danetrainer wrote:I too took the leap...decided about 6 months ago I was going to get a DB with PID control, I think with all the happy previous model Brewtus owners that this would turn out well. This unit took me by surprise as I was unaware Expobar was introducing a rotary pump, PID version. I was pushed over the edge by the fact that I don't have to rewire the kitchen to run this one. Anyway, with any luck I will see it by the end of the week as I selected the upgrade for shipping...better run and go roast some more beans!

Pat,
Awesome! Please share your experience with us. Definitely looking forward to hearing all about your new machine.

Fred,

I will definitely post my first impressions of this machine and my thoughts about quality of components,
etc., with any luck I will see it by Friday.

danetrainer wrote:I too took the leap...decided about 6 months ago I was going to get a DB with PID control, I think with all the happy previous model Brewtus owners that this would turn out well. This unit took me by surprise as I was unaware Expobar was introducing a rotary pump, PID version. I was pushed over the edge by the fact that I don't have to rewire the kitchen to run this one. Anyway, with any luck I will see it by the end of the week as I selected the upgrade for shipping...better run and go roast some more beans!

Hi,

The units are in stock but I believe shipping will be delayed. I ordered one with the rotary pump almost the day they were posted. Todd S. mentioned in a phone call that they had to change out a part (I forget which one) on the machines before the units ship. I spoke with Todd again today (about a week later) he said he hopes to get the units shipped this Friday (maybe).

Joe

Thanks Joe, I had not received any shipping confirmation in my email yet, and I keep forgetting to bring the order number with me to work so I can call during the daytime. Luckily I am a patient guy and the Oscar is still performing at its best! Did roast up some beans last night...they'll still go to good use!

danetrainer wrote:Thanks Joe, I had not received any shipping confirmation in my email yet, and I keep forgetting to bring the order number with me to work so I can call during the daytime. Luckily I am a patient guy and the Oscar is still performing at its best! Did roast up some beans last night...they'll still go to good use!

Hi,

I just purchased a Behmor roaster online from Burman Coffee Traders. I was going to by the Hottop but I live in an apartment and it is pretty cold in Wisconsin right now so I have to roast in my apt. I think the Hottop might trip my smoke detectors. I may still buy the Hottop as well but when we get through winter.

Joe

The Behmor will still trip your smoke detectors, although the exhaust out of it for the most part is minimal the sensors are certainly sensitive enough to pick up on it. Look in the roasting thread for posts about modding the Behmor and I think it has some photos of someone venting it out the window with an exhaust fan.

I was actually thinking about this with mine as I have been roasting on my front porch and it has been in the low 40's, it took longer than usual to get to 1C, so I am going to try and adapt a hood fan for a stove to an enclosure around it, with an activated charcoal filter and see if I can vent it in-doors, might as well reclaim some of the heat!

The Brewtus arrived Tuesday and I was able to do the plumbing yesterday (and drilling through the counter top!), so I have some first impressions now.

First, the unit has a protective wrap on all the polished metal, removed that and it has a very high polish and the wall thickness is quite thick and solid, I removed the top to inspect the internals and took these two photos showing the rotary pump and the gicar pid.



This is a side view so you can see the installation of the rotary pump in the lower left corner.



This pic is from the backside looking toward the front at the gicar pid and you can see the brew pressure adjustment on the fitting at the right on the rotary pump.

Pulling shots this morning I found I needed to really tighten up the grind, the taste was perfect with no hint of sourness or bitterness...my days of temp surfing are over! Just preheat the group with a short flush and the Brewtus is instantly ready to go. The no-burn steam wand was a pleasant surprise I hadn't really given much thought about ahead of time until I used it. I look forward to tweaking my blends now that I have a stable platform to give me consistent feedback to my roasts.