So, I dug thru the 14 pages of posts here on the Quest for answers before posting a new thread. So far, I can't find anything dead on specific. Can some of you gent's with experience with the M3 help guide me with BT probe placement?

I moved the thermometer it came with to the opposite side, so that I could easily access the sampler. So, I think I'm getting a pretty good ET with that, since it's high up in and near the center of the drum away from the beans, especially if I keep the bean load down ( i only do about 175mg max loads) but now, I'm perplexed as to getting the proper location for accurate BT monitoring. I am weary about just sliding it thru the old hole from where the thermometer was originally located, since I am afraid air entrainment would throw off the temp stability and perhaps make it run hot? This is my main question. Can it be done this way properly? I haven't tried it yet and don't want to mess up good beans if I can prevent it.

Someone, somewhere, mentioned removing one of the screws down by the viewing window (circled in green), but when I did this, the glass falls right out. So that can't work.


I put a red dot where I think ideally, it would be perfect to drill a smaller hole, just enough for the thermocouple wire to fit thru, to literally sit right against the beans as they tumble, to the left of the left side screw ( ignore the red dot at the bottom, don't know how that showed up) . Has anyone done this? I have a drill, but not a drill press, and wouldn't want to mess it up slipping and scratching the surface.

I'm following all the recipes and guidelines here on the forum, learning how to use this. I'm not looking for a completely automated roasting experience. But I know being able to track BT and ET, will help me with reproducability.

Thanks all.

I do remember seeing that, but wasn't sure if I'd have to buy an expensive digital thermometer setup ( not the probes but whatever digital device it interfaces with) so that's why I ended up buying the cheap one from Sweet Maria's.

Thank you, I'll contact Eric and find out if the thermocouple I have is compatible with that setup. If not, maybe SM will let me return the thermocouple, I haven't used it yet, because I haven't been able to interface it properly. The setup he shows looks quite solid and professional. I'm all for paying for quality, I just want easy reproducibility.

Thank you, I'll contact Eric and find out if the thermocouple I have is compatible with that setup.

The thermocouple you have is the one that typically accompanies the nice meter that Sweet Maria's sells. While it is not really physically compatible with the adaptors I sell, I am certain that sumptin can be worked out - either $$ or essentially zilch. I have your phone msg and we will talk.

Wow, awesome guy, great informative conversation with Eric. I look forward to having an improved setup.

I've been roasting "blind" so to speak, on my last 3 batches. And while I like what I've produced, I'd like to be able to make notes and track progress and have something to refer to in the future for consistency sake. Having my analogue thermometer where it is gives me only a portion of the data I need and a portion of the variables I'd need to control, for the results I want.

So far, looking thru the window, and listening to the first, and when desired, second crack, has been about all I have to go by, since once I'm past the drying phase and the moist aroma is dissipated, it's harder to smell the volatiles.

Thank God I have a good batch of an espresso blend that I have made up on the night of the 19th that should be great by tomorrow ( was pretty dang good this morning ) and as for regular drip coffee, since I've already burned thru my Salvadorian batch, I'm actually enjoying some Vivace's Dolce ran thru my Technivorm. It will be in my Clever Dripper for the next few days too. I don't think I want to fly by the seat of my pants roasting any of my more expensive beans unless I can accurately monitor BT. I love that it's a manual machine that I have full control over, but I need the proper feedback loops so I can at least have a clear target to aim at, for re-producebility sake.

Gear arrived Monday and was waiting for me at home upon my return from work. To be installed Tuesday afternoon, perhaps I'll start off with a nice Yirg, before I move on to the Geisha from Guatemala.