CoffeeGeek - Coffee: Home Roasting Talk, I-Roast versus Poppery Preferences

Coffee: Home Roasting Talk
I-Roast versus Poppery Preferences

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Discussions > Coffee > Home Roast > I-Roast versus...

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thunguri
Senior Member

Joined: 24 Aug 2004
Posts: 12
Location: San Francisco Bay Area
Expertise: I love coffee

Espresso: Expobar Pulser
Grinder: Rocky
Vac Pot: Bodum
Drip: Krups
Roaster: Poppery I

Posted Wed Jan 12, 2005, 4:18pm Subject: I-Roast versus Poppery Preferences

I've had my I-Roast for a couple of months now, and I've found that unless it's raining outside I will pick up the Poppery I to roast with instead of the I-Roast. Am I the only one that prefers a cheap corn popper to a regular roaster? The I-Roast requires programming every time I use it. I have to let it sit 20-30 minutes between roasts. I get nervous when I roast more than 2 batches a day with it (because of the warnings on the instructions). I can't tell when the beans hit first or second crack because it's so noisey. The glass isn't clear enough to tell where the roast is even when cleaned after every roast. I have to dig out the dryer hose and loop it out a window. It takes 8-10 minutes per roast. It takes several tries to find the right program for each bean (lots of sub-optimal roasts). With the Poppery I grab it, put it on the porch and plug it in. Dump in beans and turn on. 3.5 minutes later I check it and listen for the start of second crack (which is where I prefer almost all my beans) and turn off the heater (I installed a cut-out switch so I didn't have to do the collander thing). Total roast time is 5 minutes or less, plus cool-down. Outside temperature does not affect the times very much. When the beans are cool, I empty them out and put in new, start machine immediately. Repeat up to 5 times.

Ramblin
Senior Member

Joined: 25 Jul 2004
Posts: 189
Location: Missouri
Expertise: I live coffee

Espresso: Aereo?
Grinder: KA Proline,
Drip: Melitta Clarity
Roaster: Iroast, SC/CO

Posted Wed Jan 12, 2005, 4:48pm Subject: Re: I-Roast versus Poppery Preferences

That is a really short roast you are doing there. I have the I-roast and have been pretty happy with the results I've been getting. It is VERY noisy and it is difficult to hear the cracks. I'm going to work on the convection oven, stir crazy for a while. I like being able to see and hear how the roast is going with this combo.

TexasCanuk
Senior Member

Joined: 25 Nov 2004
Posts: 68
Location: Bedford TX
Expertise: I love coffee

Espresso: Rancilio Sylvia
Grinder: Rancilio Rocky
Vac Pot: Bodum French Press
Drip: Bunn
Roaster: Zach & Danni's

