First crack at roasting

Originally Posted by floydpink

Not sure at all, it may have been the end of the first crack.

I am trying to figure it out still and am guessing another couple minutes?

According to the manual, you will begin to get smoke at 2nd crack, and there was no smoke.

Usually, yes you will get smoke. But some beans, like Sumatran beans, can fool you and there will be no or little visible smoke at all.

Watch, smell, and listen. The sound of first crack is that of popcorn popping, loud, sharp cracks. The sound of second is like rice crispies crackling when milk is poured on them, softer and faster.

The smell of beans changes as they roast, the smell of beans first roasting goes from a bready odor to a sweet smell as you hit first crack. The smell leading up to second crack is more acrid and pungent.

You have to use your peepers as well to keep an eye on the color.

Much easier than it sounds once you get used to it.

[germantown rob]

Was that a blend you roasted? It does look like you may have heard the start of 2nd on some beans but I think it could go a tad further unless it was that Bonko.

[floydpink]

Originally Posted by germantown rob

Was that a blend you roasted? It does look like you may have heard the start of 2nd on some beans but I think it could go a tad further unless it was that Bonko.

It was the Espresso Monkey Blend, part of a 4lb sampler.
They recommend full city to Vienna for the roast.
I'm gonna preheat the roaster a couple minutes and add a little more time to see if I can get it a bit darker.

I went to 7 minutes and really thought I heard a second crack, but could be wrong.

big big fan of their moka kadir blend.

[floydpink]

Originally Posted by Resipsa

big big fan of their moka kadir blend.

None of that in the sampler, but there is some of the Ethiopian Bonko, which must be like the Yirga I just finished because they're describing lemon cookies on the label, and wth is "mouthfeel"???

Gotta be honest, after a few days of lemon cookies, I'm burying the Bonko for a while.

Originally Posted by floydpink

None of that in the sampler, but there is some of the Ethiopian Bonko, which must be like the Yirga I just finished because they're describing lemon cookies on the label, and wth is "mouthfeel"???

Gotta be honest, after a few days of lemon cookies, I'm burying the Bonko for a while.

LOL, you'll get the lingo after a while. Mouthfeel is exactly what it sounds like, I tend to think in terms of body.

Some coffees are thin, some are chewy, some coat your mouth. Yirg is a coffee I would consider on the thin side.

Here, try this link:

http://www.cupofexcellence.org/Whati...6/Default.aspx

[floydpink]

My mouth felt treated well this morning.
First batch was about as fresh of a cup as I can recall. Just awesome.

Interesting how some say after 5 days post roast, coffee can't really be considered fresh anymore and has lost most of the flavors it had just after roast.

I'd be very interested to know the percentage of coffee drinkers who actually drink fresh coffee.

Granted, it's not practical for every busy person to roast, grind, and brew their own coffee, and many chug it for the caffeine jolt only, but so far, tossing a day ot two worth of beans in a small roaster and dedicating 10 minutes every 2-3 days, seems like no big deal.