GREAT roaster -looks like a toaster. Compact. Well Built. Lots of roasting options or you can set the poundage and push start. Will satisfy all but most discriminating roasters.
Positive Product Points
Easy peasy...or complicated. Your choice. Coffee roaster looks like a toaster. Compact. Works great. I modified the screen with a see through area...and bought a smaller drum for smaller beans....and a paintbrush. to clear chaff. That is all you need for great coffee...consistent coffee. If you want to shorten cycles you can..and in various places. You can select brewing programs/profiles tweak them. OR Push pound, P1 and 18 minutes later you are done. No fuss No muss.
Negative Product Points
1) NO SMELL. You would think with the home brew you would get a "great" coffee bean roasting smell but with the suppression system you do not. Brews great coffee. 2) Not negative to me..but you can't brew many cycles in a row. This is a HOME roaster. Needs to cool off. I brew only 2 in a row. 3) Short cord. Get a nice heavy extension. 4) Works best outside. Sometimes sets off smoke detector inside and can be a bit smelly & smoky..( not a great coffee bean smell).
Detailed Commentary
Great compact unit, roasts great coffee, well built.
It has a VARIETY OF SETTINGS AND YOU CAN FIND ON THE NET FOLKS SELECTIONS.
IF YOU WAN TO WAIT FOR FIRST CRACK, THE SECOND AND ADJUST THE CYCLE YOU CAN. YOU CAN PROGRAM CYCLES AND ADJUST THEM VARIOUS WAYS.
If I have to, I can brew inside, bust mostly I brew outside by the pool. I have left the unit out in the light rain or overnight dew..no problem. (not advised, he he).
I think it is wise to be there as it roasts...especially near the end of the cycle.
YOU can also adjust the roast by the amount of beans you put in.
I'm lazy...I just hit one pound P1 profile and let it run 18 minutes now. I use a FULL pound too. YES..that does give me a dark dark roast.
I'm a greenie for roasting. I try to do it as simple as possible. But I like the capabilities of the unit even If I choose not to use them.
All but the spare drum store neatly in the unit.
Buying Experience
I got the unit as a refurb..and it has worked terrific. Chocolate Alchemy was a terrific seller. Unit appeared to be almost new. There may have been a brush missing with the refurb that comes with the new units. Unit was nicely packaged..and shipped on time. Any and all questions were answered promptly and completely. Would buy from again. Chocolate Alchemy is an official Behmor repair facility. If you can get a refurb here...do it. May have a waiting list.
