emflys wrote:If one could provide all the components in a simple to assemble fluidized air roaster that allowed fan speed, heat, and maybe a very simple programming ability through like a cheap PID, as well as a cool down cycle, that would allow you to roast at LEAST a 1/2 lb, and could sell it for $199, that actually WORKED well - I'll bet you could sell quite a few.
Most work the same way with a simple thermistor, a two speed fan, and a cheap processor to run everything and control the roast. The fan is toggled between hi/low speeds to control air temperature (PWM/duty cycle). The heater stays on at a single unregulated current, and relayed off for cool down. A PID might be a touch too fancy for this sort of thing, although the PID would not cost anything more except in programming time if you're already using a processor. I thought about it myself for a while, but after costing hardware & overhead, and throwing guesses at volume, the off the shelf units really didn't seem exorbitant at all.
If some foo foo trendy magazines had a few articles to generate interest, it would make it all possible. 95% of folks prefer to grab a bag of whatever at the store, and the rest associate good coffee with Charbuck's. The DIY thing just doesn't cut a very wide swath.
emflys wrote:I know so far my favorite has been an Ethiopean wet process
Yah, my fave too (Sidamo or Yirgecheffe), but this stuff is really good too:
http://bcrcoffee.com/bcrcoffee/.
I'm not much of a coffee connoisseur at all- I just know what bad coffee tastes like.
I started to roast because it was a lot cheaper and tastier a few decades ago. It's more expensive now, but my tastes have grown too far apart from anything I can find in a store or coffee house.
