Thread: Coffee Enthusiasts

Sweet Maria is a great source for green beans. They specialize in home roasting and have a full line of coffee roasting and brewing paraphernalia.

I started roasting with an I roast years ago. I could never dial in the roast I wanted. The beans would burn fast you have to watch those machines like a hawk when you roast and I also found out those machines aren't made to last more than a few years. Behmor makes a roaster which is pricier than what you have but is still reasonable and it does a way better job unless you like really dark roasts.

Often times local guys will sell you green beans for almost the same price as roasted and that's a rip off. Typical green beans should be in the $6-$7 a pound area. Of course some can go way higher and robusto beans they practically give away.

Question, does it always smell like burnt popcorn after roasting?
Or is that only with beans that still have husks?

I know I’m not burning the coffee beans. Did that once

No it should not. That was the problem I had with the I Roast. It roasted too fast and started burning. "A pox on that machine."

I use a Cafe Gene these days. It does what I want.

Actually freshly roasted beans have little smell. As they degas they began to take on that nutty smell.

Thanks, I didn't think it should. Dang it

Originally Posted by Dieseld

Thanks, I didn't think it should. Dang it

Try starting off with a higher fan speed. I found at first that I was burning some of the beans really quickly, then realized I had the fan so low the ones on the bottom just got scorched. So now I start off with a higher (about 3/4 power) fan speed until the beans have started to change colour and get lighter. (I mean lighter as in lower mass, not colour) Then lower the fan so they are still agitating, and keep on adjusting as needed.

Also, I like a darker roast which means the beans get more oily. When that happens, there's a tendency for a couple of beans to stick in the bottom of the container. Make sure you check for hangers-on or they *definitely* will burn next time around.

Thanks, but the fan is on high all the time. I will just run it longer to darken the roast.

Well I spoke with the seller of the roaster this morning. Very helpful gent.
He explained a lot to me about roasting, and the aroma. I guess with dry processed beans, which I have, the husks do create quite an aroma. Also the degassing after roasting needs to be a bit longer than I was doing. I explained to him how I was roasting the beans, he told me I was right on track there. I feel better about that. Operator error is usually the main problem

He told me of a great coffee supplier he's used for over 15 years that's close to me. Well in Wisconsin, so shipping won't be more than the coffee. And they sell wet processed beans. So 1/3 of the husk material.

I have an order in now.

Originally Posted by Dieseld

He told me of a great coffee supplier he's used for over 15 years that's close to me. Well in Wisconsin, so shipping won't be more than the coffee. And they sell wet processed beans.
I have an order in now.

Burman and U-Roast-Em... I have used them for years.
Both top quality!
~Richard

For most beans degassing is a 24 hour thing but there are some beans that can take up to three days. Coffee sellers typically bag them right after cooling. Once they go into those foil bags with the valves in them the CO2 displaces the O2 and that's supposed to keep them fresh for a time.

I try to avoid dry process because it's cuts down on the amount of coffee I can process through my machine at one time and the chaff amount is high as you have discovered. Actually dry processing is in the minority. Most beans are wet processed. With higher temps you can also get a fire with the chaff with dry process. Some roasters are worse with that than others.

Actually it is Burman Richard. Seems like a great place to buy from.
Great descriptions of the coffee's and how they're processed and their flavor profile.

Thanks Spender, I haven't got to read a lot of the book Cangooner linked to yet. But I appreciate any and all info. I'll get the book read when the little ones give me a bit more time to myself

I'm going for the 24hr degassing now. I was only giving it 12 or so at most