Gene Cafe: A beginner's view, including hearing 1st & 2nd cracks

[@hmalhi]

Hi Mike, I really enjoyed this video - it was calm and soothing. I was relieved to visit your website and find that life has gone on for you in part and you can still remember your wife. Keep up the roasting!

[@mikeszostak3869]

Thanks, Harman!

[@blakemash7122]

Thank you so much for making this video. I am buying one and this really helps. I am really truly sorry to hear about your wife. Take care.

[@mikeszostak3869]

Thanks, Blake!

[@philipdongsoohong3828]

Thanks so much, Mike. I think your video is the best about the Gene Cafe roaster, which I just bought recently and tried to figure out the crak sound. I am sorry for your wife and thank you for sharing your beautiful story.

[@davidbergin6184]

Hi Mike, I’m a Gene Cafe owner too. I was told the manufacturer recommends we return the glass drum to the machine and let it go through the cooling cycle empty. Good luck!

[@jakke1975]

I just bought a Gene Cafe roaster myself and came here to learn something new. Sorry to hear about your wife passing away :( 1st video or not, thanks for taking the time and effort posting this video and I hope to see more.

[@mikeszostak3869]

Thanks, Jakke!

[@PaintingDigitally]

Hi ... I had no success with the mic / amplifier even though I tried with the microphone in different places. What I did find is that moving my Gene from the wooden table in my wooden shed to a concrete floor outside solved the problem and I was able to hear both first and second crack clearly. The reverberation and echoing inside the shed was masking the relatively low sounds of the cracks. This doesn’t mean that the mic is a bad idea, just that if you are having problems hearing 1st crack (like twigs snapping) then it might be worth moving your roaster to a different location. The cracks are low-frequency mostly (around 1khz), so age-related loss of higher frequency hearing should not be a problem.

[@Bluelightcheaphotel]

I ordered a Gene and am anxiously waiting! For the past year I’ve been using a whirlypop on a hot plate and practicing using my senses. It makes a pretty good cup of coffee and surprisingly cost effective buying in bulk

[@TheStudioDweller]

I’m about to pull the trigger and buy a Gene Cafe roaster and I appreciate your solution to hearing the first crack as that seems to be the only issue with this machine. Thank you!

[@georgewachsmuth9201]

Heck...the mic works great! What a great idea. Thanks!

[@mikesz45]

Thanks, for letting me know, George. Happy roasting!

[@hoongfu]

This video was very informative, thanks for showing and talking through the process.

[@erezk2170]

Thank you for posting this excellent guide. Mike - you are awesome. All the best!

[@mikeszostak3869]

Thanks, Erez. Be well!

[@gregscotton5216]

Mike, I searched videos for the Gene roaster and finally found yours. It is to the point and helped me greatly. I finally heard " the first crack" via your amplifier. It is difficult for me to hear it. Thanks again

[@mikesz45]

Hi Greg, I’m glad the set-up worked for you. Happy roasting!

[@conradcrisafulli8269]

Hi Greg, Are you still roasting with the Gene Cafe? How did you set up your amplifier?

[@OhHeyFergy]

Thanks for making this video! I am looking into buying a used Gene Cafe as an upgrade to my popcorn popper style roaster, so this was really helpful. I'm drawn to the Gene because I really like that it has the ability to be vented through a window like you have yours setup and it seems that most small home roasters don't have that option. Now I just need to find a decent deal on one!

[@dalerbsr.5061]

Awesome video Mike, looks like a lot of fun

[@mikeszostak3869]

Thanks,

[@mikeszostak3869]

Thanks,

[@greatmusicgoodfeel826]

mmmm Great video thank you, I would love to try that coffee... I have been looking for a roaster . Hard to find on Vancouver Island.

