Roasters / Equipment FAQ

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Roasting Equipment

I don't know whether to buy a drum or a fluid-bed roaster. You say that you prefer a fluid-bed, in terms of resultant coffee taste. Yet many great coffee roasters (such as Stumptown, in Portland, Oregon) use a traditional drum, such as an old Probat. Please explain & help me.

FreshRoast

I've been using the FreshRoast+ for about a year and a half. It works great, but I've just about worn the little guy out. I go through about 50 pounds of green beans per year and like very dark roasts. I want to upgrade and have narrowed it down to either the Hottop or Gene Cafe roasters. It is a tough choice since they are priced within $20 of each other. I'd be very interested if you'd recommend one over the other for someone like me.

Any chance of carrying the 220-volt version of the FreshRoast SR-series coffee roasters? I bought a FreshRoast8 (220 volts) from you.

I'm planning to take the 120-volts roaster overseas and run it on 240V over a transformer. I read on your listing that these machines does not run well over a transformer? Can you explain in detail what will not run well? I have a waffle machine, blender, etc from the States running over 240V through a transformer without any problems.

How many roasts can I do in a day on the FreshRoast8? Is there a maximum amount of roasts it can handle before the element is ruined?

What is the difference between the Nesco and the FreshRoast 8? Is the FreshRoast 8 el cheapo quality that will break in a few weeks? I am new to roasting, but I think I would end up using it a lot so I am trying to decide which one to buy. What is your opinion?

I am new at this, so excuse my question. Can the FreshRoast 8 be used indoors, or should it be used outside to not smoke up house? If I can use indoors, will it let off a lot of smoke?

Like some people, I have a hard time getting my FreshRoast to roast beyond the first crack. (I live near Boston where's it's a balmy 15 degrees outside and my house is usually about 60 degrees - this could be the problem). Anyhow, my question is this: is it harmful to the machine to turn the timer knob to the left, adding a couple of minutes, right before it goes into the cool stage to get a longer roast? I have done this, and it works fine, yet my machine is brand new and obviously I don't want to damage it.

Nesco Pro

I've purchased beans recently from your company and was very satisfied with the quality. I'm interested in upgrading my roaster. I've had the Fresh Roast Plus 8 for over 2 years, and it's time to replace it. In your opinion, which roaster would you recommend: The iRoast2 or the Nesco Pro? I've read up on both of them but can't decide. Thanks for your opinion.

I roasted on my new NESCO Pro for 27 minutes and the beans seem dark and nice aroma. I read about the Nesco Pro that it can not roast up too dark (French roast) because the fan can not cool the coffee soon enough, is this true?

I-Roast

The 230 volt model of the I-Roast2 is $100 more expensive than the 120 volt model. How come?

I have been trying to program some profiles on the I-Roast2, but the roaster does not reach the temperatures I set up. Maybe it is the indicators of the temperatures? For example, I set up the roaster to reach 445 F after 12 minutes. In reality the indicator shows 366 F. The coffee color seems to fit 450 F.

Gene Café

I wanted to get some information and your opinion on entry level semi-commercial coffee roasters. What I would like to do is start a small roasting business to sell coffee at our local farmers markets and area retail stores. Not knowing how much volume I would eventually do, I'm wondering if the Gene roaster would be of sufficient size to start out with, with a goal of moving up to the Sonofresco type unit in the future. I would also like to actually use the roaster outside at these events. The Gene would only require a small generator and could continue to be used in this way to generate traffic even if I upgraded to a larger roaster that was used off-site. Can the Gene be used outside in this way?

I have a Gene Café roaster that I bought from you and I'm getting an E4 error message. Can you help resolve?

Thanks for the great service (as always) on my last order. I purchased the exceptional grade (A4) this time and wanted to know if you have any roasting "profiles" or instructions for this coffee and the Gene Cafe roaster? I just feel bad experimenting on a coffee this good.

I'm seriously considering ordering a Gene Café, and am wondering if there's any advantage to 220 over 110 volt, or if it is even an option. I don't understand such things though seem to remember being told 220 is more efficient, possibly less expensive. I can have a line added if need be.

I am stuck between two roasters. Can you tell me what the main differences are between the Hottop Basic, and the Gene Cafe Home roaster. I know they are from two different companies, however they both seem to roast close to the same amounts and your reviews for both are favorable.

