CHOICE tests of home roasters

[shapeshifter]

Re: CHOICE tests of home roasters

Everyone knows what my popper is and over the last couple of months weve been drinking more and Ive wanted to explore blending.

I looked at all of the roasters in the choice magazine, my choice came down to price, I couldnt afford the Hottop and roast size.

I was already used to having to have things modified or using something a little differently to get the type of roast I desire.

Therefore I chose the Behmor.  I had also already tasted beans roasted in the Behmor and it got both my and my OHs thumbs up.

At the end of the roast, I hit cool and open the door (to the first place it will sit, so not completely open) for 2 mintues, I then close the door and let it run the rest of the cooling cycle.

My last roast got the thumbs up from a professional roaster and others.

What I am now about to start experimenting with is making the time between first and second crack longer, at present I get 2 minutes, by opening the door and having the temperature drop I should be able to extend this time but not affect the beans too dramatically.

Oh something I forgot, I roast inside, that was also an important part of my choice. I love the smell of roasted beans so I dont care how long the smell lingers, granted I disconnect the smoke alarm when I roast and have the exhaust fans on.

Good luck with your choice, its all a journey to better coffee 

[thundering_gerkins]

Re: CHOICE tests of home roasters

Ive been roasting with a popper for a while, but need to move on due to the roast size. Decisions, decisions.....
Interesting to see the iCoffee rate ahead of the Behmor.
Anyone know the catagories they used to compare them with?
Reading other CS posts, I believe there are some issues with the roasting control on the iCoffee. ie: machine switching off part way through a roast. Is this still an issue?

[shapeshifter]

Re: CHOICE tests of home roasters

I dont believe Choice are the best of reviews to base a decision on.

I looked thoroughly at the icoffee and to me it was too close to the popper, not big enough roast quanities, that is for me personally.

Do a lot of research first about which way you want to go, make your decision on your choices not on what a website/magazine says!

[thundering_gerkins]

Re: CHOICE tests of home roasters

I looked thoroughly at the icoffee and to me it was too close to the popper, not big enough roast quanities, that is for me personally.

Sorry for posting twice, Dam those laptop mouse pads >
Talking to chris from Talk Coffee he said the popper roasts the outside of the beans to quickly, leaving the inside underdone.
Does the Behmor roast more evenly than the iCoffee?
Or is it just personal preference to the style (drum vs paddle) of roasting?
Cheers.

[shapeshifter]

Re: CHOICE tests of home roasters

This is a photo of my latest roast, this is the one that got the thumbs up from the pro roaster that I know.

Photo was taken outside, the only thing wrong with the roast from my opinion was that first and second crack were too close together.

Personally I dont think I ever got the depth of colour, development or taste from the popper, even my popper, compared to the Behmor, from the Behmor I cant wait to go further again maybe in a few years.

[thundering_gerkins]

Re: CHOICE tests of home roasters

The roast looks very even.
Light colour but i gather the photo was slightly over exposed being taken outdoors.
How do you find the different profiles on the Behmor?
Do they make any difference to the final flavour or is there to many other variables ie: beans, ambient temperature and so on to nail it down.

[shapeshifter]

Re: CHOICE tests of home roasters

The beans are slightly darker than that, they did hit at least 20 seconds after second crack so they are definitely completely roasted though.

I have tried a few different profiles with different beans, I havent done enough roasts to give you a definite opinion yet. I also havent learnt everything about the different profiles or why to use them.

I have found that the time between first and second crack has been the same no matter what profile Ive chosen hence why I feel there needs to be some human intervention to increase it.

As I roast inside my ambient temperature is almost always the same, within a degree majority of the time so that never plays a part but yes the beans themselves do play a part depending on the sort, washed, unwashed, water content etc.

After a chat last night with a roaster Ive learnt that yes hard beans need a higher heat but so do beans that have a higher moisture content and that has to do with the age of the bean, a new bean will generally have more moisture than a bean that is a few years old.

The above is only my thoughts, I might have got it wrong.

There is a lot I need to learn, Ive only had the Behmor for about 3 weeks and done 4 roasts

[thundering_gerkins]

Re: CHOICE tests of home roasters

The above is only my thoughts, I might have got it wrong.

