CHOICE tests of home roasters

[luke151165]

I have only one problem with CHOICE reviews...... only those who submit for reviews get a workout.

Unfortunately if you aren't in the review good or bad it seems the ones not in are bad.....

SOme of the best don't need reviews. They are just great cause they are designed well.

Choice should review themselves and see how they do..... we can vote

[sorrentina]

Hey Guys,

sorry I missed this thread and your posts Kafine- sorry to hear of your low heat issue- but happy to hear of your solution. I have not heard of this before but will keep it in mind now if the issue crops up again.

Having used both roasters extensively I am confident to say they both produce excellent roasts. Each has advantages over the other- and these have already been covered on the various threads here. Simply put Behmor can roast more and offers more roast profile tweaking options: I-Coffee is smaller- and roasts easier indoors with a fast clean up and better chaff catching. I-Coffee is possibly more simple to master but less tweakable.

Kafine: here is my own Behmor profile that I use exclusively: I set the machine to 1 pound- then P4, and C. 450 grams.

The roasts go for around 20 to 23 minutes to the start of second crack. Around the end of first crack I start opening the door periodically to slow the roast a little. (You may need to add a little time around now if the timer is running out). You have to watch carefully for second crack and hit cool as soon as it starts. 2nd crack will continue into the cool cycle. I let it cool for 30 seconds with the door open. Then I turn the machine off and with a tea towel and oven gloves remove the roast basket as quick as I can and cool the beans externally. I find it better to cool the beans outside the machine as second crack can really get away from you fast... If you use the internal cool cycle you want to hit before 2nd crack - maybe even a minute.

[thundering_gerkins]

Glad you fixed it, I'll have to keep that issue in mind.
I'd love to know what you think of the behmor compared to the I-Coffee.
Are you planning any side by side comparisons of the roasters? NAH.... you'll be busy getting your head around the behmor
Enjoy.

[Kafine]

I fixed it so don't worry. The screws that hold the agitator into the roasting pot had come loose and was holding it away from the heat element. I am sure you will enjoy the I-Coffee as it is a very consistent roaster that produces great coffee. Just remember to watch each new bean as some take off while others just flow. Me now i have both and look forward to learning the Behmor. The main advantage is being able to roast larger batches as i now use more with family and friends paying more visits.

[thundering_gerkins]

Thundering Gerkins The switching off problem in the I Coffee was in one batch only. I have one of these and the work around discussed in the I-Coffee thread works. What i have found now is that mine has lost some heat and i am struggling to reach temps quick enough. My first crack has stretched out some 5-6 mins longer to around 16 -17 mins and second crack comes 8 mins later if at all. Mine is one of the timer problem batch but the slow down is concerning and i have today ordered a Behmor.

Thanks for the info.
I ended up buying the I Coffee roaster a few weeks ago, and all seems fine so far.
Have done 8 roasts and i'm very impressed with it's consistancy. Very even roast colour compared to the popper.
I believe the I Coffee's are generally reliable, bugger to here it's on the way out.
Any warranty left on your unit?

[Kafine]

Thundering Gerkins The switching off problem in the I Coffee was in one batch only. I have one of these and the work around discussed in the I-Coffee thread works. What i have found now is that mine has lost some heat and i am struggling to reach temps quick enough. My first crack has stretched out some 5-6 mins longer to around 16 -17 mins and second crack comes 8 mins later if at all. Mine is one of the timer problem batch but the slow down is concerning and i have today ordered a Behmor.

[lemoo]

Re: CHOICE tests of home roasters

i roast indoors all the time and have never been unhappy lol

[DavidW1960]

Re: CHOICE tests of home roasters

Because its smokey and smelly.

Id hate for him to get ne and be disappointed and seeing as roasting inside is one of his prime criteria I cant recommend it. I love mine and would get it gain if I was choosing today but I dont roast inside - well I do in my shed but no worries there.

Lovely roast.

[shapeshifter]

Re: CHOICE tests of home roasters

I love my Behmor but I think youll be unhappy with it. Using it inside.

LOL David I dont know why you keep saying that hed be unhappy using it inside, I just completed the following roast inside not half an hour ago

[DavidW1960]

Re: CHOICE tests of home roasters

I love my Behmor but I think youll be unhappy with it. Using it inside.

[act180]

Re: CHOICE tests of home roasters

Thank you everyone for the advice/experiences. So much better than any magazine article. One thing a magazine article gives though is scoring and comparisons against each other which no-one else seems to really do. It is a pity Choice is often a bit superficial - its just another opinion after all but I find them to be consistent, definitely independent, and generally a pretty good guide.

By wanting to roast inside, I do mean inside the (heated) house. Too many times Ive NEEDED to roast some beans in the dark outside in bad weather so I can have a cup the next morning.

I guess what everyone is saying either way I go Ill be happy. Im going to think on it a bit. The i-Coffee has a lot going for it and probably the only thing that concerns me is the lack of control and size. Maybe some day Ill end up with both, that would be ideal.

Thanks again guys, very helpful

[Barry O'Speedwagon]

Re: CHOICE tests of home roasters

Hi Joel,
FWIW I was tossing up between the Behmor and i-Coffee, and in the end decided that I didnt want to be standing outside watching a roast on a Canberra winters evening. I also had little experience with roasting prior to purchase and wanted to keep things as simple as possible. The i-Coffee hasnt let me down thus far, and I dont even switch the rangehood on when roasting indoors. Not many people seem to have direct experience of both roasters, so comparisons are pretty tough. Enjoy whichever one you pick.
Cheers
BOSW

[DavidW1960]

Re: CHOICE tests of home roasters

My wife is a saint - but even outside I find a fair bt of smell and smoke. I did roast inside the first few times but my shed/workshop is much better suited.

[shapeshifter]

Re: CHOICE tests of home roasters

LOL David, only not suited to inside if you have someone that tells you off for it, since we clean engine parts on the coffee table I think I have that part sewn up ;D

Im glad that others have put their experiences with the other roasters on as well, gives a better picture for choices to be made on what might be closest to someones situation

[fivegallon]

Re: CHOICE tests of home roasters

Joel (act180),
If you are really leaning towards roasting inside (im presuming you mean inside the house and not just inside the garage?) i can tell you this with regards to the iCoffee roaster:

I have done many roasts in my kitchen, on the stovetop, under the rangehood. This gives me smoke extraction of which there is very little smoke. The most smoke is on the initial opening of the lid at the end of the roast.

The chaff is collected in the ring which sits around the heating element. Depending on how careful you are when you remove it for emptying you can get away with little or no chaff flying around.

I dont think theres much chance of getting away from the aroma with any of the roasters, but i happen to love the smell of fresh roasted beans so its not a concern for me.
Usually i do open at least one window just as im about to open the lid to assist with any excess smoke/smell.

A quick wipe of the dome glass lid after every 2 or 3 roasts will give you good viewing. That said, the temp probe mod will get you to 2nd crack more often as you roast by numbers rather than sight.

I also have a Hottop roaster which is only used inside my garage, it produces too much smoke for inside the house. With this i also crack open the roller door and/or the personnel access door to assist with smoke extraction late in the roast.

Of course in spring/autumn/summer most of the doors/windows are open anyway.

Its also nice to have them roasting side by side in the garage, with one roasting whilst the other is cooling

I have a bonus of not having anyone b*tch about smoke or smell or flying chaff as i live alone ;D