Home coffee roasting

[DigMe]

I agree with Mike and I'm willing to pay more for good coffee beans not just for the quality and flavor but also because these days I'm only buying beans that are either direct trade or for which I can find information about the specific farm or cooperative so that I can be as sure as one can be that I'm not contributing to places that use child labor or unfair labor practices and that farmers are being paid a good price. That's the good thing about most of these high quality coffees though is that most of the farmers are being paid better than fair trade prices.

brad

 

[MJ5150]

I'll agree with Brad. How the bean got to the roaster is important to me, and weighs heavily in my purchasing decision.

Have you guys seen the TV show Dangerous Grounds? I recommend it. http://www.travelchannel.com/tv-shows/dangerous-grounds

-Mike

 

[iamlowsound]

Brad, when you had the SCTO, how easy was it to control roast profile and what was you capacity?

lowsound

 

[DigMe]

Low,

With the model of CO I had it was pretty easy as long as you had an instant read digital thermo probe in there. I used air temp as close to beans as possible instead of bean temp if I recall. My temp adjustment was a dial style that you could turn in small increments. It had a fairly large deadband in the thermal controller but I could make up for it by just listening for the small sound of the heater coil coming on and off and just turn the dial appropriately for each one. I've never been so keyed into temp profiles as I was with that because you could really keep it pretty exact simply by getting to know your temp adjustment very well and watching the thermometer readout. I would roast for so many minutes at this temp, then raise it to another temp etc.. Just got some wonderful roasts out of that thing. I replaced the plastic cap of the stirring arms on the SC with a copper cap (end cap for a copper pipe) and I also covered the thin stirring arms with these metal cylinders I found at the hardware store. I think I also did some kind of replacement if the plastic screw with metal. Can't remember. I know I disconnected the heating element on the SC also which was a big improvement for heat control and I recommend it unless you are just not getting enough heat from the CO for some reason. Then you need a divider too and some people make their own but it's just so easy to use the sides of a springform pan.

I used to roast 450 gr at a time which is about a lb.

brad

 

[fmoore200]

I just had a tall blonde from Starbucks. I didn't enjoy and I blame you guys

 

[iamlowsound]

Thanks Brad! The more I read about the TO roasters, the more I think I'll go that direction. It gets too cold here to roast with a BBQ in the winter and I could use a TO inside in the winter. You should be able to crack one of those things open and add a PID control fairly easy. Off to google to see if anyone actually ever has.

lowsound

 

[iamlowsound]

I just had a tall blonde from Starbucks. I didn't enjoy and I blame you guys

You are welcome!

lowsound

 

[DigMe]

Thanks Brad! The more I read about the TO roasters, the more I think I'll go that direction. It gets too cold here to roast with a BBQ in the winter and I could use a TO inside in the winter. You should be able to crack one of those things open and add a PID control fairly easy. Off to google to see if anyone actually ever has.

lowsound

Smell will still be a factor indoors though. Yeah, probably easy to pid. This is probably the best roasting you can get for the price even if you buy the parts retail. I got my SC and my CO at resale shops. For like 20 or 25 bucks total.

brad

 

[iamlowsound]

I found a plan for one where you build your own suspended roasting bed, which looks better than the stir-crazy IMO. I am going to start keeping my eye out for a turbo oven, they aren't super common around here, but I know I can buy one online if I can't find a good deal.

lowsound

 

[iamlowsound]

I created my first single origin blend! Two different roast profiles. Although the darker one got away from me a bit. I followed my notes and ignored my nose, ears and eyes. They were telling me that it was running about 30 seconds fast, I ignored and went with my notes. Resulting in a roast that was supposed to be a Full City + to one that is borderline French. After that, I decided that I would trust my nose and nailed the City + to blend with.

Now I just have to wait three days to see how it tastes. Oh, and I did mix after taking the photo.



lowsound

 

[MJ5150]

Way to go! If you package it up and ship it to me, it will be ready to drink by the time it gets to me.

-Mike

 

[iamlowsound]

Way to go! If you package it up and ship it to me, it will be ready to drink by the time it gets to me.

-Mike

Nice try! If you are lucky and if it is any good, I'll send you some when we do our bean exchange. I cracked it open this morning and it smelled amazing. I am really excited to try it. I can't wait to start building my new roaster!


lowsound

 

[fmoore200]

I don't know why, but this thread has been on my mind for a while now. I've always been more of a tea drinker, but the last few years I've steadily increased my coffee drinking. Occasionally I'll drink a coffee that I REALLY enjoy, which is why I guess I keep drinking coffee, but more often than not I'm disappointed.

