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Going to buy a Roaster

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Comments

  • Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 10,449 Mod ✭✭✭✭Mr Magnolia


    I have 150g on now. I'll have a report back tomorrow or sunday :-)


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 9,329 ✭✭✭Gran Hermano


    Just roasted 145g of Guatemala Finca San Francisco Tecuamburro.
    Noticed with these beans I had to hit the cool-down before the full 15
    minutes were up. Reckon I ended the cycle with about 90 seconds left.


  • Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 10,449 Mod ✭✭✭✭Mr Magnolia


    I'm enjoying that roast Gran Hermano. I'd a double earlier after lunch, going to try another now. Probably put another 150g's tomorrow to last me the week.


  • Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 10,449 Mod ✭✭✭✭Mr Magnolia


    Just looking to make a purchase of my next batch of green beans. Some of the prices vary considerably on hasbean. Have any of you tried some of the more expensive beans yet?

    Any recommendations for my next purchase, I'm jsut finished a Colombian bean? You had good results with a Cuban bean Gran Hermano? I may try that one.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 9,329 ✭✭✭Gran Hermano


    I'm also in the process of putting an order in today, want to make sure
    I've enough to keep me going over the Christmas period and with the
    slow post at this time of year I'm afraid of running out!
    (I'm down to less than a kilo in total from the beans I ordered last time).

    From my last order I liked the following Cuban and the Guatemalan beans:
    - Green Guatemala Finca San Franciso
    - Green Cuba Turquino Lavardo

    I'll be stocking up on these again as even when I was buying
    roasted beans in the past I've found Cuban/Guatamalan have the taste
    and body I like in a coffee. I'll probably pick up a couple of kilos of espresso
    blends and maybe a few 250g bags of other beans to try out alternatives.

    As you know I'm a fan of the Cuban coffees; the Guatemalan blends
    provide a 'lighter' alternative. I find the Guatemalan needs a lighter roast
    than the Cuban (on the profile I'm using I tend to end it 2-3 minutes
    before the full 15 minutes are up whereas I'll let the Cuban beans run for
    14-15 minutes).

    Postage on Hasbean comes in at a minimum of GBP16 for up to 9-10kg and
    then GBP20 for next parcel size up - so it makes sense to buy in bulk to
    spread the postage costs per kilo.


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  • Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 10,449 Mod ✭✭✭✭Mr Magnolia


    I'm on the Green Cuba Turquino Lavardo at the moment, purchased a 2kg bag. I'm roasting it to your guidelines Gran Hermano. It is possibly the best coffee I've had. Cubans do seem to be my favourite.

    I also purchased 250g of the Green Nicaraguan El Limoncillo, I wasn't pushed at all. I may have over-roasted them for my preferences which didn't help either.

    I purchased a couple of others too but it'll be the cuban over christmas I'd say.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 9,329 ✭✭✭Gran Hermano


    Glad you're enjoying it Mr M, be warned though it'll be hard to drink
    and enjoy anything else as they'll taste bland in comparison ! biggrin.gif

    I roasted a batch of the premium espresso blend and it should have rested
    and degassed by the time I get home this eve. I'll let you know my thoughts.

    I haven't tried that particular Nicaraguan bean, but it gets great reviews and
    won Cup of Excellence awards.
    Some cupping notes on hasbean and here:
    http://www.sweetmarias.com/coffee.central.nicaragua.html

    Seems it prefers a lighter roast.


  • Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 10,449 Mod ✭✭✭✭Mr Magnolia


    Yeah, the dark roast didn't suit it at all. The reviews were what led me to try it.

    I've the premium blend in the press myself, I may try a batch over christmas. Let me know what you think. Enjoy!


  • Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 10,449 Mod ✭✭✭✭Mr Magnolia


    I'm on the Guatemala Finca San Francisco now. The cupping notes recommend roasting just beyond the second crack. I tried the iroast's preset2 and it seems to work well with it. I've a 2kg bag of it so I'll be searching for a good roast. Definitely wouldn't like to roast it for much longer than I am though.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 37,485 ✭✭✭✭Khannie


    Sorry to bump this one, but I'm interested in the economics of it......

    Do you think your home roaster has paid for itself? I go through about 500-750g of coffee a week at home. I'd be interested to hear how much you lot go through, and if it has increased since you bought your home roasters.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,473 ✭✭✭RE*AC*TOR


    I go through about 450g-600g a week. About 3 batches on the iRoast.

    It doesn't matter whether it has paid for itself or not (it has), moreso:

    1. I have constant access to freshly roasted coffee.
    2. I have access to varieties of coffee I would never have had otherwise.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 9,329 ✭✭✭Gran Hermano


    RE*AC*TOR, has beaten me to it!
    I agree 100% with his points, whilst there are savings in roasting your
    own it's the non-monetary benefits that justify roasting your own beans.

    I believe there is an old post on here from RE*AC*TOR outlining the
    savings but again it's the fact I can keep a supply of various green
    beans at home and roast them as and when I need them to ensure
    I have the roasted beans I want as fresh as possible.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 37,485 ✭✭✭✭Khannie


    RE*AC*TOR wrote: »
    1. I have constant access to freshly roasted coffee.

