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While I was in CA over the holidays I spent some time at a small coffee =
shop that uses a Probat drum roaster.  It was great!  I was able to =
watch several roasts and talk with the roaster.  I also purchased =
several of the coffees I watched roasted. 
 I was really impressed with the Java I bought.  It was incredible!  I =
have yet to really enjoy one of the javas I have roasted.  Although I'm =
sure the coffee's I've bought from Tom are far superior.  I am convinced =
air roasting just doesn't do justice to a good Java.  Of course this is =
just a half proven theory!  But out of the 6 or more different javas I =
have air roasted, not one has impressed me.  The one and only drum =
roasted java I've tried was everything I've always looked for in a Java. =
 Convincing enough to warrant further research!
It could also be the ability to alter the roasting cycle that brings out =
the best qualities.  Their roaster had two temperature sensors, one to =
measure bean temp and the second to monitor the temp of the heat itself. =
 She would set the main temp (the temp of the gas burner, or exterior of =
the drum?) at 400F and when the interior temp got to 400F dump in the =
load of greens.  With the main temp still at 400f the interior temp =
slowly climbs back up to 400F.  When the bean temp gets to 400F, she =
increased the main temp to the final roasting temperature of 450.  When =
the Java hit 450 she dumped it,  with the espresso blend she left it in =
for a minute or so longer, but still kept the temp constant at 450F.
She (the roastmaster) said they use different roasting techniques for =
different coffees.  But on all the coffees I saw the method was the =
same.  They kept the main temp at 400F until the beans reached that =
temp. The reason she gave for this was to allow the inside to catch up =
to the outside, in layman's terms, which she considered me! :) I suppose =
that's what I am to someone who roasts 500lbs daily!
I guess I'll have to dust off the Whirly pop, or maybe spring for a =
alpenrost, and further test my theory!
Scott Jensen