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Spallation of Beans

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  • Spallation of Beans

    On my last couple of roasts, Ive noticed some alarming spallation happening to my beans (attached pic of the abused beans). The last couple of roasts (popper) Ive done have been on cold, rainy days here in Hobart, and Im not sure whether it is the increased humidity, or perhaps increased roast times, leading to my beans spalling in this appalling manner

    Physical damage from the popper (it never used to happen, but maybe with a longer roast time, some other process is occuring)? Humidty effects?

    Any similar experiences or thoughts?


  • #2
    Re: Spallation of Beans

    Hi DanW...

    By spallation do you mean small divots appearing in the surface from small missing "bits"?

    If you do, then thats pretty normal- I get some each roast (BM/heatgun). They are caused by the outer heating and expanding at a different rate to the inner of the bean causing small areas to "crack" away....

    generally part of the second crack.... the further you push into it- the more divots you get.

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    • #3
      Re: Spallation of Beans

      Yes, thats exactly what i mean - large chunks (well, more of a thin veneer) pulling away from the outer rind of the bean, as you can see in the image. Ive never really had it happen before... even taking beans well past 2nd crack... maybe it is a combination of factors - i have been experimenting with slightly smaller batches and thats made it harder to hear 2nd crack, so that could be it. Maybe the humidty plays a roll also.

      As long as my beans are normal Im happy

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      • #4
        Re: Spallation of Beans

        I think I read somewhere that it can also be due to the roast progressing too fast.

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        • #5
          Re: Spallation of Beans

          A brief discussion of divits is here: http://coffeesnobs.com.au/YaBB.pl?num=1154146490/15#15


          Java "Did lots of cracking tonight!" phile
          Toys! I must have new toys!!!

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          • #6
            Re: Spallation of Beans

            Thanks for that,

            I think you might be right - the smaller batches i was experimenting with might have resulted in the exterior of the beans baking too quickly. Ill up the batch size again and observe the results

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