That was my first choice over the HG/BM because I'm not too handy.

Only makes sense.

As to greens prices at Sweet Maria's, they're very reasonable and extremely competitive. I don't know what you found for $25, but it probably wasn't a pound of coffee.

SM has a few very good, well-chosen blends of greens for espresso that don't take a lot of complicated profiling. While you're learning the difference between C+, FC, and FC+ at least you'll be able to drink the results without gagging. I think Monkey is a particularly good beginner's blend; not only that you'll find yourself returning to it as a good, all-round, US style espresso.

Like just about everyone, I've been very happy with SM. Besides everything else, their (Tom's) descriptions are so very valuable.

Another good source for beans and machines -- not to mention the discount sampler pack with a machine -- is Roastmasters.com.

There are a bunch of other places that are good for greens. But for just starting with espresso, you're probably best off with a blend put together so it can be roasted already mixed.

BDL

http://www.harborfreight.com/1500-watt-dual-temperature-heat-gun-572-1112-96289.html?utm_medium=cse&utm_source=shopzilla&hft_adv=40014&mr:referralID=67978c31-af25-11e0-be22-001b2166becc
There is also a coupon code that makes it about $13 shipped, til the end of the month. There was a post at coffeegeek about the code and sale.

However, harbor freight sells cheaply made stuff from offshore, so it probably won't last too long as a roaster, still a cheap way to try it out. As pointed out, you could just add a large dog bowl, some greens, and give it a shot.

I have never roasted with any kind of heat gun method, so I can't comment on ease or results. The disadvantage I would see with the dog bowl method is that it takes two hands, so you don't have a free hand to take notes, or do much else during the roast.

I have also never used a Behmor. I would think you will get better and more consistent results initially with a Behmor. The downside is that you will also learn less about roasting, since it is mostly automated, and the automation will eventually limit how good a roast you will get out of it.

Like others have asked, what's you end goal for roasting?

Randy

Well I first want to train my palate. I'm not that great of distinguishing between coffees, let alone their origin.

+1 on the Behmor, as a device to learn on with consistent results (assuming the power in your house is consistent). Less flexibility, but easy to understand and there's a nice window you can look through to see beans as they change. Less flexibility means you lose some of the ability to truly effect some of the nuances of a bean, but at the stage where you don't know what or why the nuances are I think this is less important.

I'd also invest in a roasting book or two. I enjoyed the Ken Davids book as a start: http://www.amazon.com/Home-Coffee-Roast...0312312199

Thanks great answer!

When you roast with a Behmor can you hear the cracks or is it just site?

clynch wrote:just site?

I've seen videos and heard the cracks through the video.

The Behmor is one of the quieter roasters and for me it's easy to hear first and second crack.

It's quieter then a heat gun (with or without bread machine) and the FreshRoast, and you can open the door a bit if you really want to check for cracks for the quieter beans.

Sorry, sight, not site. Thank you Yakster and caffe1nated! My hearing is a bit off from my Navy days. I've been using the fresh roast for half a year. I love it. It is, however, loud and small. I can hear second crack just barely. I'll keep it till it dies then go larger. Nothing like roasting your own coffee!! I'll never go back.