Comments on: Coffee Roaster Batch Size http://www.arizona-coffee.com/2006/coffee-roaster-batch-size Great coffee comes in small doses Sat, 22 Nov 2008 05:53:22 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0 by: Victor Kessler http://www.arizona-coffee.com/2006/coffee-roaster-batch-size#comment-17400 Thu, 28 Dec 2006 17:03:34 +0000 http://www.arizona-coffee.com/2006/coffee-roaster-batch-size#comment-17400 The size of a "commercial grade" type roaster does not affect quality. The main difference is the rate at which the beans cool down. Larger roasters (hence larger batch size) tend to cool beans down at a slower rate, which can be of concern and is addressed in a number of ways such as regulating ambient air temperature in the roasting area. I've even seen auxilary high-powered fans positioned around cooling trays to aid in cooling. In the end the roast quality relies on the roaster operator and the bean quality, not the roaster size. The size of a “commercial grade” type roaster does not affect quality. The main difference is the rate at which the beans cool down. Larger roasters (hence larger batch size) tend to cool beans down at a slower rate, which can be of concern and is addressed in a number of ways such as regulating ambient air temperature in the roasting area. I’ve even seen auxilary high-powered fans positioned around cooling trays to aid in cooling. In the end the roast quality relies on the roaster operator and the bean quality, not the roaster size.

]]> by: steve Leighton http://www.arizona-coffee.com/2006/coffee-roaster-batch-size#comment-15289 Wed, 06 Dec 2006 21:32:46 +0000 http://www.arizona-coffee.com/2006/coffee-roaster-batch-size#comment-15289 I think the size does play a part but if the roaster is skilled and understands his machine then this is easily overcome. The roasting operator is far more important than the roaster for me. I speak with lots of home roasters a 2kg a 5 kg and a 15 kg Ambex (and experience of larger machines to0), so feel fairly experienced with them. Chris the top photo looks familiar, have I seen it somewhere before? Great pictures to capture the idea of roaster sizes Keep up the awesome blog. I think the size does play a part but if the roaster is skilled and understands his machine then this is easily overcome. The roasting operator is far more important than the roaster for me.

I speak with lots of home roasters a 2kg a 5 kg and a 15 kg Ambex (and experience of larger machines to0), so feel fairly experienced with them.

Chris the top photo looks familiar, have I seen it somewhere before? Great pictures to capture the idea of roaster sizes

Keep up the awesome blog.

]]> by: Austin http://www.arizona-coffee.com/2006/coffee-roaster-batch-size#comment-15226 Wed, 06 Dec 2006 06:05:16 +0000 http://www.arizona-coffee.com/2006/coffee-roaster-batch-size#comment-15226 I would think (and i may be wrong here) that in those huge batches, even with the air cooling, that the heat from all of the beans surrounding a single bean would keep roasting them for another minute or two. I would imagine that would be a hard thing to compensate for if its true. I could be entirely wrong though. I would think (and i may be wrong here) that in those huge batches, even with the air cooling, that the heat from all of the beans surrounding a single bean would keep roasting them for another minute or two. I would imagine that would be a hard thing to compensate for if its true. I could be entirely wrong though.

]]> by: Carrie http://www.arizona-coffee.com/2006/coffee-roaster-batch-size#comment-15180 Tue, 05 Dec 2006 23:36:12 +0000 http://www.arizona-coffee.com/2006/coffee-roaster-batch-size#comment-15180 Linda - I'm sorry....but I can't follow your thought process..... the size of the roasting equipment making a difference in the quality of beans a Roaster purchases? I seriously doubt it, I think its more a question of what some roasters think they can get away with, buying lower quality beans, roasting them too long and selling them to uneducated & under-educated public, including, unfortunately, coffee shops. Quality green beans in....Quality coffee out..... Inferior green beans in.....Crappy coffee out...... Seems logical to me.......not the size of the equipment they are roasting on. But since this post was asking for input from roasters, I'll just wait and see what they say, should be interesting! Carrie Linda - I’m sorry….but I can’t follow your thought process….. the size of the roasting equipment making a difference in the quality of beans a Roaster purchases? I seriously doubt it, I think its more a question of what some roasters think they can get away with, buying lower quality beans, roasting them too long and selling them to uneducated & under-educated public, including, unfortunately, coffee shops.

Quality green beans in….Quality coffee out…..
Inferior green beans in…..Crappy coffee out……

Seems logical to me…….not the size of the equipment they are roasting on. But since this post was asking for input from roasters, I’ll just wait and see what they say, should be interesting!

Carrie

]]> by: Linda E Gomez http://www.arizona-coffee.com/2006/coffee-roaster-batch-size#comment-15078 Tue, 05 Dec 2006 00:45:31 +0000 http://www.arizona-coffee.com/2006/coffee-roaster-batch-size#comment-15078 I was told that you have a small batch roaster is up to 30 kilos (70 pounds). According to some specialty coffee roasters, as long as you roast within a window of opportunity of 15 to 16 minutes in a well controlled environment, batch size should not be felt at the cup. This means, as long as you control the energies involved in roasting, you can roast in the same parameters regardless of the batch size. i.e. An average 10 kilo roaster that uses 150.000 btu will have the same flavor profile as a 20 kilo that uses 300.000 btu In respect to quality, a small batch roaster should focus in selecting better beans, since is easier for them than to a big roaster. In that case batch size does matter. I was told that you have a small batch roaster is up to 30 kilos (70 pounds).
According to some specialty coffee roasters, as long as you roast within a window of opportunity of 15 to 16 minutes in a well controlled environment, batch size should not be felt at the cup.
This means, as long as you control the energies involved in roasting, you can roast in the same parameters regardless of the batch size. i.e. An average 10 kilo roaster that uses 150.000 btu will have the same flavor profile as a 20 kilo that uses 300.000 btu
In respect to quality, a small batch roaster should focus in selecting better beans, since is easier for them than to a big roaster. In that case batch size does matter.

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