Iconiq Senior Member Joined: 24 Apr 2007 Posts: 57 Location: Australia, QLD Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Sunbeam EM6910 Grinder: Gaggia MDF Roaster: Pop Corn Popper
Posted Sun Feb 3, 2008, 1:34am Subject: Popper second crack and beyond, strange things happen...
I'm new to the roasting scene, so I’m not sure if this is normal or not. I decided to try roast a batch of beans to 415°f rather than by time, second crack occurred at about 390-400, but the beans didn't reach 415, I started to worry when I noticed that pieces of bean were shooting out of the chimney... When I ended the roast and cooled the beans, I noticed that there were small pock marks on the bean surface, where the surface was actually missing, is this normal, or should I change something?
When I pulled a shot, they tasted GREAT, besides there weird look...
Posted Sun Feb 3, 2008, 5:52am Subject: Re: Popper second crack and beyond, strange things happen...
I haven't had the pieces of bean shooting out of the chimney yet, I did have the pock mark effect when I took my hot beans out into the snowy weather... I think it might just be the extreme contrast between hot and cold on the bean, uneven cooling on the surface, etc?
Terry_L Senior Member Joined: 20 Jan 2007 Posts: 67 Location: Louisville-KY Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Gaggia Coffee Grinder: Solis Scala 166 Vac Pot: French-Press(s)-Love 'em Drip: Bunn Roaster: SC/TO - Air Popper
Posted Sun Feb 3, 2008, 6:55am Subject: Re: Popper second crack and beyond, strange things happen...
Iconiq Said:
.. When I ended the roast and cooled the beans, I noticed that there were small pock marks on the bean surface, where the surface was actually missing, is this normal, or should I change something?...
Perfectly normal for popper roasting into 2nd crack. Phenomenon is called "divots". I don't believe commercial drum roasters get these due to the slower roast. The quick times in a fluid bed popper make the SC somewhat violent....blowing out part of the bean. Your roasting bench/table or cooling setup will be covered with the little circular pieces. So much so that I've thought of collecting them, grinding and brewing.....ha
Posted Sun Feb 3, 2008, 1:33pm Subject: Re: Popper second crack and beyond, strange things happen...
Where is the bean or chamber temperature being measured? I get truer results in my poppers when the probe is in the midst of the beans, rather than on top of the fluidity. Your actual temperature is most likely higher.
Divots occur, as noted, from the quick temperature change from 1C to 2C. They're a rarity in my TO/SC and Behmor, due to a more gradual temperature rise.
If you have a "soup can" chimney or something similar there shouldn't be that many beans escaping. But you might have to adjust how many ounces of beans you start with. And of course you might consider a Variac or long extension cord among other hobby upgrades.
Posted Sun Feb 3, 2008, 8:53pm Subject: Re: Popper second crack and beyond, strange things happen...
I would call those divots a roasting 'defect' from going too fast and too hot into second crack. You need to slow that heater down. Something is strange about your temps: probe placement or temperature accuracy. I don't think you would be blowing divots below 415F: that's usually just clearing first crack in a popper. Roast by time and temp.
Iconiq Senior Member Joined: 24 Apr 2007 Posts: 57 Location: Australia, QLD Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Sunbeam EM6910 Grinder: Gaggia MDF Roaster: Pop Corn Popper
Posted Mon Feb 4, 2008, 12:01am Subject: Re: Popper second crack and beyond, strange things happen...
Yeah, I'm using the really long thermometer and I think that the ambient temps might be affecting its reading, the placement is great I thought, about 10mm from the bottom of the popper. What happens if you remove the lid (butter warmer) just after second crack, would that slow the roast down, or stall it all together?
Posted Mon Feb 4, 2008, 4:57pm Subject: Re: Popper second crack and beyond, strange things happen...
The long stem thermometer is likely loosing heat, causing a low reading. (esp so with analog dial type) Anywhere in the beans is good as long as it doesn't move around during the roast, or from batch to batch. You should expect first crack around 400F and second crack 430-450F. Try to extend your roast times to 10-12 minute range. (tilt, extension cord, search, etc) Get rid of the plastic top altogether, (before it melts away). Put a chimney of some sort on. I use a can to extend the top about 2.5 inches. (too tall and I can't stir the beans.) If the beans do not circulate from bottom to top (and around) when you first load the beans you need to stir them for even heating. It is unlikely your removing the top will slow the roast enough. Don't worry about stalling yet, you are a long way from that. Do a search on popper roasting here. That will keep you busy for days and should save you much time and beans.
Iconiq Senior Member Joined: 24 Apr 2007 Posts: 57 Location: Australia, QLD Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Sunbeam EM6910 Grinder: Gaggia MDF Roaster: Pop Corn Popper
Posted Tue Feb 5, 2008, 12:09am Subject: Re: Popper second crack and beyond, strange things happen...
Thanx, yeah I thought that the stem might be a problem... I've been looking over the net and even bought Home coffee roasting by Ken Davids, great book by the way... I'll keep playing around, put the chimney on tonight and see what happens! Thanks for the help.
Symbols: = New Posts since your last visit = No New Posts since last visit = Newest post
Forum Rules: No profanity, illegal acts or personal attacks will be tolerated in these discussion boards. No commercial posting of any nature will be tolerated; only private sales by private individuals, in the "Buy and Sell" forum. No cross posting allowed - do not post your topic to more than one forum, nor repost a topic to the same forum. Who Can Read The Forum? Anyone can read posts in these discussion boards. Who Can Post New Topics? Any registered CoffeeGeek member can post new topics. Who Can Post Replies? Any registered CoffeeGeek member can post replies. Can Photos be posted? Anyone can post photos in their new topics or replies. Who can change or delete posts? Any CoffeeGeek member can edit their own posts. Only moderators can delete posts. Probationary Period: If you are a new signup for CoffeeGeek, you cannot promote, endorse, criticise or otherwise post an unsolicited endorsement for any company, product or service in your first five postings.
![Terry_L: P1010053.JPG](javascript:ImagePopup("/images/37276/P1010053.JPG", 480, 360, "Terry_L: P1010053.JPG");)
![Terry_L: P1010055.JPG](javascript:ImagePopup("/images/37277/P1010055.JPG", 480, 370, "Terry_L: P1010055.JPG");)
= No New Posts since last visit 