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Friday, 18 May 2012
Hi Ron,
I received the Drum and Motor setup on Thursday, I had
to make a few adjustments to get it level and in line
on my Weber grill, took about 10 minutes and then let
the drum burn in for about 15 minutes.
Today (Saturday) I did two roasts, the first roast was
a little over done but the second roast came out very
nice. Each roast was 1 pound. It is going to take
some practice with roast times and getting the drum
into the grill without losing too much heat and
getting the beans into the cooling tray but I think
after 3 or 4 roasts I should have it down.
The motor is very quiet and I have no problem hearing
the first crack.
I am pleased with the drum and motor and look forward
to many roasts, you have a great product.
Kevin
(This a review by Thomas Owen from Sweet Marias. I sent Tom 3 sample roasts, roasted in a gas grill, with the RK Roasting Drum. Below are Toms remarks.)
This is a write up by Oaxaca Charlie,
A commerical roaster located in British Columbia Canada
It was posted on Sweet Marias mail list on 9/5/03
I got one of Ron Kyle's roasting drums for gas grills. Just a
little one, 8" in diameter and 12" long. All stainless
steel-perforated with little holes, with solid end plates and
big stirring vanes inside. I had him put the holes for a
roticery connection in the endplates, in case I want to use it
in a gas grill instead of just on the roller system I have in my
brick oven.
First roast-I'd finished roasting my orders for the day, and the
oven was down to max. temp of 450 degrees, so I just put
Picked it up this evening and we just roasted our first batch – WOW! We are very impressed with the result. Can’t wait to do more :)
From: "Mike Smith"
Subject: My first run with my RK Drum BBQ Roaster
First off, I'm in no way connected to the production or manufacture of this
fine product. Although, I wish I were. What follows is a description of my experience
setting up for my first roast with my RK Drum, that I received...yesterday.
Upon opening the well packed box, I was impressed with the heft, and build
quality of this all stainless drum. Anyone that has worked with stainless steel, knows what
a bear it is to work with. All of the cuts are clean, no burrs, and all of the welds have
been ground and smoothed. A very well executed construction. The height of the stirring
vanes kind of surprised me. All of the other drum designs I had seen, as on my Alp, the
vanes were a fraction of an inch tall. On this drum they are at least a full inch high.
They stir a large load 2 pounds or more very well. For the grill, I purchased a I was having to look into the bottom of the grill from underneath to see the
burner so that I could adjust it down as low as possible to maintain 435, and still have a
flame. At 10 minutes first crack started and I could tell by how " all at once " it was, that
second was going to follow very rapidly. I was right, by 11 minutes I was into one heck of a rolling second crack. I cut the heat, grabbed the spit, and dumped and cooled the beans.
I had sort of mélange roast, with most of the beans a very full city, with
slight oil showing, and some french, with about 10 % city. I had observed
the good mixing action of the vanes, and knew that this unevenness was not
due to poor bean movement. I surmised that it was a result of too rapid of a
bean temp rise.
I decided to load up a larger batch. I loaded up 1 and 1/2 pounds of La Manita, and started again.
This time the temp recovery after drum insertion was much slower. I think that the larger load
actually made the temp more stable, and a lot less ticklish. This time first crack started at about 14 minutes, and started much more gradually. Second crack followed after a
little added heat at 17:30 and I pulled the roast immediately upon onset of second. I usually like LM right before second.
Anyhow, this roast was MUCH more even, and easier to control. I really like a more mellow taste,
hopefully this won't be TOO mellow.
I am thoroughly pleased with the drum, and it will make my roasting much less involved than 6 or 7 Alpenrost roasts a week. I think I will look at putting a cast iron griddle in the bottom of my grill, to more evenly distribute the heat and flame, and to act as sort a thermal mass. I think that a load of about 1 pound is as small a roast as a beginner BBQ roaster should try. That
1/2 pound roast was just too hard to control. The larger batch tracked along a profile almost
exactly like my Alpenrost.
The drum is by far the best investment in my roasting that I have ever made, and I am grateful
for such a quality product. The drum is easily worth the price of an Alpenrost.This thing is built as well as anything I've ever seen. I have fabricated a few gadgets in my life, as I have been a
homebrewer. It is much like coffee roasting in that you have to build everything
if you want a nice setup without spending thousands.
To replace my BBQ roaster would cost $6000 for a San Francisco sample roaster, and the end result is every bit as tasty. Until someone decides to sell a computer controlled, commercial style drum roaster for under $2000, I've got THE best setup out there for us that don't like being tied to 3 hours of 8 oz roasts once a week.
Mike Smith
flyin' hillbilly BBQ RK Drum roaster
just a satisfied customer
