Although I enjoy the process of roasting in a popper, I am looking to increase capacity and control. Typically I would want to roast 4-8 oz, with occasional 16 oz. roasts for sharing. I would rather not use a commercial homeroaster, (IRoast, HotTop, etc.) I am considering HG/DB on gas grill or small drum on gas grill. I have looked longingly at RK's great drum, but it appears, to me, that I would be well below ideal loading for a drum that will roast up to 4 lbs. I have sketched out a plan for 6" X 9" drum, which is about 40% the volume of an 8" X 12" drum. Now, I am no sheet metal artisan, so I am not leaning toward the drum, necessarily. The more hands-off of the drum is appealing. I would appreciate feedback on users of HG/DB and BBQ drum for your thoughts. I may just try the HG/DB as I have a heat gun and SS bowl, so I have a reference for the starting point of the learning curve!! Cheers, Geary |
On Jan 19, 2006, at 11:44 PM, Geary Lyons wrote: <Snip> Well, do keep in mind that 4 lbs is just the maximum for the RK drum. I've easily done 8 oz roasts in it, and I think people have done quite a bit less than that. I'm really happy with the RK drum (as is everyone else who uses one). I think in contrast to an air roaster, where you have to match the airflow with the batch size, drums are much less sensitive to batch size. I just increase my profile by about 30 degrees for larger batches over smaller batches and listen to the beans. I can't compare it to HG/DB though. For your batch size, that should work very well, too. Yet, I still look longingly at the heavy 1 lb sample roasters. -Paul |
On 1/19/06, Geary Lyons wrote: <Snip> th <Snip> l <Snip> or <Snip> ate <Snip> y <Snip> Geary, I do 1# roasts regularly with my HG/DB colander on BBQ side burner. Last Saturday, I ended up with 8.85 lbs of roasted beans, so figure I started out with at least 10# of greens. I hang the HG from the main BBQ hood held down with a bag of beans. It points down into a double-walled dog bowl with a mesh colander in it sitting on the BBQ side burner. I start with both HG on high and side burner on low. If it's cold and windy, I may increase the bottom heat a bit to get things started. I stir with a light-weight SS whisk that's long enough to prevent my hands from getting hot, but still light enough to avoid pain in my hands. Once first crack gets going, I turn the bottom heat off and depending on the bean, I adjust the HG as needed to finish the roast stretching out first crack and beyond. I rarely roast less than 3/4 of a pound anymore unless I have a small amount left in a bag. I'm roast enough for my husband and I, several family members, gifts, parties, etc. People are starting to ask about buying my coffee, so my husband is hinting about building a drum set up. If he does, we will still probably use both methods, as I like variety. I would rather have 3-4 varieties of caffeinated coffee and at least 2 varieties of decaf each week. But for the family, I tend to stick to larger roasts of 2 varieties. I may do end up with 1-1.5# of Brazil YB and another origin and give away 3/4 to 1# at a time. I ususally give 1/4# or slightly more in samples to co-workers. And I just got a 21 lb order, so I can roast more tomorrow. Saturday all my co-workers get to try my coffee. It's going to be a blast. Good luck, Ann |
Geary Lyons wrote: <Snip> with <Snip> What you need is a Convection Oven & Stir Crazypopcorn popper! But, here's what you need to look at to get some inspiration to building your own: hom emade-homeroasters Gary Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are. John Wooden |
Ann Wrote: I rarely roast less than 3/4 of a pound anymore unless I have a small amount left in a bag. I'm roast enough for my husband and I, several family members, gifts, parties, etc. People are starting to ask about buying my coffee, so my husband is hinting about building a drum set up. If he does, we will still probably use both methods, as I like variety. I would rather have 3-4 varieties of caffeinated coffee and at least 2 varieties of decaf each week. But for the family, I tend to stick to larger roasts of 2 varieties. I may do end up with 1-1.5# of Brazil YB and another origin and give away 3/4 to 1# at a time. I ususally give 1/4# or slightly more in samples to co-workers. And I just got a 21 lb order, so I can roast more tomorrow. Saturday all my co-workers get to try my coffee. It's going to be a blast. Good luck, Ann Ann, Thanks for the insight! Seems that you really have the process dialed in! I am consistently getting feedback that folks' roast batch sizes seem to grow larger over time. I. too, just picked up my 21# order from SM. We are definitely drinking more coffee and now decaf is in the mix. Cheers, Geary |
