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Roast-a-rama

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  • rowdee
    replied
    Re: Roast-a-rama

    Thanks Mal,

    Still drinking the Sumatrans today and they are getting better every day. Cant believe the depth of flavour that keeps developing.

    I will try the Costa Rican either tomorrow or Monday and let you know.


    Geoff.

    Leave a comment:


  • Dimal
    replied
    Re: Roast-a-rama

    Gday rowdee,

    That Costa Rican roast looks terrific... cant wait to read your cupping impressions once your metabolism has slowed down a bit . Your setup looks nice and simple, and talk about effective 8-). Im going to have to rig up something a bit more permanent to secure the heat gun as I havent got very good dexterity in either of my hands anymore.... So the thinking cap has to be worn for a couple of days . Will look forward to hearing what you think about the Costa Rica beans in a couple of days,

    Cheers,
    Mal.

    Leave a comment:


  • rowdee
    replied
    Re: Roast-a-rama

    Mal, I forgot to thank you for the advice regarding the Costa Rican beans.

    You were right about the dark colour, fantastic.

    I took it to about 20 seconds into rolling second crack.

    Second crack didnt take long, first at 7.10 and second at about 8.50, they really darken in a hurry dont they!

    Cant wait to try them but cant drink any more coffee today, I am switched on for the rest of the day, hopefully not too much of the night.

    Geoff.

    Leave a comment:


  • rowdee
    replied
    Re: Roast-a-rama

    Hi Mal,

    I have attached photo of my set up with the heat gun and breadmaker. The more roasts I do the more I like it.

    Hand roasting did have its advantages, I liked the mantric state of stirring the beans and seeing them transform.

    However what I notice with the hands free approach is that the changes in the beans are more observable, or at least I notice more what is happening because I am not so concerned with the stirring and holding the heat gun.

    Geoff. 8-)

    Leave a comment:


  • Dimal
    replied
    Re: Roast-a-rama

    Originally posted by rowdee link=1155122565/0#13 date=1155797408
    Day off tomorrow so will be doing lots of tasting.
    Sounds like you might need the extra couple of days up your sleeve, eh..... Youll be like a 4 cylinder car firing on all 8 pots

    Originally posted by rowdee link=1155122565/0#13 date=1155797408
    Next roast is going to be the Costa Rican which I have not tried before.
    I think youll like this one... is really easy to roast through to a very dark roast if thats the type of roasts you prefer. Doesnt kill off the intrinsic characteristics of the bean but develops really great body as the roast progresses further into 2nd Crack. I wouldnt take it further than 40 seconds past the start of rolling 2nd though, might start to develop some ashiness into the flavour profile and this will definitely detract from the overall flavours :P.

    Originally posted by rowdee link=1155122565/0#13 date=1155797408
    When I get around to it I will also post a photo of the roasting set up.
    Will be very interested to see your particular setup.... definitely seems like the beginning of a whole new trend in coffee roasting doesnt it :.

    All the best,
    Mal.

    Leave a comment:


  • rowdee
    replied
    Re: Roast-a-rama

    Thanks Mal, couldnt wait to try the beans.

    I roasted 2 lots of Sumatran Mandheling from the August polls. The first lot I pulled out just on second crack and the second lot which are pictured went to rolling second crack.

    I am delighted with both although the longer roasted has more strength (which is why I like the Sumatran). I tried them this morning even though I only roasted them last night! The next couple of days will be interesting in terms of their development.

    Day off tomorrow so will be doing lots of tasting.

    Next roast is going to be the Costa Rican which I have not tried before.

    When I get around to it I will also post a photo of the roasting set up.

    Geoff.

    Leave a comment:


  • doppler
    replied
    Re: Roast-a-rama

    Turning a breadmaker into a coffee roaster?
    next well be able to turn a soda fountain into an espresso machine

    Doppler

    Leave a comment:


  • Dimal
    replied
    Re: Roast-a-rama

    Lookin good there rowdee 8-),

    It really looks like the BM roaster is going to be a big winner from the few roasts that have come in so far..... Youll have to let us know how the beans turn out as a brew,

    Mal.

    Leave a comment:


  • rowdee
    replied
    Re: Roast-a-rama

    Well, I have rigged up the whole hands free deal now!

    Sensational, suspended the heat gun on a length of chain so the nozzle is just above the breadmaker basket. First crack at 8 and second at 12 and it was away!!! Good to have my hands free so I could get the basket out and cool the beans.

