RDC8

Hi All. I thought I would like to try and improve my understanding of how my damper settings affect air-flow. So I was wondering if anyone has fitted a device to their Dalian to objectively measure this? (a magnehelic?) If so, could you share a few details of your setup; eg what you are using, where you have placed it, whether or not you have it hooked up to Artisan. All useful insights would be gratefully appreciated. Thanks in advance

Just to come back to the OPs query about transporting a mostly home machine to events; this is something which I do from time-to-time with my Rocket Cellini. As long as you take a bit of care and use common sense when loading/unloading then what you are proposing is completely doable. My biggest issue is the faff and effort to get the machine, and associated coffee making paraphernalia, out to the car and unloaded at the other end; the machine itself weighs around 28kg (although I note that Dave's suggestion of the ACS Minima comes in at just over 20kg). If you are going to do this on a regular basis then I suggest you assemble a duplicate collection of everything you need which can sit in a box ready for you to take. By this I mean your tamp(s), cleaning cloths, milk pitchers, thermometers, tamp-mat etc. Otherwise there is a real risk of arriving at your event and realising you have forgotten to pack something really important (like the knock-box). Also, not sure what your experience is with preparing a wide range of cafe-style espresso-based drinks (could you turn out a Macchiato?). Youtube can be a great source of information (although don't believe everything you hear/see!), but I would suggest putting yourself on a barista course run by a reputable trainer. The equipment is only one part of the equation, so much depends on the skill and knowledge of the barista - and that will be you! As others have said, there is a lot to think about. Good luck with your venture. Keep coming back to the forum with questions and updates.

I do pretty much the same as you; except I remove the stainless pipework leading from the roaster to the cyclone and use a toilet brush to give the insides a bit of a scrub. (Note - this is the sole use for this particular brush!). I do also take special care to clean the vanes and housing of the impeller. A vacuum cleaner won't properly clear the build-up so I use a small flat-head screwdriver to gently scrape each vane; front and back. Somewhat tedious but highly necessary! The exhaust pipe gets vacuumed out. It's not ideal as I can still see a build-up of residue on the ridges inside the pipe. I guess at some stage is will be simple enough to replace (I think I paid less than £10 from Wickes for it)

Hi All Hoping to tap into the collective wisdom of the group; I will shortly be starting an epic cycling journey through Scotland; NCR78 Campbeltown to Inverness and then NCR7 back down to Glasgow. If anyone knows of hidden gems of coffee oases en route then please let me know. Thanks in advance.

@Coffee by the Casuals Thanks for the lead on lilpackaging. Similar in style and price to some of the Kite Packaging options, but a far more manageable order size.

@CocoLoco and @CafeColando; thank you both for your suggestion. I hadn't actually thought of using paper envelopes. I will investigate this further and see what options are out there. I always run a few tests of the packaging by mailing my own beans to myself A few months back I stopped using valved bags for whole-bean orders; just one more unnecessary bit of plastic!

Hoping I can tap into your experiences and recommendations if you post coffee (or indeed anything else) in cardboard boxes. I am currently using grey plastic mailing bags to send coffee out to customers and am not totally comfortable with the downstream waste this inevitably causes. Have been looking at switching to cardboard boxes instead - but they seem to be a very expensive option! I will need to pass the costs on to customers so am searching for cost-friendly suppliers. Currently Kite Packaging are looking to be a preferred supplier as they sell smaller pack sizes. Looking to buy no more than 50 of any one size at a time. Happy to hear of any recommendations of supplier suitable for a small-time roaster. Lots of options on Ebay etc - but would like to hear if you have had a particularly good experience with sourcing postal boxes. Thanks in advance

ahhh - I see. Mis-understood your original post. I roast the Bom Jesus too and haven't found a problem with it. I also roast the ibanda and have been reasonably happy with it. Maybe you were just unlucky.

You were right to remove those before roasting @SteveBRS. What's the ratio of rejects? (weight-wise) I think the Bom Jesus comes into the UK via one importer only as it is direct trade (AFAIK) so it might be worthwhile getting in touch with them and sharing your experience.

Quick update: it's now just over 48 hours since dribbling a little WD40 onto the switch and it worked like a charm. Pulled about a dozen shots since and it has worked perfectly every time. Thanks for the tip @El carajillo to squirt out a little WD40 before use; it worked fine and there is no aroma at all!

Looking at the part of the switch which is visible, It doesn't appear to be sticking. But I will try remove the switch mechanism tomorrow for a closer look.

The lever cam presses against a metal micro-switch rather than a plastic button. I am off work tomorrow so will investigate further. Any alternatives to WD40? The smell can be quite over-powering (but perhaps I am just sensitive to it).

@DavecUK - I should have clarified, it is the Evo model so has a rotary pump. Once the pump starts it works as normal; no change to the pressure or to the sound it makes.

After 6 years of almost faultless behaviour, my Cellini is starting to act up!. Just recently when pulling a shot, I have lifted the lever on the grouphead to activate the pump ... and nothing happens. The silence is deafening! Sometimes, with the lever still up, the pump will kick into life after a few seconds (seems like hours); sometimes it won't. If it doesn't come to life, then I will flick the lever on/off (up/down) a few times until it works. Any suggestions on the likely cause and/or where to start with the trouble-shooting would be gratefully appreciated. Thanks in advance

Market was a fantastic success on the day (except when my card reader decided to do a software update and was unavailable for half an hour!!). Sold 26 bags (250gm) and countless cups of "coffee to go". Weather stayed dry for most of the day and the wind died right down. However, the electric setup for the grinder didn't work - I think I have bought an underpowered inverter (luckily I tested everything during the week before!) -so ended up on making a judgement call as to the ratio of pre-ground to whole bean to take. Was left with bags of ground but ran out of whole bean and could have sold more. Most people wanted "strong" coffee, which to them meant darker rather than lighter roasts. So i was left with a lot of my lighter Ethiopian unsold. My next investment will be in a gas-powered urn as I also ran out of hot water on the day. A good day - but utterly exhausted by the end; crawled into bed before 9 and slept for 10 hours straight! All my business cards went so will see if any extra sales filter through over the next little while