@CoffeeTalk

[Too Tall]

After a few months of damn good coffee I finally nailed it and cooked 2 lbs of the best beans I've ever had. Right up there with the peaberry my buddies cousin picked and roasted for us from his coffee plot at 5,000 in Costa Rica. I'm jazzed.

I'm using the crazy Ronco Showtime roaster that "metalman" on ebay sells. This is a purely manual rig but like everything you learn by doing.

I keep detailed notes on pre-heat time, amt. of green beans and when I hear the first crack and when that becomes a full on symphony. I listen for what sounds like a popcorn machine when all the kernels begin to pop at one time. That is the magic moment when I yank the drum and run it over to my bean cooler. Timing is everything. If I wait longer they are burnt and shorter you won't get the lovely Carmel notes that we love.

I'm letting my beans rest for a full 5 days before they really come on. These are really nice bags for storage of roasted coffee and they do include a valve: Amazon.com: AwePackage 1 lb(16 oz) Stand Up Zipper Pouch Coffee Bag with Degassing Valve (5, Matte White): Kitchen & Dining

[Jimmybagadonuts]

Good on you! Are you not getting to second crack at all?

[Too Tall]

Good on you! Are you not getting to second crack at all?

I probably am but not aware of the first crack. It must be subtle. The cracks I'm listening for are very obvious.

[defspace]

Hmm, in my (extremely limited) experience, first crack is louder. Sometimes I have a hard time hearing the start of second crack over the noise of my roaster.

[Too Tall]

Hmm, in my (extremely limited) experience, first crack is louder. Sometimes I have a hard time hearing the start of second crack over the noise of my roaster.

Does either crack sound like all the popcorn exploding at once? That's really the only crack I hear. If I go further there will be a house fire. At the point where I hear everybody cracking and see alot of smoke is when I'm done and headed for the bean cooler.

[defspace]

Interesting. I wonder how much of this has to do with differences in roasting methods. I'm using a popcorn popper.

At the start of first crack, the beans are too green for me to even consider drinking them. You're definitely describing what I know as second crack.

To me, first crack sounds like snapping a pencil in half. Second crack sounds like snapping matches in half.

[gkk]

Like defspace, I can hear 1C much more clearly than 2C and sometimes can't hear 2C at all over my roaster and have to go by sight. But if your beans are burnt immediately after the crack you hear, that sure sounds like 2C is what you are hearing. Or else your roaster is ramping the heat up super fast after 1C?

[Too Tall]

Like defspace, I can hear 1C much more clearly than 2C and sometimes can't hear 2C at all over my roaster and have to go by sight. But if your beans are burnt immediately after the crack you hear, that sure sounds like 2C is what you are hearing. Or else your roaster is ramping the heat up super fast after 1C?

The roaster is not capable of changing the temp. The only control over that I have is manually shutting off the heat elements or turning the fan off.

I'm missing 1st crack. Not a deal really.

[Jimmybagadonuts]

Second crack is faint like rice crispies. Lot of smoke beginning at second crack. Usually have about 30 seconds to 1 minute before very very quick cook rate begins. I like to step down temps at first crack, then roast until just the first few snaps of second crack. Quick cool down at that point is essential.

When your roast is cool, and at City + you should be seeing very rounded beans with a mostly smooth surface. Fairly easy to crush the bean with your finger/thumb. Just the faintest hint of oil on the exterior too.

[Too Tall]

That is Ninja level insight. Which roaster do you use?

Second crack is faint like rice crispies. Lot of smoke beginning at second crack. Usually have about 30 seconds to 1 minute before very very quick cook rate begins. I like to step down temps at first crack, then roast until just the first few snaps of second crack. Quick cool down at that point is essential.

When your roast is cool, and at City + you should be seeing very rounded beans with a mostly smooth surface. Fairly easy to crush the bean with your finger/thumb. Just the faintest hint of oil on the exterior too.

[Cookietruck]

check out the third row of pics, the city vs. full city pic. they look very similar except the softer edges on the longer roasted bean.

roasted coffee macro images | Sweet Maria's Coffee Library

also, i've noticed that some beans (some columbia and costa rica) usually look darker than they actually are. with those i'm always on the verge of being underdone even though they look like a full city roast in color. the beans are smallish, but dark...but also still splotchy and they feel heavy still. bite into some lighter roast beans, they don't crush like a full city roast.

[LarryA]

We're at the family camp with no car, a cheap burr grinder, a French press and 6 lbs of Kicking Horse (Canadian roaster), and you guys are making me crazy!

[Too Tall]

We're at the family camp with no car, a cheap burr grinder, a French press and 6 lbs of Kicking Horse (Canadian roaster), and you guys are making me crazy!

We are here to enable you brother. Heck, with a little Canuk ingenuity it is a proven fact that here you can build a awesome roaster for bubkes.
Giddyup.

[Too Tall]

https://forum.homeroasters.org/forum/index.php

[LarryA]

What's the shelf life of green beans? (aka if you buy a big bag, will it go bad before you roast all of it;-)

[Jimmybagadonuts]

What's the shelf life of green beans? (aka if you buy a big bag, will it go bad before you roast all of it;-)

If you keep it in a dry cool area, should last a long long time.

[LarryA]

https://forum.homeroasters.org/forum
/index.php

Thx Josh. There's a lot to look at there - I may be away for a while;-)

[Too Tall]

Mark your calendar for the next exchange October 4. That gives lots of time to decide on a bean to roast.

[Too Tall]

Check this out. Credit to Jim. I Listened for the first sign of cracking, turned the heat elements off and maintained rotation for one min. than heat on for three more and done. I did not get into second crack. I'm expecting good things >>>

newway.jpg

[Cookietruck]

that looks really nice.