[@rroe5718]

Great video Mike. I'm currently a newbie and using a Hot Air popper to roast. Good results, but very small batch sizes. Am looking at Gene Cafe and Hottop at the moment. Like the Gene Cafe for it's ease of use and simplicity. I am glad to see someone commented on the removal of the drum at cool down to empty to stop the bean roast sooner. Glad to also hear to replace the drum into the machine and let the machine fan cool the entire unit down. I hear that many people that are using this method are having trouble with parts overheating because of improper cool down. Glad to see the one user recommendsing getting that drum back in for a normal cool down. Great Job!!

[@TheHam85]

Great video, watching from Glasgow, Scotland….good advice.

[@Gert-DK]

Well done video

[@charlielittle1083]

Great video, Mike, very informative and your wife would be proud! Thanks for sharing :)

[@kaandonbekci6414]

Hey Mike, thank you for this great video. Very informative and fun! Best of luck to you with your coffee adventure and would love to see more videos! Cheers from Turkey.

[@mikeszostak3869]

Thanks, Karan. Nice to hear from people in different parts of the world!

[@adampoll4977]

Good video. I find roasting to be a soothing experience as well - with something to feel good about at the end of it. I give roasted beans to friends and so they get some enjoyment as well :) I use a modified bread-maker and a heat-gun for mine - with a temp probe in the bean mass and one in the airflow so I can run Artisan software - watching a moving graph rather than numbers is far more relaxing.

[@KonfusedDude]

Mike , just found your video. Thanks for Posting this.. I just bought the same roaster and really appreciate your tips

[@SpeedyWinds]

Thank you for sharing this video Mike! Thumbs up to you channel, cheers from Puerto Rico.

[@kentchr76]

Sweet video. I hope you are still having fun with the roaster.

[@KzLollapalooza]

You're very creative! Using the dust collector for cooling, microphone to hear the cracks too.

[@mikeszostak3869]

Thanks, hua Hua! As I get older, I find that I need to find more "tricks" to keep pace.

[@KzLollapalooza]

@@mikeszostak3869 I hope to age gracefully as you too, always learning new tricks, being creative, happy and healthy. =)

[@RositaMiMama]

Wonderful video. I have very high quality hearing aids and turned up as high as they go, like beyond reality, I could hear cracks just before you used the mic. My Gene was just delivered. Heavy little thing. I put it in my laundry room which has door to back yard that I'll open while I roast til I figure out the vent system. Wish I could just tap into the coil for my dryer. LOL Thanks for the show.

[@nikoletakartali2286]

Very clever idea with the Alu-pipe. Kudos

[@mikesz45]

Thanks, Nikoleta!

[@daybreakerdaybreaker604]

Thanks very much for the nice video, I bought GC a month ago but having troubles hearing 1st and 2nd crack, I have been spending a lot of time searching for a workable solutions. Your video is the first one I saw using sound amplifier with mike position near exhaust exit point works.

[@mikeszostak3869]

Thanks, Daybreaker! Glad to hear this video was of value to someone. The Anker portable amp has really made my roasting experience much more enjoyable and I’m able to achieve consistency in my roasts.

[@rroe5718]

Hi Daybreaker, Amazon does not seem to carry the Anker amplifier any longer. Check on Ebay, they have many of the same style and quality.

[@markjthomson]

Good review, love the cooling system. I recently got one of these and love it. One thing has been recommended to me, if you stop the roasting like you do, empty the hopper and put it straight back in the machine and initiate the cooling function on the machine to cool down the mechanism. It will extend the life of the components. I record times and temps to get an idea of where I am. Just found out that a greater mass of beans cooks more... :) Thanks for the video!

[@mikeszostak3869]

Thanks for the tip, Mark! I usually do a second roast right away using a 2nd hopper I have. But after that, I like your suggestion of using the cool down cycle for the machine.

[@jdunne1000]

Considering buying the gene cafe, appreciated the video review.

[@wpsam52]

Very much enjoyed this. Thanks for posting.

[@mikeszostak3869]

Thanks!

