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Date: 22 Aug 2006 08:41:43
From:
Subject: Learning how to roast
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Good morning everyone.
As I'm cutting into my French Roast with fork and knife, I thought I
would take a moment to make this request for information.
I love coffee.
And as such, I would like to learn the trade and enter the coffee
market. I have two ideas I'm mulling over and the first one is an
online retailer of fine coffees to a niche market.
One of the things I would like to learn is how to roast coffee. Though
I don't intend on doing all of the roasting anytime soon (for my
business), I would like to consider it in the future.
I guess my question is...what is the best way to start learning how to
"really" roast coffee? I've been looking at the Hot Top but it seems
to be pre-programmed and doesn't offer many inputs (though I have read
about some of the tricks). So I was wondering if perhaps the grill
roasting setup would be the place to start. Seems to me this is where
you need to control temp, really listen up for the cracks, and etc.
http://cgi.ebay.com/COFFEE-ROASTER-KIT-barbecue-rotisserie-BBQ-green-beans_W0QQitemZ190021087114QQihZ009QQcategoryZ57070QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Any thoughts???
Thanks.
Ward
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Date: 22 Aug 2006 07:31:10
From: TimEggers
Subject: Re: Learning how to roast
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www.rkdrums.com
http://www.angelfire.com/pro2/panroastingcoffee/mybbqcoffeeroaster.html
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Date: 23 Aug 2006 00:32:33
From: Thomas
Subject: Re: Learning how to roast
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<ward@ > skrev i en meddelelse
news:t0ule2tb0et5cdd0crtvbfog1mg6jso6s5@4ax.com...
> Good morning everyone.
>
> As I'm cutting into my French Roast with fork and knife, I thought I
> would take a moment to make this request for information.
>
> I love coffee.
>
> And as such, I would like to learn the trade and enter the coffee
> market. I have two ideas I'm mulling over and the first one is an
> online retailer of fine coffees to a niche market.
>
> One of the things I would like to learn is how to roast coffee. Though
> I don't intend on doing all of the roasting anytime soon (for my
> business), I would like to consider it in the future.
>
> I guess my question is...what is the best way to start learning how to
> "really" roast coffee? I've been looking at the Hot Top but it seems
> to be pre-programmed and doesn't offer many inputs (though I have read
> about some of the tricks). So I was wondering if perhaps the grill
> roasting setup would be the place to start. Seems to me this is where
> you need to control temp, really listen up for the cracks, and etc.
>
> http://cgi.ebay.com/COFFEE-ROASTER-KIT-barbecue-rotisserie-BBQ-green-beans_W0QQitemZ190021087114QQihZ009QQcategoryZ57070QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
>
>
> Any thoughts???
>
> Thanks.
>
> Ward
I was in your shoes about 3 months ago and choose to quit my day job and
persuit my dream of having a business of my own.
I also love coffee and always have and therefore it felt natural for me to
try and establish a small online webshop selling green beans and equipment
to the coffee drinking Danes :-)
I've just launched the site 4 days ago with a small number of items, which
will increase the following weeks and months. I'm very exited about this,
but the information-level and the depth of the hole coffee-universe came as
a surprise. Thank god for this newgroup and sites like Randy's and
Sweetmarias :-)
I started roasting in my oven and then bought an Alpenröst roaster, which
I'm still using for sample roasting and everything else. I don't use the
pre-programmed intervals, but set it at the darkest roasting step (15) and
press the cool-button when sound and color is just right for me. I have been
thinking of the Hottop, though - and I'm sure it will come to that.
My goal is to open a small coffeehouse with in-store roasting and sales
area. But I have a lot to learn yet - especially about roasting and
cupping - I can't quite distinguise all the different flavours yet, but I
can now definitely taste the difference between my own espresso from
fresh-roasted beans and the café's, which taste old and flat.
I have been really happy with starting with the Alp and I think it's easier
controlling the small quantity of beans instead the larger batch sizes with
the bbq roasters, at least in the beginning.
Just my thoughts....
