Care to elaborate at all? I've been considering one to use as a sample roaster and would be keen to hear your thoughts.
-Stubbie
I may just be set in my ways, but the main problems that I have with it are:
1) Lack of control: You have 5 preprogrammed ramps that you cannot modify. To make them work properly, you are effectively stuck with an 8-11oz batch but you need to use the 1# setting to make that work right (most of the time). Makes it impossible to react while roasting.
2) Poor cooling: Takes too long to cool down between roasts. If you follow the directions, your beans will be baking for a long time after the roast is done (when I roast with a TurboCrazy, RK Drum or Fresh Roast 8+ I immediately can drop the beans in my cooler and they are at room temperature in under a minute)
3) Too long: It takes too long to roast beans this way, between properly cooling down between runs and with how long it takes to ramp properly.
I easily roast 4# an hour with a TurboCrazy, with better control, instant access without stalling, real time sampling capability, 1/3 the cost, cheap component replacement (when necessary), and no UV.
These problems are there (mostly) with the GeneCafe as well. For most homeroasters, these might be minor annoyances, as they are not doing the volume that I usually do and probably aren't concerned with multiple back-to-back roasts. Many people stick to a particular roast profile and batch size and repeat without putting a lot of thought into variation. I require more versatility than I can get with a Behmor or similar roaster. I'm sure that if I put in a lot of time with one, I would figure out some ways to cheat and make it fit my style better, but as it stands I am satisfied with what is already in my tool box.
