Does anyone have experience cleaning out a Gene Cafe? The GC works fine on my first roast but sometimes on batch 2 and always on batch 3 I've noticed the machine struggles to maintain a setting of 458F on the thermostat. The temp will drop as low as 441 and stay there resulting in baked beans (and they don't compliment hot dogs). I'm thinking maybe the temperature sensor, chafe collector, intake register and exhaust needs to be cleaned. Has any one done this and if so, any guidance? -- My home coffee roasting blog:http://homecoffeeroastblog.blogspot.com/Kevin Homeroast mailing list Homeroasthttp://www.homeroasting.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemIdx20">http://lists.sweetmariascoffee.com/listinfo.cgi/homeroast-sweetmariascoffee.comHomeroast community pictures 9upload yours!) :http://www.homeroasting.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemIdx20 |
To clean any parts you can put into your kitchen sink, use OxyClean. Use very hot water. The roasted on residue will wipe right off. Jay |
I just knock out the chaff collector, clear any chaff from the drum, and make sure the air intakes on the bottom are clear. -Peter On May 6, 2008, at 10:57 AM, Kevin wrote: <Snip> Homeroast mailing list Homeroasthttp://www.homeroasting.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemIdx20">http://lists.sweetmariascoffee.com/listinfo.cgi/homeroast-sweetmariascoffee.comHomeroast community pictures 9upload yours!) :http://www.homeroasting.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemIdx20 |
any ideas on why the GC can't hold 458 on batches 2 and 3? -- My home coffee roasting blog:http://homecoffeeroastblog.blogspot.com/Kevin Homeroast mailing list Homeroasthttp://www.homeroasting.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemIdx20">http://lists.sweetmariascoffee.com/listinfo.cgi/homeroast-sweetmariascoffee.comHomeroast community pictures 9upload yours!) :http://www.homeroasting.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemIdx20 |
Do you clean out the chaff collector between each roast? It gets pretty full and would definitely restrict airflow if not cleaned. -Peter On May 6, 2008, at 11:04 AM, Kevin wrote: <Snip> Homeroast mailing list Homeroasthttp://www.homeroasting.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemIdx20">http://lists.sweetmariascoffee.com/listinfo.cgi/homeroast-sweetmariascoffee.comHomeroast community pictures 9upload yours!) :http://www.homeroasting.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemIdx20 |
Peter, Come to think of it...I think I have been getting a bit lazy with my roasts and haven't been emptying the chafe collector after each roast. That's probably it. I'll clean out the exhaust and intake with compressed air (cpu cleaner) and empty the chafe collector. This little bit of laziness cost me some Costa Rica La Magnolia. I didn't ruin the roast, it's drinkable. The batch 2 went to the start of 2nd crack whereas batch 1 was stopped just after 1st crack. I blended them together but the brightness and floral aromatics of the bean were lost. Let this be a lesson not to get complacent and forget roasting fundamentals! Kevin Homeroast mailing list Homeroasthttp://www.homeroasting.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemIdx20">http://lists.sweetmariascoffee.com/listinfo.cgi/homeroast-sweetmariascoffee.comHomeroast community pictures 9upload yours!) :http://www.homeroasting.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemIdx20 |
Don't use the compressed air (which really isn't air) if it is flammable and your roaster is hot!! Check the can. -Peter On May 6, 2008, at 11:33 AM, Kevin wrote: <Snip> Homeroast mailing list Homeroasthttp://www.homeroasting.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemIdx20">http://lists.sweetmariascoffee.com/listinfo.cgi/homeroast-sweetmariascoffee.comHomeroast community pictures 9upload yours!) :http://www.homeroasting.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemIdx20 |
I planned on cleaning the GC with the compressed computer cleaner prior to roasting. the chemical is extremely volatile so if the GC is aired out for a bit after cleaning I should be okay. Hopefully it's just a matter of emptying the chaff collector between roasts...I'll soak the chaff collector tonight as well. Thanks. On 5/6/08, Poutinen, Jay wrote: <Snip> -- My home coffee roasting blog:http://homecoffeeroastblog.blogspot.com/Kevin Homeroast mailing list Homeroasthttp://www.homeroasting.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemIdx20">http://lists.sweetmariascoffee.com/listinfo.cgi/homeroast-sweetmariascoffee.comHomeroast community pictures 9upload yours!) :http://www.homeroasting.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemIdx20 |
Kevin, list, <Snip> I was going to use the "cans of air" computer cleaner to clean my grinder until I read some of the warnings on the can. It seems a lot of "cans of air" contain chemicals designed to irritate your lungs and other bad things. I wasn't sure if any of the contaminants left a residue or not, so I ended up getting a refillable aerosol spray can. It has just enough force around 80 - 90 PSI to clean out my grinder really well, and might also work for cleaning your GC. You can fill it with a bike pump or compressor. linkhttp://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber02- Dave On Tue, 2008-05-06 at 15:22 -0400, Kevin wrote: <Snip> Homeroast mailing list Homeroasthttp://www.homeroasting.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemIdx20">http://lists.sweetmariascoffee.com/listinfo.cgi/homeroast-sweetmariascoffee.comHomeroast community pictures 9upload yours!) :http://www.homeroasting.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemIdx20 |
Kevin, you should actually clean in between every roast. At least I = do... I cool in a vacuum/colander so the vac's right there. I vacuum the = bottom air intake vents, I vacuum the hot air feed and, with the chaff = collector removed, vacuum the exhaust port. Then I dump and vacuum the = chaff collector and the drum. I do this between every roast and it takes = more time to talk about it than it does to do it. This should help. I'd suggest not using canned anything, air or = otherwise. Often they are too cold, and given the temps the roaster gets = to those changes in temp may stress the hardware even if you're blowing = out the roaster after it's cooled. Hope this helps. John Kevin wrote: <Snip> r, <Snip> <Snip> -- = John A C Despres Hug your kids 616.437.9182 Scene It All Productions JD’s Coffee Provoked Ramblings = Homeroast mailing list Homeroasthttp://lists.sweetmariascoffee.com/listinfo.cgi/homeroast-sweetmariascoffee=.com Homeroast community pictures 9upload yours!) :http://www.homeroasting.com/=gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=7820 |