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  • Re: Breville Crazy Popper

    Originally posted by Coffee Kid link=1152343660/180#193 date=1166234854
    Do most of you put something over the top of popper when its reaching first crack or second to help it along quicker?
    I honestly dont think you need to do that CK,

    The times you posted above are a bit quick if anything so choking the air flow will only serve to speed things up even more and thats not what you need. Try reducing your batch size down to 80 grams as a starting point, assist the agitation until the beans are moving freely on their own, note when 1st Crack starts and finishes (if possible) and then when 2nd Crack starts.

    It would really be worth your while to let this roast go right through until the beans are almost charcoal so that you can record the various milestones and then be absolutely sure that you are in fact getting to 2nd Crack. We all had to go through this learning stage CK, its half the fun.... just need to be very observant, have your stop-watch handy and a pad to record the times, ambient temperature, etc and your nose at the ready and then go for it ;D.

    Let us know how you get on.... All the best,

    Mal.

    Comment


    • Re: Breville Crazy Popper

      Originally posted by Coffeechaser link=1152343660/180#192 date=1166230337
      I took the top off mine and gave it a run last night with 100grams of a Costa Rican bean. Previoulsy my times have been 5 minutes this stretched it out to 6 minutes. Was just on a bowl with a fan blowing across it. So either your heater is losing power or in order for the airflow to be improved the bottom needs more holes as you have done.

      So I will put some holes in the bottom of it soon so the air flows through more efficently.

      I think I will get some kind of mesh for the top of mine rather than trying to make up a top out of anything else. I am not overly worried about the looks of it. But it needs something so loose beans dont fall in and work their way under the popper chamber. A few tried to do that last night as they bounced around. So something to keep an eye on.
      I didnt mention (sorry) that the bottom was off too.
      So it had almost total free flow of air.
      Also, my fan was held as close as possible to the roasting chamber/chimney in order to try draw heat away faster.

      My chimney is effectively a cm or so shorter now and one bean did manage to escape, but Ill take that into account when I finish re-modding Frankenpopper.

      I had a closer look today at what my son was saying.
      The roasting chamber sits inside the metal body of the popper over the heating element.
      The air is forced past the heating element by the fan and it only means of escape then is through the vents into the roasting chamber and out through the top.

      He was thinking to somehow increase the height of the chamber above the element to move it a small distance from heatsource.
      As it is now it is about 0.5 cm from the heater.
      Does anyone think if was moved say 1cm or more further away that itd make much difference?

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      • Re: Breville Crazy Popper

        Thats all good TG I knew that you atleast had more holes so the airflow was more efficient than mine. I may take my popper up with me to Newcastle next week, where my tools are, so I can modify further. I was thinking I may actually put the yellow top back into position but cuts sections out of it with jigsaw and put mesh there so that way air escapes and may look a bit neater. I guess vanity does come into it
        That way I can probably open the bottom right up with some mesh underneath as well. I think it is worth persisting with the roaster for small batches. And for the cost of mesh it should be a cheap mod.

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        • Re: Breville Crazy Popper

          Well, More roasting today.

          First i did 80g of Brazil Minas, tempreture was 25 degree C, first crack at 3min 30secs and second at 10min 30secs (i think... cant tell difference much )

          Second roast i did some Peru with same tempreture and 80g. First at 2min 21secs and second at 9min 42secs (still i cant tell much of difference so sorta guessing the sounds of softer cracks as 2nd crack.)

          I used chopsticks and gave it more movement but still uneven roasts > any other ideas?

          This photo is the Brazil Minas


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          • Re: Breville Crazy Popper

            A close up of it. Some reason it looks alot darker

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            • Re: Breville Crazy Popper

              Peru

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              • Re: Breville Crazy Popper

                And again with close up its darker

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                • Re: Breville Crazy Popper

                  Originally posted by Coffeechaser link=1152343660/195#197 date=1166250106
                  Thats all good TG I knew that you atleast had more holes so the airflow was more efficient than mine. I may take my popper up with me to Newcastle next week, where my tools are, so I can modify further. I was thinking I may actually put the yellow top back into position but cuts sections out of it with jigsaw and put mesh there so that way air escapes and may look a bit neater. I guess vanity does come into it  
                  That way I can probably open the bottom right up with some mesh underneath as well. I think it is worth persisting with the roaster for small batches. And for the cost of mesh it should be a cheap mod.
                  For thew bottom Id be looking at some kindof plastic mesh (thats the end with the 240V remember) and wire mesh would probably be best in the top half because thats where the heated air is.

                  I like the idea of the jigsawed holes.
                  I know where my blades are, I just have to find the b#%*y jigsaw.

                  Remember Im using my chaff fan quite close to the popper to force the cold air past it.
                  Youll need big enough holes to force the cool air in not just let some hot air out.