There is a lot I need to learn, Ive only had the Behmor for about 3 weeks and done 4 roasts 

I dont think youve got it wrong.
If your passionate about coffee that can only lead to a better coffee.


I think thats why im drawn to coffee roasting, even with the popper there is so many variables and that 5-10 day wait only increases my curiosity.

mmmm, me thinks its time for a coffee 

[DavidW1960]

Re: CHOICE tests of home roasters

I dont believe Choice are the best of reviews to base a decision on.

+1

I place no value on any of their reviews. Their criteria never match mine!

[DavidW1960]

Re: CHOICE tests of home roasters

making the time between first and second crack longer, at present I get 2 minutes

Hmm. Im getting around 4 minutes on mine without playing around. It might be the program you are using. Im using 312g green on 1lb P2 C setting. I usually end up hitting cool with around 6 minutes left on the clock.

[DavidW1960]

Re: CHOICE tests of home roasters

Behmor - More control, larger capacity, but is bigger, will make a mess inside (I really want to roast inside), is a drum type and Ive read this type of roast is less bright which appeals to me. Also read that its difficult to see the roast colour through the window and cooling is slow with door closed and messy with door open.Now Im leaning towards the Behmor for larger capacity and the taste characteristic of the drum type. Does it really suck at cooling with the door closed though?

OK - in my opinion its not the best using it to roast inside. Id does make a fair bit of an odour/smoke. It is hard to see the bean colour and the light changes the colour anyway. I am roasting to second crack anyway so its not that much of an issue seeing the beans for me.

I also cool with the door closed the whole time. I did try some of the rapid cooling methods some people use but I couldnt taste or see any real difference so I stopped doing it.

[fivegallon]

Re: CHOICE tests of home roasters

Joel (act180),
If you are really leaning towards roasting inside (im presuming you mean inside the house and not just inside the garage?) i can tell you this with regards to the iCoffee roaster:

I have done many roasts in my kitchen, on the stovetop, under the rangehood. This gives me smoke extraction of which there is very little smoke. The most smoke is on the initial opening of the lid at the end of the roast.

The chaff is collected in the ring which sits around the heating element. Depending on how careful you are when you remove it for emptying you can get away with little or no chaff flying around.

I dont think theres much chance of getting away from the aroma with any of the roasters, but i happen to love the smell of fresh roasted beans so its not a concern for me.
Usually i do open at least one window just as im about to open the lid to assist with any excess smoke/smell.

A quick wipe of the dome glass lid after every 2 or 3 roasts will give you good viewing. That said, the temp probe mod will get you to 2nd crack more often as you roast by numbers rather than sight.

I also have a Hottop roaster which is only used inside my garage, it produces too much smoke for inside the house. With this i also crack open the roller door and/or the personnel access door to assist with smoke extraction late in the roast.

Of course in spring/autumn/summer most of the doors/windows are open anyway.

Its also nice to have them roasting side by side in the garage, with one roasting whilst the other is cooling

I have a bonus of not having anyone b*tch about smoke or smell or flying chaff as i live alone ;D

[shapeshifter]

Re: CHOICE tests of home roasters

LOL David, only not suited to inside if you have someone that tells you off for it, since we clean engine parts on the coffee table I think I have that part sewn up ;D

Im glad that others have put their experiences with the other roasters on as well, gives a better picture for choices to be made on what might be closest to someones situation

[DavidW1960]

Re: CHOICE tests of home roasters

My wife is a saint - but even outside I find a fair bt of smell and smoke. I did roast inside the first few times but my shed/workshop is much better suited.

[Barry O'Speedwagon]

Re: CHOICE tests of home roasters

Hi Joel,
FWIW I was tossing up between the Behmor and i-Coffee, and in the end decided that I didnt want to be standing outside watching a roast on a Canberra winters evening. I also had little experience with roasting prior to purchase and wanted to keep things as simple as possible. The i-Coffee hasnt let me down thus far, and I dont even switch the rangehood on when roasting indoors. Not many people seem to have direct experience of both roasters, so comparisons are pretty tough. Enjoy whichever one you pick.
Cheers
BOSW