This is what I use as a visual aid. My roasts live in the City+ to FC+ range. Like @mtskibum16 I err on the side of more done if there’s any question.
Coffee talk
- Thread starter troutpocket
- Start date
BriGuy
Life of the Party
I've heard the terms first crack and second crack in regards to roasting before. What do they mean?
This roasting thing is kinda turning me on.
Replicant
Life of the Party
Great thread. This was a gift from my wife and daughter, last summer. It was my daughter's idea. I take all my beverages, seriously, so it was a wonderful surprise. I'm traveling at the moment, but will fill in with the rest of my setup when I get back home. I use this machine about two times a week, sometimes three. I absolutely love it.
mtskibum16
Life of the Party
Look forward to hearing your thoughts.
From what I’ve read, anything beyond first crack can be used for coffee. It’s the first stage of “done-ness” and you hear them pop. The second crack happens later at the end of the full city roast stage and into FC+ and is a more subtle pop. Beyond second crack you’re into dark roast territory. Which is fine for some espresso roasts but mostly a waste of good beans!
I always assumed first and second crack was just a reference to my knees and back when I get out of bed in the morning.
BriGuy
Life of the Party
Thanks, troutpocket!
BriGuy
Life of the Party
That's why I qualified the term "crack" in my post. That could go so so many ways...
My dad roasts at home and my sister roasts commercially. Been wanting to give it a try for awhile so I picked up the Nostalgia air popper from Sweet Maria's with 8lb sampler. Been making my own beer for years so this should be right up my alley. Looking forward to it!
ThatGuyRyRy
Life of the Party
I've been known as a coffee snob so it's good to feel surround by like minded folks here.
I also have been roasting coffee for about 6 years now. I started out with a stovetop whirly pop but I have graduated to the Fresh Roast SR500. I can toast 114g of coffee at a time. I love it has the chaff collector built in and compared to the whirly pop, I get a much more consistent roast between sessions. It typically takes only 5 min of roasting per 114g with an additional time for the cool down. I can finish my 2 lbs of roasting coffee in about an hour.
Since I'm working from
now we typically got through at least a pot and half a day, so the insulated carafe on the Zojirushi is amazing and it doesn't taste burnt after sitting on the warmer all day. It also brews at the correct 200 degree in water temp. I came from a classic chemex before COVID days, so I spent a lot of time researching to ensure I was going to get the right taste out of my drip. It is so good, in fact, that you can drink cold coffee with some ice and milk utilizing any leftover drip that isn't finished during the day.
as for beans, I buy from Sweet Maria's. I buy in bulk with 20lbs of beans. That means I typically get my beans for about 6 dollars a lb which is how I support my coffee habit. We typically make about a lb each of decaf and caffeinated at a time which last us about a week to a week a half. Which is perfect if I'm giving the roast coffee a couple days to degas first. I love it and my wife loves that I do it.
I can't tell you how many times I've given fresh roasted coffee as gifts, too. Such a quick and easy present that a lot of people appreciate.
I also have been roasting coffee for about 6 years now. I started out with a stovetop whirly pop but I have graduated to the Fresh Roast SR500. I can toast 114g of coffee at a time. I love it has the chaff collector built in and compared to the whirly pop, I get a much more consistent roast between sessions. It typically takes only 5 min of roasting per 114g with an additional time for the cool down. I can finish my 2 lbs of roasting coffee in about an hour.
Since I'm working from
now we typically got through at least a pot and half a day, so the insulated carafe on the Zojirushi is amazing and it doesn't taste burnt after sitting on the warmer all day. It also brews at the correct 200 degree in water temp. I came from a classic chemex before COVID days, so I spent a lot of time researching to ensure I was going to get the right taste out of my drip. It is so good, in fact, that you can drink cold coffee with some ice and milk utilizing any leftover drip that isn't finished during the day.as for beans, I buy from Sweet Maria's. I buy in bulk with 20lbs of beans. That means I typically get my beans for about 6 dollars a lb which is how I support my coffee habit. We typically make about a lb each of decaf and caffeinated at a time which last us about a week to a week a half. Which is perfect if I'm giving the roast coffee a couple days to degas first. I love it and my wife loves that I do it.
