Posted Fri Mar 1, 2013, 5:23pm Subject: Home Roasted Beans - Something is Wrong
I'm new to home espresso making. I have a Rancilio Silvia and a Baratza Precisio grinder. I started out using fresh roasted beans from a local micro roaster. I pulled good shots very quickly largely because I had done a lot of "how to" research before purchasing my machine.
The first time I tried roasting I used a fry pan. Burned the first batch to a crisp, but the 2nd batch made the best espresso shots I have ever had. Hondouras beans. I was hooked on roasting my own right away.
Recently, I purchased a rotisserie drum off the net, and roasted beans in my convection toaster oven. The beans look better than anything I have roasted in the fry pan. But, even with the grinder on the finest setting, the puck is so dry no matter how hard I tamp, it just falls out of the portafilter when I tip the filter over. Also, the shots come out far too fast. They just gush out now, and I get a ton of very light weak fluffy foam that dissipates immediately.
Now all my shots go into the sink... What have I done wrong? I've roasted beans from light to dark using the drum, they are all the same. I also get a lot much larger dose into the portafilter now... But it's like the coffee doesn't pack down no matter how hard I tamp.
Posted Fri Mar 1, 2013, 8:11pm Subject: Re: Home Roasted Beans - Something is Wrong
Either the grind is not fine enough or you haven't tamped the coffee hard enough. With a my Cimbali Jr grinder, I can get the grind fine enough that it will refuse to pass water through the coffee and stall the machine. If you're tamping with 30 pounds of pressure, then the only other thing it can be is the grind is not fine enough.
IMAWriter Senior Member Joined: 4 Jul 2002 Posts: 5,464 Location: Brentwood, TN Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Nothing at the moment Grinder: Vario-W,Preciso-Esatto/KyM... Vac Pot: Adcraft SS, Yama 8 cup Drip: Brazen.Chemex, Hario, Clever... Roaster: Behmor 1600, CO/UFO combo
Posted Fri Mar 1, 2013, 8:18pm Subject: Re: Home Roasted Beans - Something is Wrong
Maddie Said:
Recently, I purchased a rotisserie drum off the net, and roasted beans in my convection toaster oven. The beans look better than anything I have roasted in the fry pan. But, even with the grinder on the finest setting, the puck is so dry no matter how hard I tamp, it just falls out of the portafilter when I tip the filter over. Also, the shots come out far too fast. They just gush out now, and I get a ton of very light weak fluffy foam that dissipates immediately.
How long is the roast taking. Generally those toaster ovens either don't get hot enough, or the heat is uneven. Just because a roast LOOKS good doesn't necessarily mean it IS good.
A convection oven can dry out what you cook in it. Using a convection top with a Stir crazy popper (called SC/TO method) I keep the heating element 5"s from the beans rotating. Right now, the main thing is how long does roasting say 150-200 grams take?
Posted Fri Mar 1, 2013, 8:43pm Subject: Re: Home Roasted Beans - Something is Wrong
I've experimented with so many batches now...I'm not sure how long. It's a small drum, only holds 1 cup. When I tried 1/2 cup it went much faster but I over-roasted. Tried more and then the beans took much longer. I think the last 1 cup batch was over 20 minutes.
Being in Calgary the air is very dry here. So I think you might be right about the rotisserie convection oven drying it out too much.
I think I'll go back to the micro-roaster until I can afford a Behmor. I'm in a small condo so I don't have the room to experiment with heat guns and whatnot. Pan roasting just doesn't roast enough for a week for me. I drink a lot of coffee.
How do you think roasting them in the regular oven would work? On a cookie sheet?
Posted Fri Mar 1, 2013, 11:05pm Subject: Re: Home Roasted Beans - Something is Wrong
You might try a whirly-pop as an inexpensive way to get going. Sweet Maria's has a bit of info on roasting with one, and sells them as well. They say you can roast up to 8 oz. at a time.
IMAWriter Senior Member Joined: 4 Jul 2002 Posts: 5,464 Location: Brentwood, TN Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Nothing at the moment Grinder: Vario-W,Preciso-Esatto/KyM... Vac Pot: Adcraft SS, Yama 8 cup Drip: Brazen.Chemex, Hario, Clever... Roaster: Behmor 1600, CO/UFO combo
Posted Sat Mar 2, 2013, 1:03am Subject: Re: Home Roasted Beans - Something is Wrong
Maddie Said:
I've experimented with so many batches now...I'm not sure how long. It's a small drum, only holds 1 cup. When I tried 1/2 cup it went much faster but I over-roasted. Tried more and then the beans took much longer. I think the last 1 cup batch was over 20 minutes.
Being in Calgary the air is very dry here. So I think you might be right about the rotisserie convection oven drying it out too much.
I think I'll go back to the micro-roaster until I can afford a Behmor. I'm in a small condo so I don't have the room to experiment with heat guns and whatnot. Pan roasting just doesn't roast enough for a week for me. I drink a lot of coffee.
How do you think roasting them in the regular oven would work? On a cookie sheet?
20 minutes for a cup of beans (8oz by weight) is much to long. You're baking the beans. For 4oz's, you could look into a popcorn popper, like a Poppery 2. Cost, $4 in a Goodwill store. There are tons of threads on how to roast with it, mod it.
A Behmor is a good choice, but I'm biased as I own 2. Over 400 roasts one one nearly that on another. I can easily roast 14 oz per roast. Roasting time averages about15 minutes, if i'm going just to 2nd crack. Cooling another 7-8 minutes.
oldgearhead Senior Member Joined: 25 Jan 2010 Posts: 354 Location: Go Colts! Expertise: I like coffee
Grinder: Virtuoso by Baratza Drip: Chemex,Dilongi DCM900 Roaster: 1/2K Fluid-bed
Posted Sat Mar 2, 2013, 6:13am Subject: Re: Home Roasted Beans - Something is Wrong
Humm, I thought a Behmor was a toaster oven. I think it works well because it has better control of the process. However, the Behmor may have more power, also. What is the wattage of your toaster oven?
Posted Sat Mar 2, 2013, 1:23pm Subject: Re: Home Roasted Beans - Something is Wrong
It would be helpful if some data were available. An inexpensive digital thermometer with a wire probe would be useful. As stated, 20 minutes is far too long for a roast. 12 to 16 is more reasonable. With the thermometer you could roast the small batch and control the temperature by opening the door slightly for short periods. There are ways of modifying toaster ovens such as defeating or modifying the temperature sensors for the thermostat.
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