Which Roaster?

[argon]

Hi guys - Im considering a roaster for Xmas. Being new to this aspect, Im looking to what to ask Santa for. I dojnt want to start at the bottom eg popper. I want a good machine that does a good job at roasting as is relatively easy to maintain and operate. In roaster language, think the equivalent of Silvia - I dont want something that gives poor or intermittent quality, but I cant justify top end.

My thoughts are heading to Gene Cafe after reading threads and reviews. However, I would like to know if the increased dollars over the i roast are justified. Likewise, will i be dissappointed with a gene and regret not getting a hottop in the first place?

We consume roughly 200gms/week. Im an espresso drinker, my wife a flat white, guests whatever

appreciate your views, thanks

[Ben_S]

Re: Which Roaster?

I have had a Gene for over a year now. I roast about 500-750gms per week. At the time I bought, Hottops were not readily available. I have never looked back or regretted my decision.

Suggest you look at the various comparisons on this site. But I would quite happily recommend the Gene.

B

[beanflying]

Re: Which Roaster?

Happy Hottop user this end

A couple of things halped sway my decision. Noise is one and the ability to upgrade the electronics was another. As to roast sizes I have run a few 300g (green) roasts (finish up at around 250g). Put my D model runs a bit better at 250g green weight.

Even with Greg Pullman being the importer his review of the Gene vs Hottop here http://www.coffeetamper.com.au/**/reviews/gene-hottop/ was done prior to him importing the Hottop (just incase you hadnt seen it).

As to the I Roast I considered that in my options but there seemed to be a few dead ones in the threads

My Santa be kind to you

[gregpullman]

Re: Which Roaster?

Argon,

You might like to look through http://www.thingscoffee.com.au/**.php, and likewise Id commend to you the review BF linked to (if you havent seen those yet). The background to the review was that I already owned a Gene Cafe and had the opportunity to try it out side by side with a Hottop D. Subsequent to that I had the opportunity to use the newer Hottop B and P units. As BF mentioned, my decision to start importing Hottops came only after Id done all the research and written up the review. In fact, the sale of roasters was never even considered when the review took place, its only something that came along well afterwards as I came to appreciate what a good unit the Hottop is. I will reiterate that the Gene is still a very good roaster in its own right which is why we sell it too and its more appealing to certain people - its just that given the choice of the two (as I was), the Hottop is definitely my personal roaster of choice. Either roaster will happily do 200g/week.

As with machines, youll hear praise from people who like the Gene and youll hear praise from those who like the Hottop, but in most cases those users havent used both the Gene and the Hottop side by side and chosen the one they did as a result of such a comparison, much less over an extended period of time. That doesnt undervalue their opinions by any means - it tells you that there are happy owners of both products, but just remember that 100 "I have roaster X and its great" comments dont necessarily mean its a better product fullstop or for your needs that roaster Y if those users have never actually compared them. As the review points out, an individuals particular needs definitely need to be considered as each product has different strengths and weaknesses.

If you decide to go with a Hottop we have a CS special on them at the moment http://coffeesnobs.com.au/YaBB.pl?num=1163933751/6#6. If not there are plenty of Gene lovers here on CS and plenty of sponsors who sell them, including us.

Good luck whichever way you go!
Greg

[Randy_G.]

Re: Which Roaster?

With the disclaimer that I am an independent contractor with a long relationship with Hottop:
I own and have used (as well as reviewed on my website): Hearthware Gourmet, Hearthware Precision, Hearthware iRoastII, Gene Cafe, and every model of the Hottop produced (KN-8828, 8828D, 8828P, and 8828D).

Of that bunch:

Best Low Cost Roaster: iRoast II
best bang for the buck: Gene Cafe
best roaster: Hottop B
best Built Roaster: any Hottop

The Gene can roast on about the same level of the Hottop, but the lack of cooling and the lack of any memory for saving programs are definite negatives. The Hottop is quite tough as well. Numerous parts that have shown weakness or failures over the years have all been upgraded... sort of the Range Rover of coffee roasters.

Please feel free to peruse the reviews I still have on my website which include internal photos of the Hottop and Gene Cafe... No ads, no banners, and nothing for sale there. Nor so i benefit from sales of the Hottop roasters... here or there.

[argon]

Re: Which Roaster?

Thanks for the responses - I have seen the reviews linked and looked at the various threads.

Greg, i understand your experience has led to your preference for the hottop - however, if you had not been given the chance to try it, would you have been satisfied and happy with the gene. Im happy with my Silvia - I know her weaknesses - if i were given a top end machine to try, Im sure I might be convinced to upgrade - Is the gene in your experience similar to that.

From others, is the gene much better than the i-hearth 2 to justify the approx. $400 difference. Also, can the i-hearth be purchased from Aussie distributor for back up etc.

thanks again

[gregpullman]

Re: Which Roaster?

Greg, i understand your experience has led to your preference for the hottop - however, if you had not been given the chance to try it, would you have been satisfied and happy with the gene.  Im happy with my Silvia - I know her weaknesses - if i were given a top end machine to try, Im sure I might be convinced to upgrade - Is the gene in your experience similar to that.

Excellent question Argon. One would presume so and Id like to say so, but I think not. From my first roast with the Gene, its noise really got in the way. I didnt hear FC at all and only stopped the roast because it was getting really dark. It wasnt a good start and it didnt get any better in the next few roasts, so after 3-4 I wasnt really impressed. Plus there wasnt any correlation between the temperature figure on the display and what was going on inside the drum, so I really had no idea what the beans were doing. Within a week or so I was able to compare it to a Hottop, and the gorgeous silence and the much clearer cracks of the Hottop impressed immediately (using the same bean). So did the very effective cooling system. The newer Hottops with the built-in drum sensor and readout isnt perfect  by any means, but at least the temperature display bears some relationship to the bean temperature.

At present my Hottops at The Coffee Barun on demo duties so Ive been using the Gene for the last couple of weeks - in a way this has served as an opportunity to review those initial findings from the review. In the main this recent experience has reinforced my initial likes and dislikes: I still like the fact you can load it and start straight away with no warm-up time (though I guess you could do that in the Hottop too if you chose) and the chaff collection is still well above the Hottops; but while Im starting to hear the cracks more easily I still dont like what a noisy device it is and the fact (without breaking manufacturers recommendations and using emergency stop every time) you cant stop the roast at the desired point and dump it straight into a cooling mechanism. These two points still score pretty heavily against it in my books. In fairness I would happily say that as a result of increased roasting experience, I like the Gene a little more than I did before and I find that some beans are reasonably easy to hear the cracks in the Gene (while others still arent), but the Hottop is still the clear winner in my books - on the merits of each roaster, not just by way of a comparison.

For me, being able to clearly identify the bean cracks whatever the bean, and stop the roast at exactly the point you want are more important to me than some stray chaff in the final roast or having to wait a few minutes before loading the beans - and those things remain as constants regardless of whether youre comparing the two roasters or looking at them in isolation.

Again, just my opinion, remember that there are many happy Gene users here which obviously indicates my feelings arent necessarily representative of what everyone else feels.

Greg