Green Coffee Buying Club
Coffee Discussion boards => Hardware & Equipment => Topic started by: mattw on November 10, 2017, 06:32:55 AM
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So my faithful Hottop is probably ending it's life soon. She's had a great run, but after almost half a ton of coffee through her it's probably time.
I've been looking around to see what my options are for roasters that will give me a bit more roasting capacity while also gaining a little more control. I'm typically the one who roasts, but my wife sometimes roasts and I would like to keep something that is (relatively) simple for her to use if/when she wants to have a go at it.
So far I've seen the Huky, Kaldi, Bullet, and Quest as popular options these days. The Quest doesn't gain any roasting capacity so it's out. The Bullet looks like a great system (really ideal) but is substantially more expensive. The Kaldi offerings seem like a less-refined version of the Huky. The Huky isn't ideal as it has a lot more stuff than the Hottop (probably will intimidate my wife), but with the increased capacity I
So now I'm keeping an eye out for a used Huky.
BUT - are there any other options that I should be looking at? It seems like there has been a lot of development in the 1lb market lately and I haven't been keeping up!
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The Huky is probably a good bet that won't break the bank too badly.
The Behmor Id stay away from, it really is not a 1 Lb roaster and from my observations the quality on them has gone down over the years.
Other than that, sadly there are not a lot of inexpensive options, if you wanted to step it up a bit the artisan has a 2.5 lb roaster that is painfully simple, you adjust the bean loft, a knob... then adjust the temperature, another knob. It can do up to 2.5 lbs and down to 8 oz. it's about 3k but the average 1lb sample roaster generally starts at 4500 elsewhere so it is a deal. Repair parts are dirt cheap too if you ever need to. A few hundred dollars tops vs hundreds of dollars for other guys' parts.
If you want to talk more about it, please feel free to PM me, I can tell you pretty much anything you need to know about using it and can give you a link/ referral for it as well.
Aaron
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So far I've seen the Huky, Kaldi, Bullet, and Quest as popular options these days. The Quest doesn't gain any roasting capacity so it's out. The Bullet looks like a great system (really ideal) but is substantially more expensive. The Kaldi offerings seem like a less-refined version of the Huky. The Huky isn't ideal as it has a lot more stuff than the Hottop (probably will intimidate my wife), but with the increased capacity I
So now I'm keeping an eye out for a used Huky.
BUT - are there any other options that I should be looking at? It seems like there has been a lot of development in the 1lb market lately and I haven't been keeping up!
Those are the same options I was up against appx 1 yr ago.
I went with the Huky and won't ever look back. It is more cludgy than the Bullet but it really isn't intimidating and not hard to learn. Not like when I first started to roast on the Behmor. What swayed me the most was that it is gas fired which has less temp lag than electric; like cooking on gas burners vs and electric stove.
A complete used system is the way to go IMO. They are hard to come by and if you see one you've got to be ready. National craigslists, fleabay, and of course coffee forums. There used to be a dedicated Huky forum where folks would put up their build lists but its recently dissolved. One "extra" that makes it easier is another cooling tray/fan setup. The primary fan vents the drum and a secondary one allows for faster turn between batches. Maybe that appeals to you, maybe not.
Several folks here use them and I think most would be happy to help on of our own.
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Thanks guys, I'll keep an eye out for a used Huky - I'll stalk the usual places!
I had a Behmor while I was waiting on a part for the HT last time I fixed it. I did not like it.
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IIRC there was some Korean roaster in the same range as the Taiwanese Huky & Bullet R1. Can't seem to recall the details. Anyone got the name/link ?
I like the Bullet induction heating idea - controllable and efficient. OTOH the 2x price compared to Huky is pretty stiff for an amateur toy.
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I think you're talking about the Kaldi. There are several models in their line-up. Not many users AFAIK.
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mattw,
unless your HT is modified, you have to wait for the cool down cycle before you can start a new batch.
While the Quest has about the same batch capacity, it doesn't have a cool down cycle so you go back to back all
you want. Throughput might not be double but prob 50% or more if you do several batches each session.
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mattw,
unless your HT is modified, you have to wait for the cool down cycle before you can start a new batch.
While the Quest has about the same batch capacity, it doesn't have a cool down cycle so you go back to back all
you want. Throughput might not be double but prob 50% or more if you do several batches each session.
FYI, Modifying the HT to skip the cooling cycle is super simple - at least for the models I'm familiar with. I have made other modifications to help with cooling the electronics and gearbox however. I don't think it would be a problem in the winter, but in the Arizona summer, it needs some help to do multiple back to back batches. And, of course, it voids the warranty. :-\
Cheers.
