This past week, I took a short road trip to Delaware to meet Tyler, the owner of Black Lotus Coffee (New Jersey). It was more than just a meetup—it was the start of a new chapter in my roasting journey. Tyler had a modified SR800 roaster for sale, equipped with a temperature probe and Phidgets connection that links directly to Artisan software. I couldn’t resist bringing it home as my second SR800.
Why This Matters
My first SR800 has been a great learning tool, but roasting is all about control and feedback. With this Phidgets modification, the roaster doesn’t just run—it talks back. Now I can measure both:
- Exhaust temperature (ET) – the hot air moving through the beans
- Bean temperature (BT) – the actual reading inside the coffee bed
This dual feedback makes it much easier to understand how heat is transferring and when to adjust power or fan speed.
Artisan in Action
Connecting the SR800 to Artisan felt like leveling up. Seeing live curves for ET and BT gave me a visual story of the roast instead of just relying on sound and smell. I roasted two batches right away, and both felt more controlled, more intentional.
Instead of just reacting, I was able to plan and adjust. I could follow the rate of rise (RoR) and start building consistency.
Reflections After First Roasts
The difference was immediate:
- I felt more in tune with the roast curve.
- I noticed how ET and BT interact, especially during the drying phase and first crack.
- The data helped me stay calmer—no panic moments, just thoughtful adjustments.
There’s still plenty to learn, but I already feel like this upgrade will push me to a new level of understanding.
A Big Thank You to Tyler
One of the highlights of this trip was meeting Tyler in person. Beyond selling me the SR800, he was incredibly generous—he shared multiple samples of green beans, gifted me a bean cooler, and even introduced me to his famous Mexican coffee, which I happily bought.
It was also a treat to see his Valenta 8 roaster setup. Tyler took time to explain his workflow and answer my many questions. What impressed me most was how humble and helpful he was throughout the visit. Meeting people like him is what makes the coffee community so special.
If you haven’t checked it out yet, you can visit his roastery at 👉 Black Lotus Coffee NJ.
Closing Thoughts
The SR800 may be a simple air roaster, but with the right tools, it transforms into a powerful learning machine. For me, this modification is not just about numbers—it’s about connecting science with the art of roasting.
And thanks to Tyler, I came home not only with a new roasting setup but also with beans, gear, and a deeper sense of community.
I’m excited to keep exploring, logging more roasts, and building patterns that lead to consistently better coffee.
Stay tuned for more experiments from the Roasting Lab.
