Green Coffee Buying Club
Coffee Discussion boards => Hardware & Equipment => Topic started by: Joe on June 24, 2016, 10:43:39 AM
-
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.
-
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 (http://www.tzulin.com/products_e.html)) and YOU-WEI (http://www.you-wei.com/e/e-product02.htm (http://www.you-wei.com/e/e-product02.htm)). Lysander (http://www.billiecoffee.com/roaster0.htm (http://www.billiecoffee.com/roaster0.htm)) is just one of the players in the field.
-
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.
-
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 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..
-
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://www.feima.com.tw/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=85)
http://youtu.be/DKQbi29lUok (http://youtu.be/DKQbi29lUok)
-
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. :)
[url]http://www.feima.com.tw/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=85[/url] ([url]http://www.feima.com.tw/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=85[/url])
[url]http://youtu.be/DKQbi29lUok[/url] ([url]http://youtu.be/DKQbi29lUok[/url])
That's pretty appealing to me!
-
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.
-
Keep us informed if you don't mind.
-
Will do, I was wrong it does have a sample spoon; and saw one with a thermocouple instead of the dial thermometer.
-
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),
-
Thanks for the update!
-
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?
-
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.
-
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.
-
It's a well built machine from a long standing sold company. Feima is #1 in the Taiwan roaster market and sells all over SE Asia. Let me play around with one for awhile and push it past the limits.
Maybe the Fun200 on one of those butane stoves would do the trick for small charges?
-
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),
Any update on this?
-
Haven't had a chance to get in touch with Rotate Fun; he didn't answer my email. will try a text or phone call. The major holiday is just winding up in Asia, some business are still closed. Im thinking monday things will get back to normal.
One issue with the 100n is I don't have LP gas only NG. My plan is to get one in LP and carry it over to a local roaster and let him check it out first. You could buy a stripped down Huky for what the 100n is going to cost and its only a 125g-150g roaster. Does this make sense for a home roaster?
The fun200 are probally going to run in the $200 as a guess; thats the one Joe was interested in. As its pretty lightweight shipping EMS should be reasonable. Is this Fun builder going to ship single units overseas? What about payment? I still have questions if this is something the group would be interested in; or is it just a starter gadget?
-
Came back from Rotate Fun this afternoon, there were some customers roasting on the 300 gas machine and ended up purchasing the "kit" which included a stove and cooling tray/roaster vent.
His opinion of the Fun200 was more of a showroom or teaching tool rather than something to be used for sample roasting duty. The Fun300 would be a better choice, the gas model without any accessories runs 9,000nt FOB Taiwan, and weighs 8kg packed in a carton.
There is a larger 1K machine called the 1200, one was shipped to a US customer in four cartons; so it shouldn't be a problem getting a Fun300 mailed.
-
That $9000nt works out to $297 USD. pretty inexpensive for the RT300
-
That's without a stove or the bean cooler/venting tray. And it's the local price, so shipping and exchange fees would be extra.
-
That's without a stove or the bean cooler/venting tray. And it's the local price, so shipping and exchange fees would be extra.
Do you have an idea what the final tally would be to San Diego? ;D
Sorry we couldn't catch up in Taiwan, we had less of a lay over than i thought and I was on the wrong side of the security gate.
-
Are you talking about just the gas Rotate Fun 300, without any acessories? Think he said it weighed 8kg packed. I'll check with the post office and try getting some information.
-
What are the accessories? Like the cooling tray? Load it up lets see what it costs.
-
Cooling tray and stove I'm guessing. The cooling tray gadget has a diverted with a gooseneck to suck up the chaff from the faceplate opening and blow it out a window. Have to check the price on that and how it changes the shipping.
-
There's a problem dealing with the Rotate Fun factory or owner. He is reluctant to sell machines overseas due to a warranty issue that occurred in the past. What happens if there is an accident and a machine arrrives damaged?
In the case of the Huky, the builder has been shipping out replacement parts and covering warranty damage without much issue. There is enought cushion in the selling price to cover unexpected problems from his side. In addition he communicates with customers, ships quickly, provides spare parts and accessories, takes paypal, etc.
The Rotate fun is mostly lightweight metal except for the frame, the front bearing is essentially an open rivet. This is because there is bean contact with the front bearing. (It's replaceable)
Anyone who buys a machine in Taiwan, is going to get a local warranty; and shipping problems would be the responsibility of the sender. Although the Rotate Fun is a cute machine, it's not a mini drum roaster like the Huky or Quest.
-
Thanks Hankua for the continued info. That last few bits were the most important for me.