Posted Sat Jan 5, 2013, 8:19am Subject: Tweaking roasts with Behmor - element off switch just installed
I just installed an on/off switch for the heating elements on my Behmor (sorry Joe...I know you disapprove). I don't plan on any more complex modding.
Does anyone have experience / advice on how to improve roasts with this set up? I usually roast 11-16 oz at a time, so I don't need to slow it down much as the roasts often take 17-19 mins.
I'm thinking of turning off the element for about 20-30 seconds about a minute before I expect to hit 1C and/or for 10-15 secs during 1C. For decafs, I stopped using P3 as roasts wound up > 20 mins long so when I roast them on P1 now, I'm thinking of turning off the element for 30 secs about 7 mins into the roast and then another 30 secs before 1C and then maybe 30 secs during 1C as I've found the decafs go through 1C rather quickly on P1. By the way, I typically roast to around FC.
I realize that for softer beans I should use the off switch a bit more than for harder beans. For espresso blends, should I go for a more drawn out roast?
Any advice or thoughts on how to approach this would be great.
Gregr Senior Member Joined: 6 Mar 2010 Posts: 188 Location: Los Angeles, Ca Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Livia 90 Grinder: Moka Drip: CCD Roaster: Hottop B
Posted Sat Jan 5, 2013, 10:35am Subject: Re: Tweaking roasts with Behmor - element off switch just installed
Sorry Joe... but that is a pretty neat mod. For espresso, to give you an idea of what works well for me in a Hottop, power to 70% one minute before first crack starts, the to 50% when it's well under way, then to 30% when it's done. Then, depending on the bean, back up to 70-100% about 2:30-3:00 after first crack started (softer beans get less heat at the end). This usually brings second crack in right around 4:30 or thereabouts. If you ever decide to put a bean mass probe in there you'll find it tons easier to judge the timings. I'm just saying... For Sumatras a power drop to 50% roughly 3 minutes into the roast, for about 30 seconds helps avoid grassy under-roasted flavors which I sometimes get otherwise, even with a week's rest.
Posted Sat Jan 5, 2013, 11:02am Subject: Re: Tweaking roasts with Behmor - element off switch just installed
I'd watch the element with a stopwatch in hand and see what kind of times the Behmor does by itself. I would think trying to mimic P2 would not be a bad place to start and now you can control the timing. If I recall it's something like 7-10 seconds off and then 15 seconds on in a repeating pattern. I think off for a minute might be a recipe for disaster. If you turn the heat down to far the roast will stall and without a temperature probe in the bean mass it's going to be hard to tell when that happens.
tahoejoe Senior Member Joined: 9 Sep 2003 Posts: 557 Location: San Diego/ Incline Village Nv. Expertise: I live coffee
Grinder: Solis Maestro Drip: Behmor Brazen Brew System Roaster: Behmor 1600
Posted Sat Jan 5, 2013, 12:00pm Subject: Re: Tweaking roasts with Behmor - element off switch just installed
BarryR Said:
I just installed an on/off switch for the heating elements on my Behmor (sorry Joe...I know you disapprove). I don't plan on any more complex modding.
Does anyone have experience / advice on how to improve roasts with this set up? I usually roast 11-16 oz at a time, so I don't need to slow it down much as the roasts often take 17-19 mins.
I'm thinking of turning off the element for about 20-30 seconds about a minute before I expect to hit 1C and/or for 10-15 secs during 1C. For decafs, I stopped using P3 as roasts wound up > 20 mins long so when I roast them on P1 now, I'm thinking of turning off the element for 30 secs about 7 mins into the roast and then another 30 secs before 1C and then maybe 30 secs during 1C as I've found the decafs go through 1C rather quickly on P1. By the way, I typically roast to around FC.
I realize that for softer beans I should use the off switch a bit more than for harder beans. For espresso blends, should I go for a more drawn out roast?
Any advice or thoughts on how to approach this would be great.
It's not that I personally disapprove... Safety houses, insurance carriers and attorneys sure as hell do- Behmor formally does as well.
Understand you put the whole of Behmor and my family in greater risk for lawsuit if you have a fire. You put Behmor at greater risk of being drug into a protracted lawsuit and 10X insurance costs- if any can be found after such a lawsuit.
Lawyers and insurance companies don't give a sh-t you did the mod on your own they just see Behmor and insurance = $$$$$$$$, oh and they ie: lawyers (not Behmor because it'll be out of my hands) will quite likley seek to include you too. They'll go after everybody ! Trust me- its the dart board effect in the hopes of catching paydirt
Sound harsh, maybe, but it's a reality everyone considering modding a roaster should be aware of in today's litigous world.
Any cutting of wires and/ or mods should not be done- period.
ps.. my apologies if this all sounds as mentioned harsh- but if I see any thread like this I'm required by insurance carriers, and lawyers to advise users/ readers etc, the possible outcome and implications- that being fires and lawsuits. Trust me when I say, I hate having to do these posts
REMINDER: Never leave the roaster unattended when in use !! And remember to use our Rosetta Stone tip PART V PARAGRAPH 3.. it works !!!
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