Looking for a Coffee Roaster

01-19-2009, 08:24 PM

I want to start roasting my own beans. Ive read about some that only roast light and some that roast dark. I like a med/dark roast. Can anyone help out and recommend a good roaster?? Money will be an issue. Nothing crazy. Thanks

King James · 01-19-2009, 08:50 PM

can build an sc/co for about $60-80... probably best option

Mister Moo · 01-20-2009, 05:01 AM

How much coffee do you use/month?

01-20-2009, 11:13 AM

You could be like me, Google dog bowl heat gun coffee roasting.

RevSmoke · 01-20-2009, 12:00 PM

I have been using a Fresh Roast Plus for about 8 years. I love it. My wife and I drink a Bunn 10 cup pot a day. I roast a few batches interspersed throughout the day, and get enough beans for a week. One roasting renders about 1.5 pots (at the strength we enjoy). Here is a link to this roaster at Coffee Bean Corral. You can shop around if you like, but this is about as good a deal as you will find. http://www.coffeebeancorral.com/Prod...x?productid=FR

01-20-2009, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mister Moo

How much coffee do you use/month?

about 3-4 pounds

01-20-2009, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RevSmoke

I have been using a Fresh Roast Plus for about 8 years. I love it. My wife and I drink a Bunn 10 cup pot a day. I roast a few batches interspersed throughout the day, and get enough beans for a week. One roasting renders about 1.5 pots (at the strength we enjoy). Here is a link to this roaster at Coffee Bean Corral. You can shop around if you like, but this is about as good a deal as you will find. http://www.coffeebeancorral.com/Prod...x?productid=FR

thanks for the link rev!

germantown rob · 02-04-2009, 06:42 AM

air roasters are fine for small amounts of home roast but at 65g per roast the end result does not even make a full pot of coffee and to get 3-4 pounds a week than you would have to roast 16 times. I started with a roaster that claims to do 1# but that died after 6 months and after repair it has a tough time doing 1/4#. I than upgraded to the HotTop B which costs around $720 but has produced 3-4#'s per week for 14 months straight with 0 problems. A friend has the Gene Cafe which is around $495 and is also a great roaster and he has had to fix it 1 in 2-3 years. Both of these roasters will handle 280g of green beans that produce 1/2# of roasted beans. It depends on your roasting needs and commitment so starting with an air roaster for under $100 may be a good way start.

I like the reviews Sweet Maria's does for their products and their green beans plus customer service is A+.
http://www.sweetmarias.com/index.html

Mr Moo made a BBQ roaster and has posted details on it which can do 2#'s at a time and I don't believe it costs to much to make one of these.

Mister Moo · 02-04-2009, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChicagoWhiteSox

about 3-4 pounds

For a pound/wk or more I'd definitely be thinking SCCO which, by the way, is not hardly the best roaster-learning device.

Fumes · 02-04-2009, 09:34 PM

I used an IRoast-2 for almost two years with no mechanical problems, aside from the time I dropped the top that holds the chaff collector and cracked it. (Replacement cost 15 bucks.) My routine was to grab a cigar and retreat into the garage about three times a week. The small capacity is the major drawback, but it got me into the garage for a smoke on a regular basis, so I can't complain.

Air roasters are great learning devices, though the noise of the IRoar takes a little getting used to.

ashtonlady · 02-04-2009, 10:24 PM

I started on a Fresh Roast +. I was using about the same amount you are 3 to 4 lbs a month. It is a good one to start on because you can see what is going on and smell the beans as they roast. It makes for great cigar time in the garage. Also check out Sweet Marias web site for excellent information on roasting. www.sweetmarias.com

trogdor · 02-18-2009, 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MithShrike

You could be like me, Google dog bowl heat gun coffee roasting.

This works great for me. Roasting outside (or on my covered porch in inclement weather) is a must because of the smoke and chaff.
Great control over the roast, I do one to two cups of green at a time (I've found 1 cup to be about 1/3 pound unroasted). I'd say 7-13 minutes per batch of roast time, plus cool down, you could easily do your 1+ pound a week in about an hour including set up and take down.

