Tips on how to roast 100gm in Behmor?

[MrFreddofrog]

For all you manual roasters out there, got any tips for roasting small quantities?

I've got some columbian decaf which I drink vary rarely so thinking of roasting it in small batches.

With 300-400gm I normally use 100% till a bit before FC and then start backing off the heat but with only 100gm, I suspect it will roast way too fast.

So before I start experimenting, anyone got some wise words of wisdom?

[LeroyC]

Wise words? Don't bother. I'd say 200g would be minimum for a decaf, you'll have no control otherwise. Maybe try 200g on P2 or P3.

[MrFreddofrog]

Yeah I know, but 200gm is about 10 x 15gm shots after water loss which I wouldn't finish for months so I'll end up throwing it away.

The OCD control freak in me won't allow me to use the program buttons. I'd much rather manually control the roast and if it stuffs up I have only myself to blame.

[gonzo89]

Sorry Freddo but Leroy is right, it wont happen. When I started roasting on a behmor however long ago I tried 100g with manual settings and there is no point. Might I add that for a water processed decaf in particular the low charge will make things even worse in comparison to other non decaf processed beans as the exothermic reaction gets out of hand if you go into 1c too hot. Treat it delicately.

I woule advise you to play around with the whole 100% until 1C. Try ramping down the heat a bit before 1C. That may work for 400g ( I don't recommend going that high). I have played around a bit with a higher temperature going into 1C vs coasting into it and slowing down 1C for the Colombian decaf and there is a big difference on the palate.

Best of luck!

[DesigningByCoffee]

Maybe buy a popper for decaf - 50g roasts are easy then
Although when Andy's decaf WOW is so amazing - maybe you could just drink more of it!

[gonzo89]

The colombian decaf can be very nice indeed once you work out how you prefer to roast it. I've had the same bean at several places and I haven't agreed on how it was roasted for my taste. It may have been the brewing paramters to some extent, but more than certain I can discern it was the roast because this bean is decent.

[LeroyC]

I think that only leaves you with two options then:

1. As Matt said, buy a popper. They can be a bit hit and miss but you can pick them up cheap so could be worth a try. A batch size of 80-100g would probably be about right.

2. Use the Behmor to roast 200g batches and give half of it away to family, friends or colleagues. (Or barter with it. I swap my home roasted coffee for free range eggs with a guy at work).

[Alexpid]

You could also roast 200 g, use the 100 g as usual and put the other 100 g in the freezer just after roasting.

[gonzo89]

(Or barter with it. I swap my home roasted coffee for free range eggs with a guy at work).

That's a great trade Leroy only wish I had someone to do the same trade with as egg consumption in this house is through the roof and the cost of buying proper free range adds up.

[scotchparty1]

Yeah, just roast 200g & freeze the excess.

[MrFreddofrog]

Don't you thing roasting 100gm at 25% or 50% power would be gentle enough?

I do have a popper but it's pretty hard to get consistent results.

And I'm planning to drink it as a night cap, 1/3 decaf, 1/3 Kahlua, 1/3 Cointreau, so I guess it's a distinct possibility I may end up drinking more that envisaged anyway

[LeroyC]

Don't you thing roasting 100gm at 25% or 50% power would be gentle enough?

I do have a popper but it's pretty hard to get consistent results.

And I'm planning to drink it as a night cap, 1/3 decaf, 1/3 Kahlua, 1/3 Cointreau, so I guess it's a distinct possibility I may end up drinking more that envisaged anyway

Sounds like you haven't tried yet so why not just give it a go. Definitely start off gentle and just take it easy. Each decaf will differ slightly but you probably want to go easy with a Swiss Water DCF. I'd start on P3 or P4 auto and let it do its thing for a few minutes before switching into manual. Monitor whatever temp readings you've got and aim for a gentle, but continuous RoR.

[gonzo89]

*flips 'to freeze or not to freeze' debate switch to on*

[MrFreddofrog]

Ok, just decided to give it ago and see what happened. Wasn't as bad as I thought not that I have tasted it yet. Started at 50% but ROR too low so increased to 75%. Couldn't quite control ROR after FC and ended up with final temp 24C over FC temp. I also didn't expect SC to happen so soon.

Will try it in a week and see how it goes. At least I now have a baseline for next time.