Jen, This is the low-tech baking method and, for me, breakfast isn’t possible! It takes about 1.5 - 2 hours to heat up for pizza and 2.5 - 3 hours for bread. I’m not one to get up at 5am to make my breakfast! I generally bake in the evening so make the pizzas first with the burning fire heating the oven to 800F - 1000F. My IR thermometer only reads to 500C/932F so I don’t really know how hot the oven gets. Pizzas take about 50 seconds when the oven’s really hot. I then remove the embers and put the door on so that the heat will distribute evenly for the bread. Ciabatta goes in at about 550, and then regular hearth loaves at about 500 and tinned bread at 400 - 450. The oven cools down quite quickly with the door off (esp in winter) but overnight is good for casseroles and next day I can make meringues or dry things from tomatoes to lavender flowers. The possibilities are endless.
VB, I got the oven from Forno Bravo in the UK. The US web site is http://www.fornobravo.com. They sell the kits or you can purchase plans for smaller round domed ovens which you can build yourself. I highly recommend them!
Annie
