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Uneven Roast? The Secret to a Perfect Batch

Uneven Roast? The Secret to a Perfect Batch

Time to spill: Uneven roasting is a common pain point, but it’s fixable with the right adjustments. You’re working with Brazilian Catuai-Catuai yellow beans from 1200 meters—high-altitude beans known for their density and slow development. At 82 points, they’re already a premium crop, but your roast profile is revealing a flaw. The weight loss from 800g to 708g suggests a medium-dark roast, yet the unevenness points to a deeper issue. The first crack timing—between 7 and 8.3 minutes—is a clue. That range is typical for medium roasts, but the inconsistency in color and texture suggests uneven heat distribution. Catuai beans,…
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The Ethiopian Bean’s RoR Crash: Why It Happens and How to Fix It

The Ethiopian Bean’s RoR Crash: Why It Happens and How to Fix It

If you’ve ever roasted an Ethiopian bean and watched the RoR plummet at first crack, you’re not alone. This bean’s unique profile—marked by a sharp, bright acidity and a delicate balance of floral and citrus notes—often defies the expected roast curve. Unlike most beans, which see a RoR spike as CO2 escapes, this Ethiopian variety consistently drops. The question isn’t if it happens, but why and how to navigate it. The answer lies in the bean’s cellular structure and moisture content. Ethiopian coffees, particularly from regions like Guji Uraga, have a higher proportion of small, tightly packed cells. When heat…
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The Art of Slow Roasting Coffee

The Art of Slow Roasting Coffee

This is worth savoring: If your coffee is hitting the dark side too soon, you’re not alone. A roaster with an 8-minute timer can feel like a luxury, but when your beans are turning too quickly, it’s time to rethink your approach. You’re roasting between 60-80g of green beans, yet second crack hits by the 4-minute mark—leaving you with underdeveloped, grassy flavors. The question isn’t just about time; it’s about balance. How do you stretch the roast window without sacrificing quality? The problem lies in the interplay between heat, airflow, and bean density. Kenyan washed and Colombian beans, while flavorful,…
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Cupping Without the Frills: Why Home Roasters Can Skip the Fancy Gear

Cupping Without the Frills: Why Home Roasters Can Skip the Fancy Gear

Get ready to sip on this: Home roasting doesn’t require a lab setup. If you’re asking whether you need specialized cupping bowls, the answer is almost always no. Cupping is a tool for evaluation, not a ritual. When you roast at home, your goal is to taste your own work, not chase SCA benchmarks. A basic mug, even a paper cup, can do the job. The real question isn’t whether your gear is “fancy”—it’s whether it’s functional for your purpose. Let’s cut through the noise. Cupping bowls are designed to hold liquid, not to alter flavor. A 12-ounce glass or…
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The ET RoR Conundrum on Small Roasters: What You Need to Know

The ET RoR Conundrum on Small Roasters: What You Need to Know

If you're struggling with ET stagnation and RoR drops on a small roaster like the Kaleido M1, you're not alone. The machine’s limited heat capacity creates a tightrope walk between precision and control—where a slight miscalculation can send your roast spiraling. You’re right to notice that ET often plateaus before BT takes over, but the real challenge lies in managing the delicate balance between heat input and airflow. Ramping up air to 15% might seem like a fix, but it’s not just about pushing heat out—it’s about recalibrating the entire system’s thermal dynamics. Small roasters like the M1 lack the…
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The First Roast Log That Needs Expert Eyes

The First Roast Log That Needs Expert Eyes

If you’re chasing precision in your roast, this log is a masterclass in what not to do. A user’s first attempt with a Costa Rica Pérez Zeledón washed bean reveals a classic rookie mistake: hitting first crack too early. The roast started with a preheat at F9/P9, then dropped to F8/P4 for charging. Yellowing emerged around 2:00, aroma hit at 2:30, and internal temps climbed to 383°F. By 3:00, temps hit 420°F, and the bean turned brown by 4:00. The first crack arrived at 5:30, followed by a rushed development phase. The result? A 10% weight loss and a roast…
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Decoding the Kaffelogic Nano’s Cupping Profile Mystery

Decoding the Kaffelogic Nano’s Cupping Profile Mystery

Here’s something to stir your curiosity: the Kaffelogic nano’s cupping profile isn’t just a data point—it’s a conversation between you and the roast. Yet when the first crack fails to materialize, the dialogue turns frustrating. You’re not alone. The user’s dilemma—roasting without first crack (FC)—highlights a common blind spot in small-batch roasting: development isn’t a guessing game; it’s a science. The cupping profile is your map, but without FC, you’re navigating blind. The first crack marks the threshold where the bean’s internal moisture escapes, signaling the start of development. Without it, the roast remains in the “dry” phase, underdeveloped and…
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The Fruit-Forward Roast Dilemma: Unpacking the Aillio Bullet’s Secret Sauce

The Fruit-Forward Roast Dilemma: Unpacking the Aillio Bullet’s Secret Sauce

Time to spill: The Aillio Bullet’s fruit-forward potential is slipping through your fingers—here’s how to catch it. You’re chasing that mango-ferment brightness, but the coffee’s sweetness is drowning the acidity, and the IBTS RoR spike is throwing your profile off. This isn’t a fluke—it’s a clue. The Ugandan mango co-ferment you’re roasting is a delicate beast, and its behavior is screaming for precision. The coffee’s current profile—maple syrup sweetness, a hint of acidity, and a clean finish—hints at a roast that’s too early to unlock its complexity. Light roasts often flirt with brightness, but they’re also prone to underdeveloped notes.…
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Mastering Light Roasts: The SR800’s Secret to Nordic Perfection

Mastering Light Roasts: The SR800’s Secret to Nordic Perfection

Here’s something to stir your curiosity: Light roasts are the espresso of the coffee world—intense, complex, and wildly misunderstood. Yet when you try to dial them in on an SR800, the numbers don’t always align. Take Rwanda Nyamasheke Muhororo Natural, for instance. Hacea recommends light to ultra-light profiles, targeting 405°F, 10–11% weight loss, and 90–95 Agtron. But in practice, you’re hitting 13% loss, temps keep climbing post-drop, and the Agtron scale feels like a moving target. Why? Because light roasts demand precision that’s as much art as science. The SR800’s extension tube and thermometer are your allies, but they’re only…
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Why Your Baratza Encore ESP’s Grinds Are Getting Coarser—And How to Fix It

Why Your Baratza Encore ESP’s Grinds Are Getting Coarser—And How to Fix It

There’s something brewing with your Baratza Encore ESP—literally. After a year of daily use, that once-precise grinder is now spitting out coarse grinds, and your shots are finishing faster than a espresso martini. The culprit? A combination of wear, neglect, and maybe even a hidden setting you’ve overlooked. Let’s cut through the haze. The Baratza Encore ESP is a beast of consistency, but even the sturdiest machines have limits. Over time, the burrs—those precision-cut discs—can dull, especially if you’re grinding dark roasts or using a fine setting regularly. The fine setting isn’t magic; it’s a balance of burr alignment and…
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