[@elamasta9491]

Thanks for an interesting video Mike. I’m just getting into coffee

[@mickdavidson3755]

Thanks, Mike! Great video, appreciate the info.

[@mikesz45]

Thanks, Mick!

[@user-jc1yx9of9p]

Thank you Mike. Great video!

[@mikeszostak3869]

Thanks, J!

[@ezralimm]

1:20 That is so sweet and sad.

[@jgranahan]

Thanks for the video! I'm thinking of getting the Gene Cafe lately. I had been thinking of getting the Behmoor 1600 AB plus, but think this is worth the extra money.

[@michaelcheung4830]

thank you for your sharing. this is very useful video!

[@mikeszostak3869]

Thanks, Michael! Happy roasting!!

[@michaelcheung4830]

@@mikeszostak3869 I sent you mail. can you send me photo about the mic setup?

[@mikeszostak3869]

@@michaelcheung4830 Hi Michael, I'm at work right now but I'll try to remember to send you a photo of the mic set up. It's quite simple. The mic is about 1 inch from the side of the dryer vent opening. The voice amp I used is no longer available but the one described below seems almost identical and is available on Amazon for about $26. I used the mic that came with it. DuaFire Voice Amplifier Portable Microphone with Waistband for Classroom Teachers, Speakers, Yoga Instructors, Gym Directors, Coaches, Presentations, Seniors and Tour Guides (Black) by DuaFire Also, make sure you use an aluminum dryer vent hose neither a plastic nor a foil one. The aluminum helps amplify the cracking sound. Place the mic at the end of the dryer vent. It's best if the dryer vent opening is outside of your work area with the window closed so that you are isolating the Gene motor sound away from the mic. A few other people have duplicated my set-up and got it to work. If you have trouble, email me and I'll try to help. Mike

[@gyeltsen]

Hi Mike, Nice video, thanks! Would it be possible to provide information on your microphone, amplifier and speaker setup? Best wishes, Jay

[@gyeltsen]

Oops Now I see you already answered this 😀

[@shanewilson2152]

I think you have a great set up. Sorry to hear about your wife.

[@mikesz45]

Thanks, Shane!

[@maxdraxx]

I’d love to see how you’ve attached the mic at the exhaust end!

[@mikeszostak3869]

Hi Max, Simply ran the mic wire through the bottom of the window and positioned the mic about 1" to the side of the exhaust vent opening. If you send me your email, i'll send you a photo. I tried to add the photo here but couldn't figure out ow to do it.

[@michaelbartholemew4327]

@@mikeszostak3869 just confirming that the mic is outside at the flexible vent hose? Just did my first roast with this model & I cannot hear either crack with stove range hood running

[@mikeszostak3869]

@@michaelbartholemew4327 Hi Michael, My mic is about one inch next to, but not in front of, the exhaust opening. It's important that your exhaust pipe material is thin metal, NOT tin foil or plastic. The metal amplifies the sound. My window where the exhaust pipe exists is closed so the mic is only picking up the sound coming from the end of the exhaust pipe. Also, I don't use an exhaust hood so that sound could also be part of your problem. Finally, if you're older like me (74), hearing deteriorates at the higher frequencies where the 1c sound is made. Hearing aids definitely helped me although just using the amplifier setup I described works even without the hearing aids. Other people have replied that this setup has worked for them so don't give up. You may have to do some tinkering to get things to work in your environment,

[@rickmilam413]

Thanks for taking the time to share. I've been roasting for some time and just receive the Gene Cafe for Christmas. I've used an air roaster for years. I'm visually disabled, not blind, and have some difficulty watching so I depend on hearing the crack. It's possible but harder with this but I need to vent it as it's too cold to use in the garage. As you say most of the audible cues come from the vent and I was concerned that I wouldn't be able to hear. Great idea on the little amplifier. If I may ask, what type of duct are you using? It looks like a good fit and it's obviously smaller than a dryer duct. Best wishes for the new year. Rick

[@andriimarchuk9649]

Great setup! I'm roasting mine in the frying pan))) It tastes better than pre-roasted but I have no idea how to properly gauge the results.

