Recommendations for a home roasting machine - Barista Exchange2024-03-28T18:42:07Zhttps://www.baristaexchange.com/forum/topics/recommendations-for-a-home?commentId=1688216%3AComment%3A795310&feed=yes&xn_auth=noI've been roasting with a Beh…tag:www.baristaexchange.com,2010-05-03:1688216:Comment:8396032010-05-03T03:57:33.614ZAndy Haltermanhttps://www.baristaexchange.com/profile/AndyHalterman
I've been roasting with a Behmor for the past six months, and it's no problem roasting a full pound or roasting dark (30 sec into 2nd). You can't really do both at the same time, though–the way you get it that dark is by roasting 12oz or so on the 1lb setting. I'm 50 pounds in, and I love it.
I've been roasting with a Behmor for the past six months, and it's no problem roasting a full pound or roasting dark (30 sec into 2nd). You can't really do both at the same time, though–the way you get it that dark is by roasting 12oz or so on the 1lb setting. I'm 50 pounds in, and I love it. Thanks for the responses. I a…tag:www.baristaexchange.com,2010-03-12:1688216:Comment:7994442010-03-12T17:25:09.190ZKen Idskouhttps://www.baristaexchange.com/profile/KenIdskou
Thanks for the responses. I am leaning towards the Behmor.
Thanks for the responses. I am leaning towards the Behmor. It depends how much you want…tag:www.baristaexchange.com,2010-03-11:1688216:Comment:7981902010-03-11T02:57:56.367ZDaniel Hohttps://www.baristaexchange.com/profile/DanielHo
It depends how much you want to roast at once. I tend to roast smaller batches and like the brighter taste profile so any of the smaller air roasters work well. For about 1/2 lb, the HotTop is great if a bit pricey. Still the "gold standard" for home roasters I'd say. Nice roast profiles, preheat cycle, and customizable.<br />
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The best bang for the buck has got to be the Behmor. The roaster keeps the chaff in with the rest of the roasting beans, and I've had a minor fire with it while roasting well…
It depends how much you want to roast at once. I tend to roast smaller batches and like the brighter taste profile so any of the smaller air roasters work well. For about 1/2 lb, the HotTop is great if a bit pricey. Still the "gold standard" for home roasters I'd say. Nice roast profiles, preheat cycle, and customizable.<br />
<br />
The best bang for the buck has got to be the Behmor. The roaster keeps the chaff in with the rest of the roasting beans, and I've had a minor fire with it while roasting well into the 2nd crack. This issue was actually stated in the manual, but it seems that I'm a bit of a rule breaker. The heated ceramic does scrub a bit of the particulates out of the exhaust, but I wouldn't call it smokeless. It does a full pound at a time, and most importantly...it actually works! :-) I used a Gene Cafe for about…tag:www.baristaexchange.com,2010-03-10:1688216:Comment:7979982010-03-10T21:49:27.820ZBill Nostromhttps://www.baristaexchange.com/profile/BillNostrom
I used a Gene Cafe for about a year. The only thing I didn't like about it was the difficulty I had in hearing the cracks over the sound of the beans sloshing around. I upgraded to a 5lb RK drum roaster (modified gas grill) which I REALLY like. I actually used that to roast for a friends coffee house while I was waiting for my commercial roaster. The only thing about the gas grill--- VERY easy to catch on fire. I almost lost my house once or twice.
I used a Gene Cafe for about a year. The only thing I didn't like about it was the difficulty I had in hearing the cracks over the sound of the beans sloshing around. I upgraded to a 5lb RK drum roaster (modified gas grill) which I REALLY like. I actually used that to roast for a friends coffee house while I was waiting for my commercial roaster. The only thing about the gas grill--- VERY easy to catch on fire. I almost lost my house once or twice. I agree in some respects the…tag:www.baristaexchange.com,2010-03-10:1688216:Comment:7977272010-03-10T15:26:51.371ZMike McGinnesshttps://www.baristaexchange.com/profile/miKemcKoffeeakaMikeMcGinness
I agree <i>in some respects</i> the Behmor is <i>more bang for the buck</i> than the HotTop. In the respect of being able to do larger batches, period. If you place repeatablilty, controllability, programabilty and quality of the roast over quantity the HotTop does in fact offer much more bang for the buck. While the Behmor as a few preset profiles, and you can modify them adding or subtracting time before starting which changes each stage or add or substract time during which changes only the…
I agree <i>in some respects</i> the Behmor is <i>more bang for the buck</i> than the HotTop. In the respect of being able to do larger batches, period. If you place repeatablilty, controllability, programabilty and quality of the roast over quantity the HotTop does in fact offer much more bang for the buck. While the Behmor as a few preset profiles, and you can modify them adding or subtracting time before starting which changes each stage or add or substract time during which changes only the last stage, you can't modify the profile or take control on the fly. Besides in drum cooling weakness, the Behmor has an anemically slow drum rotation of only ~6rpm. In comparison the HotTop ~30rpm and USRC 3k ~60rpm. Some have modified replacing with faster drum motor which greatly improves performance.<br />
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It's easy to turn beans brown, it's a lifetime Journey learning to make beans sing. If you can't control the roast results are a crap shoot. The HotTop is the best off the shelf home roaster currently offered in the US. IMO of course. Which is based on a decade home roasting with SS skillet, dedicated 14 gauge WOK, heatgun, oven, P1, split wired dual variable voltage boosted Caffe Rosto (primary method about 6 years), Fresh Roast (gave it away), I-Roar(Roast), Behmor and CCR HotTop. (And the last going on three years roasting a few tons of greens in my USRC 3k with PLC profile control.)<br />
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I don't have personal experience with Gene or Nesco so can't comment on them. I am a bit confused after rea…tag:www.baristaexchange.com,2010-03-10:1688216:Comment:7976192010-03-10T11:51:26.901ZPaul Carpenterhttps://www.baristaexchange.com/profile/PaulCarpenter
I am a bit confused after reading these posts. I also am interested in purchasing a home roasting machine but am strickly an espresso drinker. Is there a machine out there for under $500 that can adequately roast an espresso profile? I have been close to going with the Behmor 1600 but have hesitated because of it's reported inability to roast darker roasts.
