the six minute coretto project.

UNM

As some of you know, I am time poor but do like to tinker with things. So a short term project suits be perfectly.

Well, today I set myself a challenge - build an operating coretto style roaster in six minutes.

Why six minutes you may ask?

Well, the bread machine (currently available free to a good home if anyone wants it), has a dough cycle that runs intermittent for 6 minutes and then constantly for 24 minutes. So I switched the bread machine on dough, then carrried out roaster assembly while it was cycling. I knew time was up when it moved to constant agitation of the beans (430gram blend of 95%/5%harrar/robusta).

First step - manufacture a stand for the heat gun. Two spare bits of timber (old skirting board) were used.
One I drilled and screwed to the breadmaker casing, the other I mounted on the inside of the first so that the heatgun would be pointing inside the roaster pan. I could have used a single piece of timber and a spacer, but this seemed cleaner and sturdier.

Next mount the heatgun. Two bungee straps worked fine for this, although I had to adjust the length of them to get a tight fit.

Finally mount the temp probe. This was where things went a bit wrong and I lost precious time. I intended to use a piece of wire across the top of the pan as a support with the probe then pointing into the bean mass. Unfortunately this didn't work and the probe kept bouncing around in and out of the beans, so acccurate temp reading would have been impossible. A quick rethink and I grabbed the clip for my milk thermometer to hold it against the lip of the pan. At this point my time was up and it still wasn't fully secure, so I didn't QUITE manage the goal.

Heatgun on and started CoffeeRoaster app on the android.

Used a bit of insulating tape to hold the wire from the temp probe against outer casing of breadmaker such that the combination of clip and tape stopped movement - approx 30 seconds after my original goal passed.

Temp rise was scary over first 4 minutes, then ti tapered off and as I estimated it was approaching first crack, roast almost stalled, so I moved heatgun lower and maxed out heat. Temp rise a bit too rapid, so dropped heat slightly. First crack progressed nicely enough, but managing heat seemed very difficult. Oh yes, at this point the clip for the temp probe started to soften and sag against the lip of the pan Let it run for a further 3 mins and pulled just before second crack (estimate).


Will post up photos of the setup and final roast shortly as they are on my phone.


I'm not a coretto convert - all seems too hard to control and chaff gets everywhere. I'm sure I could get the hang of it and it is certainly possible to make one quickly and with minimal effort.

I'll stick with the hottop for now I think.

Edit: photos added. Rather uneven roast compared to hottop, but hopefully still drinkable.

Brett H

Great post and use of time mate!  I'm not a coretto convert either but had thought about using the heat gun on the KKTO base as a compare and conrast to the two methods and their results.  I have all the bits to make a coretto but my change from popcorn maker to Behmor was so epiphanic that I don't think I could go back.  I do love the KKTO however!

UNM

on 1332653536:

Great post and use of time mate!  I'm not a coretto convert either but had thought about using the heat gun on the KKTO base as a compare and conrast to the two methods and their results.  I have all the bits to make a coretto but my change from popcorn maker to Behmor was so epiphanic that I don't think I could go back.  I do love the KKTO however!

AFAIK, a heat gun on a KKTO base would effectively be the same as a coretto.  The perforated inner might change behaviour slightly, but not much I would think. It was interesting to experience though and lets face it - 20minutes from start to beans cooling isn't much time to invest. The coretto seems to me that it has a lot in common with popper roasting.

Koffee_Kosmo

It matters not how you roast As long as you give the many ways and techniques a go  :thumb: Welcome or is that re-welcome to the home coffee roaster club KK

UNM

on 1332656697:

It matters not how you roast As long as you give the many ways and techniques a go  :thumb:

Some people seem happy to go straight to a Behmor or KKTO and stick with that forever. Personally, I like to play and learn new stuff so for me it is not just about the coffee - just as much about building my knowledge. If I wasn't lucky enough to have a hottop, I'd probably have gone from popper to coretto and been happy for quite a while. Might do another roast or two, but the coretto is definitely for sale at a price that can't be beat.