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I had a Behmor for 3 years and bought a Huky about 2-3 months ago. I love it and definitely recommend it over the Behmor.
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I had a Behmor for 3 years and bought a Huky about 2-3 months ago. I love it and definitely recommend it over the Behmor.
yeah I think the Huky is a nice option at the price range. Taiwan makes nice roasters.
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I think you're talking about the Kaldi. There are several models in their line-up. Not many users AFAIK.
Nah - there was one that looked more like the Aillio. My guesstimate is that that Kaldi is a poor design and won't hold a pound.
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Not the one I was thinking of, but this little gem is interesting,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QElbutT56nQ (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QElbutT56nQ)
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Howdy mattw!
Did you find a roaster?
I faced a similar decision in May of 2015. I went with the Huky, and have loved it ever since.
It's really simple to use, and easy to learn. I'll have coffee roasting parties at our house and bring some firends over to let them roast a pound of coffee on their own.
I have had zero problems with mine since I bought it.
A couple self inflicted issues, melted probes, the Mr. Li promptly shipped a replacement as soon as I told him. I had to pay for it.
I don't use any software or tracking on my roasts. All sight, sounds, smell, and touch for me.
-Mike
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We have roasted hundreds of pounds of coffee in the behmore 1600 plus. No problems. I can't tell the difference between coffee roasted in it and what comes from the probat. Like another post said. I'd not drop a full pound in it. It seems to like 14 ozs better. For the $$ it can't be beat. Good luck with your hunt!
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I'm looking at upgrading from the WearEver popper. I want something affordable, but can handle 1/2 - 1 pound or better.
However, my main concern, currently, is staying under $300.
Thoughts, suggestions?
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Under 300 dollars, good luck.
The Behmor may be in that price neck of the woods but, 1 Lb is the max that will ever do, on a good day. If you are looking to do more than a pound, then you are talking big boy toy store now.
The Artisan 2.5 or is it 3.5 I forget, will easily do down to 8 oz, and up to 3 pounds or so. It's about 3 grand though. The Huky does a kilo??? at around 2 grand delivered with many bells whistles.
Aaron
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I'm looking at upgrading from the WearEver popper. I want something affordable, but can handle 1/2 - 1 pound or better.
However, my main concern, currently, is staying under $300.
Thoughts, suggestions?
SC/TO is the best option under $300. Do a search here you’ll find plenty of info. SC/TO = stir crazy turbo oven.
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I'm looking at upgrading from the WearEver popper. I want something affordable, but can handle 1/2 - 1 pound or better.
However, my main concern, currently, is staying under $300.
Thoughts, suggestions?
Oops RobertL beat me to it by seconds, but I confirm.
Check out SC/TO options (Google SCTO coffee or check above in Hardware & Equipment ). I used one for years as an upgrade from my popper and I learned A LOT about roasting. You can crank out consistently great beans (I think better than all but much more expensive roasters), but it isn't as convenient as a "roasting appliance" like the Behmor. peter (The Warden) is the resident expert. Highly recommended and I built a couple of them for about $100. The turbo ovens are more expensive now, but if you post in Buy-Sell-Trade that you are interested. I'll bet someone has one they would part with.
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I am in process of the SC/TO build based on Peter's design.
Just ordered the TO part.
Spouse thinks I'm nuts and should just buy a roaster for about $150 online. Doesn't seem to believe me when I say they won't do a good job.
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I am in process of the SC/TO build based on Peter's design.
Just ordered the TO part.
Spouse thinks I'm nuts and should just buy a roaster for about $150 online. Doesn't seem to believe me when I say they won't do a good job.
Where did you buy the TO top part?
Where does your spouse think you can buy a roaster for $150? Or did you just tell him/her that in the beginning of the conversation to get her warmed up to the idea?
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Bought the TO off ebay.
Sunpentown Convection Oven 12 Liter Round Electric Cooker 1300W 120V
BNIB
$150 = FreshRoast or Eleoption (similar to SC) or one of those drum rollers over a Bunsen burner. hehe
Although a friend of ours has a countertop peanut roaster he wants to sell cheap. I'm thinking of trying it out and see if it could work. Thoughts on that?
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Oh, and I was starting at $6k, then want to move down to $2.5K (Artisan)
I've discovered that if you start with the shock factor - everything else seems sane.
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Although a friend of ours has a countertop peanut roaster he wants to sell cheap. I'm thinking of trying it out and see if it could work. Thoughts on that?