[@mikesz45]

Thanks for commenting! I’ll bet your pan roast is as good as mine, if not better. Sight, sound, smell are the keys, no matter how you roast.

[@KzLollapalooza]

Thank you for your video!

[@chadkoz]

Great video. Thanks

[@PalJoey-rm2yh]

Mike, perhaps you or someone here can tell me how to clean the inside of the drum. I have brown baked on oils coating the inside of the glass and the metal parts. Dish washing soap, as suggested in may places does nothing. I also tried alcohol and some other things to no result. How do you get rid of those stains? It has to be affecting the taste of the coffee.

[@christophercuevas9627]

Hi Mike, I'm planning to buy this roaster machine and I would like to know if the Gene Café Roaster is still in good built after 3 years? Btw, you did a smart move on using a sound amplifier to hear the 1st and 2nd cracks! Thank you so much for the video it was really helpful!

[@bdctube]

I'm a new Gene Cafe owner with about 5 roasts under my belt. Thanks for making the video for everybody to see. Question- It appears you set the roast chamber on it's stand when it very hot. I'm wanting to cool beans outside the unit. Is it OK to use the stand to set the hot roasting chamber on? I don't want to melt the thing.

[@JeffSchiff1]

Thanks again, Mike. Can you tell me what you are using to hear the cracks. I can't hear a blessed thing, even with a stethoscope!

[@ManCaveMeals]

Mike, thanks for the informative video. I am new to roasting as well and I have purchased the Behmor 2000AB Plus and I'm not very happy with it. I am curious if you have any regrets at all in your move from the Behmor to the Gene Cafe? I'm considering biting the bullet and buying the Gene Cafe.

[@mikeszostak3869]

Hi MCM, Although I have the older model of the Behmor, I think it's basically the same. I also was initially displeased with the Behmor, so I did switch. But now, I mostly use the Behmor, primarily because I can do 1 pound batches. Using what I learned with my Gene, I've now learned to use the Behmor to get consistently good roasts (just before 2nd crack). If you're interested, I might (not sure yet) consider selling you my Gene, including everything I use with my set up (also includes 2 roasting canisters). Everything is in excellent shape. If you have an interest, let me know at: [e-mail]. I don't think I would have learned to use the Behmor successfully without the benefit of the Gene experience. An expensive way to learn but................ Mike

[@ManCaveMeals]

@@mikeszostak3869 Thanks for the feedback. I will consider that. The thing I like about the Gene is the ability to SEE what's going on inside the roaster. You don't have that luxury with the Behmor.

[@mikeszostak3869]

@@ManCaveMeals Seeing is exactly why I switched to the Gene; it is great that way. The Gene helped "train" me to pay attention to smell, sound, and smoke-level. Once I learned to use those senses, I didn't need to see the beans anymore.

[@ManCaveMeals]

@@mikeszostak3869 Thanks for the insight... that definitely gives me some things to think about.

[@frogslips]

That was really good. Are you still roasting?

[@PaintingDigitally]

Hi Mike ... this is a really excellent video and demonstration. I have a Gene Cafe and I really can't hear first crack (I gauge the roast by the amount of chaff and the color, which is pretty hit and miss). I have now bought the Anker mike and amp and have tried it but, again, I could not hear 1st crack at all. I put the mike at the exit of the exhaust tube (about 3-4ft long) but the sound is nothing as loud as yours. Could you tell me where you put the mike, do you have the foam on or off ... and anything else that I should be doing please? Many thanks! Robert

[@mikeszostak3869]

I'm puzzled by why the mic has not worked for you and some others. I have a couple of thoughts. 1. I'm using an all metal (aluminum) exhaust tube about 3 feet long. There are other exhaust tube materials that might not work as well in terms of sound. 2. The mic is about 1" to the side of the exhaust opening, The foam cover is on. 3. I've constructed a wood exhaust tube holder with a foam seal which I insert in the window frame so the mic is outside and isolated from any noise on my workshop, including the sound of the Gene. Hope this helps, Mike

[@mtskibum16]

Nice idea on the mic. The Gene shows temp of the beans right? Have you found that as a reliable way estimate first crack and the temp that you stop a roast at?

