I've been studying my HG/DB roasts and know that as I keep the beans deeper
(piled upon one side of the DB or just greater volume in the roast), the
beans are able to collect more heat because of the greater mass.  However, I
find that deeper beans makes it more difficult to get through the drying
process and sometimes extends my time to first crack.  I've been
compromising by keeping the beans spread out until nearing first crack, then
pulling them to one side to increase the mass throughout the remaining
roast.
How deep do you keep your beans in a DB during your roasts?
I plan to use this info in the selection of a new DB, as well as to evaluate
keeping the beans evenly scattered across the DB or pulling them to one
side.
-- 
Dave Kvindlog
iHomeroast
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
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For me, the "DB" means Deep Bowl, as in a Kitchen Aid 5 qt mixer bowl, and I
use a kitchen implement known as a stainless steel wok spatula to manipulate
the beans- looks a little like a rounded pancake turner.
" How deep do you keep your beans in a DB during your roasts?"
Only as deep as gravity dictates and 50g - 900g occupies. 50g was not deep-
only 1 or 2 beans in a small circle. 900g of the Ethiopian Sidamo was about
three inches deep. There's a dimple in the bottom of the bowl so the dough
hook kneads more agressively in a hypocycloid track.
Cheers, Mabuhay -RayO, aka Opa!
Got a good roast/ brew interface?
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In my HG/DB set up, I'm not actually using a DB. I use a small size metal  
colander inside a metal mixing bowl that it "almost" fits into. The distance  
between the colander and the mixing bowl is between 1/2 and 3/4 of an inch. It  
allows heat to pass through the mass and back up through the colander holes.  
This seems to give me better control depending on where I aim my HG and how I  
position my beans. With 2 cups of greens, I can hit 1st anywhere from 6 - 11 
min  depending on what I'm after. With my latest mandling, I went for a 9 in 
1st  and hit 2nd 11 min later. Stopped roast at 20:40 and love the results! I  
have a blast with my HG/MCIMMB setup..lol
 
In a message dated 5/7/2008 3:01:09 P.M. Central Daylight Time,  
ihomeroast writes:
I've  been studying my HG/DB roasts and know that as I keep the beans  deeper
(piled upon one side of the DB or just greater volume in the roast),  the
beans are able to collect more heat because of the greater mass.   However, I
find that deeper beans makes it more difficult to get through  the drying
process and sometimes extends my time to first crack.  I've  been
compromising by keeping the beans spread out until nearing first  crack, then
pulling them to one side to increase the mass throughout the  remaining
roast.
How deep do you keep your beans in a DB during your  roasts?
I plan to use this info in the selection of a new DB, as well  as to evaluate
keeping the beans evenly scattered across the DB or pulling  them to one
side.
-- 
Dave  Kvindlog
iHomeroast
Cedar Rapids,  Iowa
Homeroast mailing  list
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