So this itch needed to be scratched, I've wanted to try roasting for ages, but we'll aware I could quite easily fall flat on my face. I was thinking the gene but I know they need modding, then the behmor but it put me off really. Then I found a good deal on a sandbox R1, the sell even included some green beans for me. Couple days in the post and ups brought me this [URL=https://i.imgur.com/fqTPxaE.jpg][IMG]https://i.imgur.com/fqTPxaE.jpg[/IMG][/URL] With the days of waiting I went in to input mode, watched and read alot, @"DavecUK"#1 vids are pretty much the only ones that give any info, and the Facebook group is a waste of space. You can make and edit profiles as well as pay £4 per month to use pre built in profiles, I've paid for a month to see what's what I painstakingly watched Dave's vids in super slow mo to replicate his profiles and used them for the first time today. I'll start with saying this is the first time I've done anything like this, Here's my roasting setup [URL=https://i.imgur.com/Q2WMLEb.jpg][IMG]https://i.imgur.com/Q2WMLEb.jpg[/IMG][/URL] I made a drying tray, pre heated the machine and used the Dave profile for the Brazil, first crack came quite quickly and the roast was a bit fast, I also pre jumped first crack by about 10 second. Here's the result of my first ever roast [URL=https://i.imgur.com/V3b5N7R.jpg][IMG]https://i.imgur.com/V3b5N7R.jpg[/IMG][/URL] This is the data [URL=https://i.imgur.com/zrubaOG.jpg][IMG]https://i.imgur.com/zrubaOG.jpg[/IMG][/URL] These machines are not kitchen friendly, had I done this in the kitchen the Mrs would have killed me, lucky for me I have my works, compressed air for cleaning and a good work space. I jumped next into the Burundi coffee, again a Dave profile copy Quick crack again The results [URL=https://i.imgur.com/m9aTT4G.jpg][IMG]https://i.imgur.com/m9aTT4G.jpg[/IMG][/URL] And data [URL=https://i.imgur.com/fjp3Akh.jpg][IMG]https://i.imgur.com/fjp3Akh.jpg[/IMG][/URL] So seen as I'd paid for the app, I used the built in Brazil profile and this was a slower roast. The results [URL=https://i.imgur.com/KOAPgdB.jpg][IMG]https://i.imgur.com/KOAPgdB.jpg[/IMG][/URL] And data [URL=https://i.imgur.com/ZloCUct.jpg][IMG]https://i.imgur.com/ZloCUct.jpg[/IMG][/URL] For my first ever go I'm super happy, all three roasts lost around 12% which is around right, I've modded the profile for the next roast and ordered Better quality greens. [URL=https://i.imgur.com/28JLIyw.jpg][IMG]https://i.imgur.com/28JLIyw.jpg[/IMG][/URL] All three roasts re bagged and resting for a trial. Jake

Interested to know of any good green suppliers around too. I've heard of Pennine tea and coffee, but not sure of the quality

Sandbox R1 coffee roaster

prezes

Is it the one off eBay ? I was really considering buying it and someone was quicker !!

Cuprajake

prezes it was.

At the price I thought it was good enough gamble, that I’d get what I spent back.

LMSC

Great start! Enjoy roasting and freshly roasted coffee!

Doram

Cuprajake I’ve heard of Pennine tea and coffee, but not sure of the quality

I’m happy with what I got from them. Only bought once so far, but I think I got four or five different ones and enjoyed them all. Will definitely buy from them again.

DavecUK

A new journey begins….🙂

Beverast

Cuprajake I would definitely recommend Pennine tea and coffee - have bought x2 Kenyans, x1 Colombian, x1 Costa Rican and x1 Rawandan from them recently. For me the pick of the bunch was the Rwandan Anaerobic, followed closely by the Kenyan Blue Mountain - both are available. Also like them as you can get 1kg bags. Free postage for a £25 order and has always arrived next day.

