Without going into too much detail, my last roast was without doubt my worst effort since I started roasting over 10 years ago.
Decided to roast two batches of 750 grams (green) different beans, my intention being to blend them post roast.
The first batch started off well, as is my preference I had decided to roast quite dark, in fact I took them just past SC, so they were a little darker than normal and showing oily flecks, bugger.
Set the second batch going and walked away, came back a couple of minutes later, the bean temp was still sitting around 20°C, whats going on? first thought, heat gun had failed, so bumped the temp, and kept doing so until I was showing around 600°, by this time things were happening fast, I reached FC at about 6 minutes, my normal time to FC is 14 mins then a further 5 mins to finish just prior to SC.
So! what to do, I'm at FC in less than half my normal time, at this point I realised I hadn't put the thermocouple back into the roaster for my second batch the the display was only showing ambient temp, the heat gun had not failed and the roast was in fact roaring along.
Thermo couple back in, what to do? I'm in unknown territory, have hit FC way too early, decided to back the temp right off and to take it to SC in my normal time of 5 mins, nope! not to be, the roast has taken off, I hit SC about 3 mins later, total roast time of about 9 mins, my normal is 19 mins.
The result was a bloody oily mess, not entirely undrinkable but pretty close.
I guess the message is, if your going to deviate from your normal process, check everything is set up as it should be, we live and learn.
P.S. Just roasted another double batch this morning, much more satisfactory result.
The failed batch looked a little like the pic below, far too dark for my taste.
Decided to roast two batches of 750 grams (green) different beans, my intention being to blend them post roast.
The first batch started off well, as is my preference I had decided to roast quite dark, in fact I took them just past SC, so they were a little darker than normal and showing oily flecks, bugger.
Set the second batch going and walked away, came back a couple of minutes later, the bean temp was still sitting around 20°C, whats going on? first thought, heat gun had failed, so bumped the temp, and kept doing so until I was showing around 600°, by this time things were happening fast, I reached FC at about 6 minutes, my normal time to FC is 14 mins then a further 5 mins to finish just prior to SC.
So! what to do, I'm at FC in less than half my normal time, at this point I realised I hadn't put the thermocouple back into the roaster for my second batch the the display was only showing ambient temp, the heat gun had not failed and the roast was in fact roaring along.
Thermo couple back in, what to do? I'm in unknown territory, have hit FC way too early, decided to back the temp right off and to take it to SC in my normal time of 5 mins, nope! not to be, the roast has taken off, I hit SC about 3 mins later, total roast time of about 9 mins, my normal is 19 mins.
The result was a bloody oily mess, not entirely undrinkable but pretty close.

I guess the message is, if your going to deviate from your normal process, check everything is set up as it should be, we live and learn.
P.S. Just roasted another double batch this morning, much more satisfactory result.

The failed batch looked a little like the pic below, far too dark for my taste.



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