Development and First Crack Timing

Development time and first-crack timing should be treated as profile-dependent targets rather than universal rules. However, one practical profile-feedback heuristic is that development may be aimed in the 30–40 second range for the referenced roast style. source

Another related timing cue is the relationship between inlet temperature and first crack: when the inlet temperature begins coming down from the relevant peak or turning point in the profile, the beans should crack within roughly 30–45 seconds. source

Use these as diagnostic targets for similar profiles, not as fixed rules for all coffees, batch sizes, or roast goals. If first crack happens much later than this after the inlet decline, the roast may be under-powered or losing momentum. If it happens much sooner, the approach to crack may be too aggressive for the intended profile.