I am a bit confused after reading these posts. I also am interested in purchasing a home roasting machine but am strickly an espresso drinker. Is there a machine out there for under $500 that can adequately roast an espresso profile? I have been close to going with the Behmor 1600 but have hesitated because of it's reported inability to roast darker roasts. Sorry guys . . . sometimes I…tag:www.baristaexchange.com,2010-03-10:1688216:Comment:7974532010-03-10T04:28:03.394ZLorenzo Perkinshttps://www.baristaexchange.com/profile/Lorenzo
Sorry guys . . . sometimes I read too much stuff and it all gets mixed up in my crazy brain!
Sorry guys . . . sometimes I read too much stuff and it all gets mixed up in my crazy brain! correction, the Hottop does r…tag:www.baristaexchange.com,2010-03-10:1688216:Comment:7972802010-03-10T00:29:51.678ZJeremy Perrinehttps://www.baristaexchange.com/profile/JeremiahPerrine
correction, the Hottop does require a cool down time between roasts. We've been using ours for sample roasting. I really wouldn't put more than 1/2 lb at a time.
correction, the Hottop does require a cool down time between roasts. We've been using ours for sample roasting. I really wouldn't put more than 1/2 lb at a time. correction the Behmor can roa…tag:www.baristaexchange.com,2010-03-09:1688216:Comment:7971472010-03-09T21:36:55.881ZJackson Ballhttps://www.baristaexchange.com/profile/JacksonBall
correction <b>the Behmor can roast up to a full pound, the hottop can only do a 1/2# at a time</b>. the hottop can do back 2 back roasts though as where the behmor needs some time to cool.<br />
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The Behmor has WAY more bang for the buck althought the hottop B offers a little more control over the roast.<br />
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and yes, the Behmor WILL do espresso roasts. several behmor owners roast for espresso.<br />
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Cheers<br />
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<cite>Lorenzo Perkins said:…</cite>
correction <b>the Behmor can roast up to a full pound, the hottop can only do a 1/2# at a time</b>. the hottop can do back 2 back roasts though as where the behmor needs some time to cool.<br />
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The Behmor has WAY more bang for the buck althought the hottop B offers a little more control over the roast.<br />
<br />
and yes, the Behmor WILL do espresso roasts. several behmor owners roast for espresso.<br />
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Cheers<br />
<br />
<cite>Lorenzo Perkins said:</cite><blockquote cite="http://www.baristaexchange.com/forum/topics/recommendations-for-a-home#1688216Comment795412"><div><b>I will say one advantage that the HotTop has over the Behmor is the ability to roast up to one pound of coffee at a time</b>. It will roast in increments of 1/4lb, 1/2lb, or 1lb.<br/><br/>Also, the HotTop has a cooling tray, whereas the Behmor must cool down in the barrel. This can be problematic as the coffee will continue to roast for the next two minutes during the "cool down" phase on the Behmor. The cooling tray on the HotTop means that when you drop the beans, that is their roast profile.<br/><br/>There is some really good info about this at sweetmarias.com or on the home roasting forum at Home-Barista.com.</div>
</blockquote> I also have a Gene Cafe and h…tag:www.baristaexchange.com,2010-03-09:1688216:Comment:7968542010-03-09T15:10:34.560ZJonathan Pascualhttps://www.baristaexchange.com/profile/JonathanPascual
I also have a Gene Cafe and have loved it for 3 years. It roasts very evenly, has somewhat decent control over profiling, and is a great value compared to prices of other home roasters out there. It's also aesthetically pretty with its off-axis rotation when it turns the drum. Because of certain design aspects, for me it's harder to hear the cracks (especially 1st), but that's not a huge issue. The biggest problem for me seems to be the inability to truly preheat the drum before dropping a…
I also have a Gene Cafe and have loved it for 3 years. It roasts very evenly, has somewhat decent control over profiling, and is a great value compared to prices of other home roasters out there. It's also aesthetically pretty with its off-axis rotation when it turns the drum. Because of certain design aspects, for me it's harder to hear the cracks (especially 1st), but that's not a huge issue. The biggest problem for me seems to be the inability to truly preheat the drum before dropping a batch and the lack of an external cooling tray, but other users have said that the regular cooling cycle doesn't result in any significant taste differences over doing a manual stop and an external cool.