Thank you for answering my earlier questions. I am still looking for a small roaster. I am considering this Gene Cafe, but two things do concern me. Just how much smoke does this roaster produce and is there a way to vent it? Does the filter work very well at trapping the smoke and are the filters costly? Thank you so much.

How many times during one day can one feasibly roast with a Gene Café roaster?

Nelson, Could you translate the "#45 Agtron/SCCA" roasting recommendation to the settings on my Gene Cafe roaster? Thanks.

Hottop

I am going to start a small company that sells fresh roasted coffee. What I would like to know is, could the Hottop coffee roaster keep up? Can it handle multiple roasts everyday or does it need a lot of down time?

How many pounds of beans does the Hottop roast? Can this be done indoors, without exhaust like in your pictures? The other units I see have exhaust piping.

I recently purchased your Hottop coffee roaster standard model and like it very much. However, with some coffees I cannot get the coffee roasted as dark as I would like. Internet search suggests my line voltage may be too low. Is it acceptable to use a Variac to adjust the line voltage and should this be effective? Thanks!

On the Hottop roaster, what is the cool down time between roasts? Also, how many roasting batches will it take to get about one pound of coffee? Thank you.

Sonofresco

I am interested in this roaster (Sonofresco) and would like to get more information. What is the footprint of a "working" roaster? Also, can you give me supporting information on the economics of these units? Can these units do a true French roast (my roaster is always talking about the afterburner on his roaster...)

Hello, I have a Sonofresco roaster that I bought on ebay. It gives an error code of "E 2" and I've triple checked the gas supply. I tried to use a 12 volt converter in an effort to bring it to farmers markets but the blower wouldn't run. Do you think its possible low voltage damaged it? Any ideas on repairs or parts? I'm pretty handy and could swap them myself if you have what I'd need. Thanks.

I'm thinking of setting up a small roasting company and will need to have it go mobile at times. What requirements for gas and or electric do I need? Any information would be appreciated.

I'm planning to take the 120-volts roaster overseas and run it on 240V over a transformer. I read on your listing that these machines does not run well over a transformer? Can you explain in detail what will not run well? I have a waffle machine, blender, etc from the States running over 240V through a transformer without any problems.

The 120-volt roasters uses electricity that runs on 60 Hz cycles. The coffee roasters have electronic timing and other hardware that are affected by the electrical cyclage. Electric transformers change the voltage, but not the cyclage. 220-240 electricity usually runs on 50 Hz cycles. The appliances that you describe are not affected by electrical cyclage. You could buy a 120-volt roaster and try it with a transformer if you like, but the warranty will be voided.

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I don't know whether to buy a drum or a fluid-bed roaster. You say that you prefer a fluid-bed, in terms of resultant coffee taste. Yet many great coffee roasters (such as Stumptown, in Portland, Oregon) use a traditional drum, such as an old Probat. Please explain & help me.

Arguing the merits of drum versus fluid bed coffee roasters has become almost a religious debate (akin to Ford versus Chevy, or Windows versus Mac), and one in which you may never reach agreement. There are certainly strong believers --and defenders-- for each, even among the "top dogs". The best advice I can give you is (especially if you are comparing commercial/professional roasters, such as the Probat versus Sivetz) that you will not go wrong with either one. Pick one and learn how to best use the roaster, and do not look back. So as to not avoid taking a position altogether, among the home coffee roasters, I would say if you lean towards better flavor nuances, go with a fluid bed roaster. If you prefer heartier bodies, go with a drum roaster.

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I've been using the FreshRoast+ for about a year and a half. It works great, but I've just about worn the little guy out. I go through about 50 pounds of green beans per year and like very dark roasts. I want to upgrade and have narrowed it down to either the Hottop or Gene Cafe roasters. It is a tough choice since they are priced within $20 of each other. I'd be very interested if you'd recommend one over the other for someone like me.

Tough choice indeed! There is some price difference. The Gene Cafe (a digital model) is priced at $495. The Hottop analog model is $550. The Hottop digital is priced at $635.