                  UPDATE:
                  2 batches of Ethiopian Limu tonight (moe cooler weather).
                  Previously got 4:50 for 100g and 5:30 50g and angled popper.
                  Tonights 100g batches finished at 9:40 and 11:50.
                  :-[ Didnt notice fan was only on "Low" for 1st batch. An unplanned for lesson in the effect of fan speed/airflow on naked popper.

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                  • Re: Breville Crazy Popper

                    But what pattern are you going to cut into the top with the jigsaw? Once you find where it was left last, or who borrowed it last and didnt return it

                    Thanks for the tip about the mesh for the bottom I will need to investigate two kinds of mesh now.

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                    • Re: Breville Crazy Popper

                      The jigsaw has never been used.

                      I was thinking a bean, that way if I freehand cut ovalish holes I can say its a coffee bean shape. ;D

                      Any suggestions.

                      Are any particular shapes more conducive to airflow?

                      Come to think of it, Ill have to research "vortex effect" I think it is.
                      Something about larger and smaller openings at different ends.
                      The right way improves airflow.

                      So youd blow air into the right sized hole to maximise airflow through the popper and out the other hole.

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                      • Re: Breville Crazy Popper

                        Maybe a quick email to NASA will put you on the right track Thundergod

                        I can picture you nutting out some mathematical equations to get this done right. You have already proved that it can be done so thanks for all your hard work and giving me the opportunity to copy your experiments once they were successful. Was probably better than me working it out by myself, otherwise sparks may have been flying

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                        • Re: Breville Crazy Popper

                          Originally posted by Thundergod link=1152343660/195#204 date=1166263568
                          Come to think of it, Ill have to research "vortex effect" I think it is.
                          Something about larger and smaller openings at different ends.
                          The right way improves airflow.
                          Sounds like youre thinking of a venturi tube.


                          Java "Hhhmmm....Science!" phile
                          Toys! I must have new toys!!!

                          Comment


                          • Re: Breville Crazy Popper

                            Thanks Java.
                            I knew it started with a "V".

                            Input to the larger opening will give increased speed (caused by a partial vacuum created) out through the smaller opening.

                            I read about this years ago and until installing airconditioning in the house recently, used it to help keep the house cool.

                            My house is "open plan" so there is little airflow restriction front to back.
                            So I open the front windows fully and the back windows partially.
                            The venturi effect takes what little airflow there might be and the smaller window openings suck the air through the house.
                            This all supposes there is "some" airflow past the fully opened windows.

                            So the effect would be very useful in drawing the hot air out from the popper body.

                            Comment


                            • Re: Breville Crazy Popper

                              Originally posted by Coffee Kid link=1152343660/195#198 date=1166252388
                              First i did 80g of Brazil Minas, tempreture was 25 degree C, first crack at 3min 30secs and second at 10min 30secs (i think... cant tell difference much )
                              Hi again CK,

                              Actually, just looking at the Brazils.... Id say you have pretty much nailed 2nd Crack ok. Quite apart from the occasional divot here and there, the beans are nice and plump with a very smooth surface.... Always an indicator of achieving 2nd Crack (or getting very close to it anyway ). Dont worry about the unevenness, others have noticed this too with this particular bean and its more a case of the processing that these beans have undergone, not your roasting ability.

                              The roast milestones look a bit strange though, its unusual to see 1st Crack occur at 3 minutes odd and then 2nd Crack way off into the distance at 10+ minutes. Maybe youre not picking up on the subtlety of 2nd Crack. It is very quiet compared to 1st and rather than sounding like crackling or pop sounds, its more like a quiet continuous sound of crinkling cellophane or Xmas wrapping paper.

                              There still seems to be some Tip Scorching of the beans going on however, possibly occurring up to the time of 1st Crack when the beans arent moving around as much. You may need to stir the beans a bit more actively than you have in order to try and prevent this if possible, and it will not help the ultimate flavour in the cup.... You may notice an "ashy" background taste to the overall flavour profile. Hard to say though really, as its not all the beans but just a few, still worth trying to avoid if you can.

                              Originally posted by Coffee Kid link=1152343660/195#198 date=1166252388
                              Second roast i did some Peru with same tempreture and 80g. First at 2min 21secs and second at 9min 42secs (still i cant tell much of difference so sorta guessing the sounds of softer cracks as 2nd crack.)
                              Regarding the Peru? Similar comments to the Brazil.... That is, they definitely look to have reached 2nd Crack, there are a few divots noticeable (occurs during 2nd Crack) and also the odd scorched tip.... All in all though, the roasts look very good and you are to be commended on your first attempts. Better than my first attempts without doubt CK. Stick with it mate and you will get there, youre well on the way....

                              All the best,
                              Mal.

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