    This is becoming an issue for me. I don't get to go to M&D's as often as I'd like and find myself running out of beans. Last weekend I had to buy ground stuff in the local supermarket. First time in ages I've used stuff from the supermarket. Rank. I think I'm becoming a coffee snob. :o

    Still though....funds are limited and my wife has an aversion to "extra gadgets" entering the house, so I'd need to sell it to her too.

    edit: Didn't see your post before replying GH. Hmmmmm.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,473 ✭✭✭RE*AC*TOR


    Khannie wrote: »
    Still though....funds are limited and my wife has an aversion to "extra gadgets" entering the house, so I'd need to sell it to her too.

    Tell your wife to shut up :pac:


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 37,485 ✭✭✭✭Khannie


    ROFL. :D:D:D










    lowercase letters.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,473 ✭✭✭RE*AC*TOR


    If you want to dazzle her with some numbers this is from an old post of mine:

    Bear in mind sterling is cheaper now so the savings are even greater.
    RE*AC*TOR wrote: »
    Just for a comparison on prices for a moment on buying green beans from Hasbean vs roasted from M&D

    1. Cuban €8 per 250g. Hasbean Cuba Turquino Lavardo £15 for 2kg
    2. Java €8 per 250. Hasbean Old Brown Java £11.95 for 2kg
    3. Guatamalan €7 per 250g. Hasbean Green Guatemala Finca Entre Rios Organic £14.99 for 2kg
    4. Colombian €6 per 250g. Hasbean Colombian Cup of Excellence Mirador-Jesus Lizcano £25 per 2kg
    5. Jamaica Blue Mountain €52 per 250g Hasbean Jamaican Blue mountain Mavis Bank £88 per 2kg


    Taking into account £1 = €1.47, and that the roasted weight of coffee is about 20% less -

    1. €32/kg Vs €13/kg
    2. €32/kg Vs €11/kg
    3. €28/kg Vs €14/kg
    4. €24/kg Vs €23/kg
    5. €208/kg Vs €80/kg

    In all cases where more than one type of coffee from the same region was available I chose the most expensive (eg the Colombian from Hasbean is an award winning coffee).

    Shipping for 8kgs worked out at about €24 for me the last time (2 day delivery). Shipping gets less expensive (relative to the overall price) the more you buy.

    And obviously you need something to roast the beans in.

    Worth bearing in mind in the overall scheme of your coffee budget.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2 liamoross


    Does anybody know of a company that will ship a hottop roaster to ireland??


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,298 ✭✭✭donnacha


    liamoross wrote: »
    Does anybody know of a company that will ship a hottop roaster to ireland??

    Have a read of this thread - they mention a contact at Hoptop direct that you can send an email - sounds like they keep some stock locally in UK:

    http://coffeeforums.co.uk/showthread.php?9923-Wanted-Hottop-roaster-B


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,775 ✭✭✭Zagato


    Is it just me or has the cost of green beans shot up dramatically relative to roasted beans over the last number of years, just from looking at this thread and current prices on Has Bean.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2 liamoross


    donnacha wrote: »
    Have a read of this thread - they mention a contact at Hoptop direct that you can send an email - sounds like they keep some stock locally in UK:


    Thanks Donnacha.
    Shelly got back to me and I'm going to go ahead and purchase the roaster.
    Can you give me advice on the best sites to buy green beans??

    Thanks!


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,752 ✭✭✭Bohrio


    liamoross wrote: »
    donnacha wrote: »
    Have a read of this thread - they mention a contact at Hoptop direct that you can send an email - sounds like they keep some stock locally in UK:


    Thanks Donnacha.
    Shelly got back to me and I'm going to go ahead and purchase the roaster.
    Can you give me advice on the best sites to buy green beans??

    Thanks!

    I got my hottop directly from the manufacturer. The process was a bit weird but it worked well in the end and I am very happy with it.

    I think I went through alibaba.com but I have the details somewhere if you want them?

    PS: Sorry just seeing you have already contacted them

    I normally got my beans from Coffemojo.ie or sweetmaria.com.

    The best thing about green beans is that they wont go stale for months so shipping delays are not an issue.

    It cost me around 14-18 euro per kg, that's 4 euro per 250 gr of unroasted coffee (around 212 gr after roasted). Sweetmaria is cheaper but shipping cost will bring costs up to around the same price.

    You are gonna love the hottop, great machine, very easy to use. I have had it for 2 years and never had a single issue with it. I use it about 2 times a week


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 69 ✭✭caol ila


    I get my green from bellabarista in UK


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 19,311 ✭✭✭✭alastair


    The LCD display on our hot top (the fancy pants model) is starting to go. There's blank areas across two bands of the display. Luckily it doesn't impact on the entered profiles working, but it may well be that the whole thing could go blank, which would be a problem.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,752 ✭✭✭Bohrio


    alastair wrote: »
    The LCD display on our hot top (the fancy pants model) is starting to go. There's blank areas across two bands of the display. Luckily it doesn't impact on the entered profiles working, but it may well be that the whole thing could go blank, which would be a problem.

    How long did you have it for? I had mine for a good few years now (I think almost 3) and is still looking ok.

    I suppose you know that you can replace the front LCD display but it is not cheap


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 19,311 ✭✭✭✭alastair


    Bohrio wrote: »
    How long did you have it for? I had mine for a good few years now (I think almost 3) and is still looking ok.

    I suppose you know that you can replace the front LCD display but it is not cheap

    We have the roaster a good few years - 2008 possibly?

    I saw that alright - but unless the display gets worse, it's still usable.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 19,778 ✭✭✭✭Muahahaha


    Do any of the home roasters on the market do batches of 500g or is 250g the norm ?


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