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It all went wrong in post #5, which (for whatever reason) lacked common courtesy. However, there's plenty of good advice in the follow-ups (whether it sinks in is another matter).
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Yeah, BO'S, it went off the rails in post #1, airy fairy questions are hard to get your teeth into; by post #5 it fell into a heap....
petulance will get you nowhere.
How much research and thought went into the OP? Not much by the look of it.
As others have mentioned there is no 'best roaster'... just look at the last three overall Golden Bean Winners.
2012 .... our Andy, winning on a roaster of his own design, built in collusion with an engineer friend.
2013..... Proud Mary, a Probat UG15 (at the time of their win) and a Giesen 1 or 2 kilo.
2014..... Uncle Joe's, who roast with a 15 kg Has Garanti.
So which one is the best......?? You tell me. If you look further back you'll probably see some other well known
roaster brands in the winner's circle, as well.
There are only a couple or three criteria that people use when choosing a new roaster...1) Budget. 2) Reputation. 3)
Availability. 4) What's hip.
Even from a cursory overview it should be obvious that what is more important are the operator, the beans and the
roast profile.
Like Andy said..... a rubbish bin and a flame thrower.....
The issue re rust got the scorn it deserved and is a PLC controller better? No, not if you don't know how to roast,
develop a profile and translate that into a program. And you need a roaster that is programmable to the extent of
your desired parameters.
So..... Budget. Availability. Build quality? Maybe it's current specs that will sway a decision. Has Garanti SR roasters
as configured by Mark of Coffee Roasters Australia are on the up and up ( can't wait for my new 15kg..... but I have
to!). Joper? Well, word on the street is......... maybe not.
If you know diddly squat then start home roasting, go to cuppings that roasters frequent and LISTEN to what others
say and then go and make up YOUR OWN mind.Last edited by chokkidog; 19 July 2015, 11:39 PM.Comment
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Just to clarify further for the greater readership.Originally posted by chokkidog View Post
Points 1 to 4 of CD's excellent post are pretty well on the money.
Re PCL (computer) control. Lots of readers and also newcomers to roasting seem to think that if you buy a roasting plant with computer control, you can open your door and start roasting and selling coffee with your new automatic gear. This is NOT SO.
Computer controlled PLC's do not magically contain default programmes so that you can dial one up and just throw a bucket of greens in the top and it will all take care of itself and fall out the bottom, done.
There are no default settings. You work out a roast profile manually and when you are happy with it you memorise it into the PLC. Only after that will the PLC reproduce YOUR prpgrammed profile.
If your expertise and resulting profile is rubbish, your PLC will faithfully reproduce...rubbish.
So it is not the be all and end all of life as we know it.
There would appear to be one further misnderstanding. Computer (PLC) controlled machine have motors and rams that open and shut things on the roaster to make everything happen automatically. That is entirely different to regular manually controlled machines where you add roast profiling software so you can LOG a profile for yourself, and then use the software to allow YOU to FOLLOW the logged profile manually as you roast.
PLC control equipment in the main, is not something you fit to small, small end or budget machinery....it is the stuff of larger and often expensive roasting plant, and also higher end equipment. Generally the expense and level of expertise required puts that type of equipment in the SME sector rather than in the small end of roasting. Essentially, roasting businesses that have done their time in the small end, learned their ytade, and are moving ahead. It is not stuff you start with if you want to learn anything and keep on keeping on (ergo, the opposite to what people seem to think).
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At this point, one other sentiment comes to mind.
Too often it seems, people seem to think that you buy a small roasting machine and turn yourself into a...."roaster", and that people will start buying your product.
What is the definition of "roaster"?
Is it someone that simply roasts coffee?
OR, is it someone that runs a roasting business that offers ALL the products and services that clients expect from their ROASTER, and where the provision of roasted coffee beans is only a very small (albeit important) part of the overall business conducted. Add into the equation, that a roaster is also a bank, where he/she has to offer credit to his business clients without which he will severely restrict his level of activity and ability to grow his business.
All of that is something *big* to ponder, much more than choosing what coffee roasting equipment to buy, and perhaps it will eventually dawn on some, that there is more to being a roaster than the apparently romantic act of roasting a few beans from a starting expertise of nil.
Always happy to help those displaying an appropriate level of good attitude, when they are seeking help.Last edited by TOK; 20 July 2015, 12:07 PM. Reason: add, subtract, multiply and divide where required...Comment
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Very well said, and explained TOK...
Mal.Comment
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Bazooka Thought they are reputable and put it out there with a number of other brands to see if others held the same view. Here in Adelaide one coffee roaster who is a major player even built his own.Comment
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Actually you have a good point. Maybe free advice is not a good idea. I'm off to the bank, maybe I should employ someone for advice, maybe expecting straight answers for free is expecting too much. cheers.
C
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Hi John,
regarding the posts you placed directly above, i.e.posts #35 and #36.
#35, specifically "...one coffee roaster who is a major player even built his own...." My view is that you probably shouldn't believe everything you hear because even if it is true, you would never be privvy to the *real* reasons behind something like that. And if it is quite true, it doesnt really help you...
#36, actually I agree with some others above in that I cant really see anything wrong with the free advice you have received so far. It's all kosha, and the best advice, which has already been given, is that you should contact the importers of the equipment brands of your choice and seek their assistance.
Because you can rest assured....their assistance you certainly will be needing
Good luck in your endeavours.Comment
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Have you ever run a business of any type?Originally posted by johnsa View Post
Anyway, good luck to you.Comment
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With an attitude like that I am pretty certain that success in any venture, coffee roasting or otherwise, will be more than a bit of a challenge.Originally posted by johnsa View Post
I would wish you the best of luck but I'm really not feeling all too kind or generous at the moment. My suspicion is that you'll get all the luck that you deserve.Comment
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It's just a bit hard to know what exactly it is you want from us!
Do you want something served up on a plate? Silver spoon style?
Your initial question is so broad it has no meaning; do you want us to tell you that you should go and spend 20k++ or 40k++?
And then add another 5-7k++++ on maybe a plc.....
Are you even aware of the differences in the styles of machines you have nominated?? Do you know the meaning of 'hybrid'
when applied to roast plant. One of your nominated types fit that category. Do you know the term 'turkish' and what it means?
You have no idea about what you are asking.
Some very busy people have given you some very valuable time and their wisdom, yet you let your ego run your mouth.
It's no wonder you can't see the pearls you've been handed......for free.
So go to the bank and I hope you get the birthright fridge you demand they give you.Comment
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All I got was a toaster
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I can't even choose the right toasterComment
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In fact a toaster and roaster are about the same in variability. But in the end the consistent results in a roaster come down to the skill of the person operating it and deciding on the settings etc.Comment
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