BrandonW Junior Member Joined: 9 Mar 2013 Posts: 2 Location: Illinois Expertise: Just starting
Posted Sat Mar 9, 2013, 8:42pm Subject: Questions about heat gun roasting
Hey all,
I want to first say thanks because this website has helped me gain a ton of knowledge on coffee and coffee roasting. I just recently got into roasting my own coffee, and I'm hooked! I got a heat gun and stainless steel bowl, and I started roasting my first few batches. However, I have a couple of questions for those of you that are more experienced.
I've read a lot about people being able to roast several cups at a time, but my first batch of roughly a half pound went for about 25 minutes before I gave up and never reached first crack. I think my heat setting was too low.
I've had some success with smaller batches, but I still feel like I'm having trouble reaching first crack at close to 15 minutes. I've read people try and be at first crack close to 6sh minutes and then being done closer to 10. I think my main problem is my heat setting. My beans look like they are getting to a good color, but they aren't cracking. What do you guys recommend for heat settings? My heat gun has a dial that allows me to adjust the temperature from as low as like 200sh to a max of 1000sh. Do you guys start at a lower temp and then ramp up over time? My successful roasts have been on pretty much full blast until I hear a first and second crack. However, the roasts are a little darker than I'd like.
I'm definitely going to keep experimenting, but it'd be nice to have a few people chime in on their thoughts about heat settings and approximate times to shoot for. Also, should I be able to do more than a half a cup at a time without it taking 20+ minutes? Sorry for the wall of text and thanks in advance for the advice.
Hey, sorry for the lack of info. The gun is a 1500 watt Porter-Cable, and I'd say I was probably holding the gun maybe 3-4 inches above them. Is there a preferred distance between gun and beans? Ambient temperature could be a problem since it's pretty cold in IL. I think it was probably in the low to mid 20s when I was roasting. I guess I was just wondering if it's better to roast at a consistent heat of the max the gun can go or try and stay at like 500sh and then go up after first crack? Just looking for general temps/strategies.
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