As I read the posts of many of you, I realized that I don't recall anyone posting about their Gene Café experiences. Is anyone using it? If not, w= hy not? Thanks Phil -- Homeroast mailing list Homeroasthttp://host.sweetmariascoffee.com/mailman/listinfo/homeroast_lists.sweetmar=iascoffee.com Homeroast community pictures -upload yours!) :http://www.sweetmariascoffee=.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=7820 |
<Snip> , why <Snip> Phil, I'm using the GC and love it. I wouldn't trade it = for a Behmor or anything else. Unfortunately I = was traveling while this thread was going on and = had limited e-mail access. I read the thread only = when I got home on the 24th. I was gone for three months, and the first thing = my better half complained about was that I didn't = leave her enoughcoffee. I have strict orders to = leave at least a couple of pounds of roasted = coffee if I'm going to be gone for anylength of = time. Frank Parth Homeroast mailing list Homeroasthttp://host.sweetmariascoffee.com/mailman/listinfo/homeroast_lists.sweetmar=iascoffee.com Homeroast community pictures -upload yours!) :http://www.sweetmariascoffee=.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=7820 |
I've had a GeneCafe for about 15 months now and am very happy with it. I can't compare it to a Behmor or Hot Top. However, I had previously use unmodded poppers, an i-Roast (original version) and then wok roasting and the GeneCafe is definitely my favourite. I like the 1/2 lb batch size and it's quiet operation. John Homeroast mailing list Homeroasthttp://www.sweetmariascoffee.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemIdx20">http://host.sweetmariascoffee.com/mailman/listinfo/homeroast_lists.sweetmariascoffee.comHomeroast community pictures -upload yours!) :http://www.sweetmariascoffee.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemIdx20 |
I use a Gene Cafe and would not trade it away for anything. It's incredibly versatile with amazing control. Do you have questions, Phil? John On Sat, Dec 26, 2009 at 8:17 AM, John Ferguson wrote: <Snip> Homeroast mailing list Homeroasthttp://www.sweetmariascoffee.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemIdx20">http://host.sweetmariascoffee.com/mailman/listinfo/homeroast_lists.sweetmariascoffee.comHomeroast community pictures -upload yours!) :http://www.sweetmariascoffee.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemIdx20 |
<Snip> I've been thinking about getting one as my step up from a popcorn popper, and it occurred to me all the chatter seems to be about Behmor with a few people aspiring to the Hottop, which led me to wonder if the Gene Cafe were somehow suboptimal. It sounds like it isn't. Is there anything about the ergonomics or operation or cleaning that bothers you? Thanks, Phil Homeroast mailing list Homeroasthttp://www.sweetmariascoffee.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemIdx20">http://host.sweetmariascoffee.com/mailman/listinfo/homeroast_lists.sweetmariascoffee.comHomeroast community pictures -upload yours!) :http://www.sweetmariascoffee.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemIdx20 |
<Snip> Nope. The only regular cleaning it gets is vacuuming out the air intakes and cleaning the inside of the roasting chamber. After about two years it just stopped roasting properly, and I was told to take the chaff collector and dumpit in apot of boiling water for a few minutes. That cleaned out all the oils and gunk that had accumulated and it's worked perfectly ever since. Frank Parth Homeroast mailing list Homeroasthttp://www.sweetmariascoffee.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemIdx20">http://host.sweetmariascoffee.com/mailman/listinfo/homeroast_lists.sweetmariascoffee.comHomeroast community pictures -upload yours!) :http://www.sweetmariascoffee.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemIdx20 |
Quick response... I bought one a few years ago. It roasted well, but cooled poorly and I ultimately cooled the beans externally. The cooling cycle was something like 11 minutes long, and the beans were still quite warm when it finished. I had a couple breakdowns, but the company was excellent about fixing it. I wasn't as happy with it mainly because I'd been using a drum roaster over gas beforehand, and it had a bigger batch size, easier cooling, better roast control, and definitely a superior roast. But I had to build that myself, while the GC is off the shelf and works quite well overall. If I were looking for a roaster like that today, I think I'd look quite closely at a Behmor instead, simply for the bigger batch size. I brew espresso, so 1/2 pound batches means a lot of roasting. --Derek On Fri, Dec 25, 2009 at 11:40 PM, Phil Palmintere < phil.palmintere> wrote: <Snip> why <Snip> ariascoffee.com <Snip> -- = Every path but your own is the path of fate. --Thoreau Homeroast mailing list Homeroasthttp://host.sweetmariascoffee.com/mailman/listinfo/homeroast_lists.sweetmar=iascoffee.com Homeroast community pictures -upload yours!) :http://www.sweetmariascoffee=.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=7820 |
Hi Phil, Happy New Year to you and everyone else on the list. My roasting experience is pretty limited, having used an iRoast 2 for about 3 years and, when traveling, a Fresh Roast goes with us in the RV. About 2 months ago I purchased the Gene Café, and like most others following this thread have been very pleased with it. The reasons I chose the GC over the Behmor or Hot Top were 1)affordability, and 2) it appeared to be as close to "set-it-and-forget-it" as possible (although no home model roaster I have read about should ever operate untended). So far the GC has lived up to my expectations and produces a respectable roast...city to full city...without any finagling. I always dump a newly roasted batch into a metal colander to cool, and cleaning is a breeze...shop vac and compressed air make it about a two minute job. That being said, I am still a neophyte roaster and would really like to hear how GC owners tinker with roasts to get more interesting results. I just don't know how versatile a rig it is for customizing roasts. Anyone? Bob Glasscock |