Gene Cafe Profiles / Q&A / Tips & Tricks

[BozemanEric]

My new gene does not run as hot as the old one did, at least before it died. Out of the box, and at the same voltage, I am having a hard time hitting the temps I want as fast as I want. I am running almost all roast at full power which I rarely did with my older Gene. 

[BoldJava]

Last night I disassembled the chaff filter and soaked overnight in a bucket of 6t of Cafiza and water.  Cleaned up very easily.

I empty the chaff filter after each roast but I was overdue for a thorough cleaning.  Thought it might help with the airflow but it really wasn't that dirty.  5 minutes and it is reassembled.

[BoldJava]

Yo, Gene folk.  Batch Coffee changed positions and now offers parts without having to ship in the roaster for their replacement.

Just grabbed a heater for when, not if, the next heater blows.

http://www.batchcoffee.com/collections/genecaferoasterparts

[whattodo]

Pre-heat Gene and let rumble around at 350* till unit is warm.  Then hold button down till E stop occurs.

Dump beans in and turn to:
471* for low grown
474* for Brazils, Sumatrans
476* for high growns:  CAmer, African, Yemens

Run at those temps.  At 1:00 after first crack, turn down 3-4.* Then, play with profiles, ending 2:30, 2:45 and 3:00 minutes past the start of 1st crack.  See which works better for which bean.

You are putting too much energy into the bean with 482.* Tom at SM's suggests 482* throughout the entire roast.  I couldn't disagree more.  Nuances will be driven out of the bean, or so my experience tells me.  Experiment and see how it works for you.

B|Java

B|Java, still use the same profiles?

[BoldJava]

Pre-heat Gene and let rumble around at 350* till unit is warm.  Then hold button down till E stop occurs.

Dump beans in and turn to:
471* for low grown
474* for Brazils, Sumatrans
476* for high growns:  CAmer, African, Yemens

Run at those temps.  At 1:00 after first crack, turn down 3-4.* Then, play with profiles, ending 2:30, 2:45 and 3:00 minutes past the start of 1st crack.  See which works better for which bean.

You are putting too much energy into the bean with 482.* Tom at SM's suggests 482* throughout the entire roast.  I couldn't disagree more.  Nuances will be driven out of the bean, or so my experience tells me.  Experiment and see how it works for you.

B|Java

B|Java, still use the same profiles?

No, those came from my first unit which delivered less heat at the same reported temp than the unit I am using now.

I use these in the new unit (I believe the manufacturer improved the heater at some point):

455* for low grown, Kona/Caribbean
458* for Brazils, Sumatrans
460* for high growns:  CAmer, African, Yemens

[whattodo]

Run at those temps.  At 1:00 after first crack, turn down 3-4.* Then, play with profiles, ending 2:30, 2:45 and 3:00 minutes past the start of 1st crack.  See which works better for which bean.

B|Java

What about those? Are you still in the same path?

[BoldJava]

Run at those temps.  At 1:00 after first crack, turn down 3-4.* Then, play with profiles, ending 2:30, 2:45 and 3:00 minutes past the start of 1st crack.  See which works better for which bean.

B|Java

What about those? Are you still in the same path?

No.  With the improved heater, I generally pull at 2:15 (city plus) after the start of first crack (unless the bean is telling me something else) and tweak my roasts from there.

[whattodo]

So you don't reduce the temp at 1:00 after first crack. Am I correct?

[Kenny]

So I dropped the roasting chamber and the glass broke.  Boo.  I went to batch and it was sold out.  Any other alternatives?

[Kenny]

Another problem.  My chamber somehow got jammed when it was roasting and now its misaligned and of course can't fit the chamber.  Any idea what to do?

[whattodo]

Another problem.  My chamber somehow got jammed when it was roasting and now its misaligned and of course can't fit the chamber.  Any idea what to do?

You may disassemble GC and assemble again step by step. It may help.