The Gene Cafe is a better value (more bang for the buck). The Gene Cafe has more features. You can adjust both the temperature and time of the roast on the fly at any time. On the Hottop, you can only adjust the time of the roast during the last minutes of the roast. The Gene Cafe is a combination fluid bed/drum roaster; the Hottop is a pure drum roaster. The Hottop cools the beans quicker (2+ minutes outside the hot drum), the Gene Cafe cools them inside the hot roasting chamber in about 6 to 10 minutes. The quicker the cool the better. However, the Gene Cafe cools the beans to 140F, the Hottop just stops cooling after the 2+ minutes. It is better to cool to a set temperature than simply based on time. The Gene Cafe can roast form 3oz to 12oz, per batch. The Hottop can only roast 9oz (250 grams), per batch. The Gene Cafe has a better (easier to clean), more efficient chaff collector.

Because I am a value person, and I like to experiment, I would buy the Gene Cafe. However, the Gene Cafe has only been around in the US since April of 2006 and the manufacturer has fixed most of the new product glitches. The Hottop has been around for years and has built a well-deserved reputation for dependability and reliability. Sometimes you get what you pay for. Recently, the Hottop manufacturer dropped their prices to make it more competitive with the Gene Cafe.

Both roasters produce superb dark roasts and will generate large amounts of smoke that you need to be able to vent outside. If unvented, the smoke will trigger your smoke alarms.

If you are a person that likes lots of gee-wheez features and the ability to control all details of your roast, and like to experiment a lot, I would suggest the Gene Cafe. But if you are a person that likes a classic, proven design (the Hottop is essentially a miniature of a large commercial coffee roaster), doesn't have much patience to "fool around" with choices and options, and prefers simplicity over capabilities, then I would suggest the Hottop.

You will not go wrong with either one.

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Any chance of carrying the 220-volt version of the FresRoast SR-series coffee roasters? I bought a FreshRoast8 (220 volts) from you.

Because of high costs (UL registration, etc), unfortunately the manufacturer currently has no plans to build the SR-series roasters in 220-240 volt versions. Sorry.

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How many roasts can I do in a day on the FreshRoast8? Is there a maximum amount of roasts it can handle before the element is ruined?

This is a low-volume, household roaster, not really designed for heavy use. You need to let the roaster cool for about 40 minutes after each roast, and I would not do more than eight roasts per day. Heavier use than that voids the warranty. I have heard that some people got up to 250 roasts. If you get more than 120 roasts, you have gotten more than your money's worth. If you are interested in a commercial-quality, non-stop, roast until you drop, coffee roaster we would recommend the Sonofresco roaster.

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What is the difference between the Nesco and the RreshRoast 8? Is the FreshRoast 8 el cheapo quality that will break in a few weeks? I am new to roasting, but I think I would end up using it a lot so I am trying to decide which one to buy. What is your opinion?

The Nesco Pro is more than twice the per-batch, roasting capacity (5.3 oz vs. 2.3 oz) of the FreshRoast8. The Nesco has a unique patented catalytic converter that greatly reduces smoke. Both machines are built well and will last a long time with the proper care and maintenance. I know of customers that have been using both roasters for years. If you are just getting started, the FreshRoast8 is a smaller price commitment to make sure you really enjoy home coffee roasting before spending a lot of money. However, if you are a heavy drinker and do not want to roast every day, you may want to get started with the Nesco Pro. You will not go wrong with either one.

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I am new at this, so excuse my question. Can this unit be used indoors or should it be used outside to not smoke up house? If I can use indoors, will it let off a lot of smoke?

This unit roasts small amounts of coffee at one time (2.3oz batch) so that it can be used inside without major concerns for smoke. In fact, I use it in my kitchen without any problems. However, it does generate some smoke, especially if you roast very dark. If you are very sensitive to smoke, I recommend that you purchase the Nesco Pro, which has a catalytic converter, virtually eliminating all smoke. Happy roasting!

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Like some people, I have a hard time getting my FreshRoast to roast beyond the first crack. (I live near Boston where's it's a balmy 15 degrees outside and my house is usually about 60 degrees - this could be the problem). Anyhow, my question is this: is it harmful to the machine to turn the timer knob to the left, adding a couple of minutes, right before it goes into the cool stage to get a longer roast? I have done this, and it works fine, yet my machine is brand new and obviously I don't want to damage it.

