What is the Between Batch Protocol (BBP)

This manual introduces Cropster's Between Batch Protocols (BBPs).

• Between Batch Protocols (BBPs)
  
  • Between batch timer

• Viewing the BBP

  • During a roast (from RI)

  • During post-roast analysis (from C-sar)
• BBP Statistics
• FAQs

Between Batch Protocols (BBPs)

Between batch protocols (BBPs) are one of the most important factors for consistent roasting.

The main goal of a BBP is to reset the thermal energy of your machine from the last batch to the start of the next batch. You want to reset the thermal energy to get to the exact same starting conditions that you had for the last batch (in the same batch size). To do this, you need to follow a specific procedure over multiple minutes between batches.

Between batch timer

To help you with consistency, after stopping a roast, you can track the time elapsed between roasted batches. This will help you stay within the time boundaries of defined between-batch protocols. 

The Between batch timer starts from the moment you Stop the roast, and will continue to count until the next roast is Started.

Viewing the BBP

• During a roast (from RI)
• During post-roast analysis (from C-sar)

During a roast (from RI)

Enabling BBPs

First, you must enable BBPs from Roasting Intelligence (RI) by following the steps below:

1. Log into the Roasting Intelligence (RI).
2. Navigate to the Preferences on the bottom left side of the screen.
3. Navigate to the Roasting tab and select Interface.
   
4. Check the checkbox next to Display "Between batch" curves and timer during pre- and post-roast" at the Between batch protocol section.
5. Save the preferences.

Commenting from the BBP window

From the BBP window available from the RI's pre-roast screen, you can set comments by clicking anywhere on the BBP graph to track Gas/Airflow manually, or set a comment  to mark specific events in your BBP (i.e. "Removing coffee from the cooling tray").

To comment from the BBP graph, follow the steps below:

1. From the Pre-roast screen's BBP window, click anywhere on the chart to open the comment box.
   • The time stops at the moment you open the comment box and can be manually reviewed if needed. 
   • Track Gas/Airflow by inputting the value in the respective field. Then to submit the change, click the respective button. Note: Only enter numerical values under Gas and Airflow so a graph can be generated within C-sar.
   • To enter a personal note, use the text field at the bottom and click the Text comment button.
2. Once you have made a comment, use the Comments button available from the top-left corner of the BBP window to open up the BBP comments interface.

Viewing a recorded BBP from RI

After your first roast is logged, we now display the Between batch protocol (BBP) directly from Roasting Intelligence (RI), and display temperature data while in between batches in real time. 

Upon entering RI for your first roast of the day, the BBP window will display the following:

The BBP is tracked from the moment the roast is stopped, upon which you can view the beginning of your roast machine's cool-down phase directly from the RI's Post-roast screen. 

After having Saved the roast, the recorded BBP will continue to display in the BBP window* from the RI's Pre-roast screen for up to 15 minutes.

From the moment your BBP window is displayed, to help guide you during your BBP, if your set profile has a reference curve with a recorded BBP we also take the reference BBP curve data and display it in the background from your BBP window. 

💡 If you want to see more of your BBP from the RI's post-roast screen, use the zoom function to focus on what you want to see. The zoom function can also be used from the BBP window's graph from the Pre-roast screen.

Click the Restart button to reset the timer from 00:00, and the between batch data recorded; BBP data recorded so far will be lost upon confirming.

During post-roast analysis (from the online platform C-sar)

Via Roast overview

1. Log into the online platform C-sar.
2. Navigate to the Roasts section on the main menu bar.
3. You will be directed to the Roasts overview page.
4. Click on the ID-tag for the roast in question.
5. From the right-hand side under the Display tab, enable the Show between batch data on charts checkbox (1).
6. Enable the Between batch RoR checkbox (2) to enable the recorded RoR.
   
   
   

Via Roast compare

 

1. Log into the online platform C-sar.
2. Navigate to the Roasts section on the main menu bar.
3. You will be directed to the Roasts overview page.
4. Select one or more finished roasts you would like to compare from the list, by checking the box corresponding to the lots in question. 
5. Click on the Roast Compare button.
6. Enable the Show between batch data on charts checkbox.
   
7. To compare BBPs from your selected roasts, you may also scroll down to the Between batch protocol section from the Roast compare to review the roasts' BBP statistics.

BBP Statistics
In addition to the BBP curve(s) from the Roast compare, you can also view important BBP statistics recorded from your roasts.

Time between batches

Derived from the BBP timer, which measures the elapsed time between the stop of a roast and the start of the next roast.

Gas/airflow changes (at specific bean temperature/time)

The % value entered for the measurement, as well as the time when the value was registered, and the value for Bean temperature at the time the temperature was registered.

Lowest temperature

Consisting of the lowest temperature reached during the elapsed time recorded for the BBP, and a timestamp for when the temperature was recorded.

Highest temperature

Consisting of the highest temperature reached during the elapsed time recorded for the BBP, and a timestamp for when the temperature was recorded.

Time to reach start temp after last gas change

The elapsed time from the last gas change recorded until reaching the start temperature of the next roast.

FAQs

What happens if BBP is not showing on the roast?

The Between Batch Protocol (BBP) is tracked from the moment the roast is stopped. The BBP window only displays when a Profile is selected from the Profile drop-down menu. If a Profile is deselected, the BBP window will disappear until another Profile is selected.
After saving the roast, the recorded BBP will continue to display in the BBP window from the Roasting Intelligence (RI) pre-roast screen for up to 15 minutes. After that time, you need to click on the Restart button to reset the timer otherwise BBP won't be showing on your roast. 

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Related content:

• How to zoom while using the Roasting Intelligence (RI)
• Setting a Reference Curve

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Congratulations! You are ready to review your BBP data.

Your opinion matters. If you have further questions, feedback, or concerns, please feel free to reach out by submitting a support ticket directly from support.cropster.com.