Posted Fri Jan 14, 2005, 5:27pm Subject: Re: Zach and Dani's: The Only Roaster Suitable for Indoor Roasting?
To be honest the only I-Roasts I've done without the vent hose were outside when it was mild enough to do so. That's not really comparing like with like. With the hose I have no problems reaching Vienna well within the 15 minute maximum, so I've been experimenting with profiles like 450F for 6min followed by 350-400F for 6 min, then kick it back up to 450F for the third stage just in case the roast hasn't gone far enough. That's only been the case with a couple of Monsooned Malabar roasts I've done. The idea is to try to delay the onset of 2nd crack so there's a gap of a few minutes between 1st and 2nd. The great thing with the I-Roast is you can run at 325F for 15 mins all the way up to 485F for 15mins so you can cover just about any roast level and profile that you could want.
It seems that every I-Roast is slightly different and one persons experiences cannot necessarily be directly related to anothers, but you certainly have more control than pretty much any other off the shelf home roaster and each experiment I've done has taught me a lot and improved the results.
I'm still learning but have gleaned masses of useful info from other I-Roasters on this site. You should check out some of the other threads, Texbean had some interesting experiences when roasting outside and Bob (brokencup) has done a lot of very detailed and documented roast profiles.
The I-Roast has flaws - it needs the ability to store the programs you set, and more presets, and you should try one of the (easy) chaff collector mods to hold it tightly in place - but it's got very few rivals if you don't get off on home-made solutions.
Posted Fri Jan 14, 2005, 9:00pm Subject: Re: Zach and Dani's: The Only Roaster Suitable for Indoor Roasting?
Thanks for all the feedback!
Since I don't have the appropriate facilities at present to use the dryer hose hook-up, it looks like the ZD is the only choice for me right now. Otherwise, the Iroast would have been my first choice...although it does seem a little fiddly, I like the greater variety of quality roasts it seems to allow for.
drwoo Senior Member Joined: 8 May 2004 Posts: 166 Location: Toronto, Canada Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Miss Silvia , Saaeco Via... Grinder: Rancilio Rocky , Braun... Vac Pot: thinking of one Drip: Bodum FP ,Phillips , Melitta... Roaster: FR+8
Posted Sat Jan 15, 2005, 9:17am Subject: Re: Zach and Dani's: The Only Roaster Suitable for Indoor Roasting?
Lolo, My opinion is to still think about the FR+8. greeenbeanery has a pro con comparison & sweet marias has great descriptions of all. I don't have a big kitchen or a great exhaust fan & I've roasted indoors. In spring summer & fall I raost outside & if you have balcony & extension cord you can roast there. You can in the winter roast in the kitchen & just open a window for the time you are roasting. So , Again I saw for $100 canadian an option is the FR+. Aside from the small batches its a great machune. As a starter its a small outlay. Aslo never seen a Z&D working but I don't believe anything is truly a smokeless roaster, catalytic converter aside. Gook luck Wayne
SweetyPea Senior Member Joined: 8 Dec 2004 Posts: 39 Location: So. Calif Expertise: I love coffee
Grinder: Starbucks Barista Drip: Melitta Clarity Roaster: Zach and Dani's
Posted Wed Jan 19, 2005, 2:11pm Subject: Re: Zach and Dani's: The Only Roaster Suitable for Indoor Roasting?
I have done several roasts in my Z&D and there was absolutely no smoke. It did give off a odor that seemed to linger in the house but no smoke. I am so glad I bought this roaster. Next batch will be my Kona!!! Another favorite is the Brazil Carmo Estate Peaberry I bought when I ordered my roaster. Sooo goood!!! Gail in So Calif
Posted Wed Jan 19, 2005, 2:37pm Subject: Re: Zach and Dani's: The Only Roaster Suitable for Indoor Roasting?
Lolo I've just started using an Iroast. No vent pipe and no cooker hood. I've noticed some smoke but only when taken to the darker roasts, and then not alot. My advice would be to get the roaster that you prefer,open a window and temporarily disable the smoke alarm. If you're concerned about the neighbours invite them round for a demo and a tasting session. Regards.....Alan
Posted Thu Jan 20, 2005, 1:52pm Subject: Re: Zach and Dani's: The Only Roaster Suitable for Indoor Roasting?
LoLo,
I'll throw in my experience with an i-Roast not used with the dryer vent attachment. I'm still getting acquainted with mine, but it only produced visible smoke during the first two roasts (out of 15) and only set the smoke alarm off with the first. Being that it is my first roaster, I'm still developing an ear, eye and nose for darkness of roast, but if you are shooting for a city to full city+ roast and use a range hood exhaust you may be quite pleased with an i-Roast. My exhaust is a relatively crummy thing combined with a microwave. It has two metal mesh filters on the underside. While roasting, I position the i-Roast under one filter on a baking stone and on a quad-folded hand towel to provide a flat surface and perhaps mute the noise. I run the fan at low speed (better to hear the cracks) and let the filter opposite the i-Roast suck on a square of Saran wrap, which presumably increases the air flow through the side I am roasting under. Now, I don't even open the window in the kitchen. After a roast, the aroma is noticeable for about one to two hours.
In my experience, the i-Roast is completely suitable for indoor roasting. If you have an equally crummy range exhaust and smoke alarm, and a spouse who does not mind the smell of freshly roasted coffee, you might just love an i-Roast.
Posted Thu Jan 20, 2005, 5:03pm Subject: Re: Zach and Dani's: The Only Roaster Suitable for Indoor Roasting?
I first began roasting with my I-Roast using a vent hose piped up the chimney. I had some problems keeping the top properly seated that way until I sat the hose on top and left one of the four upright posts just on the outside of the hose. It seemed more stable this way.
I noted there was very little oder this way and detected no smoke. So I moved to a room where we have a vaulted cieling and a skylight. I hav done a few roasts that way. Since I pretty much shoot for a full city roast, I haven't had any smoke. I think I could probably take it a little further and may yet.
"One night, Kaldi's goats failed to come home, and in the morning he found them dancing with abandon and glee near a shiny, dark-leafed shrub with red berries. Kaldi sampled some of the berries and soon he too was dancing in the field alongside his goats." http://www.greencoffeebuyingclub.com
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