Rotate fun 300, Lysander pro 200g- Anyone have one?

[Joe]

I have seen a bunch of chatter on the forums regarding these cheap roasters available on alibaba and aliexpress. They look interesting enough to check out and have some fun with. I am looking at securing in the next few months one of these and using it to possibly sample roast coffee's or to limit my exposure on expensive coffee's.

If anyone has experience with these I would like to hear your opinion.

[9Sbeans]

I don't have any of them.

The Lysander pro 200-g is an open drum sample roaster.  It is “said” to be made in Italy, but I really doubt it.  I guess the manager (Mr. Hwang? Not sure of the spelling) designed the outlook but the internal could be clone of other roasters.  The open drum means no airflow control, and thus it is only suitable for applying same light roast level to evaluate the quality of various green beans, but not as good in developing roasting profiles for production purpose.  Sort of “diminishing return” IMHO.

The Rotate Fun 300 is very popular entry level machine between Taiwan home roasters.  I once saw a registered list of about 50 home roasters, and 40% of them use RF-300.  However, there is no airflow control in the entry level model, and the operator has very limited means to control a roast once the first crack starts.  There are several upgrade modules available (as confusing as Huky).  The used market in Taiwan is quite stable for the RF-300, and the repairing/upgrading kits are also readily available.  A user can get a handle about home roasting and easily upgrade to other roasters within 3 months.  In US, there is no advantage to own RF-300 (shipping cost, upgrading kits, used market, etc.).   

There are many more brands/builders in Taiwan.  In addition to the KapoK, BellaTW(Yang-Chia) and coffee-worker, there are “traditional” builder like TZU-LIN MACHINERY (http://www.tzulin.com/products_e.html) and YOU-WEI (http://www.you-wei.com/e/e-product02.htm).  Lysander (http://www.billiecoffee.com/roaster0.htm) is just one of the players in the field.

[Joe]

Yeah no way is the Lysander made in Italy. I haven't seen anything that says such and given their multitude of them made in China on Alibaba I am positive it might at best be a copy of an Italian design.


In regards to the airflow etc.. I don't think that is a point or consideration. Poppery I has awesome airflow btw.

No production needs or desires from these I anticipate it would be like a probat sample roaster.

[hankua]

I should be able to check out the Rotate Fun 300 later on this year, and possibly ship them to the US. The drum uses an Archimedes screw to toss the beans around.

[Joe]

I should be able to check out the Rotate Fun 300 later on this year, and possibly ship them to the US. The drum uses an Archimedes screw to toss the beans around.

I have seen some videos that have me intrigued for a price..

[9Sbeans]

There is a new miniature (120 grams; 4 ounces) coffee roaster, Feima 100N, for about US$750 (not including shipping & handling).  Open faced drum, adjustable gas and airflow. I won’t buy it mainly due to its small capacity. Nevertheless, comparing to the Lysander pro 200-g, Feima 100N is much more appealing to me. 

http://www.feima.com.tw/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=85

http://youtu.be/DKQbi29lUok

[brianmch]

There is a new miniature (120 grams; 4 ounces) coffee roaster, Feima 100N, for about US$750 (not including shipping & handling).  Open faced drum, adjustable gas and airflow. I won’t buy it mainly due to its small capacity. Nevertheless, comparing to the Lysander pro 200-g, Feima 100N is much more appealing to me. 

http://www.feima.com.tw/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=85

http://youtu.be/DKQbi29lUok

That's pretty appealing to me!

[hankua]

I'm definitely going to be checking this little guy out. Could use a sample spoon, as it would be more appealing to commercial rather than home users.

[brianmch]

Keep us informed if you don't mind.

[hankua]

Will do, I was wrong it does have a sample spoon; and saw one with a thermocouple instead of the dial thermometer.

[hankua]

Just came back from checking out the 100n baby gas roaster. Maximum capacity is 150g, stainless steel drum, adjustable gas, adjustable air, chaff tray, charging spoon, chaff bag, and dial BT thermometer.

There are several downsides to the machine; although its cute as a button and comes in 5 colors. You could even buy extra shrouds if your mood shifts from yellow to red.

The gas adjustment controls a single atmospheric burner, although it's variable the flame height seems to have three basic settings; low-medium-high. Air control is adjusted with a slide plate marked 1-4. At the shop they usually leave the gas on low and control the roast with the air plate.

No pressure gauge to keep track of heat settings, maybe connecting to Artisan and tracking ROR could be a substitute? Consistancy from batch to batch? I was also told it didn't do dark roasts well, not sure if that was based on taste or smoke coming out the back. The vent on the back could easily be connected to a 3" flex duct.

It can be shipped air freight, a wild guess is between 100-$150, that needs to be checked out at the post office.

I'm still going to try getting in touch with the Rotate Fun folks, probably after Spring Festival (Chinese New Year),

[brianmch]

Thanks for the update!

[Joe]

Just came back from checking out the 100n baby gas roaster. Maximum capacity is 150g, stainless steel drum, adjustable gas, adjustable air, chaff tray, charging spoon, chaff bag, and dial BT thermometer.

There are several downsides to the machine; although its cute as a button and comes in 5 colors. You could even buy extra shrouds if your mood shifts from yellow to red.

The gas adjustment controls a single atmospheric burner, although it's variable the flame height seems to have three basic settings; low-medium-high. Air control is adjusted with a slide plate marked 1-4. At the shop they usually leave the gas on low and control the roast with the air plate.

No pressure gauge to keep track of heat settings, maybe connecting to Artisan and tracking ROR could be a substitute? Consistancy from batch to batch? I was also told it didn't do dark roasts well, not sure if that was based on taste or smoke coming out the back. The vent on the back could easily be connected to a 3" flex duct.

It can be shipped air freight, a wild guess is between 100-$150, that needs to be checked out at the post office.

I'm still going to try getting in touch with the Rotate Fun folks, probably after Spring Festival (Chinese New Year),

All the items you noted would be downfalls for a home roaster but they make it a perfect sample roaster which is probably what they seem to be targeting? What was the cost US? and how would one purchase it?

[hankua]

Funny they say the target market is home use, agree the design looks "sample roaster". I'm going to pick up one and spin the wheels.

[Joe]

Funny they say the target market is home use, agree the design looks "sample roaster". I'm going to pick up one and spin the wheels.

haha yeah in their efforts to make the best home roaster, they may have made the perfect sample roaster. When you get all the info on how and where to buy pass it along. I might be following your lead.