Paul Wrote: Well, do keep in mind that 4 lbs is just the maximum for the RK drum. I've easily done 8 oz roasts in it, and I think people have done quite a bit less than that. Thanks Paul, It looks like some folks are successfully doing smallish batches in the RK drum. I am recent to the list, but the "longing looks" seems to be infectious! Regards, Geary |
Hi Geary, 4 lbs is the MAX batch size for the RK drum. "Normal" is probably more like 1/2 to 2 lbs. I've yet to do over a pound, usual batch is 280 grams, yielding slightly over 1/2 lb. I haven't tried a smaller batch yet. Perhaps you didn't see the thread a while back where Les decided to do a 1 bean roast in his RK. He ended up with a seemingly perfectly roasted bean (but cupping results were inconclusive). Other than cost and personal preference, the only issues with the RK drum are having a place to store the grill, a place to roast with the right combo of ventilation and wind protection, and cooling apparatus. Before getting the RK, the other alternatives I considered were: HG/DB - Seems to work well for the folks doing it this way. I'm just not going to stir coffee by hand while roasting, and the mechanized solutions were more fabrication than I wanted to bother with. Since you've already got the parts needed for this, it couldn't hurt to just try it. SC/TO - First runner up. Already have a SC that could be sacrificed, TO is not too expensive, fabrication requirements barely within acceptable bounds. If I hadn't got the family to go in on getting me the RK for Christmas, I'd probably have tried this. "From scratch" small drum roaster, along the lines of the not-so-ugly roaster. Tempting from a tinkering / engineering problem standpoint. Still too much fabrication, problematic for going big enough for a 1 lb roast. With about 3 weeks and less than 20 roasts total, I'm still a newb with the RK. I think I'm getting closer and more consistent on getting the roast I'm targeting. Since you can't see the beans, it comes down to time, temperature control, ears and nose, coupled with experience. I was using the "pour back and forth between two colanders" method of cooling until this week. The colanders just aren't very effective. I've now got a 20" box fan and an 18" SS bakery sieve. These have been extremely effective - 1/2 lb to room temperature in less than a minute. The only real disappointment with the RK Drum? Discovering that Les is NOT included in the package :) If we learn from our mistakes, I must be learning a lot! Bruce |
Bruce, If the coffee samples that you sent me in the coffee exchange were roasted in the RK, it appears that you have the technique down pretty well because they are excellent. I had a press pot of the Horse today and I can see why people have been raving about it since I have been on the list. The Thunder Mountain Kona makes excellent SO shots. I have been thinking about building or buying a drum roaster and the RK seems to be a lot of value for the cost. I have been thinking about building an electric heated drum roaster but without specialized tools, the drum fabrication would be the toughest part. I know there are many pre-made cylinder devices out there that can be used with modification, but has anyone tried Ron's drum in something other than an outdoor grill? I have several outdoor cooking devices and if I were to add one more gas grill, it might just push my wife over the edge. Also, I am in the very early design stages of an electronic temperature controller to automatically control roasting curves. I don't know what will come of it, but it would pretty much need to control electric elements. BTW - I see that someone else is using the name that I have been using on this list (Another Mike) so I will just change my signature to my real name. Mike Chester Hi Geary, 4 lbs is the MAX batch size for the RK drum. "Normal" is probably more like 1/2 to 2 lbs. I've yet to do over a pound, usual batch is 280 grams, yielding slightly over 1/2 lb. I haven't tried a smaller batch yet. Perhaps you didn't see the thread a while back where Les decided to do a 1 bean roast in his RK. He ended up with a seemingly perfectly roasted bean (but