    The heat factor wasnt really an issue because the gun was far enough away to give extra time for roasting and not overheat anything.

    The agitation with the paddle is great and because of the depth of the basket there is not a problem with beans flying around. 8-)

    Leave a comment:


  • rowdee
    replied
    Re: Roast-a-rama

    Thanks Baristacrat (love that name!),

    I was browsing last night and discovered Correttos thread. Excellent innovation.

    Will try my beans tomorrow and probably do another roast then as well.

    I forgot to say I used 200g rather than my customary 150g in the bowl and it handled it without any worries at all. As per the other thread, reckon it could take 500g easily.

    Next roast I am going to try and bypass the initial kneading so it goes straight to the fast, continuous action.

    Leave a comment:


  • Baristacrat
    replied
    Re: Roast-a-rama

    Hi Rowdee,

    I cant take any credit for the excellent innovation of the breadmaker, that gem of an idea belongs to Corretto and her original post describes her set up which also involves the heatgun being mounted above the breadmaker so it is hands free, and a fan nearby for chaff removal and cooldown.

    I have done a few roasts with my breadmaker now and it is awesome for consistency, I havent found holding the heatgun an issue and quite like to be able to move it over the beans as they are being mixed, maybe the gloss will wear off after a couple of hundred roasts!!! Re the heat, my first roast whizzed way out of control as I was holding the heatgun too close to the beans, and combined with the ambient temperature from the tin, it was too much and resulted in overcooked beans.  > As Javaphile suggested, I have pulled the heatgun right back nearer to the rim, and this enables first crack at around 9 mins and the second however soon after i need depending on bean and the manipulation of gun to bean space.

    Have a look at Correttos post for some visuals it is in the Roasting thread, Easy Hands Free Heat Gun Set Up lots of other good posts there. I also took the lid off my Roasthouse aka breadmaker, as it just got in the way.  

    Leave a comment:


  • rowdee
    replied
    Re: Roast-a-rama

    Hey Baristacrat,

    Thanks very much for the idea of the breadmaker. ;D

    I had been thinking about automating the stirring because I like the heat gun and thought the breadmaker a great idea.

    So today, with my freshly arrived Sumatrans I pulled out the Breville breadmaker (from storage under the sink) and gave it a whirl. Really impressive, gets very hot though, so cut the heat in half after first crack (5 mins) and second came in at 14.

    The paddle in the basket is excellent for agitation and the heat obviously wont hurt the breadmaker but not so sure about the heat gun or my hand. I have taken the lid off the breadmaker for my next roast so will let you know how it goes.

    Also I am going to rig up something to hold the heat gun directly above the bowl without it being in the bowl. The good thing about the breadmaker is it is solid and doesnt move so being able to fix the heat gun is much easier than it was with a stainless steel set up.


    Leave a comment:


  • Baristacrat
    replied
    Re: Roast-a-rama

    Java[insert]Phile - Thanks for that info, I was fairly sure from reading up on some of your other posts after I roasted that I was too hot and too fast (!) So much to learn so many beans to roast!!!

    Belinda - Holding the heatgun with flesh tongs, I moved the heat diffuser over the beans while they were being circulated, which may be total motion overkill  : I think it is just going to take a little while to find the optimum method, definately need to work further away from the bean. And yes it is totally addicitve, I am really pissed I have work committments for the next 2 days away from my roasting set up. I must post the picture of my post roast stovetop though, it was tres cyclone larry, compared to your fantastically clean set up piccies  :-[

    If im this excited now, I can only imagine the state ill be in once I start cupping and then brewing.  ;D

    Leave a comment:


  • Javaphile
    replied
    Re: Roast-a-rama

    Howdy Baristacrat and congrats on your first roast!

    Looking at your pic I see what appears to be a lot of scorched tips which is an indication of to much heat. Your short roasting time is also indicative of to much heat.

    Try aiming for at least a 12 minute roast with a minimum of 3 minutes between 1st crack and pulling the beans. This will allow the beans to fully develop their flavor.

    Java "The roasting fool" phile

    Leave a comment:


  • Dimal
    replied
    Re: Roast-a-rama

    Thats a great looking roast there Baristacrat (love that name 8-)),

    Im definitely going to mod our BM with a switch to bypass the automatic kneading control and then therell be nothing to hold us back. Dont forget to let us know how the roast turns out in the brew..... gotta have that feedback :P,

    Mal.

    Leave a comment:

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