Is My I-Roast 1 Gone?

[roastingnerd]

 ???I have been using the Iroast 1 for over a year now and suddenly I can't get the beans dark anymore.  I was using a simple profile that had 5 min. at 365; then 3 Min at 450; and 3 Min at 390.  That was close enough to just adjust the times/temps a bit for differnt beans.  After I read the theory posted by ButtWiskers, I started to try different profiles with a start temp of 360 then 400-420 and finally 450 till dark enough.  All of a sudden my beans started coming out progressivly lighter at the same setting.  I increased the time at 450 to 4 minutes, then to 5 minutes, then increased the temp to 460 and finally to 485 for 3 min.  All to no avail.  My onboard temp gage says it is letting the temp hit about 456 max even at a setting of 485 and the beans are light not beyond first crack.  (I could never hear the cracks by the way, the fan on mine screams so loud it is not possible).  I tried going back to my old settings but it looks like the fan will not let the beans get warm enough.  Being from the State of Starbucks, we prefer a slightly darker roast but never burnt tasting.  Anyone have a similar experience with their I-Roast?

[Ascholten]

you are either having way too much air flow through it or the temp control is going out, in which case you are screwed anyways.

Try putting tin foil over ONLY HALF the top vents.  put it inside the screening if you can get itout without busting the thing up... or figure out a way to cover up half the top cover vent with something that won't melt.   this will cut the air flow down which will help it heat up more... but make sure you have enough air movement to fluidize the beans or you will have a mess, if you cant fluidize them youll have to move them yourself by turning the roaster during roasting... not fun.

oh and  how many ounces of beans you putting in at a shot,  id say keep it right around 5.5 ounce for best results.

Aaron

[roastingnerd]

I'm only using 140 grams of these beans because they have more than average chaff.  I once plugged up the chaff collector using the measuring cup to roast a cup of beans.  Now I use a diabetic scale to weigh each batch.   Usually I have been roasting 150 gram batches.  I didn't mention that the beans are coming out hard as rocks after roasting.  It's as though they are just drying out and not really going through the cracks.  I can try using more beans.  The chaff will tend to block off the air flow through the collector, but I have always had better luck letting the thermostat do the job as designed.  Thanks for answering my plea.  I suspect the roaster is toast.  Ive roasted almost a hundred pounds of coffee with it so maybe I should say it has done its job.

[Ascholten]

ugh  yah 100 pounds might do it.  I think they have limits on them of 3 roasts a day 5 a week or something,  i remember seeing a note or sticker somewhere on them to that aspect, though I have seen the specs change over the years.

If you goto their website they do sell replacement parts still I believe but the base unit. ahh... might be a bit late to get one for a 1, i dont know if they still support that anymore.

good luck and please let us know if you have any luck.

aaron