by Ziobeege » Sun Sep 20, 2009 7:58 pm
Hi Ackers
To answer your question all the A,B,C,D functions do is to setup a predetermined roast time, based on the weight you have selected. Put simply, these are fixed ‘time’ buttons which you then finesse with ‘+’ pr ‘-‘ increments. So if you are using a 1 pound of green coffee, and you want the P2 profile, and you hit button 'B' as the manual suggests, it will set for 20 mins. If you hit 'A', it will set for 18 mins., 'C' will give you 21.30 mins and button D, in theory will give you 22.40. However the P2 profile has a max time of 22.30 built in. It will not go past this time regardless. If you don’t hit any letter, the default will be ‘A;
There is nothing stopping you using ‘A’ or ‘C for eg’ – you don’t have to use ‘B’ for this setting. However the manual suggests what it does because in the experience of the inventor/manufaturer it is likely to put you within range of an acceptable roast based on that profile selected, that weight of green bean and that bean type used. Some people dislike this perceived 'roast straightjacketing' whilst others, like me, are appreciative that you don't have to piss around wasting beans and time too long to get you in ball park. Someone else has helped you there, you can then focus on the finessing using the increments.
I would use the profiles as suggested and then temper them with the + or - increments – at least initially. Going from a light roast to a dark roast can change quickly. If you are finding that you are hitting the increment buttons plenty of times to hit you desired roast, then you may as well go for the next fixed time button (‘A’ being the shortest time, ‘D’ being the longest)
I had an Iroast2 and my biggest bugbear of that machine was that the slightlest change in ambient temperature would alter your roast materially. Indeed, if the room was a little cool it would not roast at all – just bake. Awful. The Behmor seems to be much more stable in variable temperatures and once you have got a feel of roast timings you can indeed leave it at its own devices. You don’t have to watch it for every second as suggested elsewhere