Blog

  • Roastmaster for iOS 11 is Here

    Roastmaster for iOS 11 is Here

    Roastmaster 11 is available for download from the iTunes App Store.

    A much different feature set was planned for this update, but the introduction of the Phidgets Lib22 software caused a focus shift toward the probe side of the software. Let’s face it…those of us who rely on Phidgets for our roasting have been struggling to some degree for the last few years with an increasingly buggy Phidgets Webservice. Disconnect have plagued us all–some a little, others a lot. Until now, there was no recourse from our end.

    Good news…the Webservice is gone! It’s been replaced by a brand new “Network Server”, which Phidgets claims was rewritten from the ground up to fix the bugs that had been introduced in years of Lib21 updates. I cannot predict how it will behave in the many different environments that will battle test it, but I will say that the past 4 weeks of testing were extremely promising–not a single disconnect was experienced in our countless test roasts. If you’re a Phidgets user, please keep us posted on your success with the new Lib22 compared to the old Lib21.

    Unfortunately, Lib22 is not backward compatible with the old Lib 21, so you’ll need to update your probe host to Lib22 before roasting. Otherwise, Roastmaster will not be able to connect to your probes. More information is available here.

    We hope you enjoy the new version of Roastmaster. Please, let us know how you like the new features as you roast, or if you have any questions about using Roastmaster.

    New Features

    • Native iOS 11 support
    • Split view toggle button hides or shows the app menu, optimizing screen real estate on iPad
    • Phidgets Library 22 support, with improved wireless reliability
    • Phidgets VINT hub and thermocouple support
    • Phidgets VINT RTD probe support
    • Phidgets type E and T thermocouple support
    • RBP Bluetooth Protocol for direct connection to DIY Bluetooth LE hardware
    • Direct connection to Santoker roasters via Bluetooth LE
    • Re-designed probe architecture for faster temps and less memory usage
    • Graphical probe chooser and diagrams for easier probe setup
    • Use multiple ThermaQ Blue peripherals at the same time
    • Enter-and-advance button in decimal keyboard for faster data entry
    • Knowledgebase and website links now open in Safari for full-fledge web browsing
    • Smoother navigation
    • Various memory and speed improvements

    Bug Fixes

    • Fixed an issue where table view cells would disappear during editing
    • Fixed an issue where some averages did not display in reports
    • Fixed an issue where screen size and Q score from the current lot weren’t displayed correctly in a roasted item details screen
    • Fixed a crash when importing a Roastmaster Exchange roaster that was exported with 10.1
    • Fixed an iOS issue where Copy to Dropbox did not work
  • Roastmaster 11 and Phidgets Lib22 Compatibility

    Roastmaster 11 and Phidgets Lib22 Compatibility

    Roastmaster version 11 has just been released. If you are a Phidgets user, please read the following compatibility statement before upgrading.

    Phidgets Lib22

    In the summer of 2017, Phidgets introduced a new driver library called Library 22 (Lib22). This replaced their legacy Library 21 (Lib21) software, and was rewritten from the ground up to provide support for their new VINT products, as well as greatly improve the reliability of wireless connections via a network host.

    Unfortunately, Lib22 drivers are not backward-compatible with the Lib21 drivers used by earlier versions of Roastmaster. Roastmaster 11 (October 2017) requires Lib22 to be installed on your network host in order to connect to Phidgets. So, before you upgrade to Roastmaster 11, PLEASE ENSURE that you can devote the time to upgrading your Phidgets host to Lib 22 before roasting.

    We scheduled the release of Roastmaster 11 for late in the evening Friday, Oct 20, in order to give Phidgets users time to experiment, and bring their host into compliance with the new drivers before production cycles begin again on Monday.

    The upgrade should be quick. SBC and MacOS host users should be up and running in a matter of a few minutes. Windows host users may have to allow additional time to configure a Firewall exception rule in Windows firewall.

    Please see detailed instructions in Upgrading to Phidgets Lib22 from Lib21.

  • Roast and Curve Events

    Roast and Curve Events

    Are you looking to record a noteworthy occurrence at a particular time in a roast? Events are your answer. Do you want Roastmaster to alert you when a particular time or temperature has been reached before, during or after a roast? Events can handle that as well.

