Tried running a couple of batches of Stubbie's Moreninha Formosa a few days ago (first time in the Hottop). I just used the profile that I've been running with my espresso blends lately (running it about 10 seconds into SC before dropping), and I wasn't thrilled with the results. Cupped it yesterday (about 48 hours off the roast) and it wasn't great--decent chocolatey aromatics, but taste out of the cup was flat with an upfront bitterness that masked any sweetness that may have been present; not necessarily burnt, but maybe a little on the ashy/smokey side. I went ahead and did a full cleanout of the Hottop, including cafiza-ing the heck out of the drum until it's sparkling again as a first step. The profile is graphed below, and I'd appreciate any ideas for what I could try for future batches to make this a happier bean. Thanks in advance.

It's a good looking profile in terms of speed, so I doubt the problem is that you've flattened it with a roast that was too slow. Maybe it needs a few mor days rest.

If that doesn't help, the ashy part may be the key diagnostic -- a lowish grown Brazil may not stand up to the 490F ET at your finish. Perhaps a slightly lighter roast and slower finish, so the ET stays below 470F will do better.

If I read the graph correctly, and assuming 1st pops of C1 started <=400, 1st pops of C2 started ~435, it took you 5:00 from drop to 300F, 4:15 from 300 to C1 and 3:15 from C1 to 450.

When I do a similar profile on my HT, but with a different Brazil, and get similar results, I conclude the last leg was too hot and too fast and too dark. I gain more control on my HT by reducing green weight. Currently, with a green load of 150g, I can terminate the roast with a final ET slightly above BT=435F, taking about 5:00 from 1st pops of C1 to dump, with BT increasing and ET very slowly increasing, almost flat, much flatter than what I did here.

Great advice. Thanks. I'll try that next time (150g rather than my usual 200g, and reducing temps sooner to coax through and post-1C).

Is there anything I can take from this bean to apply to others? In other words, how is this bean like and/or unlike others (altitude? density? etc?)

Thanks!

Good news!

I followed you folks' advice, and really like the results. I increased drying time an additional thirty seconds; I flattened out my ET curve significantly (started putting the brakes on at 420F ET, and the dramatically at FC, increasing ET only 2-3 degreesF/minute during and after FC), and finished the roast a little earlier (right at 440F, just shy of SC) and at a cooler terminal ET (470F).

Tried the beans today just 36 hours off the roast (french press) and was VERY happy: got a great milk chocolate flavor with a predominant praline note. Sweetness is now quite apparent, while balance, and with none of the bitter/ashy notes found in the previous notes. Looking forward to seeing how this roast evolves, but also interested to try out an even lighter roast to bring up some of the lurking citrus notes. We shall see!

Thanks for sharing your report, Maxwell. Any chance of a chart, and your HT power & fan levels during that last roast too?




edit: Oh, sorry, and congratulations on the successful roast

Your wish is my command!



P8, F1 @ 24 min. (ET=383 , BT=323 Charge)
P10 @ 21.5 min. (ET=338 , BT=215)
P8 @ 17 min. (ET=424, BT=336)
P7 @ 15 min. (ET=444, BT=376)
P6 @ 13.5 min (ET=455, BT=399 FC begins)
F2 @ 11.5 min (ET=460, BT=416 FC ends)
P5 @ 10 min (ET=470, BT=434)
Drop @ ~9.25 (ET=472, BT=440)

Thanks, the more of these detailed reports we have published, the better we'll all eventually roast on the HT.

Max and Maxwell have provided some great profile data here on the Hottop. Thanks. I have one curious question on the different Bean Probe data: From start through the turnaround, Maxwell's sharp curve looks like an air roaster, where Max's shows a rounded slower turnaround more like a drum roast. Might it be the Bean Probe position is different? Your last profile looks great Maxwell, how's the taste holding up?

Thank you Gary for bringing that up, here's mine for reference.

Maxwell? Oh, and what TCs, meter and logging interval are you using?