[@mikeszostak3869]

Hi Matt, Thanks! I've found the temp at which 1c and 2c occur varies by bean source, humidity, bean age etc, so that's why I find the mic sound more consistently reliable.

[@joebancan]

Nice informative video..what is max capacity you can roast at a time?

[@ГургенДжангирян]

250g is a Max for this machine

[@nathanrobertson5245]

What did you buy to amplify the first crack??? How do you hook that up to the roaster? I have the gene cafe but can’t hear first crack.

[@ronnyskaar3737]

Great

[@ThPappas]

What is the brand and code number of the voice amplifier please? I want to buy one as I understand that it is working well.

[@mzedith1]

Where exactly did you put the mic. Is it outside where the exhaust is vented

[@pamlo123]

need to start cooling the machine as soon as you remove beans

[@mikesz45]

Thanks, Pam! Makes sense. Will start doing as you suggest.

[@ThPappas]

Thank you for the video.Now can you tell me please what is this little device ,which you bought from Amazon,with which you can hear better the first crack?

[@mikesz45]

Thanks for watching. The exact portable amplifier I purchased is no longer available but there are many similar ones on Amazon for about $30. See the link below. Happy roasting! Mike Zoweetek Portable Rechargeable Mini Voice Amplifier with Wired Microphone Headset and Waistband, Supports MP3 Format Audio for Teachers, Singing, Coaches, Training, Presentation, Tour Guide by Zoweetek Learn more: smile.amazon.com/dp/B06XWV9CCQ/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_gJxLFbWGE0P3T

[@ThPappas]

@@mikesz45 Thank you very much Mike.

[@lailanis1]

I'm new to coffee roasting, I'm between behmore and gene cafe. you said you like gene cafe more because you can see everything, but is the coffee bean quality and taste any better with gene cafe compared to behmore? I was able to follow and head 1st crack, when did 2nd crack happen in the video? correct me if I'm wrong. what I understood is that you hear first crack, which will become more frequent, then period of silence, then 2nd crack happen, that's when you should start cooling process. is that right?

[@mikeszostak3869]

Hi Anis, My first roaster was the Behmor 1600. Later I purchased the Gene Cafe primarily because of visibility. Now that I’ve used the Gene Quite a bit, I’ve recently switched back to using the Behmor. I found that I could learn better on the Gene but can now use the Behmor more effectively plus do 1 pound roasts. Both are great roasters! I plan to sell one of them, probably the Gene. I may make a comparison video before I sell. The 2nd crack occurred right at the end of my roast and then I started the cooling process. It is much quieter but you can learn to hear it with the setup I designed.

[@tomoflaherty3018]

@@mikeszostak3869 Hi Mike, just having read your above comment. It would be good to see a video of yourself using the Behmor and your method with that machine. I'm tossing up which one to buy and have read the there is a considerable fire danger with the Behmor when trying to achieve 2nd crack. Thanks

[@mikesz45]

@@tomoflaherty3018 Hi Tom, I’m a bit paranoid about the potential for fire so I’m extremely careful, including having a fire extinguisher and fire blanket nearby. I also never leave the roaster unattended. That said, I’ve never experienced anything that resembled the start of a fire, either with the Gene or the Behmor. I try to bring my roasts to the very start of 2c. With the Behmor, after playing with various settings, I normally use the P1 setting but adjust the time to the max of 20:30 for a 1 pound roast. Depending on the bean and other conditions, this usually gets me to 1c and then I use the preset C button to finish my roast at about the beginning of 2c. Sometimes I start the Cooling cycle manually depending on sound, smoke amount, and smell. With this approach, I’m able to attain good quality roasts at least to my family’s, friend, and my taste. But I’m not a coffee expert so my standards may not match other people’s requirements. Hope this helps. As with most things in life, using common sense produces better results. I think the fire danger you’ve heard of is probably an extreme circumstance where reasonable precaution was not used. Mike

[@rafaelhernandez5949]

Where do you install de microphone

[@bdctube]

I was thinking a baby monitor might be a good inexpensive way to deal with hearing first crack...Any thoughts?