cupping results were inconclusive). Other than cost and personal preference, the only issues with the RK drum are having a place to store the grill, a place to roast with the right combo of ventilation and wind protection, and cooling apparatus. Before getting the RK, the other alternatives I considered were: HG/DB - Seems to work well for the folks doing it this way. I'm just not going to stir coffee by hand while roasting, and the mechanized solutions were more fabrication than I wanted to bother with. Since you've already got the parts needed for this, it couldn't hurt to just try it. SC/TO - First runner up. Already have a SC that could be sacrificed, TO is not too expensive, fabrication requirements barely within acceptable bounds. If I hadn't got the family to go in on getting me the RK for Christmas, I'd probably have tried this. "From scratch" small drum roaster, along the lines of the not-so-ugly roaster. Tempting from a tinkering / engineering problem standpoint. Still too much fabrication, problematic for going big enough for a 1 lb roast. With about 3 weeks and less than 20 roasts total, I'm still a newb with the RK. I think I'm getting closer and more consistent on getting the roast I'm targeting. Since you can't see the beans, it comes down to time, temperature control, ears and nose, coupled with experience. I was using the "pour back and forth between two colanders" method of cooling until this week. The colanders just aren't very effective. I've now got a 20" box fan and an 18" SS bakery sieve. These have been extremely effective - 1/2 lb to room temperature in less than a minute. The only real disappointment with the RK Drum? Discovering that Les is NOT included in the package :) If we learn from our mistakes, I must be learning a lot! Bruce |
This is a multi-part message in MIME format. Bruce wrote: 4 lbs is the MAX batch size for the RK drum. "Normal" is probably more like 1/2 to 2 lbs. I've yet to do over a pound, usual batch is 280 grams, yielding slightly over 1/2 lb. I haven't tried a smaller batch yet. Perhaps you didn't see the thread a while back where Les decided to do a 1 bean roast in his RK. He ended up with a seemingly perfectly roasted bean (but cupping results were inconclusive). snip The only real disappointment with the RK Drum? Discovering that Les is NOT included in the package :) Bruce thanks for your input! Based on the coffee's that you sent me in the exchange, you may not need Les as much as you think!! I emailed Ron, his response was the small batches were not an issue on the RK drum. It is obvious that a virulent strain of upgrade-it is has infected this list. Since I have been exposed, I may just have to go with the RK drum. My thanks to everyone who replied. I am going to try HG/DB this week-end. All of the methods suggested are amazingly creative. Perhaps the caffeine? Cheers, Geary |
This is a multi-part message in MIME format. No Dang!! Here's my 4-16 oz solution!! No more upgrade-itis!! Cheers, Geary Coffee Roaster - $5500 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- Reply to: sale-127116199 Date: 2006-01-20, 7:48PM PST Diedrich IR3 20lbs/hr - 2 years old. Good Condition. Currently in use. Available February 1, 2006. a.. this is in or around Long Beach, Washington b.. no -- it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests 127116199 |
Go get ya a stainless food container at WalMart and take off the lid portion, add stirring vanes, a flange to mount the drum to an axle, and a support for the other end of the drum. Add a small cookpot lid from a thrift store and you're in business. You have to be a bit creative with picking out the parts, but it's fun and easy. Here's a pic of a small drum that works like a charm.http://www.homeroaster.com/tinydrum.htmlA food canister, and a stainless canning funnel. Total cost, maybe $15 and a few hours work? Think pop rivets. ********************* Ed Needham "to absurdity and beyond!" ed at homeroaster dot com (include [FRIEND] somewhere in the subject line of any email correspondence) ********************* |
At 11:14 PM 1/20/2006, Geary wrote: <Snip> Hi Geary, I love HG/DB, but hate the stirring. The cure for me has been to use a modified bread machine to do the stirring. It takes a little bit of tinkering, but it's well worth it. It puts 1 1/2 lbs well within the reach of your heatgun and gives a very even roast. If you are interested, contact me and I'll talk you through it. David Y Atlanta |