Can roasting be a purely economical pursuit, or does it need to be a passion also?

[CafeLotta]

Done, bought. I regret not doing it sooner, as my hopper has just run dry

Well done! Lots of info here on CS re: roasting using the Behmor.

Different Green Bean Varieties will have their own characteristics and requirements for roasting. If it hasn't been mentioned already, one of the best to start with and get a feel for things is the Peru Ceja de Selva. Roasts evenly with clear audible indicators of 1st and 2nd Crack. Not too shabby in the cup also.

CoffeeSnobs - BeanBay - Green Coffee - Peru Ceja de Selva AAA


This is a good link to Bookmark for ref. info on the Behmor - https://behmor.com/knowledge-base/

[simonsk8r]

Done, bought. I regret not doing it sooner, as my hopper has just run dry

Congrats mate! Very exciting times ahead . You'll love it I reckon, it's a very relaxing activity.

Keep your roasts simple, like Andy's method he described here, very easy. Post #26:

https://coffeesnobs.com.au/home-roas...-one-year.html

... ah I'll just post it here hehe:

"350g of beans.
Press: [400] [P1] [Start]
When you hear first crack hit P2 manual (25%)
Just before you think it's roasted enough press [Cool]

If it's the middle of winter and the ambient air is cold then substitute P2 manual for P3 manual.

This is the same technique I use on the Behmor roaster when doing demos at trade shows. Simple, successful, repeatable. Hardly mentoring, but it does work well as a starting point for just about any arabica bean, make adjustments to the process to suit TASTE.

Every year (and again this year) the Behmor wins most of the home roasting medals because in a blind taste test... it wins."

[Mono]

Personally I find it both economical and therapeutic. I love to grab a beer and head out to the man/coffee/bike cave/shed, roast my coffee and enjoy the solitude for an hour or so. Once a fortnight a kilo of green and I’m good.

BB

[hugz]

Done, bought. I regret not doing it sooner, as my hopper has just run dry

[CafeLotta]

Side question: Is the Behmor 1600 the roaster equivilent of a Silvia? Simple and solid but does a stellar job with enough care an attention

I think you've summed it up pretty well. As long as you follow the usage and maintenance guidelines it will serve you well. Allow the recommended time between roasts and don't roast on really hot days. The electronics in the Behmor will thank you with a long service life. If you look after it and decide in a couple of months its not for you, resale won't be an issue.

If you do go down the Behmor path one tip I'd give is don't overdo the bulk buying of green beans! They store reasonably well when looked after but they do age. I've always had the best results from my most recent purchases.

I roast in the kitchen under a Rangehood backed up by a ceiling fan with windows and front door open yet still get a roasting "aroma" through the house. It doesn't bother me that much but occasionly on hot days there is a reminder that roasting has occurred.

The last 1/3rd of the roasting time is the most critical as far as paying closer attention. The Behmor also needs reassurance that you are watching with user input required at around 75% through the roast. The Display blinks and a 30 sec countdown begins during which you need to press START to continue. If you miss this input, cooling will commence and the roast won't be complete.

[sprezzatura]

My local roaster is increasing prices (again) so I'm thinking of getting a Behmor 1600+. Is home roasting a big chore for anyone who's not doing it as a labour of love? I'm a tad worried that I'll go crawling back to the roaster a month after dropping $450 on the new Behmor. I do about 1kg a week

Side question: Is the Behmor 1600 the roaster equivilent of a Silvia? Simple and solid but does a stellar job with enough care an attention

I roast 200g batches in my 1600 - I sit in my shed/workshop and check my business email, social m and then dump my beans into a spare hopper. This gets used in a couple days or so. I only roast coffee for V60 and Brazen so it doesn’t require much planning.

[Dimal]

Roasting coffee has never been a chore for me, at any time...
Roasting takes place outside in the backyard under an open pergola type structure, where our dogs and the local maggie population keep me company throughout. Never boring but sometimes I can get distracted...

Mal.

[dreamscape]

Once i'd done the calcs on the behmor it was a no-brainer. Paid for itself in 6 months, when I factored the wife's habits, and roasted filter for work consumption. If you've got the freedom and time every weekend or two, go for it.
I found when I'm only half paying attention it inevitably cost me a failed roast, so I really had to put the time aside and at best sit in front of the roaster with a book. But on good days I was busy taking notes and giving it 100% attention. Those days make it worthwhile, and the great variety of beans available on the beanbay.