[@ronaldorodan7519]

Hi Mike, Sorry about your wife. Thank you for you high teaching. I am in a pickle: ordered the roaster and don't know if the judgement in this condo building will impede the assembly you have for extraction. My windows slide horizontally. Would you assess a desk rat on the specs to install said duct, I heard they recommend steep on the hose? Peace

[@mikeszostak3869]

Hi Ronaldo, I don't know what you mean by "steep"?

[@ronaldorodan7519]

@@mikeszostak3869 Thank you for your immediate reply! Since smoke rises, more flow of smoke. Here in Miami they can't smoke or barbeque on the balconies. So pickle. Unless 220 grams - medium roast will not produce high concentratio of, again, smoke. Catalization on the Behmor doesn't cut it either.

[@JeffSchiff1]

Great community service! Can you send me a parts list for the exhaust rig you've created? Thanks. Jeff

[@mikeszostak3869]

Thanks, Jeff. The dryer conduit I used was semi-rigid, flexible, aluminum which you can get at any good hardware store. (Do not use the plastic-type which will muffle the sound.) The Portable Voice Amplifier I used is no longer available but this one on Amazon looks quite similar: amazon.com/dp/B00L1E6NR8/ref=dp_prsubs_1 I used the mic that came with the amplifier and placed it very close to the end of the vent near where the air is exiting. Others have tried this setup and it's worked but I helped with some tweaks. Write if you need help. Let me know how you make out. Mike

[@JeffSchiff1]

@@mikeszostak3869 Thanks for the quick response. That's 3" like this: www.amazon.com/Lambro-301-Aluminum-Flexible-Duct/dp/B0044V0UWE/ref=sr_1_fkmrnull_3?keywords=3%22+semi-rigid+flexible+aluminum+duct&qid=1552934911&s=gateway&sr=8-3-fkmrnull. Does it get hot? (Don't want to melt my vinyl windows!

[@mikeszostak3869]

@@JeffSchiff1 Yes the duct is like that but I'm at work so I don't remember the diameter. I used a piece of 2 X 4 and cut a round whole in it so that vent doesn't actually touch the window casing. I'm not sure how hot it gets at that end of the duct. The 2 x 4 shows no signs of heat damage.

[@JeffSchiff1]

@@mikeszostak3869 Thanks, again, Mike.

[@bdctube]

Clearly you do set the hot roast chamber on the stand, no melting or damage?

[@mikeszostak3869]

Hi Jeff, I've had no sign of melting or any kind of damage.

[@jimchatwin8339]

Nice vid. You missed a golden opportunity. In the end you should have shown a scene with you drinking the damned coffee. Remember the Galloping Gourmet? The best part of his show was the end when him and an audience member ate the meal he just prepared. I feel cheated.

[@Khalil-Ibrahim21]

❤️

[@tamasferencz86-t1w]

Nice video. Could you please share the links for the amplifier and mic? Thank you

[@mikesz45]

Hi Tamas, Here's the Amazon link to the amp which includes a mic. Hope this works for you! www.amazon.com/GooDee-Rechargeable-Amplifier-Waistband-Microphone/dp/B00OINN71E/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1520183480&sr=8-4&keywords=personal+pa+system

[@tamasferencz86-t1w]

Michael Szostak, thanks for the info!

[@EroticBurrito]

Good content. I enjoy your personal style