ADVENTURES IN ROASTING
A BRIEF HISTORY OF JO WOLFE LTD
During a period of recuperation I designed a small home roaster, firstly for myself but with the aim of bringing it to the retail market.
I set about putting together the tools and materials needed and then I designed the first prototype.
I set about putting together the tools and materials needed and then I designed the first prototype.
It was powered by a 220 volt AC motor and used an integral camping stove with a disposable gas canister.
Although adequate for my needs I wanted a more traditional enclosed drum so moved the design onto the next stage.
Although adequate for my needs I wanted a more traditional enclosed drum so moved the design onto the next stage.
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Improvements included a much faster roast time and a more economical gas consumption.
Roast consistency could be a little uneven when pushing through roast times, so the next design brief was a flame deflector to even this out. After many attempts an effective one was settled on.
Roast consistency could be a little uneven when pushing through roast times, so the next design brief was a flame deflector to even this out. After many attempts an effective one was settled on.
At this point I decided to get some input from the retail market.
A meeting with one of the bigger online retailers was extremely positive, and after taking note of a few requested design changes it was thought they would sell around 400 units per year. "FANTASTIC" I thought. Not bad for the first testing of the water.
And then came the kicker. CE APPROVAL. Understandably they could not commit any further until the unit was CE approved for the European market, and from their experiences this was extremely difficult for a gas appliance. They did offer some assistance but ultimately not enough to help me move forward.
I spent at least the next year attending various courses and meetings, and undertook plenty of research but to no avail. The upshot was that indoor electrical appliances and pressurised vessels (of which gas canisters obviously were) are beyond an individuals capability to obtain CE approval. Gas in particular has to be sent away to independent testing houses and is subject to stringent testing. Unfortunately this is geared towards large cylinders and equipment and does not really apply to the small disposable canisters. However no consideration is given to this and after much more research and discussion a figure of £30,000 was thought to be needed just to move forward. The idea was dead in the water.
A rethink was needed if I was to proceed, so I decided to reverse build the roaster designing out the problems I had previously encountered.
A meeting with one of the bigger online retailers was extremely positive, and after taking note of a few requested design changes it was thought they would sell around 400 units per year. "FANTASTIC" I thought. Not bad for the first testing of the water.
And then came the kicker. CE APPROVAL. Understandably they could not commit any further until the unit was CE approved for the European market, and from their experiences this was extremely difficult for a gas appliance. They did offer some assistance but ultimately not enough to help me move forward.
I spent at least the next year attending various courses and meetings, and undertook plenty of research but to no avail. The upshot was that indoor electrical appliances and pressurised vessels (of which gas canisters obviously were) are beyond an individuals capability to obtain CE approval. Gas in particular has to be sent away to independent testing houses and is subject to stringent testing. Unfortunately this is geared towards large cylinders and equipment and does not really apply to the small disposable canisters. However no consideration is given to this and after much more research and discussion a figure of £30,000 was thought to be needed just to move forward. The idea was dead in the water.
A rethink was needed if I was to proceed, so I decided to reverse build the roaster designing out the problems I had previously encountered.
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Ultimately a 12 volt DC motor was used to be able to market the roaster as outdoor equipment. The roaster was also made bigger and designed to sit over a seperate stove so as not to have to worry about gas approval.
This design works wonderfully and gives an even roast in about 8 minutes.
Whilst working on a customers commercial roaster I designed an electronic interface to communicate with Artisan roasting software for live roast monitoring and feedback.
This design works wonderfully and gives an even roast in about 8 minutes.
Whilst working on a customers commercial roaster I designed an electronic interface to communicate with Artisan roasting software for live roast monitoring and feedback.
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I am amazed at the standard of this little roasters output when working alongside the computer software.
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Alongside all of this I designed a simple bean cooler to complete the set up.
It did not need much changing from its original prototype so I just matched the appearance to the roaster.
It did not need much changing from its original prototype so I just matched the appearance to the roaster.
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At sometime during the newest design I found myself refurbishing/designing espresso machines just to make ends meet, and it has since become my main focus. Needs must!
Unfortunately the roaster project has stalled, but it is starting to regain my interest.
If anybody out there feels they have any of the business/manufacturing/coffee skills that would help to move this project forward I am open to forming a collaboration.
Use the contact page to get in touch, and let me know how you might be able to help bring this product to market.
Best regards
James Adams
Unfortunately the roaster project has stalled, but it is starting to regain my interest.
If anybody out there feels they have any of the business/manufacturing/coffee skills that would help to move this project forward I am open to forming a collaboration.
Use the contact page to get in touch, and let me know how you might be able to help bring this product to market.
Best regards
James Adams