I guess it depends on the peanut roaster, but the one my neighbor has would be a lot of work to get an even roast on in a reasonable length of time even with a half pound of beans. It could be done, but I'd do it outdoors or the smoke/chaff would be serious trouble. You'd need mad skills to get a consistently good roast. I'd up my homeowners insurance too. ;D
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A peanut roaster may not get the BTU's you need, and take too long. Remember, you want to roast the coffee, not bake it.
Aaron
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His is similar to this
http://cajuncreole.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/toastynut.png (http://cajuncreole.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/toastynut.png)
I thought it might be fun to play around.
But I want consistency and the SC/TO will do that.
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That is a much better machine than my neighbor's (looks like about $2000+ retail), but I couldn't find any specs on the heating element wattage as per Aaron's concern. If your neighbor will let you, maybe try a batch if he is selling it cheap enough. Of course, the machine will be contaminated with coffee oils which would not be easy to clean. On the other hand, the SCTO is a safe bet.
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Bought the TO off ebay.
Sunpentown Convection Oven 12 Liter Round Electric Cooker 1300W 120V
BNIB
$150 = FreshRoast or Eleoption (similar to SC) or one of those drum rollers over a Bunsen burner. hehe
Also - Just bought a Salton UFO.
Ummm - I think I have a sickness...
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Bought the TO off ebay.
Sunpentown Convection Oven 12 Liter Round Electric Cooker 1300W 120V
BNIB
$150 = FreshRoast or Eleoption (similar to SC) or one of those drum rollers over a Bunsen burner. hehe
Also - Just bought a Salton UFO.
Ummm - I think I have a sickness...
The Salton will work fine. I helped someone build one with that.
It's not a sickness, it's a rabbit hole.......
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rabbit hole or rabid hole? Because people WILL accuse you of being mad when you start buying coffee goodies in earnest 8)
Aaron
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I have a StirCrazy in house and under mod, and a UFO on the way. Then the Sunpentown TO should be here this weekend.
The spouse doesn't realize it just yet . . .
Also, about 30# more coffee, too.
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I have a StirCrazy in house and under mod, and a UFO on the way. Then the Sunpentown TO should be here this weekend.
The spouse doesn't realize it just yet . . .
Also, about 30# more coffee, too.
Yep, sounds about right. Aaron's point is well taken too. Welcome to the dark side of GCBC. Enjoy and spread the word. 😉
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Sunpentown and the UFO in the house !
Both came in today!
Too bad I've got to work.
😑
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Awful when adulting comes before fun. ;)
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We have roasted hundreds of pounds of coffee in the behmore 1600 plus. No problems. I can't tell the difference between coffee roasted in it and what comes from the probat. Like another post said. I'd not drop a full pound in it. It seems to like 14 ozs better. For the $$ it can't be beat. Good luck with your hunt!
If you like your beans very light, put 14 ozs in the Behmor. Otherwise, about 8 is the limit for dark roasts.
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The Behmor is fairly sensitive to Voltage, and seems to die off a bit with age too. I have had no problems taking 12 oz into second crack on the P1 setting before. Another trick is to put a 2x4 under the front legs to tip it back, that way the center of bean mass is closer to the heating element, so when it's in it's 'off' cycle when it starts cycling the burner for temp control, they are closer to the heat source so suck up a bit more.
Although embarrassing, I will admit, Ive set mine on fire a few times by inattention. With that said, the things used to be built like a tank, a good cleaning out and it ran fine. Just run it through a cleaning cycle to burn the soot out of the exhaust element.
Aaron
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Ok. Working on setting up my UFO/TO mod. Discovered that I am "fortunate"enough to have a UFO with metal stir arms, but it has a plastic, one-sided shaft.
Any ideas?
I've searched for mods, but apparently most had a metal shaft.
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I've not seen a UFO in person, let alone dismantled one. Hopefully, someone is around who has blazed this trail for you. Maybe the plastic shaft will give a long time of service, you never know.
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This is the drive. What's left of it after my loving spouse attempted to help.
I think I will file of the threads and do a hanger bolt.
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A hanger bolt will work. You just need to get the hole in line w/ the shaft's center line. Maybe practice on a piece of hardwood to get the drill size down so that the hole's not to small and the shaft cracks.
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So I looked at the stir crazy I bought. It has a metal shaft!
Honestly, it looks like the old UFO and the ufo looks like the old sc.
So, off to the hardware store for a nut and cap and thermal glue.
I'll play with the hanger bolt and see what I can do there.