I-Coffee roasting experiences

[chylld]

I've been roasting with the new model icoffee for a few months now and I read that on his older model, Jaybee let the roast run for the entire cycle with good results. So I tried it myself. I waited until first crack finished and pressed the button to change to the cooling cycle and the roast continued for a little while, then it started cooling slowly for 9 mins. The blended bean colour differs when i pull the roast normally by the end of the 9 min cycle all the blended bean colours were pretty much the same. I tried 6 days later and they were possibly the best tasting roast I have done. The shot was very thick and tasted beautiful. Thoroughly recommend trying.

I intend to make the most of mine using this method too, i.e. the way it was built. I'm a roasting newbie but it seems crazy to me that all the CSers want to stop the machine working the way it was designed and instead judge it by their old techniques... at least that's the impression I get from this thread and the handful of youtube videos out there.

It's like bringing your own sauce to a burger joint, and rating how it tastes with your sauce. Never mind the fact that someone in the kitchen has delicately balanced the flavours in the burger....

[chylld]

going to get one of the new model iCoffees, will place my order 5pm tomorrow afternoon, either from Korea directly or maybe via Jack if he responds to my email...

i don't drink coffee fast enough to buy more than 250g bags of roasted beans at a time, currently barely 1/2 way through a 1kg bag and it's already well past its prime. i've only tried about 20 different beans but the one factor i have singled out as a key determinant of espresso quality is freshness - potential long-term cost savings are just a bonus

[karl_2020]

I've been roasting with the new model icoffee for a few months now and I read that on his older model, Jaybee let the roast run for the entire cycle with good results. So I tried it myself. I waited until first crack finished and pressed the button to change to the cooling cycle and the roast continued for a little while, then it started cooling slowly for 9 mins. The blended bean colour differs when i pull the roast normally by the end of the 9 min cycle all the blended bean colours were pretty much the same. I tried 6 days later and they were possibly the best tasting roast I have done. The shot was very thick and tasted beautiful. Thoroughly recommend trying.

[jaybee]

Jack is the importer here: Sorrentina Coffee Online - I-Coffee Home Coffee Bean Roaster NEW S-100CR 2013 Model worth giving him a shout to see if he has a local (to you) supplier if you want to see one in the flesh first.

[EC120]

Where do you buy the I-Coffee from in Melbourne ?

[Mariner]

I dunno, you do get used to the stoppages after a while. Mine's averaging around a dozen a roast. Seriously though, has anyone any idea if it's possible to bypass the timer and go to a simple on-off switch?
Cheers.

I wish there was a fix for the stoppages, I have a perfect old machine that is in excellent condition with pretty low miles but just doesn't work because if this (have the new model that I finally going to roast with this weekend) shame to have such a paper weight sitting around

[Woopee]

Thanks for sharing jaybee, great information.
If only the manufacturer would also tell us how to fix the random stoppages.

I dunno, you do get used to the stoppages after a while. Mine's averaging around a dozen a roast. Seriously though, has anyone any idea if it's possible to bypass the timer and go to a simple on-off switch?
Cheers.

[trentski]

Thanks Jaybee, there's a few guys at work that can solder stuff I'll see if they are up to it.

[Barry O'Speedwagon]

Pulled my old i-coffee out of shed the other day (purchased Mar 2012). Hadn't used it for a while, as I purchased a Gene Cafe. Seems it has also caught the 'extended roast time' bug, but the beans looked and smelled ok, so I'll be interested to see how they turn out.

[argus]

Thanks for sharing jaybee, great information.
If only the manufacturer would also tell us how to fix the random stoppages.

[jaybee]

There is a chance. Jack shared this vid from the manufacturer and I've posted it on youtube with some annoation. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTRXk9LtZDM

Don't attempt this if the machine is in warranty (You might aswell Trentski!) as if you blow it, it won't be covered!

[trentski]

Bad news, my 2 year old iCoffee is now taking 30 minutes to do 150grams. Mine was one of the first six sold I think.

Not sure what's wrong with it or where to look.

[jaybee]

I've been running a few roasts through today and can certainly say that the temperature adjustment rheostat certainly makes a big impact on times. First things first - Anti-clockwise = HOTTER, Clockwise = COOLER. That makes sense electronically although I may have guessed the other way had I not been working on a similar mod for the previous version!

The Temp rheostat can turn about 3/4 of a turn, with a roast racing through in less than 15 mins at hottest to 25 mins on coolest. Needless to say - I have settled on mid-way for my compromise. What should cause some excitement with the artisans is that the temp profile can be changed (a bit!) all the way through the roast...

(If you can't recall where the screw is, check out my post a short while back)

[Mariner]

Thank you very much gentlemen. Sounds like a good plan. Was hoping not to drill holes in the new unit

I will try it as you say BOSW. Very keen to look at the profiles of this little unit as I think that they are just about perfectly set up straight out of the box.

Again. Just want to reiterate how pleased I have been with this roaster, as well as Jacks service. I was away at work for a stint and missed the warrantee cut off date. Jack sold me a new one at a loss to himself - you can't beat that.

[jaybee]

I agree with BOSW Frank, I had a more elaborate method on my previous machine, but am most probably going to use the standard thermocouple which seems to work just as well.

I have been enjoying a blend of Peru/PNG Wahgi AA/Nic La Gloria which is just stunningly nice...