What do you do while roasting..?

[michel]

As roasting with the HWP roaster is a peace of cake (after succesfully swimming through the learning-fase), I find myselve in some sort of trance these day's while roasting.
In the beginning I was forced to go to the barn (where it was pretty cold the first two roasts) and I read - as far as this is possible with all the noise HWP produces - coffeebooks, drank a bear (or two) and smoked some sigarettes.
These day's my roasting ritual takes place in my study (all books have some sort of coffee-smell already) located in the attic. I drink one or two whisky's and don't read books about coffee anymore, but are posting instead at toomuchcoffee (and indeed...I'm roasting at this right moment too) smoking a couple of sigarettes and watch what the beans do once in a while; which I love by the way. It is some sort of comfort, some sort of meditation, some sort of forgetting-everything-about-the-world state of mind which gives me that warm feeling inside...

Michel
(curious for your activities while roasting)

[Steve]

While I'm roasting I'm constantly checking the chimney stack, sipping a nice cup from the french press, or Vac pot thinking of what I'm doing next. I must admit it is the only time in my life when thats all I'm doing. other times im doing a to get to b.

We have no heating yet in the roastery so the first few roasts I also shake and dither but it doesnt take long to warm up. I'm hopeing to put in a phone point by the roaster so I can attach my laptop up to net and do toomuchcoffee replys.

The beers ciggies and whiskey sound like a really nice addition to the process I want some

[phil]

OK but you can have my ciggies!

Me, I tend to read a book while the drying and tanning stages are going on, but I stay near the roaster and when I reckon 1st crack is imminent I put the book down, because from that point onwards my roasting is hands-on and requires some interaction as well as observation.

I promise I'll do the article soon!

[DrZeus]

I'm with Michel...roasting is serious meditation for me. Very theraputic. I'm hovering over it the entire time, eyes closed, nostrils and ears open, just basking in the glory of the roast. I often try to imagine the color of the bean by the smell, then quickly peek to see if it matches what's in my mind's eye. Once the 1st crack wanes, I open my eyes so that I can get it to just where I want it.

Nothing...and I mean nothing...distracts me from this moment.

[alans]

I tend to do just about anything during the first ten minutes, reading's a preference but last time I was building kitchen cabinets (needed more coffee room, so rebuilt kitchen). But as soon as first crack arrives I'm there, sitting on the floor next to the Alp with it's exhaust pointing up the disused chimney of the spare room fireplace, wishing I had the chance to see the beans with more than my mind's eye.

Beer or wine often assist!

[HughF]

Tidy the kitchen or wash up until first crack (about 10 seconds with an HWP!).

Cheers,

Hugh

[Sunnyfield]

I roast in the kitchen, so I tend to do domestic chores and sometimes just mindlessly stare at the rotating beans go round-and-round-and-round-and-round-... I never leave the kitchen, as I am really scared to forget about it and have a devastating third crack.

[espressomattic]

Found this old thread and thought I would ressurect it...

Whatever method I tend to potter around for the forst ten minutes then once cracks start I get very interested. Washing up is a must since oven roasting, otherwise I would post on TMC as I roasted in the garage.

Back in the day with the WP it was 17 mins of standing and cranking! Lots of fun trying to crank and watch the beans all at once!

I tend to literally sit in front of the oven and stirr the beans as well at the moment, occassionally I may even supervise the children

[Olings]

Besides logging the temperatures every minute I dance around to the rhythm of the beans. I too feel that roasting is very hands on so no drinking whisky, reading a book or smoking. Drinking a cup of Clover-brewed coffee really gets me in the zone though.

Ola

[Slimboyfat]

Develop my forearm muscles and sweat a bit

Seriously though, it is the only time that I get to focus purely on one thing - almost a form of meditation for me

God, I'm turning into a Hippy - where's that Stiff Little Fingers album I got for my birthday?

[bruceb]

I'm still roasting in the kitchen under the extractor. My HT takes 15+ min to get to 1st crack, so I spend that time writing my roasting notes, doing dishes, emptying the dishwasher, polishing silver, peeling potatoes, shucking peas, kneading bread dough, backflushing and cleaning the espresso machine, drinking a double, making Karin a latte macchiato, cleaning the ovens, making dessert, teaching the new dog old tricks, watering the happy bamboo, preparing dinner or whatever the "duty of the day" might be. But...I always can hear the first snap of 1st crack and from that moment until the beans are ejected I am hovering over the machine, watching the temperature, sniffing, listening and ready to act. I always end the roast manually, so I have to be present in all ways at that moment. I never leave the room with the roaster running.

[CakeBoy]

Besides logging the temperatures every minute I dance around to the rhythm of the beans.

Groovy baby

[Bertie_Doe]

Found this old thread and thought I would ressurect it...

I drink one or two whisky's and don't read books about coffee anymore, but are posting instead at toomuchcoffee (and indeed...I'm roasting at this right moment too) smoking a couple of sigarettes and watch what the beans do once in a while;

Good grief, that was michael's last post. Thats it!! no more coffee, cigarettes, whisky, sex or rock-and-roll for me - I've seen the light!! If anyone needs me, I'll be doing pressups in the cucumberpatch.

Q

[Gouezeri]

We have no heating yet in the roastery so the first few roasts I also shake and dither but it doesnt take long to warm up. I'm hopeing to put in a phone point by the roaster so I can attach my laptop up to net and do toomuchcoffee replys.

installed any heating yet steve?
as for the phone lines... we all know the damage they have caused!

[zapty]

No heating in my roasting area either. I keep an eye on the gas pressure and adjust if needed, log temp readings, adjust the exhaust and eye the exhaust temp, adjust drum speed if needed, check how the roast proceeds with the trier, weigh some more beans for the next batch, read roast magazine and make a graph..... also possibly have a shot of espresso and...a cigarette....