[mjoyce]

I would say that for me 80% of the reason for a Behmor is economics and 20% is for the fun of roasting. I would use auto profiles 80% if the time, and I do set a timer and walk away from the machine once the roast is up and running. I do still check it a few times during the first 13 minutes (for a 450g roast), then once it’s up to the business end of the roast I set a timer to beep every 30 seconds so I can sit next to it and not be too distracted.

I would also go through about 4kg a month. It’s definitely paid for itself over the course of a year.

[greenman]

Quoted from Artman:
''It’s easy and fun. And like mentioned above, if it’s not you , you can resell at minimal loss.

I started with a simple Corretto - just my watch and eyes to gauge what was happening.

Refined it incrementally with roast monitor, lids, cooler etc.''

I concur with Artman, the Corretto is an inexpensive and wonderful way to get into roasting. The hands on process, watching the little signs of colour change, smoke starting to appear at crucial stages, listening the first and second crack etc. A great way to learn about roasting without breaking the bank, and amazing coffee to enjoy--go for it~~~!!!

[LeroyC]

There’s some valid points above and I agree that the Behmor is cheap enough that it could be worth a try. Give it a go for a month or two and if you decide you don’t like it you shouldn’t lose much money in selling it.
It’s not quite ‘push button’ simple and there’s a little bit of prep at the start and tidy up at the end, but it’s not too horrendous. There’s plenty of advice on the forum for using it and plenty of people willing to help too.

[artman]

Do it.

It’s easy and fun. And like mentioned above, if it’s not you , you can resell at minimal loss.

I started with a simple Corretto - just my watch and eyes to gauge what was happening.

Refined it incrementally with roast monitor, lids, cooler etc.

Now use the Behmor , far less McGivery but still fun. Cleaner and simpler. Can be slack on auto or play around.

Even the roasts I have stuffed up have tasted decent.

The Behmor you could do the auto profile, set times for the countdown so you don’t miss it, press c at first crack and 25 or 50% manual depending on ambient temp and how dark you like it and the roast will be 95% great.

You can’t set and forget but you can do other things while it’s doing its thing if you are nearby.

Cheers.

[Dimal]

Agree with above...

With the Behmor, roasting can be as simple or as complex as you want to make it. It allows for both methods...
I remember Andy posting here a while ago that he just set and forget a Behmor, using one of the preset profiles, roast after roast after roast and each and every result was great in the cup.

It can be done...

Mal.

[simonsk8r]

My local roaster is increasing prices (again) so I'm thinking of getting a Behmor 1600+. Is home roasting a big chore for anyone who's not doing it as a labour of love? I'm a tad worried that I'll go crawling back to the roaster a month after dropping $450 on the new Behmor. I do about 1kg a week

Side question: Is the Behmor 1600 the roaster equivilent of a Silvia? Simple and solid but does a stellar job with enough care an attention

G'day hugz!

Ah yep, well I think I started out primarily to save money, then I really started to love it! It just further my passion and learning everything coffee, really was an awesome step in my journey, and opened up a whole other world.

I guess the answer is it depends! It takes a little effort, but if you really don't want to get into being fully in control of every facet, you can always use the automatic profiles on the Behmor. I did for many years and had great results. To be honest it really was almost a set and forget. I did even leave the roaster in the early stages of the roast (even though it was highly not recommended!).

I don't think it would be a major chore. For me, today I spent about 3 hours (I take my time , it used to take about 2 hours for 4x350g roasts when I was more casual about it) or so roasting up 1.4kg of beans (1.1kg roasted beans or so, in 4 separate roasts). Spent some beautiful time outdoors, and had a ball.

For me a kilo lasts about 3-4 weeks, so obviously you'd have to roast alot more. But auto settings wouldn't require as much recording etc (I still would record a few things).

I actually think the Behmor is designed to be a good solid, reliable, simple roaster that isn't a big chore (not that others are bothersome!), especially the auto settings. But you can always take it to the next level of roasting with it like many and myself have.

[Mb21]

For me the price of a behmor and the 2.5kg of beans its a great way to see if home roasting is for you. if in a few months you say its nor for you id think you havn't lost too much money if you sell it. I wasn't sure and now i love it, its my 1 each week of peace, wife doesnt argue as wants her coffee!
There is a simple way to use a Behmor and from memory is as follows. Load with 350-400g of greens, use P2 profile, wait for first crack and then push P2 (manual to 25% power) and push 'C' to change timer to 3.10 minutes, let it cool (12 minutes?) and done.