It is quite all right to turn the knob to the left (add more time) before it starts the cooling stage. This is commonly done to obtain the roast that you want. I agree that ambient temperature my have something to do with your roasts. These little roasters have small resistors and they assume that they do not have to heat the environment in order to work properly. Once the ambient temperature reaches 70 F you may notice the difference. But adding more time is quite all right. Just make sure you keep a close eye on the roast. You do not want to burn the beans or start a fire!

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I've purchased beans recently from your company and was very satisfied with the quality. I'm interested in upgrading my roaster. I've had the Fresh Roast Plus 8 for over 2 years, and it's time to replace it. In your opinion, which roaster would you recommend: The iRoast2 or the Nesco Pro? I've read up on both of them but can't decide. Thanks for your opinion.

We are very happy to hear that you are enjoying our green Bolivia coffee beans. The I-Roast2 is a more sophisticated (and noisier!) roaster. Both roast the same amount of coffee per batch (5.3 oz). The Nesco Pro has a great catalytic converter that significantly reduces the amount of smoke (but does not totally eliminate it). The I-Roast2 has a vent adapter ($20.95) that allows you to vent the smoke outside with a 3" vent pipe (available at any hardware store, e.g. Home Depot). The Nesco Pro usually sells for $30 less than the I-Roast2.

If you like to do roasting profiles, tinker with your roasts, and change roasting variables (temperature and time), go with the I-Roast2. If you prefer a simpler (less parts to break), solid roaster without any fancy bells and whistles go with the Nesco Pro. Because I believe it is a better value and I am a value shopper, I would go with the Nesco Pro.

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I roasted on my new NESCO Pro for 27 minutes and the beans seem dark and nice aroma. I read about the Nesco Pro that it can not roast up too dark (French roast) because the fan cannot cool the coffee soon enough, is this true?

There is no exact way to correlate roasting time with degree of roast (with any coffee roaster, even expensive, commercial ones). There are other variables that affect the roast besides the time, namely ambient temperature, bean (and ambient) humidity, bean density, and on electrical roasters, the average voltage on your circuit. An experienced roastmaster makes adjustments for all those variables. You would have to relay on your senses (visual, smell and color) to determine which roast suits your green coffee beans and you like best. For our Cumbre Bolivian beans, I like lighter roast (chocolatey color, no specs of oil on the surface) because that way you can get the fruity, chocolaty overtones that has made that coffee famous.

I have also heard that the Nesco cannot get very dark roasts, but I've never heard that it is caused by a weak fan. The main reason is because it cannot get hot enough when you have a weak voltage AC circuit (under 110 volts). Try a different switch (preferably in the kitchen or utility area like a basement or garage), and that is not being used by any other appliance. Remember that you do not want to "roast" the coffee too long (over 32 minutes) at low temperatures, or you will bake it instead of roasting it.

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The 230 volt model of the I-Roast2 is $100 more expensive than the 120 volt model. How come?

The 230 volts model is $100 more expensive because of economies of scale (a lot more 120volt models are manufactured, sold and shipped, so the 230 volt model is priced higher at wholesale to begin with), and additional shipping costs (we must procure them in Europe).

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I have been trying to program some profiles on the I-Roast2, but the roaster does not reach the temperatures I set up. Maybe it is the indicators of the temperatures? For example, I set up the roaster to reach 445 F after 12 minutes. In reality the indicator shows 366 F. The coffee color seems to fit 450 F.

I have also noticed that the temperature indicators on the I-Roast 2 are not usually accurate, but fortunately, this is not a big problem. Try to avoid the absolute values and go for the relative values. Once you do a few roasts you will get the knack for it. You will notice that the temperature that you want (e.g 450 F) is reflected by the color, but the indicator says 366 F. Just make a mental note that, that is the temperature you want, kind of creating your own set of temperature readings (applicable only to your own roaster). I suspect the problem is caused because the temperature probe is not very accurate.

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I have a Gene Café roaster that I bought from you and I'm getting an E4 error message. Can you help resolve?

Error E4 means that the second heat sensor has detected an abnormal increase in the temperature. Either the heater fan is not-working or disconnected or you need a new heat sensor. Please contact the importer in Utah (Tim Skaling at 805-501-7731, or skales@mwutah.com) for warranty/service assistance.

