harsh, smokey taste with Imex

by **Sunnyfield** » Mon Dec 15, 2003 2:49 pm

I have been using the IMEX roaster for quite a while now. I have never been very happy with the results. My roasts always result in a harsh, smokey flavour to my espressos. I am wondering why that is. Is the outside of the bean too burnt? Does the smoke leave a coating on my beans?

I do not really expect an answer (although I hope for one), but at least I want it to be documented that the IMEX is not ideal, AT ALL!

by **alans** » Mon Dec 15, 2003 4:06 pm

That's strange.... How far in to second do you normally take it? and how consistent is the colour of the end result? Perhaps we should all bring a roast (perhaps even of the same bean) to the cupping in January to compare results.

I did my first roast of Eeffoc's Bolivian Organic Saturday morning, just to the start of second in my Alp. 36 hours rest, great coffee, huge citrus (orange) flavors, good body, I loved it and so did the guests.

by **Sunnyfield** » Mon Dec 15, 2003 5:08 pm

I often take it to the start of rolling second (in 9 - 11 minutes). The beans are more even that way.

PS I mean smoky and not smokey! although strictly both are correct.

by **phil** » Mon Dec 15, 2003 6:00 pm

Re the Bolivian, I've not noticed the citrus. Everyone at the get-together at Eeffoc's got chocolate, big time.

Now there's a thought. Chocolate orange. My wife would kill for that!

by **alans** » Tue Dec 16, 2003 12:45 pm

This is why I'm scared of posting a cupping of anything! I'd guess the one you had was roasted further in to second crack, I can't taste chocolate in mine at all!

Steps I took to get Orange:
Beans straight from Eeffoc's 250g bag
In to cold Alp set at 15
Roast stopped after the first early cracks of second (around 17:40 from memmory)
Cooling assisted by DeWalt heat gun set to blow only

I like roasting 250g rather than 227g for a slightly less consistent result, hence a bit more complexity in the cup and my scales are broken

I'd normally associate chocolate flavors with a rolling second crack, anyone else feel that way?

So if Eeffoc and I combine your wife is ours

by **phil** » Tue Dec 16, 2003 12:49 pm

alans wrote:So if Eeffoc and I combine your wife is ours

Nahh.

Anyway, this is why the cupping course will be such fun.

by **Sunnyfield** » Tue Dec 16, 2003 8:46 pm

You can have mine! I will pay you!

*SMACK!* *OUCH* :oops:

by **Steve** » Tue Dec 16, 2003 9:25 pm

aye my wife is available too

Dont be worried about cupping as i think coffee is just a matter of opinions, and no one person is right. I love a chance to be opinionated.

by **phil** » Tue Dec 16, 2003 11:37 pm

Well, I've not met LP but anyone who can bake such biscotti is gorgeous IMO, so yes please!

OK, so I'm old enough to be her Dad (hey, who said that?)...

by **Sunnyfield** » Thu Dec 18, 2003 1:24 pm

Phil, she has seen a picture of you, and I do not know how to say this to you, but...

by **phil** » Thu Dec 18, 2003 4:42 pm

Gee thanks. I hate that picture too.....

Who do I blame?

by **Sunnyfield** » Tue Dec 23, 2003 9:50 am

Back to the ugly IMEX again (no subliminal message intended) :lol:

I am trying to roast the beans a tad shorter, because I suspect the smoky taste comes from over-roasting in the IMEX. My first experiences prove this theory. The lighter beans are more aromatic and fragrant, so that is a good first step. The difficulty here is that I find it hard to time the roast. Partly this is lack of confidence, and partly because the audible indicator of second crack is no longer there. Forget about visual indicators with the IMEX. I am now left with passed time and smell (and smoke). I am getting there. I no longer use my TC (thermo-couple) since it has turned to ashes. I cannot find spare TCs for my DMM, and I have this feeling that TCs are going to be more expensive then a new DMM. I call that Hewlett-Packard logic: a new colour printer with ink-cartridge is cheaper than an individual cartridge...

The IMEX may not be so bad after all, albeit very limited nonetheless.

by **phil** » Tue Dec 23, 2003 12:01 pm

Sunnyfield wrote:I cannot find spare TCs for my DMM

Try here : TC Direct

Presumably your DMM has a standard TC socket to accept the normal 2-pin connectors found on these things?

Phil

by **Sunnyfield** » Tue Dec 23, 2003 2:23 pm

Thanks, Phil! I just had a look at it, and including delivery it is more expensive to order a new TC (£16.50) than buying a new DMM (£15) with TC.

I already went to Maplin, but they have none. I will try some other electrical shops.

by **phil** » Tue Dec 23, 2003 2:38 pm

Really? I had a look and the TC's were 7 - 9 quid. That's very expensive on the delivery :-(

harsh, smokey taste with Imex

harsh, smokey taste with Imex

Who is online