Posted Wed Jan 12, 2005, 4:54pm Subject: Re: I-Roast versus Poppery Preferences

It is pretty easy and simple to roast using a popper. I still haven't modded mine at all but think doing the fan mod and tin can chimney would be a great benefit.

~~~~~Paul~~~~~

SnTholiday
Senior Member

Joined: 19 Dec 2001
Posts: 50
Location: Sacramento
Expertise: I love coffee

Grinder: Mr. Coffee burr
Vac Pot: Yama
Drip: Technivorm KB741
Roaster: Popper II and Pumper

Posted Wed Jan 12, 2005, 5:50pm Subject: Re: I-Roast versus Poppery Preferences

I still can't bring myself to purchase one of the available roasting appliances. Seems there are just too many issues, not just quality problems. I would feel blind if I had to program a machine, and not be able to hear and/or smell the roast progressing. Household voltage and ambient temperatures also appear to adversely affect these roasters. I have found that a combination of tilting the popper and stirring the beans can add control of the roast profile and provide excellent results.

cexshun
Senior Member

Joined: 2 Sep 2004
Posts: 81
Location: NW Indiana
Expertise: I love coffee

Espresso: Nope
Grinder: Capresso Infinity
Vac Pot: Nope
Drip: nope (Press Pot Only!)
Roaster: Iroast

Posted Wed Jan 12, 2005, 8:25pm Subject: Re: I-Roast versus Poppery Preferences

3.5 minutes to second crack? That's not right at all. Way to short. Consider the $600 hottop takes 18 minutes per batch. You really really need to play with the on/off switch to bring that time way up. I wouldn't consider the coffee drinkable without doubling that time to at very least 6 minutes. Judging roasters by time is not a valid way to determine superiority.

Posted Wed Jan 12, 2005, 9:38pm Subject: Re: I-Roast versus Poppery Preferences

3-1/2 minutes is when I start WATCHING it continuously for the end of 1st and beginning of 2nd. The first 3-1/2 to 4 minutes nothing critical happens so I can do something else, like get the next batch of beans ready. 18 minutes is baking the beans, not roasting them. Beans roasted for 5 to 6 minutes in the Poppery taste better than 8-10 minutes in the I-Roast. I judge the quality by the taste, not how long it takes. If it takes less time and tastes better, then that makes it superior.

scottfsmith
Senior Member

Joined: 26 Jul 2004
Posts: 153
Location: Baltimore
Expertise: I love coffee

Espresso: Rancilio S26 / NS Appia
Grinder: Rancilio Rocky
Drip: Technivorm
Roaster: RK Drum YEAH!

Posted Thu Jan 13, 2005, 6:01am Subject: Re: I-Roast versus Poppery Preferences

thunguri, I don't know how you are getting more sub-optimal roasts on the i-Roast as opposed to a popper. On the popper you are either tuning it with a variac or opening it or other "tweaks" which are less than repeatable, or you are getting the exact same profile every time, which could in fact be the wrong profile for the bean. I also don't understand how you can't see the beans. Either your glass needs cleaning or you need to get a better light source. Scott

Posted Thu Jan 13, 2005, 8:15am Subject: Re: I-Roast versus Poppery Preferences

Scott, The sub-optimal roasts are while I am dialing in a program for a new bean.

NasdTrader
Senior Member

Joined: 7 Jan 2005
Posts: 22
Location: CT
Expertise: I live coffee

Espresso: KitchenAid Proline
Grinder: Macap M5
Roaster: I-Roast

Posted Thu Jan 13, 2005, 12:30pm Subject: Re: I-Roast versus Poppery Preferences

Wow - First of all, it seems like your really happy with the quality of the beans from your popper vs. the Iroast, so I think that's great, but not sure what to say! I've only been using the Iroast for a month, but I have been more than pleased from my results. I clean the glass every 3rd roast or so, and have to say I have no problem determining the stage of roast. Also, even though the machine is loud, I have absolutely no problem hearing the cracks at both 1st and 2nd. It seems strange (though not bad at all) that you would prefer a 5 minute roast vs. a 10 min. or longer roast. From everything i've read, shorter roasts that use such high temps produce a bean that is often baked and cooked more than roasted - yielding less than optimal results. As for the programming, it can be a pain, and I wish there were another 3 buttons or so to manually set to different programs of our choice. Though, I have found that preset 2 produces great results for me on most beans (I almost always have to extend the time though). When it is really cold, or I have a bean that takes longer, I do need to set a program. As for the venting, I just bought a piece of 4" venting from home depot, cut a piece of plywood the same size as one of my basement windows, put it in place of my basement window when I want to roast, and it works great. It takes about 5 minutes to setup every time, so not nearly as fast as plugging in a popper on your front porch, but doable. As for finding the right roast for the bean.. Basically I have it set to go to 15 min. each time.. If I find myself at the roast I want at 8 minutes, I stop the roast.. If i find I'm at the roast i want in 12 minutes, I stop the roast..etc.. I've found that its not always consistent as far as time goes (a bean might roast in 9 minutes one time, and the same bean 12 minutes another), but I still get the same roast I want by sitting and watching. The only time I have had to trash a roast is if it takes much longer than expected and It is too light at 15 minutes (in which case I set a program w/ higher temps). I guess the most important thing is that your tastses are being met -- If you prefer the taste of your popper to something dramatic like a $15,000 proffesional roaster, than you are set! So far, i've completely disregarded the "2 times per day" and "2 hour cooloff" stuff... I never seem to keep any electronic device around for more than 2 years before upgrade fever hits.. so I'm jsut hoping it lasts that long. I guess the thing that I find strange is that I would really think you would be getting more consistent better roasts from the roaster rather than the popper.

Everman
Senior Member

Joined: 25 Nov 2004
Posts: 1,010
Location: Coffee Land
Expertise: I love coffee

Espresso: Valentina Levetta
Grinder: Mazzer Mini
Roaster: Hottop

Posted Thu Jan 13, 2005, 3:58pm Subject: Re: I-Roast versus Poppery Preferences

Interesting. I usually never have trouble hearing 1st or 2nd crack, although some beans are definitly more audible than others. As for roast profiles, I use just about the same settings for everything and the ending time on the third step is the only thing that varies. I just judge by sight and smell when to turn it off.

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