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I wanted to get some information and your opinion on entry level semi-commercial coffee roasters. What I would like to do is start a small roasting business to sell coffee at our local farmers markets and area retail stores. Not knowing how much volume I would eventually do, I'm wondering if the Gene roaster would be of sufficient size to start out with, with a goal of moving up to the Sonofresco type unit in the future. I would also like to actually use the roaster outside at these events. The Gene would only require a small generator and could continue to be used in this way to generate traffic even if I upgraded to a larger roaster that was used off-site. Can the Gene be used outside in this way?

The Gene Cafe is a good roaster to start, but if your venture is the least bit successful you will soon outgrow its capacity. You may be better off, biting the bullet, and buying the Sonofresco to start with. However, you know your budget best. I had customers that bought the Gene Cafe and started giving the roasted coffee as gifts and then grew into a business. We have three customers that run VERY successful businesses using the Sonofresco at farmer's markets.

You can use both roasters outside when the temperature is between 60 and 90 degrees. By the way, the manufacturer of the Gene Cafe does not recommend that you use the roaster outdoors. I have used it outside for demo purposes but never really to roast coffee for sale. With the Gene Cafe you are gong to need a beefy, steady generator. It uses 1,300 watts. The Gene Cafe (or any electrical roaster) will not give good results with a poor power supply. The Sonofresco uses propane, any portable generator will be adequate for running its fan.

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Thanks for the great service (as always) on my last order. I purchased the exceptional grade (A4) this time and wanted to know if you have any roasting "profiles" or instructions for this coffee and the Gene Cafe roaster? I just feel bad experimenting on a coffee this good.

We are very happy to hear you are satisfied with our service. For exceptional grade, Cumbre Supremo (A4), we prefer a darkish end of a medium roast (Agtron: 43/56). On the Gene Café, you may be able to get to that level (ceteris paribus) at 450 degrees and 18 minutes. But it is certainly good to experiment to reach YOUR preferred level.

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I'm seriously considering ordering a Gene Café, and am wondering if there's any advantage to 220 over 110 volt, or if it is even an option. I don't understand such things though seem to remember being told 220 is more efficient, possibly less expensive. I can have a line added if need be.

There is no difference between the 120-volt and the 230-volts Gene Cafe roasters, other than the difference in electricity. The 120-volt is intended for sale in the US and Canada. The 230-volt is intended for sale overseas, as most countries only carry 230-volt electricity. The Gene Cafe coffee roaster is sold in the US and Canada as household/professional roaster, not a commercial one. You could use it in small coffee shops, but the manufacturer (mainly for liability and electrical code reasons) does not permit it, and it will void its warranty. Nevertheless, I have seen it used in the US in many B&Bs, small coffee shops, etc. It is marketed to restaurants in Europe and Asia.

The 220-240 volts appliances that you are probably thinking about are large commercial units that are used in the US when there is a large draw of electricity, such as commercial broilers, dishwashers, ovens, etc. They require separate wiring and special electrical panel connection. They are used by establishments that have large power requirements and have very large electrical bills. 220-240 volt electricity is cheaper to transport, and more efficient to use (because of lesser electrical resistance). It is cheaper for large commercial/industrial establishments, not for household use. However, the risk of potential damage because of electrical shock is greater, so it not permitted in the US for household use. Other countries do not believe the extra expense is worth the added potential risk, so they are OK with 220 240 electricity.

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I am stuck between two roasters. Can you tell me what the main differences are between the Hottop Basic, and the Gene Cafe Home roaster. I know they are from two different companies, however they both seem to roast close to the same amounts and your reviews for both are favorable.

The Gene Cafe is a better value ($495 versus $720). It is also a combination fluid bed and drum roaster. The Hottop is a true drum roaster. With the Gene Café, you can roast from 3 oz to 12 oz. With the Hottop, you can only roast 9oz. With the Gene Cafe you can change the temperature and the time of roast. With the Hottop Basic Programmable you can, in addition, change the speed of the fan and store (and re-use) three roasting profiles. You will not go wrong with either one.

Also, a note if you prefer darker roasts: both roaster will give you dark roasts, but drum roasters, in general, would provide darker roasts. Careful with bean fires, though! For darker roasts, also select high altitude, higher-density beans, such as our Cumbre AAA grade beans. They are able to better tolerate and respond to the added, extended heat.

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Thank you for answering my earlier questions. I am still looking for a small roaster. I am considering this Gene Cafe, but two things do concern me. Just how much smoke does this roaster produce and is there a way to vent it? Does the filter work very well at trapping the smoke and are the filters costly? Thank you so much.