I'm also a fan of do it yourself type things, so maybe that plays a part as well.

What is a good way to get started brewing coffee? I keep reading about a smell - I live in an apartment, so is it a no go from jump street, or is there some way I can still get started.

Of course I'm not looking to spend a ton of money on a hobby I'm not sure I'll take to. Any suggestions mighty brew masters of TB?

 

[iamlowsound]

I don't know why, but this thread has been on my mind for a while now. I've always been more of a tea drinker, but the last few years I've steadily increased my coffee drinking. Occasionally I'll drink a coffee that I REALLY enjoy, which is why I guess I keep drinking coffee, but more often than not I'm disappointed.

I'm also a fan of do it yourself type things, so maybe that plays a part as well.

What is a good way to get started brewing coffee? I keep reading about a smell - I live in an apartment, so is it a no go from jump street, or is there some way I can still get started.

Of course I'm not looking to spend a ton of money on a hobby I'm not sure I'll take to. Any suggestions mighty brew masters of TB?

You want to start roasting? Then there is some good general info at the start of this thread. Although, if you get serious about it, something like the FreshRoast will only get you so far. See homeroasters.org for everything home roasting. I do it in my apartment in the winter months, on my balcony during the summer. It smells a bit, but I really like the smell up until a FC+ roast, and I rarely go that dark.

lowsound

 

[Lonesomedave]

I don't know why, but this thread has been on my mind for a while now. I've always been more of a tea drinker, but the last few years I've steadily increased my coffee drinking. Occasionally I'll drink a coffee that I REALLY enjoy, which is why I guess I keep drinking coffee, but more often than not I'm disappointed.

I'm also a fan of do it yourself type things, so maybe that plays a part as well.

What is a good way to get started brewing coffee? I keep reading about a smell - I live in an apartment, so is it a no go from jump street, or is there some way I can still get started.

Of course I'm not looking to spend a ton of money on a hobby I'm not sure I'll take to. Any suggestions mighty brew masters of TB?

i don't know for sure....that is, i don't know whether the claims are true....BUT

the Nesco coffee roaster (the one that has that weird screw thing in the roasting chamber) claims to produce almost no smoke.

it apparently uses a combination of a lower temperature with some filters.

cost about 160.00 or so....if you give it a try, let us know how it works, how's the smoke etc

ps-edit- for DIY projects, i bow to the authorities on this site...

 

[pedroims]

I just ordered 10 pounds of Ethiopia Yirga Cheffe Gedeo, thanks to Iamlowsound!!..and because the shipping charge is the same I also ordered couple of pounds of Rwanda Karongi Gitesi and Kenya Nyeri Gatomboya .

I am pretty excited to try the Yirga Cheffe

 

[MJ5150]

Let me know how the Gatomboya turns out for you. One of my favorite local roasters, Olympia Coffee Roasters, makes a Gatomboya that is awesome.
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

-Mike

 

[iamlowsound]

I just ordered 10 pounds of Ethiopia Yirga Cheffe Gedeo, thanks to Iamlowsound!!..and because the shipping charge is the same I also ordered couple of pounds of Rwanda Karongi Gitesi and Kenya Nyeri Gatomboya .



I am pretty excited to try the Yirga Cheffe

Where did you order from?

I have been reading a lot about how a high quality cup will affect the taste of your coffee. So I decided to try using one if my tea cups. Tasted different, but very good.



lowsound

 

[pedroims]

Where did you order from?

I have been reading a lot about how a high quality cup will affect the taste of your coffee. So I decided to try using one if my tea cups. Tasted different, but very good.

View attachment 397291

lowsound

Sweet Marias, I roasted a jar two days ago, planning to brew a cup tomorrow, I friend came last week and he also told me that this coffee is one of the best he have drink , cant wait

 

[iamlowsound]

Sweet Marias, I roasted a jar two days ago, planning to brew a cup tomorrow, I friend came last week and he also told me that this coffee is one of the best he have drink , cant wait

You are in for a treat! The blend of the two different roast profiles that I did is about two weeks old now. I noticed a lot of floral notes and a bit of berry that I have never noticed before today. Super tasty. Made me brew up a second cup as soon as I was done the first.

lowsound