I can't tell you how many times I've given fresh roasted coffee as gifts, too. Such a quick and easy present that a lot of people appreciate.
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Replicant
Life of the Party
I'm in a very similar situation. My wife is decaf, so I do a batch each. I buy from Sweet Maria's, but have recently experimented in buying from The Captain's. He does great Youtube videos on roasting with the Fresh Roast roaster, and he now is located in Binge/White Salmon area. I've really liked the Sumatra / Java beans from him, but will probably go back to Sweet Maria's for the dark roast decaf.I've been known as a coffee snob so it's good to feel surround by like minded folks here.
I also have been roasting coffee for about 6 years now. I started out with a stovetop whirly pop but I have graduated to the Fresh Roast SR500. I can toast 114g of coffee at a time. I love it has the chaff collector built in and compared to the whirly pop, I get a much more consistent roast between sessions. It typically takes only 5 min of roasting per 114g with an additional time for the cool down. I can finish my 2 lbs of roasting coffee in about an hour.
Since I'm working from
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as for beans, I buy from Sweet Maria's. I buy in bulk with 20lbs of beans. That means I typically get my beans for about 6 dollars a lb which is how I support my coffee habit. We typically make about a lb each of decaf and caffeinated at a time which last us about a week to a week a half. Which is perfect if I'm giving the roast coffee a couple days to degas first. I love it and my wife loves that I do it.
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View attachment 2233View attachment 2234
I can't tell you how many times I've given fresh roasted coffee as gifts, too. Such a quick and easy present that a lot of people appreciate.
I do the same. I am hoping a faster roasting regimen means I can do more gifting more easily. Fresh roasted coffee and smoked salmon—people love it.
That‘s a serious habit, dude!
This morning I made a full pot of coffee with the bag of pre ground stuff my wife had in the fridge. Drank a cup before leaving the house and filled my thermos with the rest.
I was not at all impressed with my efforts. All morning long I kept running the comments in this thread through my brain. It is definitely time that I try some good coffee. Not sure what this all means moving forward, just let it be known that I blame just about everyone in this thread for my disappointment in my morning beverage.
Oh, and just in case anyone is wondering, I definitely drank it all.
I was not at all impressed with my efforts. All morning long I kept running the comments in this thread through my brain. It is definitely time that I try some good coffee. Not sure what this all means moving forward, just let it be known that I blame just about everyone in this thread for my disappointment in my morning beverage.
Oh, and just in case anyone is wondering, I definitely drank it all.
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My daughter moved to Paris about 2012 or so. A Nespresso machine was her coffee "maker". We have a Nespresso machine (sans Danny Devito) that we use on occasion (it works well with a shot of good ice cream and espresso). Just another mere cup of coffee. ;-)
@ThatGuyRyRy you have a serious system in place! I get most of my beans from Sweet Maria’s as well. But 20 pounds would be close to a yearly supply for me. I usually buy it 10 pounds at a time. I watch their overstock sales and grab a collection when they happen. Their espresso blends are also interesting.
ThatGuyRyRy
Life of the Party
It typically lasts me half a year. But I do that to avoid shipping costs. They have flat rate shipping from 0-40lbs. Decreases the cost per month unit.
Additionally, I like that it gives me the opportunity to nail down what roast I like for a particular coffee. Then repeat it and enjoy it. I find that it takes about 4-5 tries to dial in the fit for a bean.
I've done the full cupping methods for tasting and kept a journal, bit it's really hard to control all the variables in a home kitchen to do a real side by side taste test.
My palate isn't that sophisticated! Amazing what you're doing.
mtskibum16
Life of the Party
I do 20# at a time too for the same reasons (shipping and having enough to figure it out). I used to do mainly 4 types 5# each but lately do 2 types 10# each. Been thinking of just finding a good deal on a full bag of something we like.
Check out Happy Mug Coffee if you haven’t.
My current daily brew setup.
I have the same burr grinder, tell me about the other two items, please.