Any large home coffee roaster (like the Gene Café or Hottop) is going to generate lots of smoke. There is no way out of it. Other than placing the roaster underneath a kitchen vent pushing air to the outside, or roasting near an open window (open the window during the last 4 minutes of the roast and use a fan to force the smoke out), there is no other way to get rid of the smoke. I certainly do not recommend using any large home coffee roaster in an enclosed area without an outside venting process. The filter works in reducing the smoke but it does not eliminate it. The large chaff collector and filter costs $75. Once you need more than eight pounds of roasted coffee a day (or you start noticing the jump in your electrical bill), I recommend a table-top, commercial, gas-fired coffee roaster that sells for about $3,000. Please note that if you do not have proper ventilation, the smoke will turn on the smoke alarms.

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How many times during one day can one feasibly roast with a Gene Café roaster?

Each roast/cool/clean/reload cycle takes about 30 to 40 minutes. So, in an eight-hour workday you can do up to 16 roasts. The manufacturer recommends no more that 8 roasts per day. While testing the machine we did it 14 times in one day, with no negative impact on the roaster or the roasted beans. In Asia and Europe, this roaster is marketed to restaurants, B&Bs and small coffee houses. In the US it is marketed to households only, I suspect because of liability reasons and because of stricter public safety laws.

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Nelson, Could you translate the "#45 Agtron/SCCA" roasting recommendation to the settings on my Gene Cafe roaster? Thanks.

Sure! Because common names (Full City, Vienna, New England or even French Roast) mean different things to different people, the Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA) has developed a standard based on the color of the beans. A roasted coffee color scale was developed by a company named Agtron. So, the setting "#45 Agtron/SCCA" corresponds to what Kenneth Davis (Home Coffee Roasting, 2005) calls "Moderately Dark". The book actually has a glossy printout with the colors for readers to use as reference. Most home roasters cannot afford to buy an Agtron machine ($15,000 to $20,000), but that would be overkill, anyway.

On the Gene Cafe description here on our online store, I include a table that we created to relate Gene Cafe Settings to Agtron color codes. My favorite roast setting would be "City Roasting", which is 17 minutes at 482 F. Be aware, however, that those settings are not universally transportable. Your roast results will depend on your ambient temperature, the humidity of the air, the humidity of the bean and the strength of your electrical circuit. So use those settings as indicative. I like to end my roast just before second crack, when there are tinges of oil on the surface of the beans, but not yet large patches. Remember, you need to experiment until you find the setting that YOU like.

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I am going to start a small company that sells fresh roasted coffee. What I would like to know is, could the Hottop coffee roaster keep up? Can it handle multiple roasts everyday or does it need a lot of down time?

You will be able to handle on this roaster up to five pounds of roasted coffee a day. However, you are going to be spending a lot of money in electricity. For a true commercial purpose, I recommend the Sonofresco (either 1 or 2 lb. models). They run on propane or natural gas. With the Sonofrescos you can roast up to 25/50 lbs of coffee on a normal 8-hour day, and the utility bills will be minimal. You can buy either Sonofresco roaster from us on this site. They cost more money ($2,995/$3,495) but they are certainly worth it, and you can roast with them non-stop; 24 hours a day, if you want. With the Hottop, you need to let the roaster cool off for about 20 minutes after each roast.

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How many pounds of beans does the Hottop roast? Can this be done indoors, without exhaust like in your pictures? The other units I see have exhaust piping.

The Hottop roasts 9 ounces (one ounce more than one-half pound) per batch. Yes, you can do it indoors, but you would need to be near a window because, especially if you want dark roasts, it will generate enough smoke to trigger your smoke alarm. Yes, other home coffee roasters (Gene Cafe, I-Roast2) can be fitted with 3" exhaust piping, which is a very nice feature! This is one of the few areas where the Hottop roasters can use some improvement. We use the Hottop (like in the pictures) near a window and always have to open the window and blow the smoke out with a fan.

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I recently purchased your Hottop coffee roaster standard model and like it very much. However, with some coffees I cannot get the coffee roasted as dark as I would like. Internet search suggests my line voltage may be too low. Is it acceptable to use a Variac to adjust the line voltage and should this be effective? Thanks!

