Update to the LINK roaster: Addis 4.1

Several months after the launch of the LINK sample roaster’s latest operating firmware, Addis, the Nucleus Coffee Tools team have released another update. 

In May 2024, the Nucleus Coffee Tools team released Addis, the fourth version of the LINK sample roaster’s operating firmware. Following user feedback and the development of new features, the latest version of the Addis firmware has now been publicly released.

Following extensive feedback and collaboration with our partners around the world, we have now updated the Addis system to include several new features, all of which will further enhance and elevate the sample roasting experience.

New changes to the LINK App, LINK Studio and several roast features allow a more convenient and user-friendly appearance, as well as clearer explanations for certain features and functionality of the LINK system.

Updates to the LINK App

Preference Menu appearance

Addis 4.1 has seen changes to the spacing and design of features within the LINK App. This creates a cleaner appearance, making it easier for users to read and use all LINK App features.

Information tabs

The updated Addis firmware also includes several info tabs throughout the LINK App, represented by a (i) symbol. When an info tab is clicked, a pop-up will appear and provide a brief summary of different features in the LINK App. The feature titles will be displayed in bold text, with their descriptions in regular text. A close button (X) in the corner of the screen will allow the pop-up to be closed.

Preference Menu set-up 

When using the LINK App, users will now see several new options in the Preference Menu, including several set-up options to set preferences for Voltage and Density Tube.

As for most users, the Voltage and which Density Tube they use won’t change, these new set up options will allow these preferences to be permanently set in the LINK App until the user requires them to be changed.

Assistance Tab

In the Addis 4.1 update, the main screen of the LINK App will also be updated with a new tab, ‘Assistance’. By clicking this tab, users will be prompted with two selections for troubleshooting and help: Maintenance & FAQs, or Virtual Roast Assistant.

• Virtual Roast Assistant – Marv. The new Virtual Roast Assistant for the LINK Roaster, named Marv, is an AI-powered chatbot that allows users to receive instant responses to questions about the LINK in more than 90 languages. Trained with the collective knowledge of the Nucleus Coffee Tools team, this Virtual Roast Assistant will provide guidance to any and all questions about using and succeeding with the LINK.Read more about Marv and Virtual Roast Assistance here.
• Maintenance and FAQs: The Assistance Tab will also feature a prompt for ‘Maintenance & FAQS’, which provides a direct link to the Nucleus Coffee Tools website. This page details extensive information about all the main features of the LINK roaster, including common FAQs and troubleshooting.

Espresso updates

New Espresso Profile packs

Following the release of Addis, we were thrilled with the positive feedback from users who enjoyed the wide style of stylistic differences for Cupping and Filter roasting.

In the latest update to the Addis firmware, we have expanded the available Profile Packs for Espresso roasting, to provide a more varied and customisable approach for espresso. This includes the new Profiles Packs D, E and F for Espresso roasting. The new Information Tabs on solution pages will provide an explanation not just for these new Profile Packs, but for all roast recommendations.

Preferences for Espresso Style

One of the most exciting updates is the inclusion of an Espresso Style selection, which is available to users when inputting data for a power curve recommendation for espresso. This allows users to choose from two options: (i) Vibrant-Lively-Soft or (ii) Depth-Balance-Texture. The inclusion of this feature enables the LINK App to provide more detailed recommendations for espresso roasting based on user preference and the desired outcome.

LINK Studio and firmware updates

DTR-Activated Boost Zone

DTR Activated Boost Zones are the stages at the end of a roast during the development (DTR) phase, which were displayed as a dark green box in Addis.

In this new update, the colour of each Boost Zone has a unique colour: Zone 1 is indicated in yellow, Zone 2 in orange, and Zone 3 in red. This allows users to observe the behaviour of their roast during these zones with more clarity.

DTR Zone Preference

Users are now provided with the ability to set their preference for Boost Zones on their LINK roaster.

In the Preference Menu, users can select these zones to activate either (i) relative to first crack (FC), or (ii) during the set times of each power curve. We found this to give enhanced control to curve constancy and heat increase during the DTR phase. If the Preference is turned off, the Boost zone runs as the usual default.

Mid-roast Fan Adjustment

In Addis, the Fan Adjustment feature introduced a new way to account for different densities and requirements for different coffees. Previously, it was only available to be used at the start of the roast. With this new update, fan adjustments can be manually amended at any time during the roast.

Once a user has started a roast, they can access Fan Adjust with two clicks of the Menu button. Then, play to enter the fan and adjust it to increase or decrease, or they can turn an extra auto fan controller function in the preference menu.

Benefits and uses:

• If a user starts a roast and forgets the fan adjust, they could still do so without needing to terminate the roast
• It would also allow them to amend the fan further if they notice slow bean movement during a roast.
• Provides the ability to reduce the fan later in the roast if the visual ‘pop-corning’ on the beans becomes too high.
• Manually manage a profile curve that tracks upwards at the end of a roast.
• As an extra control beyond just heat application, the user can turn on Auto fan adjust, which would activate specific increases to the LINK core profiles at specific Trim points in the roast for enhanced roast control.

First Crack (FC) Zoom

The LINK Studio ‘Automated FC Zoom’ function is a user preference that allows someone using the Studio Live Roast function to have the assistance of an automatically enhanced view of the expected first crack (FC) and default predicted FC point, as an extension of the FC zone visual guide.

When activated in the studio general settings, 25 seconds before reaching the indicated FC zone, the LINK Studio will use the default FC temperature and time as a selection point. The view will then zoom in 4-5 times the standard view to show an enhanced view of the FC zone as the live profile approaches this zone.

Once DTR FC is logged, the view will zoom out, returning to the standard profile view. If DTR FC is not logged, the view automatically returns to the standard view 15-20 seconds after the endpoint of the indicated FC zone.

This feature is optional, and can be turned on or off.

Rate of Rise (RoR) Selection

This change in the LINK Studio gives the user the ability to select whether they want the ROR to show either the Actual ROR, or the Desired RoR.

• Actual RoR: Indicated in the rate of rise section as the Red line. This shows the RoR from the element of what heat is being applied to the roast to achieve the roast curve. It is standard for this to pulsate in a rise-and-fall pattern as the heating element activates and cools to make sure the heat applied is sufficient and factoring in environment attributes as well as the PID control in the roasting chamber.
• Desired RoR: The yellow line in the RoR section represents the more familiar interpretation of the rate of rise for coffee roasting. It shows the rate of temperature increase of the batch of coffee inside the roast chamber over the roasting cycle. A good way to picture this is to think of it like the speedometer in a car telling you how fast you are travelling.

In specialty coffee roasting, it is commonly targeted that the momentum of the roast or temperature should always be increasing throughout the entire cycle of the roast. However, the rate of this increase should always be in a steady decline. Our recommendation is that the Desired ROR view should be the Link Default, as it is more relative to the information a user is used to seeing from other roasting programs.

To learn more about the Addis 4.1 update, see the range of videos published on the Nucleus Coffee Tools LINK Youtube channel.