Losing Flavor in roaster...why?

[pdrayton]

When I do a micro roast batch in my popcorn popper, it has excellent flavor - body and aromatics. (about 7 minutes to FC+ or vienna, expresso blend beans)

When I use my home made gas roaster (behmor 1600 ripoff, 60 rpm) I loose all the aromatics and the beans taste weak. (about 15 minutes to FC+)

I thought maybe this was because the bean drum wasn't enclosed and the heat was uneven. So I covered it up, same problem. I thought maybe it was because the gas wasn't burning cleanly (yellow flames and soot on drum) so I used two heat guns and an enclosure. Took about 25 minutes for FC+ and there was no audible second crack, but they definitely looked like FC+.

Any suggestions on why I'm losing the aromatics on my drum roaster?

 

[pdrayton]

probably the heat wasn't hot enough... your beans were cooked rather than roasted?
two heat guns at 25 min seems to be way too long... so I am guessing they were cooked.

Thanks Ensoluna. I'll try turning up the heat with the gas and get to FC+ around 11 minutes

 

[pdrayton]

First try was too hot - Vienna at 4 minutes... oh well. Next try, 7 minutes FC+. We'll see how they smell in a day or two...

Is a good roast supposed to release smoke before FC+? I may be doing it too hot with the enclosure.

 

[pdrayton]

I have a short bbq thermometer protruding through the enclosure. Measures ambient temp, not bean temp. Rises to about 400 at the end of the roast.