Well, 700+ lbs of coffee roasted in the last year and a half since purchasing my Drum....and still banging out some of the best coffee to be found anywhere.
(if I don't say so myself) My friends, family, and even a couple dozen "Customers"?....people who have adopted me as their coffee supplier will attest- good beans, fire steel (the RK ) and man it makes some good coffee,
thanks much again,
Bo Maiuri
Glacier Coffee Roasters.
March 2004
This is an unsloicited E-Mail from Jim Easley on his RK Drum
Thanks Jim.
RK, I just did the first roast in the drum roaster. I used 2 pounds of
Guatemala Huehuetenanga. An outstandingly even roast first time out.a
But there is a couple of hitches in my gameplan. Seems I didn't account for
being at 6,000 feet which speeds up the crack process, SSSOOOOO what I
thought was the first crack was actually the second crack. I was all set to
see a beautiful full city roast and boy was I surprised. Fortunately this
particular Guat. holds up damn well when stressed to the max. It makes an
interesting Italian bordering on charcoal profile but I can still
taste some fruitiness in all that blackness.
Oh well, such is life. The drum worked beautifully and I will get the
times down. Thanks again for a great product.
I threw all the timings out the window and did the next round of roasts
using the old school method of roasting by sight-color of smoke;
sound-cracks and pops; and by smell-the changing aromas of the roast. Didn't
look at the stop watch at all but did use your tip about decreasing the
temp and letting the roast cruise through the cracking stages. Worked
beautifully.
Worked so well in fact half the neighborhood just signed on as clients.
They were the ones that live down wind of the roasting area.
Only problem I have encountered in the past 10 roasts (yes, I have been
busy) is trying to get the door open using a pair of pliers while wearing
gloves.
It looks like I will be buying the 18 inch model before long as well as a
couple of motors.
Thanks again for such a KISS device and technique.
Hard to believe I've been using my RK drum since 2004 and it is still as great as day one. In looking for information for a friend and having been away from the site for several years I was amazed to see the progress made. I saw the new drum latch and had to have it. It arrived last week but only got around to installing it today. I had to roast some almonds for some Custom Crafted chocolate I make.
I echo everyone else's comments on the extremely professional quality of this drum. Ok, we all agree on that of course, one look and even a fairly non tech/mechanical person such as myself can see that level of quality you ensure.
I usually experience some form of "buyer's remorse" on large purchases, I don't know why, but that's me. Not so on the RK Drum though! I am so glad I finally bought this! I thought my SC/TO would be the one and only, (as I roasted my 12oz smugly, thinking of those "other" 3 or 4 oz roasters)
Roasting coffee with the RK Drum is like "printing money"! The RK Drum paid for itself fast.
Your customer service, attitude and willingness to answer questions, make suggestions about everything from roasting to buying beans to bags etc. You return civility and customer service to a professional level seldom seen anymore.
You even took time out on your Alaska trip to "talk me down" during a difficult roast. I was using a different motor than the one you offer and you made several suggestions that helped me overcome a problem.
I am sure I will one day get your motor after I tire of I have now been using the RK Drum for 6 months or so and still getting an even roast with my average of 5 -6 # is now routine for me. Roasting the sometimes fussy Dry Process greens is now a pleasure, the RK Drum tosses the beans
Got the new clip, and pop riveted it on. Must have taken me all of 2 minutes!
Just completed roasting 20 pounds of various beans, and I LOVE the new clip!!!!
No more fiddling around with the pin, just pop it out, flip the clip, dump the beans, and on to the next batch. As you mentioned in your review, a bit less noise, and much faster turnaround times between roasts.
Still regret not going with the 6 pound drum.
Best Wishes,
Jay Michels
Well, 700+ lbs of coffee roasted in the last year and a half since purchasing my Drum....and still banging out some of the best coffee to be found anywhere.
(if I don't say so myself) My friends, family, and even a couple dozen "Customers"?....people who have adopted me as their coffee supplier will attest- good beans, fire steel (the RK ) and man it makes some good coffee,
thanks much again,
Bo Maiuri
Glacier Coffee Roasters.
