Home roasting

Joined Jan 2007
60 Posts | 0+
Pittsburgh
Funny you should ask. I roasted my first batch yesterday. I am enjoying it right now. Columbia Antioquia Spremo. You are correct, it is not very difficult, however, there does seem to be a timing issue. My coffee is extremely good. Wow! What a nice surprise. I will try to roast my next batch a little longer. I like my coffee very dark roast, but was a little tentative with my first roast given the instruction warn against fire! I would suggest any coffee lovers try it. I have a sampling of beans to try---yeah
 
Yes an FRplus8. My brother-in-law sent me a great hostess gift....a starter kit from a store called "Sweet Maria's". Nice gift. Yes I did reach what I think is second crack with 3rd batch. I was worried about burning it at first. The instructions even warn you about fire---eek! I like a very dark roast though, so I ventured onto the wild side with success. I pre-heat the roaster for 2 minutes first. Then I roast the beans for at least 8 minutes. I am finding the timing varies with the bean---I guess obviously?! I watch it closely at the end of the roast.
Right now, I am enjoying an organic blend from Panama. Really awesome. Fun little hobby with a lot more for me to learn than I realized. Would go good with a good gar. :thumbsup:
 
You may find (as I did) that in roasting a finer quality of bean that there are a lot of flavors that
were not there before.
With that I'd suggest trying not roasting your beans as dark.
This too can sometime hide flavors - they get burnt off.
I undertsand liking dark roasts, but do a batch here and there of just into second crack.
You may find something there :thumbsup:
 
Thanks for the tip. I'll try it next roast and see what I taste.
 
Honey said:
Thanks for the tip. I'll try it next roast and see what I taste.

Another thing to remember is that fresh roasted beans will outgass considerably and should rest for 24 to 48 hours before you grind the beans. Patience really is a virtue and you'll find that waiting will also improve the flavors.
 
As a side note - I am roasting some french roast right now. It is from Sweet Maria's and is not my favorite, but don't want to waste it. Anywho, I have been really enjoying my home roasts; however, I am roasting each batch about 24 minutes. I can't figure-out if I am wearing-out my FR8 or if some beans just take that long? I have experimented with many different times and about 24 seems to give me just the dark, yet flavorful batch. Any roast much short of that produces bitter results. Thanks for any thoughts on the matter.
 
24 minutes on a Fresh Roast 8? There is something wrong with your roaster. You should be at French Roast in eight minutes. If your FR8 sounds like a hair drier on medium and taking that long, send it back.