I-Coffee roasting experiences

[jaybee]

Thanks for the update Jack, looking forward to the new model!

For what it is worth like some of the others in this thread I have had a couple of probs with my once awesome iCoffee, but Jack has provided sensational service and has been an absolute pleasure to deal with. If you are in the market for an iCoffee, I would absolutely recommend buying from Sorrentina.

Entirely agree with that sentiment - My beloved machine started playing up a while ago and Jack never quavered in his support, and as I often say, the measure of customer service is not how they are when all is good, but how they behave when things go wrong. I'm looking forward to testing the new machine when it arrives

I'll also plug the machine itself - that model had some glitches, but was simply superb in it's operation. Coupled with Jacks 'hell and high-water' approach to getting a good outcome if things do go wrong, I would unreservedly recommend getting one.

[LionelHutz]

Hello Lionel,
did you roaster have a plastic tab where you close the latch on the glass dome- or was it wood? If it was wood then it came from an earlier perfect shipment. I have one of these myself and it is still roasting strong after 4 years nearly... I had a few of these left over and think I may have shipped you one of them in December from Memory? If it is plastic then it could have been from the affected shipment: however the majority of machines from that shipment had no problems at all. Only maybe 20% seem to have been affected. I will stand by your machine if anything happens down the track: until then I am touching wood and praying for many happy roasts for you and yours!

Ah... my roaster has the black plastic tab. Never mind, it is working great so far, odds are it will be fine. Rest assured I will let you know. I brought my roaster over to Hong Kong in my luggage so it would be awkward to return for servicing but that's the risk I take in my quest for coffee roasting perfection I suppose.

[sorrentina]

actually Hong Kong is not so far from Korea- so if you had a problem I would put you in direct contact with CRK and they could probably take care of you. In the meantime- and touching my wooden desk right now- : Happy Roasting!

[Hildy]

Any firmer dates on when the new batch of iCoffees will come in?

[sorrentina]

Any firmer dates on when the new batch of iCoffees will come in?

Nothing 100% as of today- but I am hopeful I can can get them here early March. I have just got all the faulty machines back here for the recall- the order is in and they are preparing the machine with Australian plugs etc right now. I will have more information over the next 10 days. I am hoping to get one sample sent here by air so that I can describe its new features and test it out.

[Barry O'Speedwagon]

Nothing 100% as of today- but I am hopeful I can can get them here early March. I have just got all the faulty machines back here for the recall- the order is in and they are preparing the machine with Australian plugs etc right now. I will have more information over the next 10 days. I am hoping to get one sample sent here by air so that I can describe its new features and test it out.

Hi Jack,

Could you kindly clarify the nature of the faults that you refer to? I realise that you are (at the least) referring to machines for which the roast time stretched out to crazy levels and those that randomly stopped half way through a roast. But what about machines that require the 'reset dial to zero' immediately after starting roast (as mine does)? Just not sure whether that is the same fault as 'randomly stopping mid-roast'?

Cheers
BOSW

[Bernsbrew]

My machine cuts out several times through a roast. Very frustrating, since it is a replacement machine for one bought last year that also suffered from the same problem. Relieved to hear that the manufacturer is acknowledging a fault. Have sent a PM to Jack.

[sorrentina]

Hi Jack,

Could you kindly clarify the nature of the faults that you refer to? I realise that you are (at the least) referring to machines for which the roast time stretched out to crazy levels and those that randomly stopped half way through a roast. But what about machines that require the 'reset dial to zero' immediately after starting roast (as mine does)? Just not sure whether that is the same fault as 'randomly stopping mid-roast'?

Cheers
BOSW

Hello there Barry,

your issue is related to the random stoppages. On some machines turning the dial to the left after starting completely resolves the issue. On others it helps but does not resolve it. If your machine still roasts all the way without stopping - and in a reasonable time- I would say it is OK. I am also offering customers who have slightly hinky machines- or machines out of warranty- the option to keep their machine and purchase one of the new models at a very special below cost price. The new machine costs me considerably more than the old model- material costs have risen and it has new features. I expect the will retail closer to the 600 dollar mark unfortunately. Send me an email if you are concerned about your roaster,

Kind regards,
jack

[Mariner]

Hi Jack,
My machine too has been mostly reliable until A few months ago. I don't remember when I bought it.......I will have to check back on this thread - it has the black plastic clip to seal the lid. It has had several roasts stretch out with quite a few taking a couple of restarts and one not getting there at all. The left turn of the dial is not always working to remedy the stops either. It hasn't done it on all roasts but is certainly getting more common.

I am still for the most part, with perseverance, getting good roasts, but would certainly like it to work as it should. Is there any fix for this plastic clip model that doesn't involve sending away/replacement?

Thanks very much.

Best Regards,
Mariner (frank).

[Hildy]

Nothing 100% as of today- but I am hopeful I can can get them here early March. I have just got all the faulty machines back here for the recall- the order is in and they are preparing the machine with Australian plugs etc right now. I will have more information over the next 10 days. I am hoping to get one sample sent here by air so that I can describe its new features and test it out.

Awesome. Now that it's (very) early March, do you have any further ideas about a date?

[Hildy]

and it's now late march with no further updates....

[Bernsbrew]

Still mid-March by my reckoning. We are at the mercy of the Korean manufacturer's determination, I would think.

[grantw]

My I-coffee just went bezerk, 14 minutes in with a 210gm batch of Ceja de Selva they started cracking like crazy, smoke began to pour out of the machine before it shut off. I opened the lid, more smoke pouring out, removed the beans and stood well back.

After things calmed down a bit, I found some beans charred on the bottom, others still light, lots of oil on the beans and the chaff in the tray was charred to a crisp.

Most unusual!

[Barry O'Speedwagon]

My I-coffee just went bezerk, 14 minutes in with a 210gm batch of Ceja de Selva they started cracking like crazy, smoke began to pour out of the machine before it shut off. I opened the lid, more smoke pouring out, removed the beans and stood well back.

After things calmed down a bit, I found some beans charred on the bottom, others still light, lots of oil on the beans and the chaff in the tray was charred to a crisp.

Most unusual!

Were the charred beans 'on the bottom' of the roasting chamber (i.e. the black insert), or had some fallen through the vent holes in the bottom of the chamber, and onto the heating plate?

[grantw]

They were all in the roasting pan, only singed chaff in the chaff ring.