by Chris Arnold
Possibly you’ve been listening to concerning the new roaster by Joe Behm. Possibly you heard it underneath different names, just like the Joe Roaster. Possibly you’ve been listening to about it for therefore lengthy, that you simply really forgot about its existence. Effectively, the Behmor 1600 (official title) has arrived. On the SCAA present in Might 2007, this roaster was awarded the prize for Finest New Product. I’ve given it a cursory look, and hope to share a few of my preliminary findings with you.
The very first thing I believed when utilizing the Behmor was: This factor is quiet, and it’s fairly small. And people are each true even after 2 weeks with the machine. The quiet half is a boon to anybody that needs to hear for 1st or 2nd crack. A small footprint is all the time factor for apparent causes.
Behmor Espresso Roaster
Roasting
I chosen Brazil Daterra Yellow Bourbon, and Malawi Mapanga as my Inexperienced Espresso Bean choice. I discovered that 10 ounces was my batch measurement of alternative, and resulted in about 8 ounces of roasted espresso after moisture loss.
I attempted all profiles initially utilizing the 1/2 pound setting. There have been some issues although. Some profiles (P1 and P2) roasted so shortly that the primary and second cracks ran collectively in the direction of the top. Different profiles (P3, P4, P5) merely didn’t give me sufficient time to get into the second crack (the longest time allowed was quarter-hour). There was nothing I might do about P1 and P2 for the reason that profiles have been already programmed in, so I didn’t use these in any respect. Nonetheless, with P3, P4, and P5, I felt I simply wanted 2-3 minutes extra, as a result of I had ended, or was nearing the top of the primary crack on the 15-minute mark. I spotted ultimately that simply deciding on the 1 pound setting allowed me far more time, and doesn’t change something apart from the max allowed time. It turned out that with P3 and P4 I received about 18-minute roasts the place I used to be simply coasting into 2nd crack, and there have been about 2 minutes between 1st and 2nd crack. P5 for me “baked” the beans slightly, so I averted it.
If a roast falls exterior the roast time max it might imply low voltage. Attempt plugging the roaster into a special outlet or attempting roasting at a special time of day.
Load Inexperienced Espresso
Place Inside Roaster
Behmor roast in progress
Cooling
The cooling cycle is about 13 minutes. Too lengthy you say?, effectively I discovered a trick that works effectively. After about 2 minutes, simply open the door. Every little thing is cool sufficient to the touch inside about one other 3-4 minutes, and the primary 2 minutes with the door closed permits the electronics to chill down. When you had gloves, you can even pull the drum as quickly as you open the door. Both manner, cooling is appropriate to me.
The chaff collector works effectively, and there may be often a small handful of chaff leftover contained in the machine. I blow out the chaff the old style manner, however there may be an non-obligatory clean-up brush listed within the handbook. Unsure how a lot that improve will run you, however I’d suppose a $.19 vast paintbrush might do the identical factor.
Open Behmor
Taste
As soon as I received the roast the place I needed it, I examined the beans for taste utilizing each drip and espresso. I’ve to say the Malawi Mapanga had some berry notes on day 2 that I had by no means gotten with the GeneCafe or the iRoast2. Total, the roasts have been very good and considerably higher than my GeneCafe.
No USB Cable Required
5 Roasting Profile Curves are pre-defined and can’t be modified, although they’re respectable, and graphs are supplied within the handbook. This roaster shouldn’t be for the Uber Geeky Espresso Nerd. It’s customizable inside outlined limits. When you run Linux and even know why a PID would have something to do with espresso gear, you may wish to cross. Or higher but, this may be your alternative to void the guarantee, mod this dangerous boy, and add Bluetooth and WiFi only for the enjoyable of it.
Behmor management panel
Behmor House Espresso Roaster
contained in the Behmor Espresso Roaster
Further Notes
The handbook is an attention-grabbing learn, to say the least. It might undoubtedly use a rewrite, however will get you up and operating, and explains a lot of the options. As a man, I discover it simpler to make use of the gear first and solely go to the handbook in emergency conditions.
The drum clasp and lid will not be the smoothest issues on the earth, and in a single case the lid was opened “too far”, and I couldn’t get it again with out quite a lot of drive. All in all minor, however value mentioning.
Some prior to now complained concerning the loading of the drum. I discovered it pretty straightforward after a few instances, but it surely takes some getting used to.
The cleverly supplied mild lets you see the beans with out opening the door. Nonetheless, the viewing glass will get “fogged up” after a couple of roasts, presumably with espresso oils or moisture. To enhance visibility, preserve the glass cowl cleaned.
The one factor the totally different weight settings do is improve max time for a given Profile (not formally said anyplace).
When you attempt roasting a second batch after the primary batch, not one of the buttons reply, nothing occurs. With the intention to roast once more, you need to energy off first. Based on the corporate, this was accomplished as a result of the unit was not meant for industrial utilization and an odd buyer would hardly ever must roast again to again.
Smoke-less doesn’t imply what you suppose. If it mentioned “smokeless”, that may imply with out smoke. Nonetheless, “smoke-less” signifies that you’ll get much less smoke. Lower than what? Unsure, however until you attain effectively into 2nd crack, the smoke may be very, very minimal. I roast exterior, so I can not touch upon whether or not I’d roast in my front room, however I believe you can in all probability roast in your storage with out the spouse screaming at you (that’s for you poor chilly climate bastards).
“Smoke-less” Espresso Roaster
Preliminary Conclusion
The Behmor 1600 Espresso Roaster is most intently in comparison with a Gene Cafe ($499), at the least in ensuing taste, in addition to roast and cooling instances. After all, the warmth technology and agitation strategies are totally different. I favored the value of the Behmor, and I actually favored the ensuing roast. At a prompt checklist worth of $399 (resellers will be capable of provide it at a considerably cheaper price), the Behmor 1600 is value a protracted, arduous look.
Assets
Behmor 1600 Espresso Roaster Tutorial – Our follow-up tutorial on the Behmor 1600.
Printed on
