Now available with manual control....and the old ones are upgradeable???
That sounds promising.
Today at the SCAA show in Seattle, Behmor announced the new Plus roaster.
It looks exactly like the normal 1600 but with a manual mode in addition to the auto mode it currently has.
Basically, choosing the manual mode, you can change the power level from 100% to 75 or 50 or 25 anytime during the roast, and change as often as you like. There are two temperature readouts, one for the chamber wall and one for the exhaust area. Drum speed can be toggled from 8 to 16 rpm. Joe said that a new motor will allow 32 rpm.[/i]
The control panel will be available for upgrades soon, so those with a current 1600 don't have to buy a new roaster. Joe hopes to keep the cost down, I believe below $100, maybe below $75.
The 1600 Plus price will be a little higher than the present price, probably (I think, anyway) less than $400. But with the Hottop price jumping a bunch here recently, perhaps all such roasters will jump in price.
With the manual mode, you can set the starting time higher and be assured your roast will finish.
The 220V versions will get a different looking control panel with the weights in grams (like 200,300,400) or close to that.