I-Coffee roasting experiences

[samhighley]

Re: I-Coffee roasting experiences

Well the roaster reset itself 4 times this morning. Tempted to remove the switch but the unit is only 2 weeks old.  After the last reset it goes all the way through without fail. 

This is what im experiencing. It resets 90% of the time within the first 2-minutes of roasting. After restarting it 3 or 4 times it seems to stabilise and roast through to the end. Ive noticed that the control-panel lights will often do random things just before it stops, such as a few randoms lights flicker off and on. Based on that im thinking its an electronics issue.

The issue I have is that ive drilled a hole in mine for a temperature probe, which complicates the warranty

Ill do some more testing in the next few days, but in the meantime im uploading a video to Youtube that demonstrates my experience.

[sorrentina]

Re: I-Coffee roasting experiences

Hey Guys,
this is weird. I am contacting the manufacturer today to see if I can get any information on what the issue may be. I am very sorry about this. Please send me an email if you are experiencing this issue.

[samhighley]

Re: I-Coffee roasting experiences


The video is here.

Note that the machine was cold and this was the first roast of the day.

Jack, as I mentioned im going to do some more testing in the next few days to see if I can consistently replicate the problem. I love problem-solving

Another idea I had was that perhaps it was a voltage-sensitivity problem? Perhaps it is purely coincidental, but the exact moment my wife switched on the microwave (on the same circuit) the other night, it reset. And I mean *exactly*.

Yet another idea I had was that perhaps the motor spindle was getting jammed by a coffee bean that just happened to be exactly the right size and shape to jam between the rotator-arm and one of the vents on the bottom. Does the motor has some sort of overload-protection?

[Kafine]

Re: I-Coffee roasting experiences

Mine used to do this as well as i have stated. I now make sure the chaff catcher is well seated by rotating it through about 90deg a couple of times and ensure the top is below the heating element by a couple of mm. Since doing this i havent had a problem.

[Woopee]

Re: I-Coffee roasting experiences

I think theres more to it than just the chaff catcher Kafine. Mine started this on and off routine some time ago. Mine was the first and by the looks of it not the last, unfortunately.


Cheers.

[sorrentina]

Re: I-Coffee roasting experiences

I am not at all sure of the cause yet. I have contacted the supplier and eagerly await the response. Toasty: if you could send me that video before you publish it online I could pass it onto the manufacturer (BTW- your machine is still covered- perhaps not your roasting pan though ;-) ).

This is disappointing as I tested two of these machine for over 2 years before I sold them- and I apologise for the inconvenience. I am hoping this glitch can be sorted quickly.

[trentski]

Re: I-Coffee roasting experiences

Toasty: if you could send me that video before you publish it online I could pass it onto the manufacturer

The video is unlisted so you only see it if you know the URL, no one searching youtube would be able to find it.

This is a test of the manufacturers commitment to Australia, how they handle this could affect any future dealings they have here. Best of luck Jack 8-)

[trentski]

Re: I-Coffee roasting experiences

Next up will be 150gms of Peruvian Casa de Selva.

This is the one you should have started with, the cracks are very distinctive which makes it easy. Try roasting 250grams, the larger thermal mass makes it a bit slower, which means you have more margin for error (if you stuff it up its only $3.00 worth of beans).

You wont miss first crack but 2nd crack is a little quieter, if you are in 2nd crack when you stop the roast you will still hear them cracking away when you have taken the pan out.

I often wait till I think I hear 2nd crack before I stop the roast. Usually takes about 3 minutes after the 1st crack stops for my 250gram roasts.

[samhighley]

Re: I-Coffee roasting experiences

The video is unlisted so you only see it if you know the URL, no one searching youtube would be able to find it.

Trentski is correct. I deliberately made the video unlisted so it doesnt show up in search. Only people who know the URL can view the video.

[Woopee]

Re: I-Coffee roasting experiences

No need for apologies, Jack. Not your fault. Im sure you will get it sorted out for us when you can.

Cheers.

[sorrentina]

Re: I-Coffee roasting experiences


You problem solving love is well appreciated... ;-)

I am embarrassed to say I am not intimate with the inner workings of the machine but my guess is it does have an overload. In 3 years of use I have not had a jam- I have had a few near jams- but the motor seems to power through them. I have also had a very few random stops which in the past I attributed to a total jam/or to the lid/chaff catcher/roast pan alignment.

Now I am not so sure. Today I have been testing Waynes unit again- first roast (250g) I had a stoppage- opened and closed the lid with a jiggle of the pan and it continued through to 2nd crack- lovely roast. Second roast (200g) I took extra care at the start positioning and then repositioning the chaff catcher. Roast ran all the way without an issue. I will do more later today...

One way to test if the catcher and switch is involved would be to somehow hold the switch down securely during a roast. This would remove the safety function of not allowing the machine to work without the catcher in place and is not recommended. I think chaff would get drawn into the afterburner if you roasted without the catcher... but to test if it is involved with this issue should be fine as long as you can think of a way to hold the switch [ftp]and[/ftp] have the catcher in place.

I am also wondering if it has anything to do with voltage fluctuations...

or- if using the preheat function without beans in the machine might cause some problem with the internal thermostat? It seems a few of the users who have had this issue used pre-heat. In my testing I never did. Could just be a coincidence.

I am sending a ink to the vid to the manufacturers...

[trentski]

Re: I-Coffee roasting experiences

if using the preheat function without beans in the machine might cause some problem with the internal thermostat?

FWIW I almost always pre-heat and dont have the issues discussed here. Im up to about 30 roasts from memory.
I roast 250 for single origins and 260grams for 4 bean blends and have back to back roasted with 15 minutes between them about 4 times.

[sorrentina]

Re: I-Coffee roasting experiences

Hmmm,

I agree tis unlikey to be anything to do with the preheat.

problem solving has its advantages- at least a unit with this issue still produces a great roast... I am still wondering if the issue is mechanical and related to the chaff catcher- here is todays test blend:

[Kafine]

Re: I-Coffee roasting experiences

like i said Jack since ensuring the chaff catcher is seated properly a couple of mm below the heating element mine hasnt failed. When i wasnt so pedantic it stopped often.

[samhighley]

Re: I-Coffee roasting experiences

I agree tis unlikey to be anything to do with the preheat.

I also agree, because I dont preheat.