--
Kind regards
Thomas Remmer Larsen
http://www.kaffeagenterne.dk
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Date: 22 Aug 2006 19:22:06
From: The Other Funk
Subject: Re: Learning how to roast
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Finding the keyboard operational
ward@ entered:
> Good morning everyone.
>
> As I'm cutting into my French Roast with fork and knife, I thought I
> would take a moment to make this request for information.
>
> I love coffee.
>
> And as such, I would like to learn the trade and enter the coffee
> market. I have two ideas I'm mulling over and the first one is an
> online retailer of fine coffees to a niche market.
>
> One of the things I would like to learn is how to roast coffee. Though
> I don't intend on doing all of the roasting anytime soon (for my
> business), I would like to consider it in the future.
>
> I guess my question is...what is the best way to start learning how to
> "really" roast coffee? I've been looking at the Hot Top but it seems
> to be pre-programmed and doesn't offer many inputs (though I have read
> about some of the tricks). So I was wondering if perhaps the grill
> roasting setup would be the place to start. Seems to me this is where
> you need to control temp, really listen up for the cracks, and etc.
>
> Any thoughts???
>
> Thanks.
>
> Ward
You are getting good advice on equipment so I'll address the pratical end.
The only way to learn to roast is to roast. You'll burn stuff, over roast,
under roast and some things that you will ever think of.
Find a small to mid-sized roaster and apprentice with. Hell, if you're near
me, I'll let you lift beans into the hopper. :)
Get every opinion, read every book. Experiment! Roast every chance you get.
Keep notes. Try to duplicate pervious roasts. Try not to make the same
mistake twice.
Good luck
Bob
--
--
Coffee worth staying up for - NY Times
www.moondoggiecoffee.com
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Date: 22 Aug 2006 15:58:19
From:
Subject: Re: Learning how to roast
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In alt.coffee, ward@ wrote:
> I guess my question is...what is the best way to start learning how to
> "really" roast coffee?
The best way to start is not necessarily the best place to finish.
IMO, the best place to start is to use as hands-on a method as you are
comfortable with. This might be an iron skillet on a gas hob. Or it
might be a hot-air popcorn popper from the thrift store.
A drum over a gas grill is wonderful, but it is not as sensitive to
user-induced changes as some others, nor does it allow you to see, hear
and smell as conveniently as some others.
If I were you, I'd go to the best local thrift shop and pick up a few
poppers, throw some beans in (after reading the tips at Sweet Maria's
website) and give it a try. My guess is that you'll be amazed how easy it
is to get GREAT coffee.
--
A nation of sheep will beget a government of wolves.
--Edward R. Murrow
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Date: 29 Aug 2006 00:08:34
From: Ed Needham
Subject: Re: Learning how to roast
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I'd agree about the 'see' part, but sound and smell are clearly evident.
I might even argue the part about a grill roaster not being sensitive to
user-induced changes. With mine, I can change temps very quickly, and as a
last resort, I can open the lid to very quickly drop the temperature if
desired, or blast the 42,000 BTU burners on high to ramp up the temperature
about as quickly as would ever be needed. With a thin perforated stainless
drum, the inner drum environment is very responsive to outer roaster
environment changes.
--
*********************
Ed Needham®
"to absurdity and beyond!"
ed at homeroaster dot com
(include [FRIEND] in subject line to get through my SPAM filters)
*********************
<EskWIRED@spamblock.panix.com > wrote in message
news:ecf9iq$f3$7@reader2.panix.com...
<SNIP >
> A drum over a gas grill is wonderful, but it is not as sensitive to
> user-induced changes as some others, nor does it allow you to see, hear
> and smell as conveniently as some others.
<SNIP >
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Date: 23 Aug 2006 02:59:29
From: koose
Subject: Re: Learning how to roast
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ward@ wrote:
> >
> I guess my question is...what is the best way to start learning how to
> "really" roast coffee? I've been looking at the Hot Top but it seems
> to be pre-programmed and doesn't offer many inputs (though I have read
> about some of the tricks).