    Marker Events

    In their most basic capacity, events in Roastmaster are simple markers containing custom notes that are affixed to a specific time. Events can be created in either a roast or a curve as a permanent record of a noteworthy occurrence that happened at a particular point during a roast.

    Creating a Basic Event Marker

    You can create and edit events as line items in the detail view of either the roast console or a curve. But, the easiest way to create events is graphically in the roast analyzer.

    1. In the analyzer, tap the event icon
       in the tool bar, or the roast or curve icon in the top left corner of the screen. If a curve is selected, an event will be created in the curve. Otherwise, it will be created in the roast.
    2. Enter a title.
    3. If created during a live roast, the time will already be set. If not, set to the desired time.
    4. Save the event.

    Auto-Trigger Events

    Events can also function in more advanced capacities than just their role as basic markers. When defined in the context of a new roast (or future roast via a curve template in a profile), they can be set to automatically trigger by time or temperature criteria. If an event is created in a roast, it can fire at a certain time, presenting a visual or audible alert. If it is created in a curve or curve template, however, it can also be set to fire when a certain temperature has been reached. This provides both a helpful means to be alerted when adjustments on the roaster should be made, and also a record of when they occurred.

    Creating an Auto-trigger Event

    Roast events can auto-trigger at a specific time in that roast. Curve events, however, can auto-trigger at either time or temperature related criteria.

    1. Create an event in a curve or profile curve template details screen by tapping “Add” in the “Events” section, or in a roast as described above.
    2. Set the type to “Marker” for a standard event, or choose from one of the pre-defined event types, such as Turnaround or Pyrolysis.
    3. Set “Trigger” to on.
    4. Choose whether it should be evaluated before, during or after the roast.
    5. Set the trigger criteria.

    When the curve or roast satisfies the criteria during a roast, Roastmaster will alert you, and affix the event marker to the applicable time on the curve or roast’s time line.

    Interacting with Events in the Roast Analyzer

    When the Analyzer’s label mode is set to Milestones, Curve or All, Events will be displayed at their appropriate time and temperature in the graph. Tap an event to expand or collapse it. When expanded, tap on the pencil to edit the details of that event.

    Using Events in Lieu of Control Curves

    Some folks like to roast using both Reading and Control curves to record both temperature and machine settings as static variables in each roast. Others, though, appreciate the flexibility of events. Personally, I don’t use control curves in my own roasts. I simply have a series of auto-trigger events defined to alert me to adjust machine settings at specific temperatures, based on the personality of my particular roaster. This style of roasting affords me a lot of freedom, allowing my roasts to be truly hands-free, and letting me multitask on other things, like bagging, labeling, etc.

    Querying Event Information in Reports

    As helpful as events are when performing or viewing a particular roast, they can also be leveraged by Roastmaster’s reporting engine and analyzed as individual metrics over a series of roasts. This helps you to see larger patterns in your roasts.

    The following pre-defined event types are incorporated into Roastmaster’s reporting engine:

    • Turnaround
    • Drying (End)
    • Pyrolysis

    Creating auto-trigger events in your Profile curve templates of these types will ensure that this information is available as individual metrics when analyzing reports of your roasts.

     

  • ThermaQ Blue

    ThermaQ Blue

    The ThermaQ Blue is an improved model of the trustworthy and battle-tested BlueTherm Duo from the same manufacturer, ThermoWorks.

    Like its predecessor, The ThermaQ Blue is a convenient and easy to use solution for home and specialty roasters alike.

    It has been improved with a slightly smaller size, and utilizes the Bluetooth Low Energy protocol for continuous, direct communication with Roastmaster. It is powered by 1 AA battery, boasts a 4000 hour battery life, and supports up to 2 K type thermocouples.

    In order to use the ThermaQ Blue with Roastmaster, you’ll need:

    1. ThermaQ Blue (Available internationally from ThermoWorks)
    2. 1 or 2 K Style thermocouples
    3. Roastmaster Data Logging Option

    Available in Roastmaster 10.1 and above.

    Documentation for

    ThermaQ Blue



  • RBP – Roastmaster Bluetooth Protocol

    RBP – Roastmaster Bluetooth Protocol

    Implementing the RBP protocol in your Bluetooth LE capable roaster or sensing device is a straightforward and easy process. The RBP Data Sheet contains the information you will need to get started. Please email us with any further questions.

    RBP Data Sheet