Indonesian coffee roaster w600i

[TOK]

.....Overall from what I can see it seems to be a very basic design, which doesn't necessarily mean bad. Still cannot see the barrel inside or the insulation used.

Basic is good...very very good. Doesnt mean bad at all.

Insulation? Wot insulation? If its is designed without, leave it out. If its designed with it in, leave it in! If you put it in, but it was designed without, you will change all the design parameters of use and then it may not work too well at all.....

Seriously. I think its way overpriced for small home use, and I tend to agree with whoever mentioned above to look at something like a hottop or something, but that is only of course a personal observation.

[saoye]

I think the point is that it is supposedly a 1kg roaster. Going to a 600g roaster as a price comparison is not what the OP is asking for.

[saoye]

Also regarding insulation I was not implying to add it in I was trying to understand what you get for the money. Also I am comparing it with my 1kg barrel roaster.

[TOK]

understood. Just adding to information.

My view is also that it is too big for home use. Not because some houseolds might not use 1 kg or more per week, but because most wouldnt. Therefore to do only 1 roast per week means the owner will never learn how to use it properly except over a very long pereiod of time. Would rather see OP buy a more suitable size (smaller) roaster where a few roasts per week can be done, and learning the ropes will be easier.

Adding to that, roasting say 500 gram batches in a 1 kg batch machine so as to use more frequently to learn, will only result in learning how to use a 1 kg machine to roast half its correct or most efficient batch size.....and use similar amount of gas and roasting time as the full batch.

Hope that helps to see were i am coming from. The OP is free to take all advice, then make up his own mind.

[saoye]

Agree with you if OP has never roasted but he is upgrading from a behmor (correct me if I'm wrong pretzal) and has been roasting for a few years now. I agree for a machine like this a lead on or step towards would be a corretto setup which allows for a more manual (hands on) control compared to a behmor. The machine OP presented however is supposedly also able to do as low as 200g so the frequency of roast will not be as far between. Personally for $700 (local price) I would give it a go for sure but for $2k there are others that you could look at for a little more with much better build and features.

[TOK]

Re: "...The machine....supposedly also able to do as low as 200g so the frequency of roast will not be as far between...."

Yes they can all be run at less than their std batch size which is what I was saying and maybe i didnt explain well enough, that while they can, that is not a good idea as you never learn how to use a machine at its correct batch size which is ideally where you want to be. Better to have a say 200 gram machine and use it often at full batch, than to have a 1 kg machine and use it at 200 gram batch, because you wont learn how to use it properly.... and therefore a waste of money at any price. Have a 1 kg machine when you can start using it at full batch size to do atleast say 2 or 3 batches at a time regularly, where you can learn something from it......

This is a common problem for commercial roasters where it has to be done as you grow and there is enough turnover of batches to go the next size up, but is a waste of time and money for a home roaster with virtually no tiurnover to go the next size...

But that is my head talking sense not my heart talking, and again that is only my opinion and it is certainly not my money. I have several motorcycles and can only ride one at a time. A perfect example oif my heart winning out over my head

Agree with you re the price.

[Pretzal]

Thanks very much for the replies people. Yes Saoye you're right I've been using a behmor for a few years now. I'd guestimate maybe 200 roasts (although I do have a log of all my roasts) has been conducted using my behmor. I roast 2 x 350gm batches (of green beans) about every fortnight, sometimes 3 if there is demand from family - to be honest I'd rather roast one batch of 700 and be done with it. Not to say I don't enjoy roasting in the behmor - I just don't particularly like the repetition as its time consuming.

I like trying new coffee toys - to experiment and gain exposure and experience with different products, styles and ways of doing things.

Good point TOK about the sweetspot for batch sizes I had wondered whether it was less than optimal to do say 500gram roasts in a 1kg roaster.

I have considered the corretto and while I haven't completely discounted it yet - I'm finding it difficult to feel passionate about a setup that whilst functional, it looks a lot franken-roaster like and feels like a step sideways to me. It's not elegant, neat, simple or an object of desire - it simply fills a need and on this point it is quite a successful and clever concept.

Most of the cost of the W600i appears to be in the postage ($650 US) which might be possible to reduce with a bit more investigation, however its most likely still a $2000 all up proposition most likely.

So what are these other options for not much more of which you speak Saoye??