seems in a few minutes after that. After a 7-8 minute roast the beans can start to smoke. Im using the Viatli machine. The only issue I have noticed is that if I repeat the roast (i.e second batch) the second roast can take much longer. Not sure why and Ill pay more attention to process next time to see what I can isolate.

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Re: Do you want the good news, or the bad news?

                          Matt,

                          My 2nd batches in the Imex are usually faster than the first, but unlike you, I dont pre-heat.

                          Cheers,

                          Rob

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Re: Do you want the good news, or the bad news?

                            Originally posted by goatherder link=1134890831/0#9 date=1135294817
                            the gen2 had a number of improvements over the gen1 - namely it was hotter, had a bigger chaff filter and had a lip going into the chaff catcher to stop it filling up with beans during the roast.

                            In short, it appears the Vitali Imex units are the older gen1 models, so be prepared to do some googling under alt.coffee and perhaps a mod if you pick one up.  Still superb value if you are after a roaster, especially at the price Vitali are selling them.

                            I Must have the gen 1. I thought I had desintegrated a batch of beens the other day when I left them roasting for a few minutes only to discover on my return that there were no beans left in the imex. closer inspection showed that they were all in the chaf collector!!!

                            This "feature" plus the very long roast times dont endear me to the Imex at all. Its obvious that its pot luck as to wether you get a good one or not.

                            Something is only good value if it perfoms the task that it was meant to. A $10 dollar roaster that doesnt roast beans very well is still not a bargain let alone a $110 roaster.

                            Rob.

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Re: Do you want the good news, or the bad news?

                              Originally posted by goatherder link=1134890831/0#9 date=1135294817

                              In short, it appears the Vitali Imex units are the older gen1 models, so be prepared to do some googling under alt.coffee and perhaps a mod if you pick one up.  Still superb value if you are after a roaster, especially at the price Vitali are selling them.
                              I havent yet received the second unit, so no idea what that will do, but I must say that considering (from what I read) that the second generation roaster has been on the market for quite a while, I think it is dishonest to sell the older model without even disclosing that  to the customer.  As Rob said, if the unit doesnt work as advertised, than it isnt a bargain at any price. I certainly cant say I am too thrilled with the service from Vitali.  I will have to start Googling to see if there is a model number or something to find out which version one has

                              Comment

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