01-19-2009, 08:24 PM	#1
ChicagoWhiteSox Guest Posts: n/a	Looking for a Coffee Roaster I want to start roasting my own beans. Ive read about some that only roast light and some that roast dark. I like a med/dark roast. Can anyone help out and recommend a good roaster?? Money will be an issue. Nothing crazy. Thanks

01-19-2009, 08:50 PM	#2
King James Regard Me! Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Jim Location: Dark Side Of The Moon Posts: 2,565 Trading: (2)	Re: Looking for a Coffee Roaster can build an sc/co for about $60-80... probably best option __________________ Mob Herfin' Since 2006

01-20-2009, 05:01 AM	#3
Mister Moo I barely grok the obvious Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Dan Location: Lizard Lick, NC Posts: 1,417 Trading: (3)	Re: Looking for a Coffee Roaster How much coffee do you use/month? __________________ "I hope you had the time of your life."

01-20-2009, 11:13 AM	#4
MithShrike Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Looking for a Coffee Roaster You could be like me, Google dog bowl heat gun coffee roasting.

01-20-2009, 12:00 PM	#5
RevSmoke Ain't Never Gonna Leave Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Todd Location: Northcentral woods of Wisconsin Posts: 6,844 Trading: (51)	Re: Looking for a Coffee Roaster I have been using a Fresh Roast Plus for about 8 years. I love it. My wife and I drink a Bunn 10 cup pot a day. I roast a few batches interspersed throughout the day, and get enough beans for a week. One roasting renders about 1.5 pots (at the strength we enjoy). Here is a link to this roaster at Coffee Bean Corral. You can shop around if you like, but this is about as good a deal as you will find. http://www.coffeebeancorral.com/Prod...x?productid=FR __________________ Todd__ "Smoke what you like, and enjoy it!"

02-04-2009, 06:42 AM	#8
germantown rob Still not Adjusted Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Rob Location: Philadelphia Posts: 330 Trading: (1)	Re: Looking for a Coffee Roaster air roasters are fine for small amounts of home roast but at 65g per roast the end result does not even make a full pot of coffee and to get 3-4 pounds a week than you would have to roast 16 times. I started with a roaster that claims to do 1# but that died after 6 months and after repair it has a tough time doing 1/4#. I than upgraded to the HotTop B which costs around $720 but has produced 3-4#'s per week for 14 months straight with 0 problems. A friend has the Gene Cafe which is around $495 and is also a great roaster and he has had to fix it 1 in 2-3 years. Both of these roasters will handle 280g of green beans that produce 1/2# of roasted beans. It depends on your roasting needs and commitment so starting with an air roaster for under $100 may be a good way start. I like the reviews Sweet Maria's does for their products and their green beans plus customer service is A+. http://www.sweetmarias.com/index.html Mr Moo made a BBQ roaster and has posted details on it which can do 2#'s at a time and I don't believe it costs to much to make one of these.

02-04-2009, 09:34 PM	#10
Fumes Not So Memorious Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Tom Posts: 205 Trading: (0)	Re: Looking for a Coffee Roaster I used an IRoast-2 for almost two years with no mechanical problems, aside from the time I dropped the top that holds the chaff collector and cracked it. (Replacement cost 15 bucks.) My routine was to grab a cigar and retreat into the garage about three times a week. The small capacity is the major drawback, but it got me into the garage for a smoke on a regular basis, so I can't complain. Air roasters are great learning devices, though the noise of the IRoar takes a little getting used to. __________________ It has been my experience that folks who have no vices have very few virtues. -A. Lincoln

02-04-2009, 10:24 PM	#11
ashtonlady The Lady is Here Join Date: Jan 2009 First Name: Laura Location: Seattle WA Posts: 1,090 Trading: (8)	Re: Looking for a Coffee Roaster I started on a Fresh Roast +. I was using about the same amount you are 3 to 4 lbs a month. It is a good one to start on because you can see what is going on and smell the beans as they roast. It makes for great cigar time in the garage. Also check out Sweet Marias web site for excellent information on roasting. www.sweetmarias.com