I suggest going to www.amazon.com and getting a copy of Kenneth David's
three books (probably more, but I just did a quick search)
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Date: 24 Aug 2006 21:18:55
From: www.wegetroasted.com
Subject: Re: Learning how to roast
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Thomas, be careful with that Alpenrost...I had one of those when I
first started out and almost burned my house down when it did not
automatically stop. I was in another room and smelled the coffee. I
went in to the room where I was roasting to find it so filled with
smoke that I could not see anything. I ran to the Alpenrost and opened
it to find flames shooting out of the drum. I took a hammer and using
the claw, carried the drum outside where I dropped it (still flaming)
into my dogs water. It sounded like hot iron hitting the water. The
roaster was totally melted...especially the circuit board.
One idea that we used after the Alpenrost got roasted was a Ronco oven.
I made a drum, and roasted some really good coffee. One pound took
about 30 minutes, but three pounds could reach french roast in about 70
minutes.
That was then, and now I have a Toper which is really nice, but the big
roasters get expensive quick.
Good luck!
www.wegetroasted.com
Thomas wrote:
> <ward@> skrev i en meddelelse
> news:t0ule2tb0et5cdd0crtvbfog1mg6jso6s5@4ax.com...
> > Good morning everyone.
> >
> > As I'm cutting into my French Roast with fork and knife, I thought I
> > would take a moment to make this request for information.
> >
> > I love coffee.
> >
> > And as such, I would like to learn the trade and enter the coffee
> > market. I have two ideas I'm mulling over and the first one is an
> > online retailer of fine coffees to a niche market.
> >
> > One of the things I would like to learn is how to roast coffee. Though
> > I don't intend on doing all of the roasting anytime soon (for my
> > business), I would like to consider it in the future.
> >
> > I guess my question is...what is the best way to start learning how to
> > "really" roast coffee? I've been looking at the Hot Top but it seems
> > to be pre-programmed and doesn't offer many inputs (though I have read
> > about some of the tricks). So I was wondering if perhaps the grill
> > roasting setup would be the place to start. Seems to me this is where
> > you need to control temp, really listen up for the cracks, and etc.
> >
> > http://cgi.ebay.com/COFFEE-ROASTER-KIT-barbecue-rotisserie-BBQ-green-be=
ans_W0QQitemZ190021087114QQihZ009QQcategoryZ57070QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
> >
> >
> > Any thoughts???
> >
> > Thanks.
> >
> > Ward
> I was in your shoes about 3 months ago and choose to quit my day job and
> persuit my dream of having a business of my own.
> I also love coffee and always have and therefore it felt natural for me to
> try and establish a small online webshop selling green beans and equipment
> to the coffee drinking Danes :-)
> I've just launched the site 4 days ago with a small number of items, which
> will increase the following weeks and months. I'm very exited about this,
> but the information-level and the depth of the hole coffee-universe came =
as
> a surprise. Thank god for this newgroup and sites like Randy's and
> Sweetmarias :-)
>
> I started roasting in my oven and then bought an Alpenr=F6st roaster, whi=
ch
> I'm still using for sample roasting and everything else. I don't use the
> pre-programmed intervals, but set it at the darkest roasting step (15) and
> press the cool-button when sound and color is just right for me. I have b=
een
> thinking of the Hottop, though - and I'm sure it will come to that.
>
> My goal is to open a small coffeehouse with in-store roasting and sales
> area. But I have a lot to learn yet - especially about roasting and
> cupping - I can't quite distinguise all the different flavours yet, but I
> can now definitely taste the difference between my own espresso from
> fresh-roasted beans and the caf=E9's, which taste old and flat.
>
> I have been really happy with starting with the Alp and I think it's easi=
er
> controlling the small quantity of beans instead the larger batch sizes wi=
th
> the bbq roasters, at least in the beginning.
>
> Just my thoughts....
>
> --
> Kind regards
>=20
> Thomas Remmer Larsen
>=20
> http://www.kaffeagenterne.dk
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