Home Roasting for Espresso 202

[miKe mcKoffee]

Mike and Abe, what do you think? I have the impression that unlike other coffee equipment, there's not a lot of awareness how good or bad coffee roasters can be. Home roasters tend to be like evangelists, making it sound cheap and easy. But like everything else in coffee, cheap and easy gets you only so far (although arguably a lot further in roasting than in anything else), to get all the way, one needs to spend some money and time. Perhaps, keeping with the general tone of HB, we can focus on the roasting 202.

I think it's a good idea. Already seeing quite a few beginning home roast queries which have been and continue to be answered multiple other venues. If in fact the trend desired for this forum is more advanced home roasting specifically for espresso should likely be stated in the first Welcome or Statement of Purpose post kept at the top.

[cafeIKE]

Absolutely!!

This site is not Home-Press or Home-Drip.

Perhaps we can raise home roaster consciousness a level or two above the rampant endpoint only mindset.

[Arto]

I would like to se some sort of a giant FAQ for beginners (written by someone talented, and confirmed by others), answering only basic questions in a broad and easy manner. The Q's & A's should be suitable for all roasting-methods. It could be divided in parts, like beans, machines & craftsmanship.

[harris]

Yes, keep the focus and change the forum name from "Home Roasting" to "Espresso Roasting".

[jormun]

I would like to se some sort of a giant FAQ for beginners (written by someone talented, and confirmed by others), answering only basic questions in a broad and easy manner. The Q's & A's should be suitable for all roasting-methods. It could be divided in parts, like beans, machines & craftsmanship.

+1

A good guide or FAQ for us noobs is an excellent idea. I don't like seeing an advanced level forum crowded with "What's a roaster?" threads, but I'm still new enough to coffee (and roasting especially) that I don't know any good lower-level resources to get such questions answered.

[miKe mcKoffee]

+1

A good guide or FAQ for us noobs is an excellent idea. I don't like seeing an advanced level forum crowded with "What's a roaster?" threads, but I'm still new enough to coffee (and roasting especially) that I don't know any good lower-level resources to get such questions answered.

http://www.sweetmarias.com/instructions.html
http://www.homeroasters.org/php/forum/index.php
http://www.coffeegeek.com/forums/coffee/homeroast
http://www.coffeekid.com/other/homeroast
http://www.lucidcafe.com/homeroast.html
http://www.ineedcoffee.com/roasting/
http://www.breworganic.com/Coffee/HowToRoast.htm
etc etc etc.
Google home roast coffee or something like that and you'll find copious information on home roasting coffee basics.

[jormun]

http://www.sweetmarias.com/instructions.html
http://www.homeroasters.org/php/forum/index.php
http://www.coffeegeek.com/forums/coffee/homeroast
http://www.coffeekid.com/other/homeroast
http://www.lucidcafe.com/homeroast.html
http://www.ineedcoffee.com/roasting/
http://www.breworganic.com/Coffee/HowToRoast.htm
etc etc etc.
Google home roast coffee or something like that and you'll find copious information on home roasting coffee basics.

Will do. I've seen a few of those already, but haven't had time to read most of them. By lack of resources I meant any forums that cater specifically to people who have little to no experience with roasting, or coffee in general.

[another_jim]

I'm hoping the forum will develop in this direction.

How the forum develops is only partially determined by the guidelines and moderating. People wander in and ask whatever question is on their mind, whether it's appropriate or not. This may be rude on their part; but it's how I and probably everyone else got started. In the old newsgroups, the response would usually be very chilly, in essence "don't talk to us, newbie, until you've learnt the ropes." I think we can be more polite, but probably should convey the same meaning and point such questioners to the resources they need rather than reanswering the same old questions.

Mike's reply to the FAQ question is a good example of what's needed to keep a forum on track. On the other hand, some of my replies in other threads may have been off-topic. I'll add a resource list to the forum's top information post, so that people know where to go to get basic questions answered. This'll be a good place to direct those with basic questions.

[HB]

I'll add a resource list to the forum's top information post, so that people know where to go to get basic questions answered.

Sorry, I neglected to add a forum-specific FAQs and Favorites until now (link). I'll link it from the main FAQs too.

[cpl593h]

There are soooooo many beginner homeroasting resources - the presence of that here is superfluous. There is no single place that offers 'advanced' homeroasting, especially in the espresso mindset; I'm hoping that this is what HB homeroasting becomes.

[Grandma]

the tone of a message board always ends up sorting itself out based on the most prolific or prominent posters. '101' posts can sometimes get one response and die, but there are also almost always new things to learn about the basics. for example, i've pretty much taken my french press routine for granted for a long time but this post in the knockbox Is some French press mud normal even for a Mazzer Mini? had some really insightful thoughts that made me re-examine what i thought were givens (i use a neoprene sleeve with my fp.)

so basically, a 'what's first crack sound like?' post will get one reply and die or spark more interesting conversation.

[TUS172]

I wholly agree with those that want to see the more advanced side of roasting (towards espresso)... As had been said before, there is plenty of information on other sites about beginning the journey in home roasting. It is a great idea to post a sticky with the basics so that new roasters are not put off. After all some off those newbies may advance quickly and have their own unique insights in the not too distant future.

[Martin]

the tone of a message board always ends up sorting itself out based on the most prolific or prominent posters. '101' posts can sometimes get one response and die, but there are also almost always new things to learn about the basics. for example, i've pretty much taken my french press routine for granted for a long time but this post in the knockbox Is some French press mud normal even for a Mazzer Mini? had some really insightful thoughts that made me re-examine what i thought were givens (i use a neoprene sleeve with my fp.)

so basically, a 'what's first crack sound like?' post will get one reply and die or spark more interesting conversation.

I agree. It really matters who's posting. IMO, a total newb's question is worth reading if it's answered by Schulman, Kehn, Mike Mc- or some others. The same thread answered by near-newbs is just a dreadful bore. And often wrong.

Posts do sort themselves out, but certain signals can be sent to roasters "up front" both to keep this forum geared to people who've gone beyond the "basics," and (more important) to direct new roasters to other sites where their questions are answered in more detail. In this thread, Mike posted 7 good resources (plus 3 etceteras). I like the idea of adding a second box c (one like the current poll question) that includes the question, "New to Roasting? Be Sure to Check These Helpful Sites." And then the list of links. Furthermore, I've no doubt that this "running" resource would be really useful to all of us----especially helping to identify roasting issues we don't fully understand or disagree with.

Martin
(heat + beans, all the rest is commentary)