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  • Starter pack just delivered

    Hi all,
    Im new to this whole roasting thing. I love coffee and im excited to see how this goes. I had a play with a popper and some green beans last weekend and was very impressed with a couple of the roasts! Some were a bit dark and oily... maybe over done?
    The popper we have only took about 4 minutes to first crack, is this a bit fast?

    So I have 4 different beans now (Brazil - yellow bourbon, Ethiopia - ghimbi, Uganda - masaba and Peru - ceja de selva estate) any suggestions as to how dark these should be roasted?
    I plan to experiment a bit, but any suggestions will be welcomed

  • #2
    Re: Starter pack just delivered

    Okay, first things first, The device you are using to roast the beans is notoriously quick, The more beans you have in it, the shorter the time it takes for roasting (weird, I know, has something to do with the airflow speed) Im currently running a similar device to you, and am only doing 75 gram batches at a time

    Some of the other things Ive done that seem to have affected roast time is "put the popcorn popper on a fan and turn it up full blast" I currently get a good 3 minute First Crack with a Second crack happening around the 8-9 minute mark.

    As for the colour, I think that its hard to judge on colour unless youve got something to compare it to, I dont bother roasting to colour, Im more "one minute past second crack and shes done" on my efforts. Just dont use the words "full city" ;D

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    • #3
      Re: Starter pack just delivered

      Originally posted by 405A5E404B4B4B59330 link=1319840590/0#0 date=1319840590
      any suggestions as to how dark these should be roasted?
      Have a look at the bean descriptions on Bean Bay, and order yourself a Coffeesnobs membership card to give you an idea of how dark you are roasting.


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      • #4
        Re: Starter pack just delivered

        Thanks guys,

        Here is a pic from one of my first roasts with the Brazil yellow bourbon especial.
        I pulled it just as the second crack was starting, might try the next batch a bit longer. Was roughly 5:40 in the popper

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        • #5
          Re: Starter pack just delivered

          those actually look pretty good for a popper, maybe a touch light unless thats the photo making them look lighter than they are

          i could never get a popper roast over 4 or 5 mins so that time for an unmodded popper isnt bad

          if youve only roasted the brazil the peru would probably be good to try next, its pretty easy to roast too

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          • #6
            Re: Starter pack just delivered

            Originally posted by 3A20243A31313123490 link=1319840590/3#3 date=1320229388
            Thanks guys,

            Here is a pic from one of my first roasts with the Brazil yellow bourbon especial.
            I pulled it just as the second crack was starting, might try the next batch a bit longer. Was roughly 5:40 in the popper 
            Have you tried this batch in the cup yet "J-rod"?

            These beans seem to be at their absolute best if pulled and cooled just before or just on the start of the first few snaps of 2nd-Crack. Makes for a beautifully smooth, buttery and very sweet cuppa.... 8-)

            Mal.

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            • #7
              Re: Starter pack just delivered

              J-rod, Im a newbie also and I am also using a popper (Breville Crazy). We have found sensational results just by using the popper.

              FWIW, I have increased the time by roasting on the stainless section of our BBQ at night and the popper draws cool air over the cold stainless steel. I roast 100 grams at a time and make sure I tilt the popper by propping up one side about 25mm. This promotes the beans to fold over rather than just spinning.

              The Brazil Yellow Bourbon Especial we got in the starter pack were so impressive I bought another 2.5 kilos.

              I roasted some Indonesian Mandheling Lumica last night that went for 10 minutes and they are roasted to about CS 9-10 and smell fantastic this morning.

              Bring on the poppers. 8-) Seeing as they ARE the most popular form of roasting here, I reckon there should be a popper only section on CS menu.

              Comment


              • #8
                Re: Starter pack just delivered

                I had a cup of the blend in the pic above this morning, was on of the best coffees i have made at home...could be the fact that I have just descaled my machine (was well over due!).
                It was definately smooth, and yea almost buttery to smell. Far from bitter too.
                I might do another batch slightly longer into the second crack.
                When you talk CS (coffeesnobs) 9 or 10...is this referring to the colour scale on the cards? Sorry just trying to get with the lingo!
                I think the length o this roast was due to the cold ambient temperature at night, it was breezy and i had the lid off the popper...gotta catch a few escapee beans every now and then though 8-)

                Thanks everyone on the tips!!
                Happy roasting

                Comment


                • #9
                  Re: Starter pack just delivered

                  Originally posted by 445E5A444F4F4F5D370 link=1319840590/7#7 date=1320381651
                  When you talk CS (coffeesnobs) 9 or 10...is this referring to the colour scale on the cards?
                  Yup!


                  Java "Freshly roasted" phile
                  Toys! I must have new toys!!!

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                  • #10
                    Re: Starter pack just delivered

                    Hi - I got the same starter pack as you - thought I might as well give some feedback and stop being a lurker!  (As well as get my post count high enough to sell stuff  :P)

                    Got a Flutter butter Kambrook popper.

                    Roasting in Melb usually in the morning around 16-20 ambient temp, using a 20metre outdoor extension cord, 75gram batches (on $1 electronic scale off ebay):
                    - Brazil - 6:30min to 1st crack, 10min to 2nd (I think)
                    - Ethiopian - had really varied results and struggled to get even roast
                    - Now onto the Peru - stopped using extension cord - 3:30 to 1st and 7:30 to 2nd...

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Re: Starter pack just delivered

                      Even though some members will tell you that using an extension chord will NOT make any difference, I have proved to myself that it definitely extends the roast time in a popper.

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                      • #12
                        Re: Starter pack just delivered

                        Originally posted by 260B14071B620 link=1319840590/10#10 date=1321763376
                        Even though some members will tell you that using an extension chord will NOT make any difference, I have proved to myself that it definitely extends the roast time in a popper.
                        Hmmm...

                        Yes, putting a long and maybe under rated power cord on any appliance will slow it down.

                        The voltage loss over a length of copper has to go somewhere though... it heats the extension cord and the heat loss in the cable is where your missing voltage goes.

                        Heating an extension cord is bad.

                        If you want to slow down your roast try with less beans in the popper instead. Far safer with a much lower risk of fire and death.

                        Blunt but true.

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Re: Starter pack just delivered

                          Ive just joined the Starter Pack Just Delivered army. No one warned me about the smell of unroasted beans. Had some fast talking to do to be allowed them in the house! [smiley=undecided.gif]

                          My first roasting experiences:

                          Vietnam Son La - 50 g in B&D Popper, with tin can chimney - worked just like they all say! First cracks at about 3 mins, lots of pops from 3.5-4.5 mins - then quiet. Left beans for another 15 mins, but no second crack and still only just about CS8. Figured out the quantity was too small and didnt heat properly.

                          Second try - 100g - first crack 3.5-4.5 mins, second about 8.5 mins, dumped beans at about 9mins. CS 9. Probably a bit too dark but still I cant wait to try them! ;D

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                          • #14
                            Re: Starter pack just delivered

                            You dont have to wait to try them, taste them everyday and see how the flavour changes as the beans mature. The only issue is if you only do a small batch, it may run out too soon from date of roasting and you wont be able to tell what they are like 2 weeks post rost for example.

                            Cheers

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                            • #15
                              Re: Starter pack just delivered

                              velozulu, what is wrong with the smell of unroasted beans, some of them are absolutely gorgeous, very floral smelling, I think in the minority unfortunately yes there are some that smell like dirty socks, Im not going there ;D

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