Fresh roast "8" ?

[mkevenson]

Hello, I recently purchased this home coffee bean roaster:

FreshRoast Plus "8"
FreshRoast Plus "8" Enhanced

This roaster has a timer that has an 8 minute max setting and a 2 min cool down. No temp control. If any of you have used this or similar roasters my question is, How much longer than 8 min is it safe to run this roaster? I have run up to 16 min trying to achieve a dark (French style) roast. I am not there and wonder how much longer I can go, safely. Manufacturer does not say other than one should rest the unit for a minimum of 20 min between batches.

Mark

 

[nowsharing]

If you're roasting for 16 minutes to get a dark roast without frequently cooling the machine down during the roast, then you're not using enough beans or the machine isn't getting enough juice.

If I load my FR+ with 50-60g of almost any bean, I would expect a french roast in at most 8 minutes, probably more like 6 for most beans. The easiest way to get a french with the FR+ is to get a rolling second crack and then cool, otherwise you'll end up burning the batch outright.

Have you been weighing your batches, and what green coffee are you using? Also, are you trying to achieve a quick ramp to french or slow? I never go to french on purpose, but it is easier to get a quick temperature ramp with more beans, and vice versa.

 

[rmrdaddy]

A great resource is www.sweetmarias.com
They actually have a tip sheet for that roaster:
http://sweetmarias.com/freshroast.tipsheet.html

I think you are probably using too many beans in the roast chamber....

 

[nowsharing]

A great resource is www.sweetmarias.com
They actually have a tip sheet for that roaster:
http://sweetmarias.com/freshroast.tipsheet.html

+1, an excellent resource.

I think you are probably using too many beans in the roast chamber....

More beans in the FR+ equates to a faster roast however.

 

[rmrdaddy]

Yes, you are correct Nowsharing. I meant too few, but my hands and brain weren't communicating too well there I guess....

 

[mkevenson]

Thanks for all the relies. I am using the manufacturers recommended 2 scoops of beans. They supplied the scoop. I did increase to 2 1/2 scoops last batch without much change in color or roast time. My house is located in a city neighborhood and I am using 110 V. House is about 20 yrs old and I have a new main board. I suspect the electric output is ok. I am getting a second rolling crack anywhere from 12-14 min depending on bean.

I ran the Burma Brazil Beja Flor first batch 9 min, second batch 12 min with a 2 min warm up. Third batch today was Indian Monsooned Malabar. 14 min and 16 min respectively. All batches with a 2 min cool down at end of roast. I am not burning the beans at these times. They are dry and dark brown but not black. No smoke is being produced. I wonder if my roaster is a bad one. Have contacted Jon at Burman coffee from wence I purchased the unit.

 

[nowsharing]

It sounds like you may have a weak unit, but you could try increasing the batch size one more time before you return it. I feel safe loading mine up with beans just until the point where they can still barely float around at the beginning. I remember reading that the max size was something like 45g (probably 3 or 4 scoops), but I've adapted to using around 60g/batch, but YMMV.

Don't be deterred by the dilemma, the FR is a great unit to start on.

 

[mkevenson]

I spoke with Tim at http://www.freshbeansinc.com sellers and designers of the Freshroast, I believe. At any rate he says that I should get a very dark roast by 8 min. He suggests the I adjust the air blower to reduce the amount of air and thereby increasing the effective heat at the bean level. There are photo instructions on this site.

http://www.sweetmarias.com/freshroast_fan_adjustment.html

I will also increase bean amount per batch to at least 3 scoops.