Noonievut Senior Member Joined: 9 Sep 2006 Posts: 433 Location: Toronto. Canada Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Brasilia Club Grinder: Rocky DL Vac Pot: Other - Aeropress Roaster: Behmor
Posted Thu May 15, 2008, 1:03pm Subject: Smoke - Nesco(Z&D) vs. Behmor
Has anyone went from using a Nesco(Z&D) to a Behmor and if yes, what was the difference in the units in terms of smoke?
I've heard good things about the Nesco in terms of little/no smoke (still not clear that there is 0% chance of setting off the alarm, if say going to City+), and I've heard great things about the Behmor but I'm not sure about it's chances of setting off the smoke alarm.
Here's why I ask...
I currently own 2 freshroasts that I use either outside on warm days or inside on 'colder' days. When roasting indoors the roaster is placed on top of the oven and I turn on the exhaust fan. I've done this without opening a window and at times have set-off the alarm (not good with a young one sleeping...which is the only time I get to roast). So, I usually only roast indoors if I can open a couple of windows (when it's not that cold outside). Unfortunately in Toronto we can have several months of temperatures where I wouldn't consider opening the windows. So my problem is that I would like to roast in the winter (indoors) without setting off the alarm, and without venting the roaster outside with any mods...not for me).
ILUVDABEAN Senior Member Joined: 7 Mar 2005 Posts: 202 Location: California Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Gaggia Classic Grinder: Gaggia MDF/K-A Pro Series Drip: Capresso MT 500 Roaster: Nesco 1010/Behmor 1600
Posted Thu May 15, 2008, 2:52pm Subject: Re: Smoke - Nesco(Z&D) vs. Behmor
I have the Nesco and Ive never set off an alarm and I have the Behmor and I have a few times set of an alarm but if you arent going for real dark roasts you will be fine. The Behmor is a better roaster and produces better results,plain and simple. It just tastes better on the Behmor.
Posted Thu May 15, 2008, 3:15pm Subject: Re: Smoke - Nesco(Z&D) vs. Behmor
Hi Jason.
I am a long time Z&D user and hacker but only know what I read on these forums about the Behmor.
I can tell you that the cat is for real on the Z&D. It is not impossible to set off the smoke alarm with the Z&D but it is rare if you are using a decient range hood. With my HWP setting off the alarm is not uncommon.
I think the Behmor also uses a cat but they hold their smoke reduction as propriatary so I can't be sure. From what I see on this forum whatever they use is effective.
One other thing to consider is customer service. Z&D in recient years and now Nesco dosen't seem all that great. All they will supply as parts are the externals and their prices have gone from $19.99 to about $50 for a roast chamber. I have hacked mine so my roast heater has a hard life. They won't supply a replaciment. They say to send my machine to them for repair. That is out of the question as mine is highly modified.
I don't know how "hacker frendly" Joe will prove to be, but from what I see on this forum his customer service is unrivaled by any other company.
It is looking like there will be a Behmor in my near future.
Yes, I have both the Nesco and the Behmor. If you are doing 5 oz in each, there is no diference in the smoke. I typically use the Behmor for a little over 13 ounces and you will get some smoke with significant odor within the house at that volume. I take the batt's out of the smoke alarms during roasting and put them in a prominent place to remind me to reinsert them.
5 oz in the Behmor, no issue. 13 oz is a different story when the Czarina comes home.
Bear_B Senior Member Joined: 14 May 2008 Posts: 46 Location: Columbus, OH Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Francis Francis! X1 Grinder: Breville Vac Pot: Cona (I wish!!) Drip: no, French press Roaster: iRoast 2
Posted Fri May 16, 2008, 9:40am Subject: Re: Smoke - Nesco(Z&D) vs. Behmor
Noonievut Said:
So my problem is that I would like to roast in the winter (indoors) without setting off the alarm, and without venting the roaster outside with any mods...not for me).
For what it's worth, I'm also averse to venting modifications, and I also roast underneath a vent hood, but I found that with my iRoast 2 our vent hood wouldn't do it. However, the iRoast comes with a simple dryer hose attachment, and our hood's filters pop right off, so when I roast I just run a metal dryer tube up the ventilator duct, set it on top of the iRoast with the attachment, and turn the fan on. Works like a charm -- you can barely even smell the coffee roasting inside. It only takes a minute or so to set up and take down, and it doesn't involve any structural modifications to the house (which is what I really wanted to avoid).
Noonievut Senior Member Joined: 9 Sep 2006 Posts: 433 Location: Toronto. Canada Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Brasilia Club Grinder: Rocky DL Vac Pot: Other - Aeropress Roaster: Behmor
Posted Fri May 16, 2008, 11:18am Subject: Re: Smoke - Nesco(Z&D) vs. Behmor
Bear_B Said:
Hi Jason,
For what it's worth, I'm also averse to venting modifications, and I also roast underneath a vent hood, but I found that with my iRoast 2 our vent hood wouldn't do it. However, the iRoast comes with a simple dryer hose attachment, and our hood's filters pop right off, so when I roast I just run a metal dryer tube up the ventilator duct, set it on top of the iRoast with the attachment, and turn the fan on. Works like a charm -- you can barely even smell the coffee roasting inside. It only takes a minute or so to set up and take down, and it doesn't involve any structural modifications to the house (which is what I really wanted to avoid).
I'm assuming that I could do something similiar with a freshroast? I can imagine a vent easily going up to just inside the ventilater duct (filter also pops off). Only issue may be that the top of the freshroast is wobbly (the top end that holds the chaff), and is pretty flat, so the vent would have to sit just on top of the unit, just outside the holes. Maybe if I attached a thin rubber ring to the botton of the vent where it would sit on the freshroast, it would be less likely to fall off? Whole thing would also have to be very lightweight.
Anyway, I'll think about this...but if anyone has experience with a similar mod, please point me in the right direction.
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