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KONA - Mediocre Taste - how do you know if its technique or beans

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  • KONA - Mediocre Taste - how do you know if its technique or beans

    First Roast efforts:  How do you know if mediocre flavor is roasting
    technique or mediocre bean crop?

    1.  Third batch on my First Popcorn popper roast attempt
    - Lions Gate Farms Kona green beans from their website
    - first crack at 3m30s, finished at 5m10s
    - first sound of second crack at 8m10s; immediately cooled beans
    - probably Full City roast
    - set aside 27 hours
    - ground beans in new Costco Capresso burr grinder; make 4 cups to taste.

    Id describe the taste as mild and flat, unexciting, no bitterness.
    Wife said she detected an after-taste.

    Q1: How do I know whether this disappointing experience is due to current
    crop quality or my popcorn popper roasting Inexperience?

    Q2:  Advice for me as a NEWBIE roaster?

    Q3.  Advice for roasting KONA coffee?

    Its been suggested I try to extend the time to first crack considerably
    by modulating the heater coils power.

    Jim

  • #2
    Re: KONA - Mediocre Taste - how do you know if its technique or beans

    If youve only done one roast and you were completely unsure if beans or popper, with those times I would more be trying a different type of bean - preferably one that you have tried roasted before if you can get it. Modifying the popper seems a bit extreme after a first roast, and those times arent overly bad for a popper. Ive had OK tasting roasts hit second crack at 4 minutes. Theyre not fantastic, but they certainly wouldnt be "tasteless".

    Also, when you said you "set aside", Im assuming you did that in a bag with a one way valve? Id be leaving for at least another 4 days, then try again too. One day may not be enough.

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    • #3
      Re: KONA - Mediocre Taste - how do you know if its technique or beans

      By all means extend your roast times by modding your popper by adding a chimney and (Only if youre knowledgeable about electronics!) separating the heater circuit. Heres a good place to start looking at using a popper: http://coffeesnobs.com.au/YaBB.pl?num=1174699442

      In re Kona beans they typically dont like being roasted into 2nd crack and taste best if pulled prior to reaching it. There are also a lot of low grade beans being offered as Kona coffees so be sure you research the beans thoroughly before buying.


      Java "Welcome to the club!" phile
      Toys! I must have new toys!!!

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