What have been your Aha Moments? What changes did you make that really changed roasting for you? How long have you been roasting? Will you tell the story of your journey through the knowledge of roasting?
"Three of the four elements are variable, but the fourth one has to be adaptable, knowledgeable and intuitive." Mark Prince Click Here (www.coffeegeek.com)
My Aha moment so far, and I am only at the beginning, was that roasting was more than dropping, timing, smelling, looking, cracks and don't burn it or bake it. All of a sudden, the realization of the existence of the possibilities and complexities of roasting overwhelmed me. I am very excited to learn more and I barely know where to start.
"Three of the four elements are variable, but the fourth one has to be adaptable, knowledgeable and intuitive." Mark Prince Click Here (www.coffeegeek.com)
Posted Sat Apr 17, 2010, 2:36pm Subject: Re: "AHA! Moments" In Roasting
TheMummaFamily Said:
What have been your Aha Moments? What changes did you make that really changed roasting for you? How long have you been roasting? Will you tell the story of your journey through the knowledge of roasting?
Hey mum... Ten years (a bit more), and the biggest Aha was when I finally and deliberately burned a batch (all the way to oil on the outside). After that I recognized the stages more easily, and was not afraid of them getting away from me.
There have been others along the way...that was the main one.
TheMummaFamily Senior Member Joined: 18 Mar 2008 Posts: 992 Location: somewhere, out there Expertise: I like coffee
Espresso: Grimac Zola II 3 group &... Grinder: Mazzer Major, Pasquini H269 Vac Pot: We wish. Aeropress though. Drip: Technivorm Roaster: Corretto=HG/BM
Posted Sat Apr 17, 2010, 2:54pm Subject: Re: "AHA! Moments" In Roasting
I was thinking of doing that...now I'm gonna!!
"Three of the four elements are variable, but the fourth one has to be adaptable, knowledgeable and intuitive." Mark Prince Click Here (www.coffeegeek.com)
Posted Sat Apr 17, 2010, 3:55pm Subject: Re: "AHA! Moments" In Roasting
I've been roasting about a year. My biggest AHA! was when I realized that the quality of the green beans varied greatly from one vendor to the next. It didn't matter how careful I was with the roast or what profile I used. If the beans were full of defects then the coffee didn't taste as great as when I bought the speciality coffee that was clean through and through. Now when I try a different vendor, or a new coffee from a known vendor, the first thing I do is inspect the coffee for the defects. Since I'm a quality guru for a living I keep records and statistics on the different vendors and coffees. I guess I'm just a coffee geek.
My mother's doctor told her to quit drinking coffee. She told him she would quit when she was dead.
Posted Sat Apr 17, 2010, 6:52pm Subject: Re: "AHA! Moments" In Roasting
My aha moments:
-- I like bright coffees -- it does not matter how delicious you describe a Sumatra or a Sulewesi, I am not going to think a whole lot of it... the only exception oddly enough is Monsooned Malabar
-- It pays to be patient -- don't just jump on the first Costa Rican or Guat of the season... if you wait till May/ June, there will be more of a selection
-- That you don't have to be anal retentive to roast coffee well (Note: I DO NOT MAKE ESPRESSO). I used to use pen, pad, timers, charts etc. Not anymore... You don't need a variac, you don't need to test the voltage coming through the line, you don't need a temperature probe... Assuming you have the equipment that gets hot enough to roast coffee, just learn how to use your setup. I use the force to roast on my Stir Crazy / Oven setup. Wet process (except yirg) gets roasted to the first pops of second crack. Dry process gets roasted 30 seconds after I hear the last pop of 1st crack. Exacting consistency is for McDonalds, not for home.
I like bright coffees as well. I had an air popper that produced very bright coffees with Columbian and Kenyan beans. When it died I bought a drum roaster. I've never used a setup like yours but didn't really consider it until now. Have you used an air bed roaster, and does your roasting method compare when it comes to creating a bright roast?
I'm intrigued.
My mother's doctor told her to quit drinking coffee. She told him she would quit when she was dead.
Started with a Freshroast, then bought the generic Walgreens air popper, and then finally the UFO/TO setup. From what I can remember, the Freshroast roasts seemed a bit brighter -- how much of that is due to the time difference in roasting (6:30 or so in a Freshroast vs. 12-13 mins in my UFC/CO). Have not tried any kind of roaster beyond the 3 I mentioned, but I have read/heard that fluid bed is going to yield brighter coffee than drum style.
Yes, that is established truth! At least with home roasting machines...
If you like it 'bright' then stick with air...I've had 3 air type and 2 drums (and one I’m not sure...the stir-crazy/galloping-gourmet)...
If the roasts are into 1st crack in under 8-9 minutes, it will not be bright...and equal stretched times on an air roaster do not produce as deep a roast for espresso as with a drum either...
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