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My first roasting experience

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  • My first roasting experience

    Well I have to say, I am very impressed with my first foray into home roasting - after buying a Breville Crazy Popper thinking my daughter might like popcorn (how wrong was I), I discovered coffee roasting - a good excuse to recommission my Rocky and Silvia which had been in hibernation.

    I ordered the starter pack and received

    - Brazilian
    - Sumatran Mandheling
    - PNG A Grade Washed
    - India Mysore Nuggets

    We roasted in about 80-90 gm lots.

    We did a sample roast just to see all the changes you experience throughout the roast, going up to about 15 minutes. Didnt get a lot of smoke.

    The brazilian gave off plenty of chaff after about a minute, first crack was about 5 min 20 secs, and we took it to about 8 minutes - finding it very hard to hear the second crack.

    The Sumatran gave off very little chaff, and first crack was about 5 mins 30 secs, and we again took it to about 8mins 30 secs where we could hear lots of crackling (I am assuming the second crack?). The sumatran roast didnt seem as consistent as the brazilian roast.

    We didnt take the roasts much further as we dont like really strong coffee so thought this would suit us.

    Anyway, I have been sniffing the bags all week - noticing the aromas developing. Today was the first chance we have had to try the coffee itself.

    Brazilian - machine set at -8 (which is about the limit of where mine is set - cant get any finer), delivered 60 ml in 20 secs with a 4mm crema. Coffee was a slightly bitter but definite coffee flavours - according to our uneducated palates. I probably need to tamp a bit harder I think?

    Sumatran - grind set at -8 delivered 60ml in 30secs with a 5mm crema. Coffee was very creamy and much sweeter than the brazilian - a perfect pour for us!

    We also tried a blend of 50/50 of the two, and with grind at -8 delivered 60ml in about 23 sec with a 6mm crema. We were very happy with that, and the resulting cappucinos - my other half was very happy with it.

    Anyway, I think we still have a way to go (the can of soup is just waiting to be consumed) and I am about to order a temperature probe/thermocouple to see if we can get better control of the roast. We have yet to try the other two coffees in our sample pack, so that will be on the cards next weekend I think.

    Will definitely be getting some more coffee at the next polls!


  • #2
    Re: My first roasting experience

    Welcome to your new addiction!

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    • #3
      Re: My first roasting experience

      Yes, addiction it surely is... I cant wait to start doing another batch... :-)

      The Brazil beans dont really stack up as a SO in my opinion (Your starter pack is the same as mine) however blending it with the Sumatran should give quite good results (As you mentioned)... Im looking at doing that Blend shortly....

      The Sumatran gave some amazing aroma, with Chocolate and nut and a strong (Double ristretto) Latte/\/Flat White gives a nice cup...

      Marc

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      • #4
        Re: My first roasting experience

        Today I finally got around to adding the all important accessory to my popper - the soup tin chimney!

        I am truly amazed as to how much of a difference it made to the roast. Being able to roast a higher volume of beans made the temperature control a lot easier, and the beans were also quite an even colouring at the end of the roast.

        After a dismal failure at roasting the PNG A grade last week (could not hear 2nd crack, and suspect I didnt roast long enough) I am looking forward to taste testing this weeks attempt with the chimney addition. Second crack was much more distinctive this time.

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        • #5
          Re: My first roasting experience

          Hi Myrtle,

          While roasting, or more precisely degree of roast is ultimately a personal thing, so anything thats suggested is up to your discretion, I would suggest that you stick with trying to roast just up to the very start of 2nd crack for most varieties of beans, and then some can be taken into, no more than about 20sec to try. After that you could try a bit more, but it will quickly go to charcoal.

          Brazillians typically are usually recommended to stop just before 2nd crack, but do need to go all the way to just before to develop their flavour.
          Sumatrans and PNG can be good either way....just before or about 20 sec into 2nd.

          Depending on where you live it is usually better to roast outside and often cooler part of the day will help slow the popper down a bit to (not such a problem for us in Tassie for half the year).

          You wont see much smoke from the popper, the fan is pretty good at blowing it out and dispersing it, compared to other roasting methods that arent fan forced

          Since you have done some baseline roasts you know about what time frame you are looking at with your popper, and it should be possible to hear the first snaps of 2nd crack with only a little bit of practice.

          Happy roasting,
          Regards
          Bullitt

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          • #6
            Re: My first roasting experience

            Yeh, I generally roast and pull the roast before 2nd rolling crack in the crazy popper with 150g load.

            Approx 9 mins...

            First cracks approx 3:45-4:00mins... and finishing 1st crack at about 5:30min... then at 8:30mins the 1st signs of 2nd crack...

            Marc

            Decaf... take 1 mins less for 1st and 2nd cracks...

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            • #7
              Re: My first roasting experience

              Thanks for the feedback, guys.

              With the chimney in place, it was definitely a lot easier to hear the cracks. First crack started about 4:30 mins finishing around 6 min, and second crack was approaching 10 mins. I stopped the roast pretty much then.

              My second batch, was smoking ever so slightly when I pulled it out, and the beans were a little darker than the first lot, so I may have gone over a bit there? Either way it was a much more consistent roast than my earlier attempts - they tasted pretty good, so I am looking forward to taste testing in a day or two.

              I have gotten into the habit of setting my popper up outside on the balcony - beautiful in the WA sunshine at the moment!

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              • #8
                Re: My first roasting experience

                Originally posted by Myrtle link=1158454056/0#6 date=1160363060
                My second batch, was smoking ever so slightly when I pulled it out, and the beans were a little darker than the first lot, so I may have gone over a bit there?
                Smoke will start to increase as you get to 2nd crack and the farther into 2nd crack you go the more smoke will be produced.


                Java "Smokin!" phile
                Toys! I must have new toys!!!

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