Behmor 1600 not keeping temperature

[dan77]

I put the beans in and preheat so in reality I am getting a little more time in my roasting.

I had to roast inside due to the cold and in Bendigo I was having to roast less and less because of the ambient temperature. I recently moved to Maddingley in an new house and I am now finishing my roasts with plenty of time where in Bendigo I was going to the very last second and still sometimes ruining out of time. Only 130kms difference but huge difference in roasting. Also huge difference in the grind settings. Who would have thought??

[dlqkdnf89]

Thanks guys for the replies!

So I've normally used P3,C,1 with these particular beans (Brazil Yellow Bourbon) and have had decent results with this setting but recently it's been taking too long so I tried using P2 and P1 which didn't seem to make much of a difference. I roast outside but it's been pretty cold here in Sydney when I've roasted, approx 10-12 deg I think with a little wind. I've cleaned out the exhaust and the sensor area with no change.

So reading Dan's reply, I'm guessing the ambient temperature is maybe what's affecting my roast times... But it's weird that regardless of whether I change from P2 to P1, there is not much difference in my roasts i.e. I run out of time before the roast reaches 2nd crack.

[Barry O'Speedwagon]

Just try reducing the weight of beans by another 20g and see how you go.

The ambient temp. certainly makes a difference (though I tend to get away with 380g doses on 400 P2 B outdoors in Canberra.....P3 does take extra time in the cold weather...had to extend it by 2 mins and haven't tasted the result yet).

EDIT: The other thing I do using P2 is switch the power to 75% when the automatically profile is about to switch power down to 65% (after about 12 minutes on the 400 P2 B cycle).

[Andy]

Roaster Physics!

1: Preset profile + LOWER air temperature = Lighter Roast.
2: Preset profile + HIGHER air temperature = Darker Roast.

It's really not an accident that this thread gets action in June and July.

Roasters draw in air and that air needs to be heated. If you are using the same weight of beans and applying the same amount of heat it has to result in a lighter roasted coffee this is even more noticeable on a commercial sized roaster as it draws more far more air into the drum that needs heating before it has an effect on the beans.

Also keep in mind that the temperature of your green beans is also likely to be far lower at this time of year, worse if you keep them in the shed.

Options in no particular order are:

a: roast longer
b: roast hotter
c: use less beans
d: pre-heat
e: a mixture of all the above

As in the above replies, the easiest fix is to reduce the weight of beans and apply the same heat profile to get the result you want and I agree that's the best option.

I'm not a fan of pre-heat as it can add a variable that's hard to replicate each time and I would much rather reduce the weight which will keep the profile similar to the warmer months. As we move into spring you will add some beans and summer add some more.

Easy!

[paulcassidy]

Hi Andy I have just Joined and i am unsure how to post can only see the privet message button?

[Barry O'Speedwagon]

Hi Andy I have just Joined and i am unsure how to post can only see the privet message button?

Seem like you've worked out how to post

[dlqkdnf89]

Hi Andy, thanks for the reply. The thing is, I have tried all that you've listed. I pre-heat. I have reduced the size of the beans to 350 from 400. I've tried going hotter to P2, C, 1 as well as P1,C, 1 but beans didnt reach 2nd crack even with added time for both profiles. Do you think there may be an internal problem going on?

[dlqkdnf89]

Thanks for that Barry,

I'll try change roasting places and see if it makes a difference!

Unfortunately, I am unable to switch the power as I havent upgraded to the Plus yet.

[DavidW1960]

I was having a similar problem.

I have done 330 roasts in my Behmor. I was finding that it was getting to around 40°C less than it did when it was new - for no reason. Same weight (312g) same Profile (1lb P2 C). Yes the ambient is different but it's been doing this for a year. Behmor were very helpful and said perhaps the sensors were kaput and Andy sent me new ones to try (even though machine out of warranty) but it made no difference.

When you are used to pulling the roast with 7 minutes to go and are now having to let it run until the end and still ending up with CS9 and that 'baked' not 'roasted' feeling and you have people telling you that your roast plot from RoastMonitor is within spec and looks normal - you just give up - I did anyway. It's not like the thing was that expensive.

Anyway I've moved on as that seemed like the only viable option.

[Bazooka]

Another factor to consider is whether you are sharing your behmor electrical circuit with other power intensive devices such as electric oven, iron, heater, i hope this helps