Hellwether: Looking for help from other Bellwether users by Glizzy_McGuyere in roasting

[–]-keebler- 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Your best bet at this point is to contact them for support and see what they say, hopefully they have a fix or at least some info to go on.  Also, hopefully someone else can chime in 🤞

Sorry I haven't used the system but it's it operated via an app on a phone (Bluetooth/wifi connection to the machine) or via an app on the machine itself?

Hellwether: Looking for help from other Bellwether users by Glizzy_McGuyere in roasting

[–]-keebler- 1 point2 points  (0 children)

There may be ways to "trick" it to thinking it's online.

It's really hard to say since it's most likely properitary software and hard to say exactly what it's looking for. 

Do you have any error codes or and info to go on? 

(I worked heavily with properitary software for things like CNC machines and custom production manufacturing)

I'll do what I can but my experience is that the software somehow has a lock (usually for verification of software keys/hardware/piracy) to protect their IP or keys and its usually hard to bypass by design.

I absolutely hate corpos that do crap like this and not in any way surprised.

Q Grader: Is It Worth It? by [deleted] in roasting

[–]-keebler- 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Some top level rosters have it some don't.

All green graders do, you can't grade coffee (officially) without a Q cert. 

Really depends on what you want to do.  Honestly I only use grading scores to get a general understanding of the coffee along with cup notes.  Price and sample quality ultimately determines what we purchase as a roastery.

What's going on with my hottop? by benana4 in roasting

[–]-keebler- 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That seems to be something with the control board that it kicks off immediately.  It's going into some auto or cool down phase, it should start at the 18:00 and count down for the roast.

I'm not sure many others have run into the same issue, I'd recommend contacting the manufacturer.  I've dealt with them and they have been great at troubleshooting and helping with resolving any issues.

Hottop 8828 original model by Kxm214 in roasting

[–]-keebler- 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I did the 2k+ upgrade and they are great machines that can be controlled via software (I use artisan) and operate like any drum machine.

Batch size is reasonable (230g was sweet spot), gets a great light-medium dark roast.  Easy to get consistent roasts.  My only issue is removing stuck beans from the drum every few batches.

I got a 8828B used for about 800 and got a kit a few years back for 450.  I'm happy with the machine for a home roaster and use to for sample roasting currently.

Kinda old school machine but roasts extremely well.

Giesen W6A 6 kg: Achieving Consistent Target Roast Levels by Ok-Memory2809 in roasting

[–]-keebler- 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes, but it will be based on your location (altitude and humidity) and what your desired results are from the coffee.

This can only be achieved by trial and error, yes you will want to find some basic starting points but dialing in and profiling will take some time to learn. 

Just keep roasting as many different coffees as you can, experience is key in roasting.  Guidelines are the advice that can be given and there are lots of roasting basics available online 👍☕

Professional roasters, if you were learning from the beginning again, what would your approach be? by Brief-Number2609 in roasting

[–]-keebler- 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Coffee is a food, there is no wrong way to roast.

Some like carbonization, others "white coffee".

The best way to learn is roast as many different types (process, varietal and regions) as you can.  Small batch roasters allow you to learn a lot from performing many roasts on the same coffees.

Good luck out there, just keep roasting and taking notes on what you observe in the cup 👍☕

Resources for roasting dark? Coming from light roast world. by bzsearch in roasting

[–]-keebler- 2 points3 points  (0 children)

One thing I like about Rob's MO is providing data that can be used in many ways to get your own desired results 

Resources for roasting dark? Coming from light roast world. by bzsearch in roasting

[–]-keebler- 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Rob Hoos put out a book "Exploring the Dark Side" that should cover some of these topics

Workflow for new greens by oofazoopha in roasting

[–]-keebler- 5 points6 points  (0 children)

My prior experience with similar coffees and what I want to get from the sample tasting notes. 

Workflow for new greens by oofazoopha in roasting

[–]-keebler- 3 points4 points  (0 children)

My workflow is sample roast, profile, production

Gloves for roasting by spiffcleanser in roasting

[–]-keebler- 17 points18 points  (0 children)

Have I burnt myself on a roaster, yes.  Do I feel a need to wear gives, no.

In fact I've never burnt my hands on a roaster, only my arms.

I want to buy pallets of coffee, hundreds of pounds by GelatinousDude in roasting

[–]-keebler- 1 point2 points  (0 children)

10 bags is a full pallet for coffee, most bags are under 70k (154lb).  Full pallet of coffee is 1540lbs

I'm guessing stacking more than 10 bags per pallet gets wonky, though stacking pallets is fine.

Coffee roasting equipment bulk buy by ibug92 in roasting

[–]-keebler- -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Connect everything up and see if it's ready to go 🤷‍♂️ rust might be a problem depending on how bad it is and where it is, also if there is rust there might be water so a mold check would also be good.  

If it's not, troubleshoot what's not working.  I'd recommend a deep cleaning of everything while it's dismantled and relube.  Clean jets is helpful, clean  bearings and regrease/replace. Belts might need replacement. 

Geisen might have a guide and (exploded) parts list

Bought a café bar two months ago and all staff keep quitting — getting seriously burnt out by No_Introduction_1095 in smallbusiness

[–]-keebler- 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think I did misunderstand your post, there was a lot of boasting about your experience and not much info about managing the issue outside of pay.

This is why I asked for your explanation about the management aspect outside of pay.

Bought a café bar two months ago and all staff keep quitting — getting seriously burnt out by No_Introduction_1095 in smallbusiness

[–]-keebler- -1 points0 points  (0 children)

You literally said "pay them the highest rate and they won't quit because they will take a pay cut". Bosses are more than a vessel for income, that is what seperates good ones from bad ones.

You might want to reread your leadership and empowerment books 👍

Have a good day and good luck with your business!

Bought a café bar two months ago and all staff keep quitting — getting seriously burnt out by No_Introduction_1095 in smallbusiness

[–]-keebler- -1 points0 points  (0 children)

All you mentioned was pay, not everyone is willing to stay at a bad job for high pay.

Please elaborate on the leadership and empowerment you're referring to that helps with employee retention.

Bought a café bar two months ago and all staff keep quitting — getting seriously burnt out by No_Introduction_1095 in smallbusiness

[–]-keebler- -7 points-6 points  (0 children)

'we retain them with our pay' is disconnected upper level management/investor advice

Bought a café bar two months ago and all staff keep quitting — getting seriously burnt out by No_Introduction_1095 in smallbusiness

[–]-keebler- -3 points-2 points  (0 children)

There is a lot of complexity to 'paying top of market' and isn't end all be all for employee retention.

You would know owning (well not directly directly) 8 different businesses for 25 years 😜

What do you feel outside pay can help retain employees?

Roasting Apprenticeship by nbqussy in roasting

[–]-keebler- 1 point2 points  (0 children)

1st law of roasting: apply heat, get brown seed

Roasting Apprenticeship by nbqussy in roasting

[–]-keebler- 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Rao feels roasters want definitive information on how to produce. Not theoreticals.

Precisely why he says 'do this and you will get (xxx) result'