Falcon Micro and Green Coffee Collective are decent but you kind of have to commit to 5kg bags - bit of a risk however you can buy any green samples from Green Coffee Collective and get the money back as credit on their site. Very handy and gives you an opportunity to try before you fully commit to a 5kg box.

Cuprajake

Yeah I saw the 5kg which put me off 🤣 what weight is the sample size they send?

MediumRoastSteam

Cuprajake - There’s also a group on Facebook… But I am unsure if they are still going. I don’t have facebook anymore, nor have their details, so I am not sure exactly what they are called.

Beverast

Cuprajake I think it is 100grams per sample. You probably should ask them though just to double check. The Facebook group Medium is talking about is UK Greens Buying Collective. Only thing with the group though is buys have not been that frequent recently - ony purchase I have made so far was from another member who split a Kenyan bag. They did have a recent buy during a Falcon flash sale. If you wish to join the group I can invite you, but as far as I can see you will need to be a friend on Facebook.

Doram

The UK green bean buying collective is here. I got some beans there very recently.You’ll need to wait for someone to arrange a purchase, or arrange it yourself, then collect the coffee or buy enough to make shipping viable, so can’t really be counted on for a regular supply of small quantities (for this Pennine or similar will be way more convenient).

The collective, or Falcon Micro, might be better down the road when you know what you are after and ready to commit to bigger quantities.

Cuprajake

Thanks guys,

Still early days so I’d prefer to destroy cheaper beans 🤣

Got into work early so did another roast with an extended profile I made

Here’s the data

[URL=https://i.imgur.com/tOSdJED.jpg]
[/URL]

And the beans, the camera doesn’t show what the eye sees sadly but happier with this, much more even roast

Doram

Cuprajake the camera doesn’t show what the eye sees sadly but happier with this, much more even roast

The camera does show, and this one looks better than the previous ones in my opinion. Bear in mind though, that some beans will roast more evenly than others, and with some you will see a degree of uneveness no matter what you do. I believe professionally roasted beans are the same in this respect.

Cuprajake I’d prefer to destroy cheaper beans

I doubt that you will “destroy” any beans. I know you cook, so will use that. I’m sure you are sometimes happier with what you cook and sometimes less, but how often do you feel you’ve “destroyed” the ingredients and bin what you have made (I’m guessing not very often)? You use your experience to try and move away from what you didn’t like, and make more things you do like. For me, at least, coffee is no different. If I get something I don’t like (or like a lot), I try to learn from it for the future. That’s how you get experience and become better. It’s all part of the journey.

Cuprajake

yeah ive been reading about the selection process of naturals and how they can roast un even, and ground colour is a better indicator.

this mornings roast i left the drum out for pre heat and dropped charge from 190 to 170,

Doram

Cuprajake and ground colour is a better indicator

Unless you are making coffee for art and enjoy looking at it, the better indicator is how it tastes. ;-)

Cuprajake

This is an Ethiopian

LMSC

Cuprajake Wow!

Giphy - Happy So Excited GIF by TikTok

Beverast

Cuprajake That Ethiopian looks really nicely roasted to my eyes. Kind of jealous actually lol - Nearly a year roasting on the Kaffelogic and I have not been able to get an Ethiopian as evenly roasted as this. Kind of my nemesis 😆

Cuprajake

why thanks, i totally knew what i was doing

Giphy - Animated GIF

yeah its come out well, this is one of the stock profiles too. i just upped the charge temp a tiny bit,

going to let them rest 3-4 days if i can then brew, may try a pour over, but i am mainly espresso

i did realise something you buy a kilo of a green but loose 12% lol

so far all my roasts have lost around 12% - the more i read and learn the more there is conflicting advice,

Doram

Cuprajake going to let them rest 3-4 days

Patience! :)

Cuprajake

Doram i may post them to me 😅

tompoland

Cuprajake via Melbourne would be about right… 😀