Yes, electric home coffee roasters are very susceptible to low voltage. Variacs (a device that will condition, lower or increase your voltage) usually correct this problem. HOWEVER, you should be aware that the manufacturer will VOID its warranty if you use a Variac. Weigh your benefits and costs. Here are a few things you can do if you suspect low voltage, short of using a Variac:

  • 1) Get a voltmeter. Make sure the problem is low voltage. There are inexpensive ones at Wal-mart, Home Depot, Lowe's and electrical components stores.
  • 2) Do not use any extension cords.
  • 3) Do not share that circuit with any other appliance or electrical current user (home electronics, etc.)
  • 4) Is your home wired 200 amps or better?
  • 5) Use outlets in the kitchen, garage, or utility area. Those tend to be wired independently and for high voltage usage.

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On the Hottop roaster, what is the cool down time between roasts? Also, how many roasting batches will it take to get about one pound of coffee? Thank you.

There will be 5 to 10 minutes between roasts. Two roasting batches will generate one pound of coffee. A neat thing about the Hottop is that it has a 'preheating' cycle. Before you can drop the green coffee beans into the drum, the roaster preheats to the required temperature (this produces a uniform, even roast). If you roast back-to-back, however, this preheating cycle will completely cool down the roaster before heating it up again.

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I'm thinking of setting up a small roasting company and will need to have it go mobile at times. What requirements for gas and or electric do I need? Any information would be appreciated.

For a propane model, you just need a propane tank (bottle), the same that you use for your outdoor grill. You would also need a low-amperage electrical circuit to run the fan and integrated circuit. Any household electrical plug will do. The Sonofresco roaster uses minimal electricity. You could even use a small outside generator if an electrical outlet is not available. We have lots of satisfied Sonofresco users that use it in farmer's markets.

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I am interested in this roaster (Sonofresco) and would like to get more information. What is the footprint of a "working" roaster? Also, can you give me supporting information on the economics of these units? Can these units do a true French roast (my roaster is always talking about the afterburner on his roaster...)

The footprint is no larger than a commercial blender (12" by 20"). Your kitchen (especially if it has a vent) would be a good spot, although, the unit is so attractive I prefer to put it "up front" where the customers can see it. It adds to the "coffee excitement" and definitely builds buyer traffic. Yes, they can do a true French Roast (without an afterburner) but you would definitely need to vent the smoke. There is an inexpensive, under $500, kit available if your kitchen vent is not sufficient, or if you want to put the unit up in the front of the store. Feel free to call me during office hours (EST) and I will respond to all and every question that you may have. I use this roaster every day.

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Hello, I have a Sonofresco roaster that I bought on ebay. It gives an error code of "E 2" and I've triple checked the gas supply. I tried to use a 12 volt converter in an effort to bring it to farmers markets but the blower wouldn't run. Do you think its possible low voltage damaged it? Any ideas on repairs or parts? I'm pretty handy and could swap them myself if you have what I'd need. Thanks.

Hello, we had a similar problem with one of our Sonofresco roasters once. We tried repairing/replacing a lot of parts (to no avail) before we found the actual cause and fixed it. The problem came down to a small gap between two parts in the combustion chamber that affected the air fuel ratio. But let's go through your scenario first.

  • 1) Because there are clocks and timing devices in these roasters, it is not recommended to use any transformer of any kind; it simply will not work. I would certainly not use a direct (DC) current 12 volt converter. Whether that damaged the electrical components, I do not know, but I rather doubt it. Whether there is damage to the electrical components should be easy to test with an electrical tester.
  • 2) Make sure propane (or natural gas) is getting to the combustion chamber. You should be able to hear the hiss and smell the gas. Be careful, do not let the gas run out for more than five seconds to perform this test. You do not want to create an explosion. If no gas is coming out, you may have a defective propane hose. Make sure the hose is well tightened into the propane bottle so that it overrides the safety features. If you are uncomfortable performing this test, let a qualified technician do it.
  • 2) The third thing I would do is replace the temperature sensor. It is a $75 part.
  • 3) Assuming you get a spark but no gas, I would then replace the gas valve. It is a $70 part.
  • 4)Since you bought the unit on eBay, I assume it was used and out of warranty. For warranty work, you could send the roaster to the manufacturer in Washington State.
Hope this helps.

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