In part 6 of our Roasting with Roastmaster series, we build on the concept of profile targeting that we covered in part 2, and show how to easily find and target data from past roasts in the roast console and analyzer. We also look at the function of the console criteria buttons and how they, along with cupping scores, help us hone in on general or specific past data to target.

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In part 5 of our Roasting with Roastmaster series, we show how to use differential temperature projections in an automatic data logging environment to provide accurate predictions of where our curve temperatures are headed in a future point in our roasts.

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In part 3 of our Roasting with Roastmaster series, we look at how to set up Roastmaster’s Automatic Data Logging option, configure roast curves to automatically log probe data, and watch a data logging roast with a glimpse of auto-trigger events.

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If you’re new to Roastmaster, this introductory screencast will walk you through your first roast, as well as creating a few database objects. We also discuss bean lots, and look at some of the features of the roast analyzer.

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This screencast shows how to work with multiple selections in table views, create an array of cuppings from a series of roasts, and access cupping data in reports.

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This update offers full iOS 10 compatibility, and a host of other new features and improvements.

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Note: This article is somewhat outdated, in that it doesn't cover automatic Behmor curves. Please see http://rainfroginc.com/documentation/using-behmor-1600-curves/ for up-to-date instructions.

Roastmaster v3.0 now provides the ability to create curves that match those on the Behmor® 1600 roaster.

The 1600 is unique in the way that it handles its internal roasting curves. They are calculated on-the-fly, based on 3 things:

• The Profile (the shape of the curve)
• The Program (the length of the roast calculated as a factor of the weight setting)
• The Weight setting (higher weight settings yield greater Program times).

The 1600 allows some degree of customization based on the time shifts you apply to a curve. Time shifts you enter before a roast starts adjust every leg of the calculated heat curve evenly, adjusting each leg in proportion to fit the new time. Time shifts you apply after the roast begins affect only the final leg of the roast.

Roastmaster will now allow you to create Behmor 1600 curves, and apply them to a roast.

How do I use them?

The only thing you need to do is make sure the roaster entity in Roastmaster that represents your 1600 contains the string Behmor in the manufacturing field. (This helps keep the interface clean for non-Behmor users.) Once you tag a roaster in a roast that meets this criterion, the "Create Behmor Curve…" option will be displayed when you tap the dark blue curve button on the roasting console.

How do they work?

Once you've created a 1600 curve, and saved it to the current roast, selecting that curve in the graph will turn the new graph scale buttons (the "+" and "-" buttons) into time shift buttons. Tapping these buttons will apply the same logic to the curve that the Behmor 1600 applies to its internal curves, with respect to whether or not the roast is currently in progress. So, for every time shift you enter on the appliance, apply the same time shift to the selected Behmor 1600 curve in Roastmaster.

If you need to look up the Behmor 1600 information contained in a 1600 curve, just go to the details screen of that curve. Swipe to the notes section - it will report the settings used to create the curve, as well as any time shifts you've applied to ip - both before, and during, the roast.

A few words about the design of Behmor 1600 curves in Roastmaster.

Behmor curves are "opt-in". Many 1600 users I've spoken with don't care to track curves. They are quite happy roasting with the default settings, and not experimenting with time shifts. That, coupled with the fact that it is but one of the many roasters that folks are using, led me to design them to function modularly - the same way all other curves in Roastmaster work. In other words, a Behmor curve has no relationship to the details of the roast that contains it. The curve doesn't care if you've tagged P1 in the roast itself - all it cares about is the setting you entered when you created it.

Why? Well, Roastmaster is complicated enough already, and at the end of the day simpler is better. If a Behmor 1600 curve were intrinsically linked with the data of the current roast, then (aside from making the interface more confusing) it would not be a viable curve outside of the context of a roast. Designing it in a modular fashion will give users the option to create custom Profiles for the 1600, based on curves they've tried and had success with. For instance, while testing the curves functionality, I happened upon a curve combination of P4/D that turns Central American beans into wonderful SO espresso! Go figure - surprised me too. The combination of the long roast time, and P4 heat ramp is a real winner. I can now copy and paste that curve into a new Profile that will sit along with the standard P1 - 5 default profiles, and tag that whenever I want some lively SO espresso, ignoring the weight and program setting in Roastmaster if I choose. In future roasts, I can tag that new profile, create a 1600 curve for the current roast, and time shift it to match the profile curve that will be displayed in the graph alongside the new roast's curve.

I've learned a lot about this wonderful little (big) roaster while coding and testing 1600 curves. I hope it sheds a lot of light and helps you hone in on some winning combinations like it did for me.