I-Coffee roasting experiences

[sorrentina]

Re: I-Coffee roasting experiences

are you roasting 250 grams for these beans? I only ask because perhaps beans that require more roasting than normal would be better done at 150 grams... but perhaps you already tried that?

[Kafine]

Re: I-Coffee roasting experiences

Yemen was my only failure so i only do it in 150gm batches. When i did 250gm i couldnt get it to first crack and it baked and then burnt.. i think i read its a very hard bean.

[Woopee]

Re: I-Coffee roasting experiences

I tried a roast without pre-heating today.

I weighed out 150 grams of beans.

I set the timer to its highest level.

I let the roast progress to about 10 minutes (2 timer lights were out), then pressed the power button twice to reset the roast, all the timer lights came back on.

Roast continued for about 4 minutes more, getting through start and end of first crack and turned itself off even though all timer lights were still on just on start of second crack. Had to hit power button again to keep the roast going.

Just curious as to why the roaster stopped on me so quickly :-?

Was it the idiot behind the roaster or the machine itself having one of those days :-/

ps: still love it to bits

[sorrentina]

Re: I-Coffee roasting experiences

Hello there Wayne,

not sure why that happened but a similar thing did happen to me once- I had to reset the timer twice. It could be that there is a high temp cut off- and with a only 150g and resetting the timer you reached the temp limit.... Let me know if it happens again or becomes a problem.

[Woopee]

Re: I-Coffee roasting experiences

Will do.

Cheers,

Wayne

[Kafine]

Re: I-Coffee roasting experiences

Wayne mine does that as well if i try to do two batches too close together.. just turns off.. i think its an over temp cutoff

[Woopee]

Re: I-Coffee roasting experiences

Thanks, Kafine.

Good to know it mightnt be me but the roaster.

Cheers,

Wayne.

[Woopee]

Re: I-Coffee roasting experiences

Hi Guys,

Did a 150g roast of Green Mountain this morning. No preheat, timer set to 9, and let her go to see how she went. Just as first crack started at 11.45 the roaster stopped with one light flashing. I pressed the power button, the roaster came back on with all lights on for about five seconds, then turned itself off. I pressed the power button again, all lights came on and the roaster kept going this time so that I could finish first crack at 13.35. I pulled the roast at start of second crack 14.06.

I think I might stick to preheat roasts as it seems to be a lot less troublesome for me.

Im just not sure if this is how it should go with no preheating. Seems awfully complicated on my roaster :-X

Cheers.

[Kafine]

Re: I-Coffee roasting experiences

I dont pre heat never have. I do 150gm as 2 of those make 250Gm plus of browns which lasts me nearly a week. I just put in the beans turn the dial and i get to second crack before the roaster gets to the auto cooling cycle. I hold the button in and turn off the roaster and cool the beans externally. very easy very consistent roasts 1st crack always between 10min and 12 min second 14 to 15 min.. I then let her cool with power off for 30 mins and do the next roast.. If i do second roast too soon then the roaster turns itself off but now i wait and no problems.

[Kafine]

Re: I-Coffee roasting experiences

I have found my problem! yeah there is a switch under the chaff tray that was being fowled by a rubber or silicone ring that the chaff collector sits on and triggers. i make sure it is not fowled and the machine works well hot or cold no cutoff

[headinclouds]

Re: I-Coffee roasting experiences

i normally roast a level measuring cup (the one included with the roaser). ill have to do some weighing to see how much that is but id suspect its around 150g, perhaps a bit less

ive just done three roasts at around 200g to see how it changes the way they roast. (2x measured to the 100 line on the cup)
i didnt notice first crack in any of the roasts and i had to do two resets to get them to finished roast. i was going away from the roaster a bit, so it may have been just that. i didnt hear second crack either and i was waiting for that. it meant that i took my first roast far darker than id normally go. i got a bit paranoid after that and took the next two out before second crack. i think i prefer roasting in the smaller amounts where the timer has enough to take it to roasted in a single go.

i wonder if the extra mass muffles the sound somewhat?

so far ive been using the measuring cup that came with the roaster, but i suspect that the smaller beans like the yemen will result in a slightly higher mass in each roast.

ive ordered a set of scales (thanks to mals recomendation in another thread -myweigh 7001dx) so i can measure by weight rather than volume.

really enjoying the blending too and this machine is great for doing little batches quickly 8-)

[trentski]

Re: I-Coffee roasting experiences

i had to do two resets to get them to finished roast.

Did you record the time it took for the roast? I roast 250 grams every roast and only reset the timer once. I have had roasts go out to 20 minutes on cold days.

[headinclouds]

Re: I-Coffee roasting experiences

it seems it might be a good idea for me to start timing again. i was using a phone app for it when i was popper roasting. i think i might go back to that for a bit.

[sorrentina]

Re: I-Coffee roasting experiences

some beans do pop a lot quieter- but in general if you are nearby you can hear first (and second) crack. It is easy to get fooled when you wait for second crack- with an ear near the dome you hear the beans start to click against each other and think it has started. I call this fools second crack... If you wait you will hear the real deal a minute later: a sharper snap- not just an uncertain clink. When you do over 200 grams it can take quite while from first crack to second- 4 or more minutes with harder/drier beans.

I think it is a very good idea to stay near the machine while roasting- if a jam occurred (from a stone or similar), or if a roast gets away- you can lose a batch. Especially when you are roasting over 150 and resetting the timer- one minute can make a big difference- and I think it is important to watch the last few minutes of the roast so you can decide what colour you want precisely.

[oldbeamer2]

Re: I-Coffee roasting experiences

Agree with Jack here, I cant think of a better way to know when youre at second crack than by hearing it.

If you are having troubles actually hearing it, keep in mind that the majority of the crack sound will emerge from the BACK of the roaster, around where the afterburner is.

Thankfully you dont need to get your ear too close.