Hottop (9oz) Programable (Model: B Coffee Roaster

This roaster is a replacement for my previous non-programmable Hottop (KN-8828B) that I had been using for the last 6 years. The delivery service was satisfactory as usual with Amazon and Amazon partners. It arrived in one piece but did seem to take a few days longer to receive than other purchases shipped directly from Amazon. Not really an issue in my mind, and certainly not something that directly involves the roaster's performance. Also, I had to pay for shipping (yeah, I know I always pay for it in some manner) which is a bummer. That just takes that psychological satisfaction level down a peg when normally purchases over $25 from Amazon ship for "free". My previous roaster served me very well. I would recommend it to anyone wanting to start home roasting coffee, and would rate that model KN-8828B, (newer non-programmable model is the KN-8828B-2K) 4+ stars. It is simple to use, quiet, and will yield about 6.5 ounces of roasted coffee per roast ( I like darker roasts, so you lose a little more moisture/weight from the bean than with light roasts). I detract a star for the plastic construction that failed (namely, the base and almost all of the internal plastic screw mounts that became brittle and broke, and the control panel input actuators on the inside of the control panel). I probably did over 700 roasts in that 6 year period, so that machine cost about a $1.30 per roast, plus the filter replacements. All the other components seemed fine, and I've ordered the replacement parts to get the old roaster up and running again. The non-programmable model was very easy to use, and allowed for complete control over the roast inputs (cooling fan, temperature, and to an extent time) throughout the roast cycle. The P model does not. It requires you to input a roast profile into 8 segments, and then you are pretty much constrained to those settings during the roast. You can change the heat settings, but not the cooling fan or the roast times within the roasting segments. It is not too difficult to program, but it's just much more involved than I believe is necessary. I went with the P model as it was the only model Amazon offered, and they gave me a year to pay for it with no interest, which is nice rather than plunking down nearly $1200 (for me, just another psychological thing). If they had offered the B-2K model, I would have purchased it instead. If you're considering between the two models, do not think of the P model as a "better" unit. It's not. It's the same machine in all respects other than it let's you store 8 roast profiles at the expense of limiting your ability to change critical inputs during the roast. Maybe it's just because I was very used to the first model, which does also allow you to store three roast profiles without having to program each segment. It has more control panel images (just basic idiot lights, not fancy or high tech so there's no ooh-ahhh factor) that do not really add any value to the roast as compared to the non-prog model. Home coffee roasting is all about developing your coffee to your preferred roast style (taste). That is a factor of roast time and temperature, and will normally require you to be able to adjust the roaster settings to compensate for differences in the type of bean, outside temperature and humidity (I roast outside). Despite the constraints, I've managed to produce some good roasts at the expense of losing a few while learning how to deal with the programming issues. So what you are paying for in the P model is over $400.00 of computer circuit board and a few extra wires that do not improve the coffee roast or the roasting experience. Overall, construction Is pretty much like my old roaster, it's just more expensive and without the same level of control.

I've been roasting, using an older version of this machine which is identical other than the addition of a few "computerized" elements. I roast at least once a week and usually do 2 batches. Plus binge roasting at Christmas for gifts. I roast outside because the roasting process produces a fair amount of acrid smoke.Bean roasting produces an oily buildup so (as per instructions) you need to remove drum and a few other parts to clean. It isn't all that difficult but MUST be done. Same with chaff - ALL of it needs to be emptied after EVERY batch (window into drum area, chaff tray and tipping machine up or using compressed air to blow it out). Again not difficult. 5 years of frequent roasting and no fires. If you are not going to take these steps don't buy this machine. It isn't a toy.I have also had no broken parts but I don't know if the newer version has more plastic parts than mine.I routinely change the filter which I purchase directly from the manufacturer a few times each year.I LOVE my roaster and we would be miserable returning to stale, expensive store bought coffee so the weekly effort is worth it

I've roasted green coffee for over 25 years both commercially and residentially, buying 60 and 70 kilo bags of green from a true green coffee broker. I like very fresh coffee < 3 days from the roaster, and brew espressos from a La Marzocco Linia and use a Mazzer grinder.Every thing is perfect, except this Hottop roaster will always dump its roast at 437F , which is premature for a decent Sumarta green....it needs to go most of the way thru the second crack IMHO. I'd say a lawyer dictated the control panel set point limits.Here's how to roast darker: Un plug the roaster, remover the big brass thumbe screw, and take off the front glass / plate. Remove the 4 screws below, allowing drum removal ( much easier than it sounds) . Remover the drum, reach in and find the thermocouple on the back wall that's at 2 o'clock. Get some high temp RTV ( orange) silicone gasket adhesive and coat the thermocouple liberally with the adhesive.Re assemble the roaster, plug it in and run it thru a heat cycle empty to cure the high temp silicone......now the roaster will be a little "blinded" by the coating, and roast to a higher actual ( not indicated) temperature.This results in a full second crack, and a darker roast. Per

I've been roasting using the hot top for almost a year. It's a great way to roast small batches of beans. It's attractive and easy to program.Cleaning it is another story. It's almost impossible to not have some chaff or at least a wayward bean or two lodged somewhere in the drum. A dry process bean I've roasted a dozen times caught fire and basically melted the chaff tray and it's surrounding area. It's a wonder I did not have a bigger problem, as it was not easy to snuff the flames as the plastic tray continued to burn. Even with constant attention and care the outcome was what other home roasters have written about.