Yes, now that I know I have V1.5 and IBTS, I have a better idea how to read the manual. I’ve been roasting with a Gene Cafe for years and didn’t have much to adjust in terms of roast parameters, but now it’s like I’m learning how to roast all over again.
I have Scott Rao’s book that I got for Christmas several years ago which I can now try to apply. By the way, do you all find maintaining the constantly decreasing RoR is easier via fan speed? I was trying to drop power and saw too much of a dip.
Jon, my R1 was just delivered from Sweet Maria tonight. I was wondering the same questions, so glad you asked them.
I decided in the limited time I had to roast tonight, to just use the Control Panel to complete two seasoning roasts. I plan to install the software tomorrow…seasoning roasts went quite well.
I’m moving from a Gene, too, and been reading back over Scott Rao’s book this week waiting for my roaster.
Looking at the current info on the site, I don’t see a mention of v1.5, nor do I remember reading such, when I placed my order on January 3. I confess, though, that I was not on the site every day (either before or since).
Maybe it only showed up when YOU were looking, Milt.
You are correct Milt, I was on the site quite often as well. I also confirmed in an email with SM that the last shipment would be V1.5. It was also confirmed on the Aillio Bullet User Group on Facebook.
It may have been indicated on the site when I purchased it, but I didn’t know I should care until I started using the roaster, at which point there was no reference to the version at Sweet Maria’s. That’s why I inquired here.
I’m puzzled- did you buy a new Bullet roaster from SM? If you did (and your serial number seems to indicate that), then you have a V2 roaster equipped with the IRBT sensor. A V1.5 roaster would indicate a pre-2019 Bullet which has had the temp probes replaced (?) with the IRBT sensor (and the earlier power control board). Dunno what the range of serial numbers was pre-V2.
Here’s a link to the Aillio site indicating V2 as the current build.
I bought from that batch as well–my serial number’s something in the 16xx range (I’m not in front of it right now to be more specific.) The product page at SM’s site was clear for at least a few days on either side of the order window being open that this batch was going to be v1.5. Sometime after they sold out, that language was removed from the site. I also had thought, or the best I could find in my research, is that the v2 board wasn’t yet ready in a 110v version.
The Aillio site does list v2 as the current build, but also mentions what seems like a wild guess estimate of a three month direct order lead time, so it’s certainly possible if not likely they’re building but not shipping v2 units yet.
I think it’s clear from the pace of change, some of the things folks are going through that seem a lot like growing pains on Aillio’s part, along with some of the things @Jonas and @Jacob have talked about that we are all early adopters–and will be for a while. I’d certainly say that if there’s another roaster/software ecosystem that seems to live in the modern software development paradigm like this one does, I haven’t heard of it.
Fortunately, I bought in with eyes open and am relatively okay with that (as long as I can keep the equipment running or get it back online quickly, that is.)
All bullets sold recently up until now are v 1.5- although Aillio isn’t selling v1.5 any longer, v2 hasn’t been produced. 220V will lead with 110V to follow, as I understand. I ordered my v2 from Aillio in February and am hoping I’ll take delivery by May.
I would rather see lots of activity, development, and testing (with all the messiness that entails) than to have bought a piece of equipment like the Bullet with all its potential for technical advances and hear crickets on that front. The constant churn of ideas and testing gives me comfort that my investment was a good one, because there are developers tweaking and improving out loud right here. I tend to wait for the stable release of any software that is going through development cycles, but if I see a feature I really want to test and help to improve, I’ll jump right in and be the guinea pig for folks like @Jonas and @Jacob to test things on.
I’m with you entirely on that front. One of the big draws to the Bullet for me was, as @Jonas and @Jacob put it, to be a part of “the world’s biggest coffee lab.” After all, if what I was looking for was a solid, stable piece of equipment I could dial in, simply maintain, and that was never going to change on me there are a lot of other great roasters to choose from. I love the idea that I’m bought into a platform with the potential for new and great things that this one has, though I realize that also means I’ve likely foregone what might be a more “frustration-free” setup.
This is a real break-through in electric coffee roasters that I’ve waited for years to see. Having owned other (smaller 225g) electric drum roasters, there was no user interaction like we are having here with Aillio. That is a real change and I too am happy to be a part of helping them.
I agree here. I looked and could not find on SM website, so emailed them. They confirmed it was a V1.5. I am waiting for the V2, or may just order from Taiwan.
At the rear of the roaster, remove the chaff collector by pulling the aluminum tab in the center. It will tend to fall off to the left so be ready when the weight comes loose. On the right side is the opening for the exhaust fan. Right below that opening is an ID tag that has your serial number.
Another way is to connect the USB cable and the power cord. Start RT and go to the Current Roast page (don’t need to start anything). In the upper right corner is a lower case “i” inside a circle. Click that to get the Info panel. Near the bottom of the pop-up window you’ll find your serial number.
Btw, I attached a key fob to the hole in chaff collector release (the pull tab) to make it easier to get it off. The chaff collector can get pretty warm when roasting (you’ll only remove the chaff collector when the roaster is in OFF mode), so choose the fob material with a little care.
I’ve added the tryer, IBTS and installed the temperature probe and heat sink when they came out, and replaced a failed induction module 2 1/2 years ago. It’s now effectively a 1.5, I think.
I don’t know how many pounds of coffee I’ve put through my Bullet, but every one has given me a great deal of pleasure. I think it’s one of the best purchases of any kind I ever made.