Greefer Senior Member Joined: 10 Jan 2009 Posts: 37 Location: Canada Expertise: I love coffee
Roaster: Gene Cafe
Posted Tue Jun 30, 2009, 7:01am Subject: Cheapest 1lb+ gas roaster?
Hola
I have been roasting with my Gene for about 6 or 7 months now and its great, but the problem im having is everyone and there dog wants me to roast them beans.
Now the size of the gene is great for 1 coffee lover but add 5,6,7 people to the list and its starting to take up all my time .. which really isnt productive as I have a family etc ..
So im just wondering if anyone knows of a relatively inexpensive .. 1lb or more gas powered roaster? I guess electric is possible too but I would like to try gas for the next one.
Maybe bbq drum but the problem there is Candian winters are CRAZY hahaha.
If you guys know of anything I would love to check out a site or two with something that isnt 100% commercial yet would qualify as being above the gene / hottop.
Posted Tue Jun 30, 2009, 7:47am Subject: Re: Cheapest 1lb+ gas roaster?
For quality of roast and volume (I prefer 1-pound max in my BBQ drum) the BBQ drum is tough to beat. I don't know how bad your winters are but its not so much the cold as it is any wind. Myself (and I don't recommend it) roast inside my garage with both doors open, so in effect its a 3-walled room this allows enough of the heat from the grill to buffer me from the cooler outside temps and offers a good wind break. I've roasted in below zero weather like this without issue* (noting that roast profiles will change with each season).
Never operate a grill inside a closed garage or near any flammable structures or materials, always follow manufacturers warnings and labels.
*of coarse I blow snow in a t-shirt too, so be warned I don't mind cold (yes I'm one of those that wears shorts year round) ;-)
Must be that WARM snow you get down there....on the "chilly" days here, you would have severe frost bite in 5-10 minutes, and be lying dead on the driveway a short time later.... a big "TimEggersSicle"!
I tried roasting outside a couple times in a shed with my Gene, but gave up...even with no wind. It would work if I pre-heated the shed...but that became too much of a hassle.
Posted Tue Jun 30, 2009, 8:13am Subject: Re: Cheapest 1lb+ gas roaster?
Agreed my idea of "winter" is most likely different from yours up north! :-)
As far as having to preheat the garage, the grill does that with the mandatory preheating required (year round). I used to popper roast in the garage and that didn't work either, but the bbq does a nice job.
Holy crap!! Below zero outside and roasting coffee??? Ouch. Today it's 100°F outside here and I'm perfectly pleased to roast in this weather.
I order pro roasts online and/or use my Behmor in the garage when it approaches 50°F Admittedly this is pretty rare in Houston - only a few weeks out of the year are "cold" (below 50°F)
germantownrob Senior Member Joined: 2 Dec 2007 Posts: 375 Location: Phialadelphia Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: N.S. Oscar Grinder: Vario, Virtuoso Drip: pour over Roaster: HotTop B, Behmor, pan on the...
Posted Tue Jun 30, 2009, 8:22am Subject: Re: Cheapest 1lb+ gas roaster?
I saw a rumor that Hottop was coming out with a 1lb roaster by next year. If this is true I am going to get one, I also just have to many friends and family to roast for each week and it takes up time 1/2lb at a time.
I saw a rumor that Hottop was coming out with a 1lb roaster by next year. If this is true I am going to get one, I also just have to many friends and family to roast for each week and it takes up time 1/2lb at a time.
But as you mentioned the friends / family factor is just too much now for the Gene.
Also I work at a place with 1500 people and they often have craft events etc etc .. I could definately set up shop and get a few bags of beans being sold to help support my habbit.
Im thinking maybe the BBQ method might be my only option.
It would be nice to be able to see the beans as they roast though, and also id have to start looking at decent ways of monitoring temperature etc etc.
Because of winters .. im thinking 5lb roast capacity might be what I would want actually if im going to do it outside. Those frigid -30 celcius days wouldnt be pleasant to be standing around for an hour hahaha.
I wouldn't roast that much. The RK-Drum for example is rated at 4-pounds but I've not gotten what I would call good roasts at anything higher than 2-pounds and like I said 1-pound is the best (for my tastes). Don't be swayed by what the rating is, its like looking at your car's speedometer and seeing it goes to 120mph when in "real life" you won't come close to that (with good results).
I don't know of any home roaster that will make a good roast on 5-pounds much less more than one.
Thing is my work has over 1000 people in my building and they often do fairs / crafts / yadda yadda and I know I could do up some 1lb bags and make some bank here.
People would think it worth trying etc .. and trying to keep myself / family / friends / and maybe even generate a small revenue to pay for some of my coffee hobby .. well .. 1 lb at a time would tax the small amt of free time I have left.
Maybe I should just can the "sell a few pounds" ideas floating in my head.
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